Deck 18: Building Careers and Writing Résumés

Question 1

If you are planning a career change and want to deemphasize lengthy unemployment or lack of career progress, the best organizational plan for your résumé would be

A)chronological.
B)functional.
C)targeted.
D)indirect.

Answer 1

B
Explanation:B)A functional résumé can cover up long periods of unemployment and lack of advancement by focusing on skills and competence. However, the deemphasis of employment usually sends up a red flag to employers, so applicants should expect questions about work experience when using this kind of résumé.

Question 2

The most common way to organize a résumé is

A)chronologically.
B)functionally.
C)geographically.
D)alphabetically.

Answer 2

A
Explanation:A)A chronological résumé focuses on work experience, which typically is listed in reverse order, with the most recent job listed first. Chronological résumés are popular because they give employers a clear indication of what the applicant can do and what the applicant has done.

Question 3

The best time for college students to begin developing a job-search strategy is

A)about six months prior to graduation.
B)now-even if they are a year or more away from graduation.
C)no earlier than the second semester of their junior year.
D)immediately after graduation.

Answer 3

B
Explanation:B)The worst thing about delaying your job search is that you will be competing against others who are farther along in the process than you, effectively putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage.

Question 4

The best approach to preparing a résumé is to

A)spend a lot of time creating it, and then send the same version to all prospective employers.
B)learn as much as you can about who may be reading it, and be sure to meet their needs.
C)keep it general, brief, and nonspecific.
D)none of the above.

Question 5

By definition, a résumé is a

A)personal journal about a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications.
B)structured summary of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications.
C)random sample of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications.
D)comprehensive catalog of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications.

Question 6

The primary difference between a résumé and a CV is that the CV is likely to be ________ than the résumé.

A)shorter
B)less formal
C)more detailed
D)less detailed

Question 7

Using networking to make informal connections with mutually beneficial business contacts is more important than ever because

A)having a social media profile looks good on your résumé.
B)most employers prefer to ask current employees for recommendations first.
C)the vast majority of jobs are advertised on social networking sites.
D)networking is all about finding people who can help you.

Question 8

Starting with your initial contact and continuing throughout the interview process, you should

A)stress how much getting the job will mean to you.
B)press for a decision because you are scheduled for other interviews.
C)let the employer determine how to use your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
D)explain how your skills and accomplishments will meet the needs of the employer.

Question 9

Business-related blogs and microblogs

A)are generally not very helpful to job applicants.
B)can help you get comfortable with the jargon and buzzwords in a particular field.
C)can be useful in a job search, but only for those seeking positions in technical fields.
D)are very difficult to find online.

Question 10

Applicant tracking systems help employers by

A)charting each applicant's progress through the hiring process.
B)mapping out promising career paths for each applicant.
C)sifting through the many résumés they receive each year.
D)doing all of the above.

Question 11

The purpose of a résumé is to

A)induce the reader to hire you.
B)list all your skills and abilities.
C)get you an interview.
D)take the place of an application letter.

Question 12

When conducting a job search, you can use the Internet to

A)look for job openings.
B)respond to job openings.
C)research various companies.
D)do all of the above.

Question 13

The best way to handle frequent job changes on a résumé is to

A)avoid any mention of a job you held for less than a year.
B)group similar jobs under a single heading.
C)provide a detailed explanation of each one.
D)do none of the above.

Question 14

If you're thinking about using a functional résumé to support your job search, remember that many employers

A)are suspicious of them.
B)strongly prefer them to chronological résumés.
C)view them as a sign of strong communication skills.
D)don't know what they are.

Question 15

The best way to find job opportunities is usually

A)searching online job boards such as Monster and applying before others get the chance to see the openings.
B)looking in the newspaper.
C)waiting to hear about them from people you know.
D)identifying companies you want to work for and focusing your efforts on them.

Question 16

The best way to become a valued network member is by

A)expecting others in your network to help you.
B)emailing your résumé to everyone in your network.
C)broadcasting the contact information of everyone you meet.
D)none of the above.

Question 17

According to your textbook, the least desirable way to include keywords in your résumé is in

A)an introductory statement.
B)a stand-alone keyword summary.
C)the work history section.
D)the education section.

Question 18

Many companies judge the success of their recruiting efforts by the

A)quantity of hire.
B)cost-benefit hiring ratio.
C)quality of hire.
D)social media click-through rate.

