Comments on: What the? – Strange Tales from the Job Search Front

By: Dave Bartek

Dave Bartek — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:46:28 +0000

Alright, I'll take a stab at this Frankly, I think it had nothing to do with the pen as an 'object', but rather, what the pen 'meant'. Allow me to elaborate (I'll also take your word for it that it was a very expensive make and model of pen-- I'm of the basic 'Office Max/Bic' penning, so I'm not as schooled in that). But I digress...

If this was an expensive pen (and as you were also sitting in the expensive chair), my guess is that he wanted to know that, since he had an instrument of such high quality, he was looking at what it took to have (or better yet, earn) that pen. What you might have said is something like the following:

"I see an instrument of very high quality, something that is representative of years of hard work and perseverance. A symbol, if you will, of striving for the best, not settling for the mundane or ordinary. I see the reason that this is a firm that is of the highest standards and uncompromising in it's approach for it's clients and business partners. It's also representative of the man holding the pen and his ideals and unwillingness to settle for anything but the best..."

OK, so maybe I'm on the meds now, but I think this would have been a good approach. Thanks for allowing me to 'stretch' on this

By: Jean Lombard

Jean Lombard — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:47:27 +0000

Comment to the Collin, above: Hi, it's me, the Jean in the article. To be clear the president was NOT offering me the pen, was not giving away the pen, just holding it up. He would not let me touch it, just help it up suspended. It was definitely a real Mont Blanc or other high-end prestige pen, and definitely engraved with his name. I'd not seen such a pen in real life before, only in glossy magazines like Vanity Fair. As far as pulling one from my pocket - I was 22 and this was my first job out of college - no WAYY I could have afforded such an item. Also, early on I did elaborate on the actual "look" and characteristics of the pen itself. No dice. He just kept asking the same question, until I finally shifted into "here's why I am a fit" mode. So now what do you say? How would one answer this question?? I truly think he was off his meds.

By: Ron Goris

Ron Goris — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:17:24 +0000

Given that the position was with a PR firm, I believe the President simply wanted to see how creative the candidate could be. By simply stating the obvious the candidate was unable to distinguish himself from others. I think the President was looking for a response that demonstrates how the individual could think quickly on their feet and come up with a creative and maybe, unusual response - similar to the question. Would this be someone who would do well with the firms clients?

Just my two cents!

Ron.

By: Colin McKillop

Colin McKillop — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:57:27 +0000

I see a Montblanc pen, made out of high quality plastics and a plated metal clip in 3 colors with 5 black areas, 5 gold areas and one white spot which is the manufacturers trademark.

However, since it was engraved (perhaps with the companies name or Logo)and most people would not do that to a real $ 350 Montblanc pen it might well be a counterfeit or a marketing product which was why the fellow was willing to give it away for free in the first place.

The easiest answer would have been to pull one from your own pocket and say thank you but I already own one............

The question was what was "seen" by the candidate........ not what the item could or might do in the future.