Deck 13: the Job Search and Resumes in the Digital Age

Question 1

Most jobs today are found through

A) referrals and person-to-person contacts.
B) newspaper advertisements.
C) college career fairs.
D) employment agencies.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

To help you develop your personal network, you should do all of the following except

A) develop a contact list of anyone who would be willing to talk with you about finding a job.
B) make contacts with people in person and online.
C) follow up on referrals.
D) use only online resources to help you connect with others.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following statements about today's job search is most accurate?

A) The emphasis of today's job search is on the needs of the employer.
B) Today's job searchers should create a universal résumé that can be used for every job for which they apply.
C) Career paths for employees are now linear; that is, employees can expect to remain in the same position throughout their employment years.
D) Jobs are long lasting; therefore, today's employees will need little relearning and retraining.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following would help an individual assess his or her employment qualifications?

A) Do I speak, write, or understand another language?
B) How would you describe the perfect job, boss, and coworkers?
C) Would you like to work for someone else or be your own boss?
D) Do you enjoy working with people, data, or things?

Question 5

Which statement about open and hidden job markets is most accurate?

A) More jobs are secured through the open job market than through the hidden job market.
B) The open job market consists of jobs that are advertised or listed.
C) Most job seekers start searching for jobs using the hidden job market.
D) The hidden job market refers to those jobs that are filled through illegal or unethical tactics.

Question 6

You are just graduating from college and have little employment experience, yet you want to put together a persuasive résumé. What would be the best résumé style to use?

A) Chronological résumé
B) Video résumé
C) Functional résumé
D) Infographic résumé

Question 7

Which online source is used most for job searching and recruiting?

A) Twitter
B) Monster
C) CollegeGrad
D) LinkedIn

Question 8

The first step in the job-search process is to

A) prepare a résumé.
B) contact professional and personal references.
C) analyze individual interests and goals and evaluate personal qualifications.
D) purchase appropriate interview clothing.

Question 9

All of the following are ways you can develop a personal brand except

A) preparing a brief speech that describes who you are and what problems your skills can solve.
B) creating an individual tagline that separates you from other candidates.
C) distributing business cards whenever you have an opportunity.
D) creating an attractive résumé.

Question 10

The most popular résumé format is the

A) chronological format.
B) direct format
C) functional format.
D) indirect format.

Question 11

How can an individual find career data?

A) Using a library
B) Searching the Web
C) Conducting an interview with someone in a particular field
D) All answer choices are sources for finding career data.

Question 12

Many job candidates use LinkedIn to

A) research companies.
B) receive job alerts.
C) expand their personal and professional networks.
D) All answer choices are ways that LinkedIn can help candidates locate jobs.

Question 13

Because job competition is stiff, you must have a customized résumé. Having a customized résumé means that you

A) prepare a special résumé for every position you want.
B) add pictures, color, and other graphics on the résumé.
C) hire a professional résumé preparation company to review and refine your basic résumé and then "dress it up."
D) include your personal information such as height, weight, and ethnicity.

Question 14

Most recruiters favor a

A) video résumé.
B) functional résumé.
C) chronological résumé.
D) plain-text résumé.

Question 15

All of the following are important preliminary steps for securing an interview except

A) developing a job-search strategy.
B) preparing a résumé.
C) knowing the hiring process.
D) writing a thank-you message to an interviewer.

Question 16

Which of the following tips will best help you protect yourself when posting at online job boards?

A) Respond only to "blind" job postings.
B) Post your résumé on any online site to increase your employment opportunities.
C) Post your résumé only on sites that charge a fee.
D) Consider omitting your home address and home phone number.

Question 17

Kendra is searching for a job and wants to use electronic sources. Which of the following will probably be her best source of online job listings?

A) Big job boards such as Monster and CareerBuilder
B) Specific company websites
C) Her college website job board
D) Niche websites

Question 18

A large part of your job-search strategy should be deciding what makes you special and desirable in the job market. This introspective process is called

A) networking.
B) personal branding.
C) desired workplace behavior.
D) cognitive reflection.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about today's job market is most accurate?