Question 19

If you are just graduating from college and have little or no professional experience,

A)a traditional chronological résumé is your only option.
B)a functional résumé is your only option.
C)your chronological résumé should probably list educational qualifications first.
D)your résumé can be written in a casual, informal tone.

Question 20

A type of résumé that emphasizes a candidate's skills and accomplishments while also including a complete job history is termed

A)a chronological résumé.
B)a functional résumé.
C)a combination résumé.
D)an indirect résumé.

Question 21

Which of the following would be the best wording to use on a résumé?

A)"I was in charge of a staff of six employees."
B)"I supervised a full staff of six employees."
C)"Was in charge of entire departmental staff."
D)"Supervised staff of six employees."

Question 22

When you're selecting keywords to include your résumé, you should

A)never use more than three of them at one time.
B)incorporate them into your introductory statement and other sections.
C)place all of them in a keyword summary at the end of the résumé.
D)choose strong verbs and colorful adjectives.

Question 23

Creating a plain-text file of your résumé

A)is an outdated practice.
B)allows you to include your résumé in the body of an email message, instead of as an attachment.
C)is helpful, but very difficult to do without expensive software.
D)requires that you center all headings instead of left-justifying them.

Question 24

You can use a ________ to recap your career, with a focus on your increasing levels of responsibility and performance.

A)career objective
B)qualifications summary
C)career summary
D)key activity matrix

Question 25

Putting "References available upon request" at the end of your résumé is

A)not necessary since the availability of references is usually assumed.
B)standard practice, and most employers will expect to see it.
C)less effective than listing the names and contact information for all references, even if the employer has not requested them.
D)necessary only when applying for government positions.

Question 26

Do not include on your résumé items that could encourage discrimination, such as

A)home address.
B)hobbies.
C)sexual orientation.
D)military service.

Question 27

If you choose not to list your GPA in the "Education" section of your résumé,

A)most employers will not consider you for an interview.
B)employers will generally respect you for being modest and not boasting about your record.
C)you should be prepared to answer questions about it during the interview.
D)you should always state it in your application letter.

Question 28

In describing activities and achievements on your résumé, you should

A)use mild exaggerations-everyone else does, so you'll be at an unfair disadvantage if you don't.
B)limit what you include to what makes you a more attractive job candidate.
C)use significant amounts of jargon and technical terms.
D)leave out any awards you've won unless they are specifically relevant to your current career objective.

Question 29

An infographic résumé uses ________ to convey a person's career development and skill set.

A)storyboarding
B)visual metaphors
C)pull quotes and boilerplate text
D)keyword summaries

Question 30

The most common problem with résumé design is

A)using excessive and distracting design elements.
B)settling for an old-fashioned look.
C)using the wrong type of paper.
D)failing to include at least one graphic.

Question 31

When you describe your work experience on your résumé, you should

A)start with your most recent job and work back chronologically.
B)describe one or two jobs in detail so that employers get an idea of your work ethic.
C)list only full-time positions.
D)try to come up with fancier titles for the jobs you've held.

Question 32

To achieve the best physical appearance for your résumé, you should

A)have it prepared by a professional artist for esthetic appeal.
B)make subheadings easy to find and easy to read.
C)use colored paper.
D)use a variety of typefaces in various colors.

Question 33

Military service relevant to the position you're seeking should be listed in the ________ section of your résumé.

A)Education
B)Work Experience
C)Education or Work Experience
D)None of the above

Question 34

When you're preparing an introductory statement for your résumé, all of the following except ________ can be a good choice.

A)a career objective
B)a qualifications summary
C)a personal preferences statement
D)a career summary

Question 35

You should keep ________ of your résumé on hand, in case a prospective employer wants you to send your résumé in the body of an email message.

A)an MS Word version
B)a plain-text version
C)an RTF version
D)a PDF version

Question 36

Including a photo of yourself with your résumé

A)is a great way to personalize your application.
B)helps you stand out among other applicants.
C)will cause some employers to discard your application immediately.
D)is the best way to guard against potential discrimination.

Question 37

Which of the following is not a common problem that employers see in résumés?

A)They are too long.
B)They display a weak understanding of the industry.
C)They are filled with misspellings and grammatical errors.
D)They fail to catch the employer's eye with flashy graphics.

Question 38

Your online presence is

A)your private property.
B)a career-management tool.
C)only of interest to your friends.
D)unrelated to the job-search process.

