We interviewed a new intern today. She just graduated from college, moved from Florida to New York City to pursue her dream of working in publishing. It could just about break your heart. She was nervous, eager, open. I thought of all the kids I’ve interviewed over the years, the bluster and insecurities, the earnestness and ambition. Once, I asked a candidate if he had any special skills. He looked me directly in the eye and said, “I could kill you with a pencil.”
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Betsy Lerner 
I’m guessing the pencil-killer didn’t get the job? And what about the recent college grad from Florida? No decision yet? You can’t just leave us hanging like this, can you?
I would have hired pencil boy on the spot:)
Oh, we did. Though for some reason I thought I should change the gender of this person. In other words, the he was a she but not in the Lou Reed way. This intense young woman said she could kill me with a fucking pencil.(They don’t mention that in Final Exit) We hired her alright. Now she’s a banker. Oh, and we hired the young woman from Florida.
“…Now she’s a banker…” Graphite Girl found her niche. Pencil killers abound in banking.
The next time someone says that to you, tell ’em you’d just leave the pencil in your chest and go to the ER like that little girl did a few years ago. She ended up on Oprah, so you could get at least get on Nancy Grace.
That will show the interviewee you’re no pushover.