Deck 13: Building Careers and Writing Résumés

Question 1

Callum is looking for a job as a research analyst at a leading chemical company.He already works at a local company as a research assistant.He decides to attend industry functions and develop connections on popular social media sites.He is ________.

A)using persuasive communication
B)measuring the quality of hire
C)coaching
D)temping the employer
E)networking

Answer 1

E
Explanation: E)Networking takes place wherever and whenever people talk: at industry functions, at social gatherings, at alumni reunions-and all over the Internet, from LinkedIn to Facebook to Twitter.

Question 2

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

A)Networking
B)Soliciting
C)Temping
D)Coaching
E)Recruiting

Answer 2

A
Explanation: A)Networking is the process of making informal connections with mutually beneficial business contacts. Networking takes place wherever and whenever people talk: at industry functions, at social gatherings, at alumni reunions-and all over the Internet, from LinkedIn to Facebook to Twitter.

Question 3

Which of the following is true about résumés?

A)Recruiters don't need much information about you at the initial screening stage, and they probably won't read it.
B)Present your work experience in chronological order and avoid translating your past experience to the new position.
C)The purpose of your résumé is to list all your skills and abilities.
D)If you want a really good résumé, you need to have it prepared by a résumé service.
E)The more good information you present about yourself in your résumé, the better, so stuff your résumé with every positive detail.

Answer 3

A
Explanation: A)The fact about résumés is that recruiters don't need that much information about you at the initial screening stage, and they probably won't read it.

Question 4

Quality of hire is ________.

A)a measure of the effectiveness of the hiring process
B)the number of applicants who applied through employee referral
C)the candidate's perceived ability to work
D)a measure of how closely new employees meet the company's needs
E)a measure of the performance of an organization

Question 5

While building a network,which of the following should serve as a guideline?

A)Don't overwhelm others with too many messages or requests.
B)Be as elaborate as you can in all your communication efforts.
C)Help fellow networkers by giving them contact information, even if it is without permission.
D)Email your résumé to all contacts that you find interesting.
E)Don't send thank-you notes because it is too assertive.

Question 6

Kenneth is a popular writer who dispenses advice on career,job search,and management issues.He argues that candidates should not be apprehensive and reach out to company representatives on social networks to maximize their chances of finding the right job.Which of the following statements strengthens the argument?

A)As a job candidate, customizing your résumé to each job opening is an important step in showing employers that you will be a good fit.
B)Posting jobs on major job boards and classified services such as Craigslist is often a company's last resort.
C)To avoid the time and expense of sifting through thousands of applications and the risk of hiring complete strangers, companies prefer to ask their employees for recommendations first.
D)Job seekers prefer employers to start salary conversations because they know that they are a risk of selling themselves short.
E)www.rileyguide.com offers advice for online job searches as well as links to hundreds of specialized websites that post openings in specific industries and professions.

Question 7

Which of the following actions will make you a valued network member?

A)connecting one person with another who can help
B)sending résumés of acquaintances to strangers
C)giving contact information of people you know without their permission
D)sending messages and requests on behalf of your friends
E)sending elaborate information on industries and trends of your choice

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT true regarding résumés?

A)All a résumé can do is get you in the door.
B)In most cases, your résumé needs to make a positive impression within 30 or 45 seconds.
C)The purpose of a résumé is to list all your skills and abilities.
D)If the résumé doesn't contain the right keywords, a human being may never see it.
E)Recruiters don't need that much information about you at the initial screening stage.

Question 9

Which of the following is the last step in planning your résumé?

A)select the right medium
B)analyze the situation
C)organize the information
D)gather information
E)adapt to your audience

Question 10

Which of the following is the first step in planning your résumé?

A)organize the information
B)analyze the situation
C)select the right medium
D)gather information
E)adapt to your audience

Question 11

Which of the following is true about résumés?

A)The purpose of your résumé is to list all your skills and abilities.
B)If you want a really good résumé, you need to have it prepared by a résumé service.
C)All a résumé can do is get you in the door.
D)The more good information you present about yourself in your résumé, the better, so stuff your résumé with every positive detail.
E)A good résumé will get you the job you want.

Question 12

Which of the following is a networking etiquette?