A) Today's job market remains stable and remarkably similar to the job market ten years ago.
B) Personal networking and referrals continue to be the primary route to hiring.
C) Despite its popularity, the Internet has not affected the way in which individuals search for jobs.
D) Job candidates should avoid using job boards, search engines, and social networks to hunt for jobs.

Question 20

Which of the following is the best advice about résumé length?

A) Because recruiters are busy, keep it to one page.
B) Because recruiters and hiring managers want to know your skills, make it as long as needed to sell yourself.
C) Because recruiters interview applicants with two-page résumés, make it two pages.
D) Because experts are divided between one- or two-page résumé length, make your résumé a page and a half.

Question 21

An e-portfolio is

A) an electronic copy of a résumé recorded on a CD or flash drive.
B) the addition of work samples and personal information as an attachment to an embedded résumé.
C) a collection of digital files that can be accessed with the use of menus and hyperlinks.
D) the name given to résumés posted on job-search websites such as Monster.com.

Question 22

When creating the main heading of your résumé,

A) place your name on the first line.
B) include your current work e-mail address so that you can check your messages frequently.
C) include your home and cell phone numbers, along with the phone numbers of any family members who might take messages for you.
D) incorporate a catchy e-mail address such as [e-mail].

Question 23

In the education section of your résumé, you should

A) list all college courses that you have taken to give the employer a complete picture.
B) include relevant seminars attended and workshops completed.
C) list only colleges where you have completed a degree or certificate program.
D) specify your high school and college GPAs.

Question 24

Which statement represents the best advice on the use of references?

A) Include a list of references directly on the résumé.
B) Do not include personal or character references.
C) Remember that 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 25

Which of the following statements about personal data on a résumé is most accurate?

A) Résumés should include an individual's birth date, marital status, height, weight, national origin, health, disabilities, and religious affiliation.
B) Smart job seekers do not include hobbies or interests on their résumés because they know that recruiters cannot legally inquire about such information.
C) Résumés in the United States should omit personal data.
D) All answer choices reflect accurate statements about the inclusion of personal data on a résumé.

Question 26

Which of these résumé tips is most accurate?

A) Don't list awards and honors on a résumé; if you list them, you will appear to be bragging.
B) Omit school and community activities from your résumé because they are unrelated to your work experience.
C) Include your personal information (height, weight, and marital status) to give a potential employer a complete picture.
D) Improve the visual impact of your résumé by placing your employment achievements and relevant job duties in an easy-to-read bulleted list.

Question 27

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 answer choices are unethical.

Question 28

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

A) Competent in creation of multimedia presentations
B) Mastered QuickBooks Pro accounting software in 20 hours with minimal instruction
C) Ability to develop innovative and interactive Web pages
D) Adaptable to changing work environments

Question 29

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

A) Plain-text résumés are in high demand for electronic applications because recruiters and employers no longer ask candidates to send application materials by postal mail.
B) A plain-text format is widely used for posting to online job boards and for applying by e-mail.
C) Plain-text résumés will look exactly like the original and cannot be altered without Adobe Acrobat and other conversion software.
D) A plain-text résumé enables a job candidate to present his or her experiences, qualifications, and interests in video form.

Question 30

Opinions on the use of a career objective are mixed. Which of the following is the best reason for candidates to add a career objective to their résumés?

A) An objective shows flexibility and indicates that a candidate is adaptable and willing to change to suit the employer's needs.
B) The primary goal of an objective is to make the recruiter's life easier by quickly classifying the résumé, which means the applicant is more likely to be hired.
C) An objective can rapidly disqualify a candidate if the stated objective does not match a company's job description.
D) An objective can tell the prospective employer that this candidate is sure about what he or she wants to do.

Question 31

Which of these is the best tip for organizing the parts of a résumé?

A) Place your most important qualifications last so that they will be remembered.
B) Use as many headings as needed to present your experiences and skills.
C) Emphasize your skills and achievements aimed at a particular job or company.
D) Always place the education section before the work experience section.

Question 32

Which of the following statements describing employment achievements would be most effective on a résumé?

A) Directed work flow and scheduling for emergency room personnel
B) Performed preventative maintenance on production equipment
C) Achieved 125 percent of production goal for three consecutive quarters
D) Knowledgeable in a variety of production processes and Just-in-Time theories

Question 33

Some of today's employers often use applicant tracking software to sort and evaluate résumés. Which of these steps will maximize the "hits" your résumé receives from this kind of software?