Question 39

An effective résumé design looks

A)cute and clever.
B)clean and professional.
C)assignable and scalable.
D)compressed and thorough.

Question 40

Potential employers view your résumé as

A)nothing more than a routine employment-related document.
B)incidental to your workplace credibility.
C)evidence of your attention to detail and quality.
D)your opportunity to channel your creative spirit.

Question 41

If you're still in school, you should present your educational background in depth on your résumé, since that is probably your strongest selling point.

Question 42

Showing up a few minutes late to an interview sends a strong message that you are a busy person.

Question 43

A good résumé is targeted for specific situations and prospective employers.

Question 44

You can find information about job hunting on the Internet, but it's not a good source for information on specific companies.

Question 45

To maximize your chances of finding employment, create a single, solid version of your résumé and send it to all prospective employers.

Question 46

A functional résumé is structured around a list of skills and abilities and focuses on the person's areas of competence.

Question 47

The most common file format for uploading résumés directly to websites such as Monster.com is

A)WordPerfect.
B)PDF.
C)Microsoft Word.
D)Microsoft Publisher.

Question 48

Most employers now prefer functional résumés to chronological ones.

Question 49

Because lying on résumés is rare, employers are seldom on the look-out for it.

Question 50

A combination résumé combines descriptions of your education and employment background.

Question 51

One example of an effective career objective is, "A fulfilling position that provides ample opportunity for career growth and personal satisfaction."

Question 52

If you have a personal webpage or e-portfolio, you should list it on your résumé under "Contact Information."

Question 53

Supplementing a traditional résumé with a PowerPoint presentation

A)makes you appear desperate.
B)is considered a viable choice in today's job market.
C)is limited since it does not offer multimedia capabilities.
D)is more convenient for employers than an online résumé.

Question 54

Networking involves more than contacting powerful people and asking them for a job.

Question 55

When mailing a résumé, it is a good idea to

A)have it delivered via Priority Mail.
B)use a standard white #10 envelope.
C)pay to have it delivered the next day.
D)use a large kraft envelope.

Question 56

Starting to develop a job-search strategy before your senior year of college is a waste of time.

Question 57

As part of your job search, it's essential to stay abreast of business and financial news.

Question 58

When emailing your résumé to a prospective employer for a particular job, you should

A)never send it as a Microsoft Word attachment.
B)make it less formal than you would for other formats.
C)include in the subject line the reference number or job ad number.
D)use lots of colors to make your résumé stand out.

Question 59

A résumé is a persuasive message designed to help you get an interview.

Question 60

An online résumé

A)consists of a PDF version of a traditional chronological résumé and a cover letter.
B)lets jobseekers use multimedia to expand on the information in a basic résumé.
C)requires a paid subscription to an online hosting service.
D)will not be well received outside of technology-related fields.

Question 61

Most employers now conduct online searches to learn more about promising candidates, and many have rejected applicants because of what those searches yield.

Question 62

The education section of your résumé should list courses that have directly equipped you for the job you are seeking and indicate any scholarships, awards, or academic honors you have received.

Question 63

The ________ ________ section of a résumé states what you wish to accomplish in your work.

Question 64

The best résumés are written using short, crisp phrases starting with strong ________ verbs.

Question 65

It would be inappropriate to mention unpaid community service activities on a résumé.

Question 66

Employers see a one-page résumé as a sign that an applicant is weak.

Question 67

With today's technology, preparing a paper résumé is a waste of time.

Question 68

A(n)________ is a persuasive message designed to get you an interview.

Question 69

You should always include your college GPA on your résumé.

Question 70

Although employers expect résumés to be carefully written, most are understanding if candidates fail to correct a few typos.

Question 71

________ is the process of making informal connections with a broad sphere of mutually beneficial business contacts.

Question 72

The most common way to organize a résumé is ________.

Question 73

Today's employers want all jobseekers to submit video résumés.

Question 74

One alternative to putting a Career Objective on your résumé is to include a Summary of ________.

Question 75

If you have very little job experience, you may choose to lead off your résumé with a(n)________ section.

Question 76

Your résumé should list past jobs in chronological order, with the first job first and the current job last.

Question 77

A(n)________ résumé includes key features of the chronological and functional approaches.

Question 78

In the ________ ________ section of your résumé you list jobs you've had and responsibilities you've held on those jobs.

Question 79

A(n)________ résumé is organized around a list of skills and areas of competence.

Question 80

When listing work experience on a résumé, you should emphasize significant achievements in each job.