Deck 15: The Job Search, Resumes, and Cover Letters

Question 1

Ildiko is starting a new job search.What is the best advice you can give her about preparing her résumé?

A) Save time by preparing an all-purpose résumé that can be used to apply for any position.
B) Prepare a functional résumé because this is the style that recruiters prefer.
C) Prepare a customized résumé for every position she applies for.
D) Make sure that her résumé is no longer than one page.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Because it quickly reveals a candidate's education and experience most recruiters favor a(n)

A) scannable résumé.
B) functional résumé.
C) chronological résumé.
D) online résumé.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is the best way to learn about a specific career?

A) Search the Web for career-planning information and resources.
B) Take a summer job, internship, or part-time position in the field.
C) Monitor the classified ads to determine qualifications sought, duties, and salary range.
D) Visit your campus career center.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The "hidden" job market

A) accounts for a small number of jobs and should, therefore, be considered a secondary resource.
B) accounts for up to 80 percent of all positions available at any given time.
C) has become unimportant since online job boards provide millions of job listings.
D) makes it difficult to find a job because companies keep job openings a secret.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about employment trends in today's workplace is most accurate?

A) Companies today are employing more people in permanent positions.
B) Employees today can count on regular pay raises, promotions, and a comfortable retirement income.
C) Employees today must constantly upgrade their skills and retrain themselves to remain marketable.
D) Because new technologies can spring up overnight making today's skills obsolete, employers try to hire people into jobs with focused descriptions.

Question 6

Franav will be graduating soon and wants to use the Web to conduct his job search.What will probably be his best source for finding a job online?

A) Web sites such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com
B) Professional organization Web sites
C) Specific corporate Web sites
D) General search sites such as Google.com and Yahoo.com

Question 7

The goal of a résumé is

A) winning an interview.
B) listing your qualifications in a structured way.
C) looking organized and professional.
D) recognizing the skills you need to develop in the near future.

Question 8

Manuel is looking for his first job after graduating from college.Where will he most likely find a position?

A) With a Fortune 500 company
B) With a nonprofit organization
C) With a small company
D) With an international multinational corporation

Question 9

Shondra will graduate from college soon and is beginning the job search process.What should she do first?

A) Research salary, benefits, and job stability in a chosen field
B) Develop an effective résumé to be sent to prospective employers
C) Locate a specific job opening at a desirable company
D) Identify her interests and goals and evaluate her qualifications

Question 10

Sophia will be graduating soon and wants to learn more about a career path she is considering.Which of the following should she do?

A) Take a summer job, internship, or part-time position in her field
B) Interview someone in her chosen field
C) Join a professional or student organization in her field
D) Sophia should do all of these.

Question 11

Which of the following is a traditional job search technique?

A) Classified ads in local and national newspapers
B) "Cold" calls to companies
C) On-campus interviews
D) All of these choices

Question 12

Job seekers should ask themselves questions such as What am I passionate about and how can I turn that passion into a career? and Do I enjoy working with people, data, or things? to

A) identify their interests and goals.
B) evaluate their qualifications.
C) select a specific career path.
D) research the hidden job market.

Question 13

A chronological résumé style would be best for which of the following candidates?

A) Emma, who has worked for years in the retail industry and who is now pursuing a career in health care
B) Griffin, who has held five different positions with four different companies over the past three years
C) Roxanne, who has advanced from an entry-level position to department manager for her current employer
D) Huseyin, who is afraid he will appear overqualified for the target position

Question 14

Job seekers should ask themselves questions such as Do I communicate well in speech and in writing? and Do I work well with people and enjoy teamwork? to

A) identify their interests and goals.
B) evaluate their qualifications.
C) select a specific career path.
D) research the hidden job market.

Question 15

An effective résumé style for job hunters who are afraid of appearing overqualified is the

A) scannable résumé.
B) functional résumé.
C) chronological résumé.
D) online résumé.

Question 16

Laura, after many years of staying home and raising her children, wants to return to the workplace.Because she does have some significant experience in the accounting field from many years ago, she should prepare a(n)

A) chronological style résumé.
B) scannable résumé.
C) online résumé.
D) functional style résumé.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a niche employment Web site?