A)Keep sending messages or requests to others until they reply.
B)Be as elaborate as you can in all your communication efforts.
C)Help fellow networkers by giving them contact information, even if it is without permission.
D)Never email your résumé to complete strangers.
E)Don't send thank-you notes because it is too assertive.

Question 13

Many companies judge the success of their recruiting efforts by the ________.

A)stringency of the hiring process
B)quality of hire
C)number of temporary contracts
D)quantity of applicants
E)experience of hiring managers

Question 14

For any career path that you might want to pursue,two guidelines are to be kept in mind: ________.

A)choose the career that suits your needs and obtain the required qualifications
B)be ready to start as soon as you are qualified and stay motivated
C)get organized and start with essential research and planning tasks
D)stay in touch with every organization you have applied to and learn to be persuasive
E)do not miss opportunities, but don't go for jobs that do not meet your requirements

Question 15

The purpose of a résumé is ________.

A)to get you a job
B)to get you an interview
C)to identify your essential skills
D)to make informal connections with business contacts
E)to find opportunities

Question 16

Which of the following candidates will make a negative impact on his job search?

A)Bob visits automobile trade shows to meet people from the manufacturing industry with similar interests.
B)Ted sends his résumé to the HR department of a leading software company to enquire about job posts in the technical department.
C)Maria exchanges contact information with a company representative on a popular networking website.
D)Liz applies for the position of bank marketing representative and arrives a few minutes early for her interview.
E)Jack sends his résumé for the post of financial auditor in a leading company, but misspells the name of the company's manager in the email.

Question 17

James is interested in working as a developer for Next Level Gaming Solutions.However,he is not sure of how he should apply for this dream job.In order to maximize his chances,James should ________.

A)look out for this job advertisement in job sites
B)get in touch with their HR department and sell himself
C)scan periodicals for job openings
D)monitor the company's website for openings
E)get to know the company's customers

Question 18

Steve is beginning his job search this semester.He is ready with his strategy and is focused on what he needs.Before he takes the plunge,he needs to know which hot-button issues recruiters face.For this,he should ________.

A)check the company website for clues about the recruiting process
B)"listen in" on their professional conversations by reading relevant blogs and publications
C)speak to potential colleagues
D)send a set of questions to the interviewer with his résumé
E)separately arrange to interview his interviewers

Question 19

An important step in showing employers that you will be a good fit is to ________.

A)customize your résumé to each job opening
B)research competing organizations
C)emphasize on overqualification
D)be elaborate in your communication and send numerous requests and messages to company representatives
E)make an infographic résumé

Question 20

Brad,a student in his final semester,is planning to start his job search soon.In order to find the right job,Brad should start thinking like a networker.His first step in building a network should be to start with ________.

A)his classmates
B)contacts at hiring agencies
C)HR managers of organizations
D)LinkedIn users
E)campus recruitment agents

Question 21

Jane has a criminal record and had been incarcerated for a month.When Jane is applying for a job,she should ________.

A)deny her criminal record
B)not be held liable for her action since it has no bearing on her job skills
C)only apply to companies that encourage rehabilitation of criminals
D)use the interview process to explain any mitigating circumstances and emphasize her rehabilitation
E)mention this on her résumé because she is legally obligated to do so

Question 22

Sam has been told that to create an effective résumé he should keep its style direct and simple.Therefore,Sam should ________.

A)focus on his work history
B)use long sentences
C)use an indirect approach
D)use short, crisp phrases
E)use the word "I"

Question 23

The importance of adapting your résumé to your target readers' needs and interests cannot be overstated.Adapting to your readers can mean ________.

A)customizing your résumé, sometimes for each job opening
B)mentioning all your skills and abilities on your résumé
C)make a résumé to get you the job you want
D)generalizing your experience to suit a variety of needs
E)not using any specific terminology

Question 24

The writing step of the three-step process for résumés includes ________.

A)adapting to your audience
B)proofreading the message
C)selecting the right medium
D)organizing the information
E)analyzing the situation

Question 25

A ________ emphasizes your skills and capabilities,identifying employers and academic experience in subordinate sections.