A) Describe your experience, education, and qualifications in general terms.
B) Avoid abbreviations and acronyms, especially those related to the job title.
C) Include a keyword summary that highlights your qualifications and experiences.
D) Focus on nouns that describe your skills and qualifications.

Question 34

When creating a plain-text résumé,

A) use white space or a line of hyphens or equal signs to separate sections.
B) add page breaks, sections breaks, tabs, and tables to emphasize important information.
C) use bullets to enhance the readability of your résumé.
D) add lots of images, designs, and colors for visual impact.

Question 35

What statement best describes the summary of qualifications portion of a résumé?

A) Recruiters and hiring managers dislike the summary of qualifications section because it adds reading time.
B) The summary of qualifications usually appears at the end of a résumé to provide a strong closing.
C) Smart job seekers add a summary of their most impressive qualifications to their résumés to save the time of recruiters and hiring managers.
D) The summary of qualifications section is typically one or two concise paragraphs.

Question 36

Video résumés

A) present a job candidate's experiences, qualifications, and interests in video form.
B) are appropriate for all professional fields.
C) should be at least 15 minutes in length to showcase a candidate's background and skills.
D) are appropriate only for individuals who are applying for management-related positions.

Question 37

What kind of résumé uses colorful charts, graphics, and time lines to illustrate a candidate's work history and experience?

A) Chronological résumé
B) Video résumé
C) Infographic résumé
D) Plain-text résumé

Question 38

Because your résumé is probably the most important document you will ever write, you should

A) enhance your job titles to make your résumé more impressive.
B) include ample use of the personal pronoun I to make it more personal.
C) consider having a knowledgeable friend or relative proofread it.
D) use a professional résumé service to prepare your résumé.

Question 39

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

A) An entry-level position in the marketing area with a possibility of promotion
B) A challenging job at an organization that raises the bar in data security
C) Serving as a team player in a company where independent thinking is a top priority
D) An accounting position in which 10 years' experience and a license as a CPA will allow me to assist your company with payroll, employee benefits, and governmental tax and records reporting

Question 40

Which of the following statements about résumés is inaccurate?

A) A résumé is expected to showcase your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
B) An ethical résumé may include half-truths but not outright lies.
C) Even after you have been hired, a misrepresentation on the résumé can be cause for firing.
D) Although they can't verify everything, most recruiters will verify your previous employment and education before hiring.

Question 41

The first step in a job search is selecting an appropriate résumé format.

Question 42

Choose the best closing sentence for a cover message.
A)m.

A) You should schedule my interview on Tuesday, September 7, at 10
B) Please feel free to call me at your earliest convenience.
C) I hope you contact me soon to set up an interview for the systems analyst position.
D) To add to your team an experienced systems analyst with proven analytical and troubleshooting skills, call me at [phone] to arrange an interview.

Question 43

The Internet has changed the way individuals search for jobs.

Question 44

The biggest error most applicants make when writing a cover message is

A) misspelling the receiver's name or the company's name.
B) forgetting to enclose their résumé.
C) making the letter too generic.
D) not asking for the interview.

Question 45

Employers today will probably ask you to submit your résumé in any of following formats except as a

A) PDF document.
B) professionally typeset document.
C) Word document.
D) plain-text document.

Question 46

Students who are serious about the job search should include an internship in their education.

Question 47

In the body of a cover message, you should

A) repeat the information presented on your résumé.
B) explain why you need a job.
C) emphasize writer benefits because hiring officers want to know what appeals to you about this particular company.
D) demonstrate your qualifications and show how they fit the targeted job.

Question 48

Many job seekers today use social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to network and to find positions.

Question 49

The purpose of a cover message is to

A) showcase an applicant's command of the English language.
B) secure a job interview.
C) introduce the résumé.
D) repeat the information presented on the résumé.

Question 50

Using the big job boards such as Monster or CareerBuilder to locate an open position is a waste of time.

Question 51

In today's competitive job market, the emphasis of the job search is on what the applicant wants and needs.

Question 52

Which of the following is the best advice to follow for a cover message accompanying a résumé sent by e-mail or fax?