A) CollegeGrad.com
B) Accountemps.com
C) Craigslist.com
D) Facebook.com

Question 18

Kenichi has just finished college and has limited work and internship experience.Which résumé style should he consider?

A) Functional résumé
B) Chronological résumé
C) Scannable résumé
D) Online résumé

Question 19

Evani will be using the Web during her job search and wants to make sure her search is safe and effective.What should she do?

A) Look for sites that charge a fee to post a résumé because these sites are generally more reputable
B) Post her résumé on as many sites as possible so that more employers will have access to her information
C) Renew her résumé postings every 14 days
D) Evani should do all of these.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about searching for a job online is most accurate?

A) Searching for a job online has completely replaced traditional methods.
B) Online job boards now face competition from social networking sites.
C) The listings found on online job boards tend to be current and will generally produce many leads.
D) The percentage of hires resulting from job boards is high.

Question 21

Alberto knows that his résumé will be scanned.What should he do to maximize "hits" as his résumé is scanned?

A) Include easily recognized abbreviations and acronyms, especially those within his field
B) Incorporate words from the advertisement or job description
C) Include specific keywords that describe skills, traits, tasks, and job titles
D) All of these choices

Question 22

What is the most accurate statement about plain-text résumés?

A) Plain-text résumés are rarely requested by employers because most employers prefer attachments.
B) A plain-text résumé can be sent in the body of an e-mail message or can be pasted into an online résumé bank submission form.
C) Scannable résumés and plain-text résumés require very different guidelines for preparation.
D) When sending a plain-text résumé via e-mail, leave the subject line blank.

Question 23

Select the statement that most accurately describes a résumé.

A) Awards and honors should not be listed on a résumé because doing so will sound as if you are bragging.
B) Because they are not related to your work experience, school and community activities should be omitted from your résumé.
C) To give a potential employer a complete picture, you should include personal information such as height, weight, and marital status.
D) Consider including hobbies or interests, such as skiing or photography, because they may catch the employer's attention or serve as conversation starters.

Question 24

Which of the following statements about the work experience section of a résumé is most accurate?

A) List only jobs that you think will help you win the targeted position.
B) Place your work history in chronological order by date.
C) Always place the work experience section after the education section.
D) Place your employment achievements and job duties in paragraph format.

Question 25

Select the statement that best describes the main heading portion of a résumé.

A) The first line of your résumé should always be the word Résumé.
B) Including a cell phone number will make your résumé look unprofessional; therefore, omit it.
C) If you have a Web site where an e-portfolio can be viewed, include the address in the main heading your résumé.
D) Include your work e-mail address so that you can be contacted more easily.

Question 26

Narantuya has decided to add a bulleted list of her most impressive qualifications to her résumé.What is this list called?

A) Summary of qualifications
B) Career objective
C) Main heading
D) Personal data

Question 27

Select the statement that best describes the career objective portion of a résumé.

A) Your career objective should focus on your professional needs.
B) A well-written career objective will add value only to functional résumés.
C) A career objective should be concise and should not include complete sentences or the pronoun I.
D) Use phrases such as entry-level to show that you're honest and humble.

Question 28

Which of the following statements about job duties will be most effective on a résumé?

A) Responsible for daily account reconciliation
B) Reconciled general ledger accounts daily
C) Reconciled general ledger accounts daily with 100 percent accuracy
D) Responsible for reconciling general ledger accounts daily

Question 29

Select the statement that best describes the summary of qualifications portion of a résumé.

A) Place the summary of qualifications at the bottom of your résumé to give it a strong ending.
B) A summary of qualifications makes your résumé easier to read.
C) Recruiters and hiring managers dislike the summary of qualification section because it adds to reading time.
D) Format the summary of qualifications section as one or two concise paragraphs.

Question 30

Select the correct statement about applying the final touches to your résumé.

A) Use personal pronouns such as I to describe your experiences on a résumé.
B) Seek the help of a résumé-writing service for a résumé that will stand out in a competitive job market.
C) Adding a touch of humor to your résumé is an effective way to demonstrate your personality to a potential employer.
D) Because it's probably the most important message you'll ever write, your résumé must be perfect.