A)functional résumé
B)chronological résumé
C)cover letter
D)recommendation letter
E)reverse chronological résumé

Question 26

Mac has served in the army as a general officer,but now he is applying for jobs in the private corporate sector.When he lists his experience in his résumé,he needs to make sure that ________.

A)he doesn't mention his army background
B)he mentions only the ranks he held and not the responsibilities
C)he does not disclose his rank
D)he elaborates on the general responsibilities of the positions he held
E)he provides a comparison of business ranks and army ranks

Question 27

Nina has been on a long break since her previous job and has been taking advantage of the time off to travel.Now she is applying for the position of an analyst at a leading organization that intends to hire people who can work well in a diverse environment.Being well-traveled,Nina has a healthy respect for different cultures.Assuming that Nina possesses the necessary qualifications,which of these actions will best help Nina secure an interview at the organization?

A)Nina emphasizes her relevant skills and qualifications but deemphasizes the break because this information will not serve the employer's needs.
B)Nina prepares a single sheet résumé, highlighting the skills and capabilities she acquired in her previous employment that might be relevant to this job and does not mention her break.
C)Nina presents her work history in reverse chronological order, highlights relevant skills and mentions how the break has enriched her cultural understanding.
D)Nina prepares a chronological résumé and attaches a copy of her blog, in which she has written her thoughts about how meeting people from various countries has enriched her life.
E)Nina prepares a chronological résumé and posts it on her personal Web page. Then she mails her application letter to the employer, which includes a link to her Web page and requests them to view her résumé on her Web page.

Question 28

The majority of résumés are now subjected to keyword searches in an applicant tracking system or other database,in which a recruiter ________.

A)provides feedback after an interview
B)identifies the influence of a job seeker's network
C)translates a job seekers experience into measurable items
D)hunts for résumés most likely to match the requirements of a particular job
E)matches accomplishments to action-based keywords

Question 29

When writing a résumé,in order to handle inexperience,________.

A)mention related volunteer work and membership in professional groups. List relevant course work and internships
B)use the interview process to explain any mitigating circumstances and to emphasize your rehabilitation and commitment to being a law-abiding, trustworthy employee
C)itemize each position held at the firm to show growth within the organization and increasing responsibilities along the way
D)tone down your résumé, focusing exclusively on the experience and skills that relate to the position
E)group a number of short-term jobs of a similar type under a single heading

Question 30

Which of the following résumé formats is applicable for college graduates with limited professional experience?

A)a chronological résumé, with educational qualifications before experience
B)a functional résumé, with educational qualifications before experience
C)a combination résumé, with experience before educational qualifications
D)a functional résumé, with experience before educational qualifications
E)a chronological résumé, with experience before educational qualifications

Question 31

When writing a résumé,in order to handle overqualification,________.

A)mention related volunteer work and membership in professional groups. List relevant course work and internships
B)use the interview process to explain any mitigating circumstances and to emphasize your rehabilitation and commitment to being a law-abiding, trustworthy employee
C)itemize each position held at the firm to show growth within the organization and increasing responsibilities along the way
D)tone down your résumé, focusing exclusively on the experience and skills that relate to the position
E)group a number of short-term jobs of a similar type under a single heading

Question 32

In a chronological résumé,________.

A)the stress is on individual areas of competence rather than job history
B)you can deemphasize any lengthy unemployment or lack of career progress
C)the work experience section dominates and is placed immediately after your contact information and introductory statement
D)the employers and academic experience is identified in the subordinate sections
E)you can emphasize earlier job experience through the skills you gained in those positions

Question 33

Which of the following is true regarding a functional résumé?

A)It is the most preferred format.
B)It stresses individual areas of competence.
C)It emphasizes an individual's job history.
D)It presents an individual's academic experience first.
E)It is generally more complex to prepare

Question 34

Which of the following is an active statement for a résumé?

A)Responsible for customer communication.
B)Implemented an efficient software application in the sales department.
C)Solved the highest number of customer complaints in the department.
D)Proven track record of success with strong work ethics.
E)Member of the student organization that addressed academic issues.

Question 35

In which of the following ways are jobs listed in the work experience section of a chronological résumé?

