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

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When it comes to functional résumés, many employers

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

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The best approach to preparing a résumé is to

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

Answer 3

A

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

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

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

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

Regardless of a candidate's work experience, the prime source of jobs in general appears to be

A) online job posting services.
B) college job fairs.
C) personal contacts.
D) all of the above equally.

Question 8

The vast majority of all job openings in the U.S. are

A) never advertised.
B) advertised the old-fashioned way-in the newspaper.
C) posted on Craigslist or Monster.
D) none of the above.

Question 9

The purpose of a résumé is to

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

Question 10

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) provide a detailed explanation of each one.
C) group similar jobs under a single heading.
D) do none of the above.

Question 11

Applicant tracking systems help employers by

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

Question 12

The best way to find job opportunities is usually

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

Question 13

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

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

Question 14

Business-related blogs and microblogs

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

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

The most common way to organize a résumé is

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

Question 17

When it comes to including keywords on résumés,

A) it is usually a waste of time, since most employers now personally review each résumé they receive.
B) the best strategy is to put them all into a keyword summary.
C) it is impossible to determine what words might attract the kind of employer you want.
D) you should incorporate them into your introductory statement and other sections.

Question 18

Networking

A) involves making informal connections with mutually beneficial business contacts.
B) is no longer very effective, thanks to the Internet.
C) is a simple process of contacting influential people and asking them for a job.
D) none of the above.

Question 19

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

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

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

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

Question 22

Including a photo of yourself with your résumé

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

Question 23

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 more convenient for employers than an online résumé.
D) is limited since it does not offer multimedia capabilities.

Question 24

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

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

Question 25

An online résumé

A) requires a paid subscription to an online hosting service.
B) should never include "extras" such as screencasts and online videos.
C) can give employers a more complete picture of who you are and what you have to offer.
D) is useful only if you are applying for jobs in technology-related fields.

Question 26

For college students, attempting to develop a job-search strategy before the senior year is a waste of time.

Question 27

Creating a plain-text file of your résumé

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

Question 28

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

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

Question 29

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

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

Question 30

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

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

Question 31

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) use significant amounts of jargon and technical terms.
C) limit what you include to what makes you a more attractive job candidate.
D) leave out any awards you've won unless they are specifically relevant to your current career objective.

Question 32

The most common problem with résumé design is

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

Question 33

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

Question 34

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

A) always send it as a Microsoft Word attachment.
B) include in the subject line the reference number or job ad number.
C) make it less formal than you would for other formats.
D) use lots of colors to make your résumé stand out.

Question 35

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

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

Question 36

When mailing a résumé, it is a good idea to

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

Question 37

The best approach to résumé writing is to create a single, solid version and send it to all prospective employers.

Question 38

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

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

Question 39

Employers generally treat major job boards such as Monster as their last resort when seeking qualified candidates.

Question 40

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

Question 41

Some examples of an effective entry to include in your résumé would be "I am a hard worker who gets along well with others regardless of the situation."

Question 42

If you have a criminal record, you are required by law to disclose it on your résumé.

Question 43

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

Question 44

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

Question 45

In the work experience section of your résumé, you may not leave out any jobs that you had, even if they do not relate directly to your career objective.

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

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

Question 48

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

Question 49

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

Question 50

Because the competition for most jobs is so great, even a seemingly minor mistake on a résumé can eliminate your chances of success.

Question 51

You should always include your college GPA on your résumé.

Question 52

If you plan to include a career objective or summary of qualifications in your résumé, you should make it as vague as possible to keep from limiting your prospects.

Question 53

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

Question 54

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

Question 55

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

Question 56

Most employers now prefer functional résumés to chronological ones.

Question 57

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 58

All résumés should be organized chronologically.

Question 59

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

Question 60

Networking is not simply putting yourself in contact with powerful people and asking them for a job.

Question 61

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

Question 62

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

Question 63

You can create a PDF file of your résumé with free Adobe Reader software.

Question 64

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

Question 65

When it comes to sending résumés as email attachments, WordPerfect is the most common format.

Question 66

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

Question 67

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

Question 68

Employers expect your résumé to display a strong understanding of the specific company to which you are applying.

Question 69

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

Question 70

To fit everything on a page, it's okay to sacrifice white space on your résumé.

Question 71

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

Question 72

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

Question 73

The most common way to organize a résumé is ________.

Question 74

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

Question 75

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

Question 76

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

Question 77

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

Question 78

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

Question 79

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

Question 80

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