Barun Mohanty: How do you sell this water bottle marketing interview question?

Barun Mohanty is the most viewed interview writer on Quora

www.barunmohanty.com

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***Marketing Interview***

Interviewer- Sell this water bottle?

Neal- Buy it, Ma’am.

Interviewer- Why should I?

Neal- Your bottle seems old. You should get a new one.

[Creating a need]

Interviewer- I am okay with my old bottle.

Neal- It can make you sick. Imagine you have an important meeting and you get stomach ache or loose motion.

Interviewer- What?

Neal- It’s old, Ma’am. It contains germs that can make you sick. It might make you embarrassed in public. You might lose an important deal.

[Fear factor]

Interviewer- How much?

Neal- Only 1500/- Rupees.

Interviewer- Are you mad? The old one cost me only 500/- which I bought 6 months ago.

Neal- After buying this bottle, you don’t need a bottle for at least 10 years.

Interviewer- How is that possible?

Neal- It has a special design which don’t let water to accumulate inside it. Hence, it’s unique feature doesn’t allow germs there.

Interviewer- I will think about it.

Neal- We have vacuum within the 2 layer walls of this bottle. So, it will keep cold water cold for 24 hours and same applies to hot water.

Interviewer- Okay! Give me a discount. I will buy it right now.

Neal- We don’t have a policy for discount, Ma’am but if you buy now, I will fill this bottle with high quality mineral water, imported from Antarctica for free.

Interviewer- [Laughs] Great job.

***Sold***

Barun Mohanty: What are the qualities that make candidates stand out in an interview?

Barun Mohanty is the most viewed interview writer on Quora

www.barunmohanty.com

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7 things that can make you stand out.

1. 90% of people get nervous during the interview. A bit confidence will definitely make you stand out.
2. Don’t cross your hands. Put your open hands on the table so the interviewer can see those. (It’s a psychological trick)
3. You should have at least 1 pair of good dress. You must look good in the interview. Put all your pocket money to buy that pair if you are in college.
4. Never use No or negative words. It makes the interviewer feel negative about you (Human psychology and it works). Say yes every time. For example if the interviewer asks “Can you join us within 7 days?”. Politely say “Yes! I can. But in our current company we have a 15 days notice period. I will request my current boss. If it will be possible, I will definitely join within 7 days.” Always, start with positivity and end with positivity.
5. Show your 100% dedication to the company. Show them their problem is now your problem. And you will definitely bring a solution to the table.
6. Show them, you are 100% going to join their company if get selected.
7. Last but not the least, make them laugh a bit and give your 100% attention to the person who ever asking the questions.

No one gets rejected with this much of positivity. Everybody wants positive people around them. So, be 100% sure about yourself that you are the best candidate and help the interviewers to select you.

Good Luck!

Barun Mohanty: How do I counter attack the interviewer with his own questions?

Barun Mohanty is the most viewed interview writer on Quora

www.barunmohanty.com

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Interviewer- How much salary do you expect?

Neal- Zero.

Interviewer- Why?

Neal- Ma’am, I want you to select me for my skills not for the salary I want. I will tell it after the selection.

Interviewer- When can you join?

Neal- Today if my current employer allows.

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Interviewer- Sell me your pen.

Neal- You already have a pen. When there is no need, there can’t be a sale.

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Interviewer- What is your strength?

Neal- I turn every weakness to a strength and every problem to an opportunity.

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Interviewer- What is your leadership style?

Neal- I don’t push. I pull.

Interviewer- Why?

Neal- As per physics, it’s easy to pull.

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Interviewer- Why are you leaving your current company?

Neal- I’m working with good people. Now, I want to work with great people.

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Interviewer- What is your biggest achievement?

Neal- I have many achievements. But I’m not satisfied. I think the biggest is yet to come.

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Interviewer- Can you work in a stressed environment?

Neal- No. But I will definitely try to reduce the stress of your organisation. So, everyone can work in peace.

***Selected***

Barun Mohanty: What do interviewers expect from me?

Barun Mohanty is the most viewed interview writer on Quora

www.barunmohanty.com

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Interviewers don’t care about, who you are, what you know, what are your qualifications, where are you from.

One thing, they care about is “How can you bring value to the organisation so the company can make more money”.

I’m talking about money here because, every business cares about profit.

For example:

If you in sales- You have to directly generate revenue.

If you are in HR- You have to manage people so that they can work efficiently.

If you are in operations- You have to make the process smooth and easy so that productivity can be increased.

If you are sweeper- You have to make the floor so clean that people will love to walk on it. More people come in, more money company will make.

If you are a flight attendant- More people would like to fly with a beautiful lady who can ensure safety and comfort as the same time.

Random image from google.