A)according to the job titles held
B)in a chronological order
C)in alphabetical order of organizations
D)after emphasizing the skills and abilities
E)in a reverse chronological order

Question 36

Joe has worked as an independent contractor and has been part of many temporary assignments.In his résumé,he should ________.

A)group similar assignments under a single heading
B)mention only the bigger assignments
C)mention all assignments in their chronological order
D)not mention his customers without notifying them
E)only focus on his skill and not bother with the work history

Question 37

A ________ allows you to focus attention on your capabilities when you don't have a long or steady employment history,without raising concerns that you might be hiding something about your past.

A)recommendation letter
B)cover letter
C)combination résumé
D)chronological résumé
E)functional résumé

Question 38

An essential step in adapting your résumé is ________.

A)reading news sites, blogs, and other online sources and following industry leaders on Twitter
B)to make informal connections with mutually beneficial business contacts
C)using the same terminology as the employer uses to describe job responsibilities and professional accomplishments
D)showing up early for your job interview
E)emphasizing your skills and capabilities, identifying employers and academic experience in subordinate sections

Question 39

Experts say that the positive earnings in various industries suggests that the recession is over.However,the unemployment rate and housing market do not support this theory.Young workers had the most difficulty entering the workforce over the past four years,and a larger percentage of older workers were job hunting in the recent year than at the beginning of the recession.In the wake of recession,and with the competition for jobs getting tougher,bending the truth on résumés is helping job seekers to find employment.Which of the following statements,if true,weakens the argument?

A)The Official Bureau of Economic Analysis suggests that the unemployment rate in the country has fallen by two percent this year.
B)Planning an effective résumé starts with understanding its true function-as a brief, persuasive business message intended to stimulate an employer's interest in meeting you and learning more about you.
C)Estimates vary, but one comprehensive study uncovered lies about work history in more than 40 percent of the résumés tested.
D)More than 90 percent of companies that find lies on résumés refuse to hire the offending applicants, even if that means withdrawing formal job offers.
E)Many people have gaps in their careers or other issues that could be a concern for employers. To handle such gaps, mention relevant experience and education you gained during employment gaps.

Question 40

Which of the following statements is most effective for a résumé?

A)I am detail oriented, good team player and focused on results.
B)A highly motivated, energetic, confident professional.
C)Answered calls from customers with a 90% record of effective problem solving.
D)Made creative and innovative posters for the 2012 AIDS campaign in the company.
E)Organized a donation campaign that raised $1200 for a local animal shelter.

Question 41

A career objective ________.

A)offers a brief view of your key qualifications
B)offers a brief recap of your career with the goal of presenting increasing levels of responsibility and performance
C)is a brief introductory statement that precedes your name and contact information
D)identifies either a specific job you want to land or a general career track you would like to pursue
E)presents your educational background in depth, choosing facts that support your professional theme

Question 42

Which of these email addresses would be appropriate in a résumé?

A)[e-mail]
B)[e-mail]
C)[e-mail]
D)[e-mail]
E)[e-mail]

Question 43

Helen is applying for a job as a senior accountant.With regard to her references,she should ________.

A)prepare a list of references and include them in her résumé
B)not prepare a list of references because in the U.S. she need not mention their names in her résumé
C)prepare a list of references, only if she is applying for a position outside the U.S.
D)prepare a list of references and mention "references available upon request" at the end of her résumé
E)prepare a list of references but not include them in her résumé

Question 44

Barney has spent a number of years in the professional work force.However,when he started,he held a number of part-time,temporary,or entry-level jobs that don't relate to his career objective now.In the work experience section of his résumé,Barney should ________.

A)include all those details to give the right picture of his career path
B)mention the details so that the manager gets an idea of his wide range of exposure
C)include them only in the career summary
D)exclude the irrelevant details that might clutter his résumé
E)avoid mentioning anything that is more than five years old

Question 45

Which of the following candidates can use a résumé longer than one page?

A)Xavier just graduated from college and has experience working in a not-for-profit organization while studying.
B)Edgar has eight years of experience as a software developer at a leading software solution company.
C)Dennis has two years of work experience in sales and is applying for the position of assistant manager at a local marketing company.
D)Louis worked at local clothing stores as an assistant for a year before going back to college to get an MBA degree.
E)John will graduate in a few months and has volunteering experience as well as technical certification in Internet security.

