Deck 15: Starting Your Career Journey

Question 1

Although your skills matter significantly as you consider future jobs and careers, it's also important to carefully consider

A) your personal preferences.
B) your family's expectations of you.
C) which position will pay the highest salary.
D) the prestige associated with different careers.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What should you do first when selecting a career path?

A) Decide how much money you want to make on an annual basis.
B) Determine whether you would prefer to work part-time or full-time.
C) Consider what type of academic work is most interesting to you.
D) Ask your friends and family what they think you'd be good at.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Regan is beginning her second year of college and knows that she needs to figure out which career she wants to pursue so that she can complete the necessary classes before she graduates. Unfortunately, she's not sure what she wants to do for a living. Which strategy would best help Regan figure out where her career interests lie?

A) researching the fastest-growing professions
B) looking for patterns in her academic plan
C) asking her friends about their career choices
D) researching the highest-paid professions

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Clark isn't sure which career he wants to pursue, but since he likes animals, he is thinking of becoming a veterinarian. What strategy will help Clark get experience in the veterinary field so that he can gauge his interest in it?

A) looking up statistics about job satisfaction rates in the veterinary field
B) asking an advisor which courses he would need to take to become a veterinarian
C) getting an internship or a job-shadowing opportunity at a veterinary clinic
D) seeking out people in the field of veterinary medicine and asking their advice

Question 5

Which is a benefit of attending a lecture given by an expert in a field that you are interested in?

A) The expert will likely write you a recommendation for a job or graduate school.
B) It gives you firsthand practical experience in your field of interest.
C) Listening to a presentation is good practice for a job interview.
D) You get an opportunity to ask the expert any questions you might have.

Question 6

Maureen is studying biology at a state university and is planning to pursue a career in medicine. Her instructor recommended her for a research position over the summer for a project that he is working on. If Maureen accepts the position, she will

A) learn firsthand how relatively mundane tasks can be essential to achieving a larger goal.
B) be responsible for delivering lectures and making presentations at conferences.
C) observe her instructor as he works, but will not perform any research of her own.
D) learn more about the field, but will not be able to include the experience on her résumé.

Question 7

Which activity allows you to focus on a specific topic in depth with others who are interested and invested?

A) researching a company online
B) taking part in a conference
C) using a template to create a résumé
D) reviewing your academic plan

Question 8

If you take on a leadership role in a student organization, it usually means you

A) are simply trying to beef up your résumé.
B) need to spend more time focusing on academics.
C) care about the organization and its work.
D) prefer working alone over being part of a team.

Question 9

A(n) _____ can help you gain insight into jobs in your career field.

A) résumé
B) cover letter
C) mock interview
D) informational interview

Question 10

Shelby is in her final year of college and will start interviewing for jobs in a few months. She knows that potential employers will likely look her up online to see what they can learn about her, so she wants to make sure her online identity appears professional. Which strategy will best help Shelby foster a positive online identity?

A) changing the privacy setting on her Facebook account from "private" to "public"
B) deleting questionable photos from her Instagram account
C) posting a series of tweets on her Twitter account with strong political opinions
D) asking her friends to "tag" her in photos they have posted online

Question 11

What is networking?

A) a method of reviewing and "scrubbing" your online profiles
B) practicing interviewing with another person
C) a method of locating job opportunities using online search tools
D) the art of making connections with others

Question 12

If you get the opportunity to take part in an informational interview, how many questions should you prepare ahead of time for the person you are interviewing?

A) no more than one or two
B) no more than five
C) at least five
D) at least ten

Question 13

Jafaru is pursuing a degree in political science and hopes to find work at the state legislature after he graduates. His father's friend, Mrs. Jenkins, works for a state representative and has agreed to sit down with Jafaru for an informational interview. What should Jafaru do during the interview?

A) Discuss why he is interested in politics.
B) Allow Mrs. Jenkins to lead the interview.
C) Listen carefully and refrain from speaking.
D) Ask Mrs. Jenkins to hire him when he graduates.

Question 14

You should always _____ after an informational interview.

A) ask to schedule a second interview
B) research the person's biography
C) look up information about the person's job
D) send a thank-you note

Question 15

A _____ is essentially a summary of your educational background, work experience, and outside activities and interests.

A) cover letter
B) academic plan
C) résumé
D) syllabus

Question 16

Your _____ is your chance to "speak" directly to an employer about why you are applying for a specific position and what makes you a good fit for the job.

A) cover letter
B) résumé
C) syllabus
D) academic plan

Question 17

When preparing your résumé, you should

A) not include your contact information.
B) exaggerate your experience.
C) highlight your strengths.
D) focus solely on your academic achievements.

Question 18

What should you focus on when writing a cover letter?

A) your academic experiences and achievements
B) why you want the job and why you would be successful in it
C) asking questions about what the position entails
D) your compensation requirements, including salary and benefits

Question 19

Having career-focused conversations with a mentor or advisor is useful because

A) it can help you to articulate and organize your thoughts.
B) he or she will decide for you which career to pursue.
C) employers usually consult with academic advisors before making a job offer.
D) these conversations often constitute extra credit to improve your GPA.

Question 20

If you graduate from college at a time when jobs are scarce

A) your job search will likely take less time and you will be hired more quickly.
B) employers will likely pay higher wages than they would if jobs were plentiful.
C) you will likely be asked to fill out a job application instead of submitting a résumé.
D) you may have to look for jobs in areas outside of your preferred career field.

Question 21

Some career paths require additional schooling.

Question 22

Some career paths require additional schooling.

Question 23

Volunteering is a great way to give back and to gain experience.

Question 24

Attending lectures delivered by experts in your field of interest may be entertaining, but it is unlikely to be informative.

Question 25

Networking is beneficial only when you are interacting with people directly involved in your field of interest.

Question 26

Potential employers take into account errors in grammar and spelling when reviewing applicants' résumés and cover letters.

Question 27

Job interviews always take place face-to-face.

Question 28

College alumni can provide insight into career fields they have pursued and may be able to help you with job searches in those fields.

Question 29

When you graduate from college, you will be the same person you were when you entered as a first-year student.

Question 30

College is a time to get to know yourself, and you should make the most of it.

Question 31

Why is college a great time to consider your personal preferences?

Question 32

List three questions you should ask when identifying your career preferences.

Question 33

How can holding down a job while attending college help you determine the type of career you want to pursue?

Question 34

Describe three ways you can use career services resources on campus.

Question 35

How can participating in mock interviews be beneficial?

Question 36

Identify a career path that you are considering and explain how you can adjust your academic plan to help you pursue your chosen career. Include examples to illustrate your explanation.

Question 37

Identify a field that you are interested in exploring and describe three methods that you could use to get experience in that field. Include examples in your response.

Question 38

Describe three methods of networking you could use to make connections with people who work in one of your fields of interest. Be sure to include examples of each method and describe what each involves.

Question 39

Prepare a cover letter in which you are applying to an imaginary position with a company in your field of interest. Remember to explain why you are interested in the job and why you would likely be successful in the role.

Question 40

Explain why it is important to pause periodically while attending college to take in all that you're experiencing and all that you're learning, and then describe three methods that you can use to do so. Includes examples in your response.