The expectations are:

1. You should be certain about your skills. [Everybody wants to hire a person who is confident.]
2. Your qualifications must likely to add value to the company.
3. You must have same kind of experience that is required for the job profile.
4. You must be a team player. Company means, it’s a team.
5. You should have a X factor that will differentiate you from other candidates.
6. Most important - You must present yourself such a way that they will understand the above points about yourself.

Barun Mohanty: What is the best answer for, "sell me this phone" in an interview?

Barun Mohanty is the most viewed interview writer on Quora

www.barunmohanty.com

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Interviewer- Sell me this phone.

Neal- Ma’am, would you like to buy this Nokia 1100?

Interviewer- No.

Neal- Why not?

Interviewer- I got a phone already. [Objection-1]

Neal- Why do you use this expensive phone?

Interviewer- To call, to check my emails and for entertainment.

Neal- If I’m not wrong, the primary purpose of your phone to call. Right?

Interviewer- Right.

Neal- If we throw both of our phones, your phone will be broken. This Nokia 1100 will still operate. Imagine an emergency situation.

Interviewer- You are right. But why should I buy this old black and white phone? [Objection-2]

Neal- This will take you out of the virtual world and bring you back to the real life. Imagine, when there was no phone. How peaceful was that? Wasn’t that?

Interviewer- But I have other stuffs to do with my smartphone. [Objection-3]

Neal- I don’t want you to replace your phone. I just want you to have this Nokia1100 for emergency purpose. And it will reduce the use of your smartphone a bit and it might get you a good sleep.

interviewer- How much?

Neal- 10K.

Interviewer- What? The price is too high. [Objection-4]

Neal- It is going to be an antique in near future. You can take it as an investment. Few pieces are left in this world.

***Sold***

Barun Mohanty: How do I answer an interview question like this - "Could you sell me this stapler if I already have one"?

Barun Mohanty is the most viewed interview writer on Quora

www.barunmohanty.com


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Interviewer- Could you sell me this stapler ?

Neal- Ma’am, will you buy this stapler?

Interviewer- I already have it.

Neal- No it is not the same.

Interviewer- What’s unique?

Neal- This stapler is the best stapler in the market you can have. It’s gun like spring mechanism amplifies your finger pressure. So, you don’t have to put so much pressure while punching. You can staple about 100 sheets with a little effort.

Interviewer- Anything else?

Neal- It has an adjustable lever and handle. This stapler can be converted to a long reach stapler.

Source- Random image from google

Interviewer- I already know that because I have the same stapler with me which I bought 2 years ago.

Neal- Is it working fine? I think the handle is not functioning well.

Interviewer- It’s working fine. No issues with the handle at all.

Neal- That’s what I wanted to listen. This stapler works great for at least 10 years. Then why don’t you buy another one?

Interviewer- Why should I?

Neal- I came here after researching bit about your company.

Interviewer- So?

Neal- Your company is expanding, Ma’am. That’s why every candidate here wants to be a part of your company.

Interviewer- How is it associated with the stapler?

Neal- Normal staplers require so much pressure. Every employee of your organisation who are using a stapler, press it through their thumb finger.

Interviewer- So what?

Neal- Putting so much pressure on thumb causes headache.

Interviewer- So?

Neal- If your employees have headache, obviously the productivity of your company go down.

Interviewer- Okay!

Neal- Then you should stop that big issue by changing those staplers with this affordable unique stapler?

Interviewer- Great job. [Claps]

***Selected***

Barun Mohanty: What is the best way to describe yourself in an interview?

Barun Mohanty, Most Viewed Writer in Job Interviews

www.barunmohanty.com

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Interviewer- Describe yourself.

Neal- It’s all in my CV.

Interviewer- Tell me something which is not in your CV.

Neal- I am a greedy person.

Interviewer- Then, you are here for just salary. Right?

Neal- Yes!

Interviewer- What if, our company goes through a crisis and we can’t provide salary to our employees for a month? Will you leave our company during the crisis?

Neal- You want me to work for you for free? And you won’t give salary to your employees? Then, why should someone work for you?

Interviewer- Just answer my question. Will you leave the organisation or not during a crisis?

Neal- It depends.

Interviewer- Are you saying No? Then, why should we hire such a person like you?

Neal- I didn’t say no.

Interviewer- Then what did that mean?

Neal- As I said I’m greedy. So, it depends.

Interviewer- Explain..!

Neal- Because it is easy to keep a greedy person motivated.

Interviewer- How?

Neal- A normal employee will work to save his job but get demotivated when he has to work for free during the crisis.

But…

I will take advantage of the crisis and walk to you and say “Sir, I am ready to put extra hours during this crisis for free so we can get out of this. In exchange of that, I need a better salary when the crisis is over.”

***Selected***