Hi Doctor, My name is James and I have a 2nd interview with a very large and well known food distribution company as an area sales manager in 3 days!! I have been asked to give a ten minute presentation on anything I like to see what level I am at with regards to my sales experience and teqniques. The guy that conducted my first interview told me i could give my presentation on anything... he even suggested selling him a pen!!! Since then the recruitment company I got the interview through have sent me examples of other sales presentations used by previous sucessful candidates of the company and to be honest they have got me a little worried!! Massive powerpoint presentations on the company itself and mainly food based topics... can you help?
James.

James

I think that you already have a good clue. The person on the panel ahs suggested selling a pen. I stongly beleive that this could work well for you.

Firstly find a pen. It could be one of your favourites or it could be a high tech one like the Fisher space pen. This was a pen that the Americans developed as part of the space programme that can write upside down and withstand great heat.

You could make some lovely visual aids - either in PowerPoint or on paper. It would also work well to take one in with you.

I got these pens engraved a few years ago and gave them as corporate gifts. They were well apreciated.

There is a great twist in the tale as well - which could add a note of humour. While the Americans spent millions of dollars developing it, the russians used a pencil.

I think that you could make a nice presentation that will show your sales skills as well as becoming very visual.

I hope that this helps