Question 31

Because of today's technologies, you may need three versions of your résumé.Which of the following is not one of these versions?

A) A traditional print-based résumé
B) A résumé that's been professionally typeset by a specialist
C) A scannable résumé
D) A plain-text résumé for e-mailing or online posting

Question 32

Which of the following statements uses an action verb to highlight an aptitude?

A) Competent in development of innovative and interactive Web pages
B) Developed innovative and interactive Web pages that increased traffic by 150 percent
C) Ability to develop innovative and interactive Web pages
D) Able to adapt quickly to changing work environments

Question 33

Select the statement that most accurately describes references.

A) Include a list of references directly on the résumé.
B) Do not include personal or character references.
C) Companies generally check references before a job interview to learn about a candidate in advance.
D) Be sure to add the statement References furnished upon request at the bottom of your résumé.

Question 34

A digitized e-portfolio is

A) an electronic copy of your résumé recorded on a CD, DVD, or flash drive.
B) the addition of work samples and personal information as an attachment to your e-mail résumé.
C) a collection of digital files that gives a snapshot of the candidate's performance, talents, and accomplishments.
D) the name given to résumés posted on job search Web sites such as Monster.com.

Question 35

Which of the following is the best career objective for a résumé?

A) Seeking an entry-level position with the opportunity for advancement
B) A challenging position with a large company
C) Work as a team player for a company that values independent thinking
D) A human resources position assisting your company with employee recruitment, selection, background checks, and in-house training

Question 36

Which of the following is considered unethical on a résumé?

A) Misrepresenting a job title to make it sound more important
B) Extending employment dates to avoid showing periods of unemployment
C) Making your job duties sound more impressive and responsible than they really were
D) All of these choices

Question 37

Simin was told that her résumé will be scanned when it is received.What should she do to maximize scannability?

A) Use double columns to organize data.
B) Put her name on the very first line.
C) Use underlining and italics to make important information stand out.
D) All of these choices

Question 38

When preparing your customized résumé,

A) begin with your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address.
B) always include a specific career objective.
C) place the most important information last where it can leave a lasting impression.
D) All of these choices.

Question 39

Which of the following statements about the education section of a résumé is most accurate?

A) The education section should always come before the work experience section on a résumé.
B) Include a list of all college courses taken since most employers want this information.
C) Once you have attended college, you can omit high school information.
D) You must always include your GPA on your résumé.

Question 40

Dale has decided to prepare a video résumé.What is the best advice you can give him?

A) Remember that some recruiters are skeptical about video résumés; and some video résumés are ignored completely, so use with caution.
B) Make sure that the video résumé is professional grade.
C) Don't let a lack of judgment about what to include in the résumé lead to embarrassment.
D) All of these choices are good tips for Dale.

Question 41

The body of a cover letter should

A) promote the candidate's qualifications.
B) motivate action.
C) tell the reader how you learned of the position.
D) ask for an interview.

Question 42

Which statement in a cover letter best refers the reader to your résumé?

A) Enclosed herewith please find my résumé.
B) As you will notice from my enclosed résumé, I have over five years of customer service experience.
C) Please see my enclosed résumé.
D) Résumé enclosed.

Question 43

A cover letter is most appealing if it

A) begins by addressing the reader by name.
B) is general and is addressed to Ladies and Gentlemen or To Whom It May Concern.
C) is addressed to a job title such as Personnel Manager or to a department such as Human Resources Department.
D) omits the salutation altogether.

Question 44

People who learn quickly and adapt to change will always be in demand, even in a climate of surging change such as in today's workplace.

Question 45

Job seekers should ask themselves questions such as Would I rather work for a large or small company? or How important are working environment, colleagues, and job stimulation? to identify their interests and goals.

Question 46

Prepare a résumé only when you're actively in the job market.

Question 47

To be competitive during the job search, prepare a special résumé that is customized for every position you want.

Question 48

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the opening in a cover letter for an unsolicited job?