Question 46

In your résumé,most of the space should be devoted to the jobs that ________.

A)are relevant to your education
B)were the most challenging
C)you held the longest
D)are the most recent
E)are related to your target position

Question 47

For which of the following applicants is education their strongest selling point?

A)a college graduate who has no experience
B)an upper-level manager who is to be promoted soon
C)a recently promoted lower level manager
D)an office assistant looking to upgrade his qualifications
E)a college graduate with 10 years' work experience and a very specific skill set

Question 48

Ruth is actively involved in her church.She goes to great lengths to organize events for charity.In her community,Ruth is known for her leadership and organization skills.If she wants to mention these activities in her résumé as part of an application at a local bank,she should ________.

A)not consider mentioning these because doing so might raise concerns for people with differing beliefs
B)mention these activities because employers find these attributes valuable and religious tolerance should be assumed
C)highlight her skills and mention that she did these for a not-for-profit organization
D)highlight her skills without mentioning any group she worked with
E)mention these skills in the career summary and not mention the group she worked with

Question 49

Which of the following should be included in the heading of a résumé?

A)skills and abilities
B)contact information
C)work experience
D)educational background
E)career objective

Question 50

A qualifications summary ________.

A)offers a brief view of your key qualifications
B)offers a brief recap of your career with the goal of presenting increasing levels of responsibility and performance
C)is a brief introductory statement that precedes your name and contact information
D)identifies either a specific job you want to land or a general career track you would like to pursue
E)presents your educational background in depth, choosing facts that support your professional theme

Question 51

The activities and achievements section in the résumé can be used to ________.

A)offer a brief view of your key qualifications
B)offer a brief recap of your career with the goal of presenting increasing levels of responsibility and performance
C)present your educational background in depth, choosing facts that support your professional theme
D)highlight activities and achievements outside of a work or educational context
E)emphasize what you have accomplished in each position you have held in the past

Question 52

The keywords that describe specific skills,attributes,and experiences an employer is looking for in a candidate are known as ________.

A)adjectives
B)action phrases
C)action verbs
D)verbs
E)nouns

Question 53

When applying to U.S.companies,which of the following should never be included?

A)names of references
B)name of your previous employer
C)your personal contact information
D)name of any not-for-profit organization
E)your GPA

Question 54

A career summary ________.

A)offers a brief view of your key qualifications
B)offers a brief recap of your career with the goal of presenting increasing levels of responsibility and performance
C)is a brief introductory statement that precedes your name and contact information
D)identifies either a specific job you want to land or a general career track you would like to pursue
E)presents your educational background in depth, choosing facts that support your professional theme

Question 55

________ should be mentioned in the education section only if the associated achievements are pertinent to your career goals.

A)Educational objectives
B)Career objectives
C)Scholarships
D)Academic awards
E)High school or military training

Question 56

If you do not name your current employer in the work experience section of your résumé and only mention the industry,you ________.

A)are creating doubt in the mind of your potential employer, who is entitled to disqualify you based on this omission
B)may not be noticed by recruiters
C)may lose out on the keyword search
D)are following expected résumé protocol and are allowed to keep your employer confidential
E)are not being honest and transparent

Question 57

David is aware that the majority of résumés are now subjected to keyword searches in an applicant tracking system.To help David use keywords for his benefit,which of the following parts of his résumé should include relevant keywords?

A)contact information
B)personal data
C)introductory statement
D)hobbies
E)heading

Question 58

Gerald has just prepared his résumé and is ready to mail the printed traditional résumés to organizations.However,his friends insist that he should be ready with more formats because,depending on the companies he applies to,he might want to produce his résumé in as many as six formats including ________.

A)audio
B)graphic animation
C)brochure
D)PDF file
E)spreadsheet

Question 59

Which of the following candidates should include a career summary in their résumé?

A)Derrick has just graduated from college and plans to continue a career in nonprofit fund raising, a job he has internship experience with since his freshman year.
B)In his short stint at the organization, Nathan was promoted two times.
C)As an experienced manager, Grover had grown with the company, managing double-digit annual growth in revenue and employees in his division.
D)After all these years as a junior assistant, Chris is finally relieved that he is a junior manager now.
E)After two year, Don is planning to make a transition from being an army man to a corporate executive.