A) Take the time to prepare a customized cover message to accompany your résumé sent electronically.
B) Send your cover message separately from a faxed or e-mailed résumé.
C) Shorten your e-mail or fax cover message to a brief statement such as Please consider the attached résumé for your opening.
D) Skip the cover message entirely because the fax or e-mail includes your name.

Question 53

Which of the following is the best tip for creating a successful cover message?

A) Use different paper colors and paper types for your résumé and cover message to create a strong visual impact.
B) Make activities and outcomes, not yourself, the subject of sentences to reduce overuse of "I."
C) Use a creative letter style to surprise the reader and make a big impact.
D) Keep the focus on your skills and traits through frequent use of "I" statements.

Question 54

The best way to find a job online is at a company's own website.

Question 55

You can decide what qualifications you possess and how you can prove them by asking yourself What evidence can I offer that I am a self-starter or a leader?

Question 56

A job opening has been announced. Which of these answer choices will be the best opening sentence for the cover message?

A) You seek a master Web engineer, and I need a job; we are perfect for each other!
B) Dr. Matthew Skalski, IT director at Northwestern University, told me that you have an opening for a Web engineer with experience in networking, data management, and innovations.
C) Please consider this letter my application for your opening in the IT Department.
D) Do you need a Web engineer with over three years of experience?

Question 57

The job-search process begins long before you are ready to prepare your résumé because you must invest time and effort in self-evaluation.

Question 58

Which of the following statements is inaccurate regarding the opening in a cover message for an unsolicited job?

A) If you are unsure whether a position exists, use a more persuasive opening.
B) Demonstrate knowledge of the reader's business to convince the person to continue reading.
C) Show how your special talents will benefit the company and convince the reader that your skill is exactly what this position demands.
D) Be vague about the type of position you're seeking so that you might be considered for a variety of jobs.

Question 59

Today, most jobs are filled through the open job market.

Question 60

Which of these is the best statement to present a job candidate's information in the body of a cover message?

A) I am a qualified and fully licensed pediatric nurse.
B) Your posting description closely matches my experiences assisting dysfunctional families in crisis, and recently I've taken seminars in family dynamics to develop the additional skills that your ad indicates are essential.
C) You need a licensed, registered nurse, and I meet those qualifications.
D) Having graduated summa cum laude from Southwest College, I am well-prepared and eager to apply my knowledge in nursing.

Question 61

To conduct a safe job search online, you should post your information privately and limit your personal information.

Question 62

Proofreading a résumé is important because a résumé must be perfect.

Question 63

In the work experience section of your résumé, you should include only those jobs that you think will help you win the targeted position.

Question 64

More jobs are found through referrals and person-to-person contacts than through any other method.

Question 65

The résumé format most popular with recruiters and hiring managers is the functional résumé because it focuses on the job applicant's skills and abilities related to the position sought.

Question 66

The most important reason to prepare an e-portfolio is that it shows off your talents and qualifications more thoroughly than a print résumé.

Question 67

Once your résumé is submitted to a company, the first reader of it may be a computer.

Question 68

References should be listed on a résumé.

Question 69

You can maximize recognition of your résumé by a tracking system if you use targeted keywords and incorporate words from the advertisement or job description.

Question 70

The purpose of a summary of qualifications is to present your most impressive qualifications.

Question 71

Every résumé should include a career objective.

Question 72

A video résumé allows candidates to demonstrate their public speaking, interpersonal, and technical skills more impressively than they can in a traditional print résumé.

Question 73

In the education section of your résumé, list all courses you have taken.

Question 74

Another name for a video résumé is an infographic résumé.

Question 75

Because they expect you to showcase your strengths and hide your weaknesses, employers say it is acceptable to self-promote and distort facts on your résumé.

Question 76

An important step in the job-search process is building a brand for yourself.

Question 77

LinkedIn is the No. 1 social media site to use when looking for a job.

Question 78

A résumé should never exceed one page.

Question 79

A résumé should include personal data (birth date, health, height, weight, and sometimes a photograph) to help the recruiter finalize his or her decision.

Question 80

Begin your résumé by placing the word Résumé at the top to identify the purpose of your document.