A) If you are unsure whether a position exists, use a more persuasive opening.
B) Avoid mentioning the company by name so that you can send your cover letter to numerous companies.
C) Make cover letters for unsolicited jobs longer than those for solicited jobs because you will have to provide more information about yourself.
D) Be vague about the type of position you're seeking so that you might be considered for a variety of jobs.

Question 49

Which is the best statement to include in the body of a cover letter?

A) I have completed courses in cost accounting, auditing, and financial statement analysis.
B) I have excellent communication, organizational, and teamwork skills.
C) In my certificate program, I have learned the listening, conflict resolution, and communication skills that will make me immediately effective as one of your customer service reps.
D) I am the perfect person to hire for this position.

Question 50

Job seekers can use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter during their job search.

Question 51

Which of the following is the best advice for a cover letter that accompanies a résumé sent via e-mail or by fax?

A) Take the time to prepare a professional cover letter to accompany your résumé sent electronically.
B) Mail the cover letter separately from the résumé sent via e-mail or fax.
C) Shorten your e-mail or fax cover letter to a brief statement such as Please consider the attached résumé for your opening.
D) Skip the cover letter as it is unnecessary to introduce yourself because the e-mail or fax includes your name.

Question 52

Most college graduates today will find positions with large corporations.

Question 53

The best closing statement for a cover letter is

A) I look forward to receiving your job offer.
B) I hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
C) I'll drop by next Friday at 10 a.m. to talk with you about this position.
D) To add to your staff an experienced bookkeeper with proven analytical skills, call me at [phone] to arrange an interview.

Question 54

To conduct a safe, effective Web job search, keep a careful record of each site on which you post your résumé.

Question 55

Which of the following is a purpose of a customized cover letter?

A) To gain an interview
B) To learn more about the employer
C) To win a job offer
D) To take the place of a formal résumé

Question 56

What is the biggest mistake job seekers make when writing cover letters?

A) Making them too long
B) Printing them on low-quality paper
C) Making them sound too generic
D) Not referring to an enclosed résumé

Question 57

The first step in the job search process is writing your résumé.

Question 58

The most popular résumé format among recruiters is the functional résumé.

Question 59

The best opening for a solicited cover letter is

A) Please consider this letter an application for the payroll manager position.
B) I am interested in applying for the payroll manager position.
C) Beneva Schulte of your accounting department suggested that I apply for the payroll manager position that is currently vacant.
D) I happened to run across your online ad for a payroll manager position and would like to apply.

Question 60

Probably the best way to find a job online is to visit a large job board such as Monster.com.

Question 61

Video résumés have become the norm in today's workplace, and job seekers are expected to have one.

Question 62

Prepare a plain-text résumé for e-mailing and for pasting into online résumé bank submission forms.

Question 63

A résumé should always be one page in length.

Question 64

Digitized e-portfolios are used only by job candidates in fields such as art and graphic design.

Question 65

Today's technologies have made print-based résumés obsolete.

Question 66

Including your GPA in the Education section of your résumé is required.

Question 67

The first line of the main heading of your résumé should always be your name.

Question 68

Your list of references should include both professional and personal references.

Question 69

To obtain an entry-level position that offers room for advancement is an example of an effective career objective.

Question 70

To make your résumé look more professional, include your work e-mail address in the main heading.

Question 71

To make your print-based résumé look most professional, use a preformatted template.

Question 72

Successfully managed a marketing department that achieved its sales goals all four quarters of the past fiscal year.The preceding expression uses an action verb.

Question 73

When describing your employment achievements and job duties, it is best to place them in a bulleted list.

Question 74

Proofread your résumé carefully, but realize that it's okay to have one or two spelling or grammatical errors.

Question 75

The Summary of Qualifications section that lists your most impressive accomplishments and qualifications replaces the Education and Experience sections.

Question 76

A scannable résumé should focus on keywords that will maximize recognition by the scanner.

Question 77

Items in the Work Experience section of a résumé should be listed in reverse chronological order on a résumé, starting with your current or most recent position.

Question 78

It is not appropriate to list school, community, or volunteer activities on a professional résumé.

Question 79

People who have changed jobs frequently or who have gaps in their employment should probably prepare a résumé using the functional format.

Question 80

Don't include any foreign languages you know on your résumé because doing so might reveal your nationality.