Question 60

The introductory statement of a résumé includes ________.

A)career objective
B)contact information
C)work experience
D)the URL of your personal Web page, e-portfolio, or social media résumé
E)educational background

Question 61

A good place to start hosting e-portfolios is ________.

A)a professional portfolio creator site
B)a commercial scanning service site
C)your college's career center
D)a social networking site
E)Adobe's online service

Question 62

Jennifer is preparing a video résumé along with six different résumé formats so that she can stand out in the crowd of applicants.Video résumés can be a compelling supplement,but ________.

A)it is suitable only for creative jobs
B)most employers prefer social media résumés
C)it should be created by hiring professional video producers
D)it fails to capture relevant work experience
E)recruiters may find it cumbersome to view and ignore it

Question 63

Do not include or enclose a photo in résumés,unless it is a ________.

A)PDF
B) printed scannable résumé
C)social media résumé
D)electronic plain-text file
E)résumé intended for an employer

Question 64

Linda has prepared a Microsoft Word document of her résumé and she wants to create a PDF as well.She knows that creating a PDF file is a simple procedure,but she needs the right software,like ________.

A)Adobe Reader
B)Microsoft PDF Reader
C)Google Chrome
D)Apple Reader
E)Adobe Acrobat

Question 65

Résumés and curriculum vitae (CV)are essentially the same,although résumés can be much more detailed.

Question 66

A plain-text version of your résumé is simply a computer file ________.

A)that contains only font formatting, bullet symbols, and colors
B)that cannot be emailed to the recruiter
C)sometimes known as an ASCII text file
D)that cannot be pasted into the application forms on an employer's website
E)usually called scannable résumés

Question 67

The purpose of a résumé is to list all your skills and abilities and get you the job you want.

Question 68

A chronological résumé emphasizes earlier job experience through the skills you gained in those positions.

Question 69

A variety of terms are used to describe online résumés,including ________.

A)web forum résumés
B)personal multimedia pages
C)social networking résumés
D)e-portfolios
E)digital format résumés

Question 70

Quality of hire is a measure of the effectiveness of the recruiting process.

Question 71

Leading business periodicals such as Bloomberg business week,Fortune,and so on help in staying updated on contemporary business topics.

Question 72

A functional résumé,sometimes called a skills résumé,emphasizes your skills and capabilities,identifying employers and academic experience in subordinate sections.

Question 73

An important aspect of the employer's quality-of hire is the number of candidates applying for a job opening.

Question 74

Rebecca is contemplating setting up an e-portfolio.Which of the following media is suitable for her résumé?

A)traditional paper
B)printed scannable résumé
C)electronic plain-text
D)video
E)audio

Question 75

In a combination résumé,the work experience section dominates and is placed immediately after your contact information and introductory statement.

Question 76

Networking is an informal activity that allows only public messages to be sent to people.

Question 77

Even if you are a year or more away from graduation,now is not too early to get started with some of the essential research and planning tasks of the job search.

Question 78

Some employers and websites want your résumé in Microsoft Word format.However,make sure ________.

A)that your computer is virus-free first
B)that the document is scannable
C)that you include a picture of yourself in the résumé
D)that you use electronic signatures
E)that the résumé is free of formatting

Question 79

Scannable résumés are a type of printed résumé that is specially formatted to be compatible with optical scanning systems that convert printed documents to electronic text.It differs from traditional formats in two major ways,one of which is that ________.

A)it should not include punctuation
B)it should not have text in more than three colors
C)it does not need a career objective
D)it should always include a keyword summary
E)it needs a few manual adjustments first

Question 80

Jeremy has planned,researched and finally prepared his résumé,after a lot of thought.When distributing his résumé,he should take equal care and ________.

A)pay close attention to the specific instructions provided by every employer
B)make sure he uses a Priority Mail flat-rate envelope
C)mail the résumé with the reference list
D)create an e-portfolio and direct the employers towards his website
E)make sure he follows a consistent approach of delivery for all organizations