Deck 14: Applying and Interviewing for Employment

Question 1

Which of the following is an effective statement for an unsolicited application letter?

A)I majored in English in college with a concentration in writing and am skilled in editing related activities. Contact me if you are considering hiring a content writer.
B)Please accept my résumé for the consideration of the position of HR executive within your organization.
C)If you need a client services assistant who consistently delivers high-quality responsive service with a 90 percent positive customer feedback, please consider my qualifications.
D)Here's my résumé. Call me if you find an interesting position for my field of education.
E)I am a law student who will be graduating this year and in the current job market it is extremely challenging to find a meaningful job.

Answer 1

C
Explanation: C)This statement shows your strongest skills and how it will benefit the organization. It also relates information that is present in the résumé with the needs of the organization.

Question 2

Ruth is applying for jobs but she doesn't know how to begin an application letter; she comes to you for advice.In the opening paragraph you would ask her to ________.

A)include questions about the company needs
B)include an explanation about her purpose for writing the letter
C)briefly mention qualifications
D)include details of her skills
E)match AIDA requirements

Answer 2

B
Explanation: B)The opening paragraph of your application letter must accomplish two essential tasks: (1)explaining why you are writing and (2)giving the recipient a reason to keep reading by demonstrating that you have some immediate potential for meeting the company's needs.

Question 3

The middle section of a job application letter,should ________.

A)present your strongest selling points in terms of their potential benefit to the organization
B)give your entire work history, in case the employer doesn't read your résumé
C)stress ways in which you do not meet the job qualifications
D)discuss each requirement listed in the job, if it is an unsolicited letter
E)point out personal qualities specifically mentioned in the résumé

Answer 3

A
Explanation: A)The middle section of your letter presents your strongest selling points in terms of their potential benefit to the organization, thereby building interest in you and creating a desire to interview you. Be specific and back up your assertions with convincing evidence.

Question 4

Land-Air Global Transport has an immediate opening for a supply chain pricing analyst.You are interested in this job offer and wish to apply for it.In order to make a good impression on Land-Air Global Transport with your application letter,you should ________.

A)use an embellished layout
B)show that you understand the company and the position
C)extensively use personal pronouns and humor for a confident tone
D)only email your cover letter
E)give descriptive details of your accomplishments in the cover letter

Question 5

When applying for job,a ________ lets the readers know what you're sending,why you're sending it,and how they can benefit from reading it.

A)job posting
B)résumé
C)cover letter
D)curriculum vitae
E)job preview

Question 6

Taking the initiative to write to companies even though they haven't announced a job opening that is right for you is called ________.

A)an open-ended interview
B)the screening stage
C)human resource planning
D)good faith bargaining
E)prospecting

Question 7

Jenny has applied for the position of an office assistant at a leading corporation.What should she do if her application letter and résumé fail to bring a response within a month?

A)She should call to find out why she hasn't heard from the prospective employer.
B)She should send a follow-up letter or email.
C)She should cross this particular job possibility off her list and apply somewhere else.
D)She should mail them another copy of her application letter and résumé.
E)She should mail them a letter addressing the lack of response.

Question 8

Shopmart has advertised for a store manager position in their South Oak,Iowa center.You want to apply for this position since you have assisted your store manager and have thorough knowledge of the skills required for the job.When writing an application letter to Shopmart you should ________.

A)stress that you have not held any managerial roles
B)include a copy of the advertisement with your letter
C)discuss each of the requirements specified in the job posting
D)restrict your message to just core job duties
E)never highlight personal characteristics

Question 9

A job interview is sometimes viewed as a test to guess the right answers,or as an interrogation where you have to defend your background and skills.However,an interview should be thought of as an opportunity to ________.

A)say the right thing
B)share information
C)sell yourself
D)showcase your skills
E)persuade

Question 10

In the final paragraph of your application letter make sure you ask the reader for a specific action and ________.

A)facilitate a reply
B)confirm an interview date
C)explain why you wrote
D)enquire about the organizations needs
E)mention your salary requirements

Question 11

When preparing to apply for jobs,it is best to ________.

A)focus your research on only 2-3 companies for whom you want to work
B)realize that employers rarely expect candidates to have done any research
C)explore a wide range of firms and positions
D)expect fewer job offers
E)make sure the process takes up the least amount of time

Question 12

When writing solicited application letters ________.

A)repeat the information from your résumé
B)identify where you discovered the job opening and describe what you have to offer
C)use a question to learn of other job opportunities in the company
D)write in a monotonous tone to project confidence
E)add anecdotes and humor to demonstrate your understanding of the company's needs

Question 13

In the job application process,prospecting is ________.

A)taking the initiative to write to companies even though they haven't announced a job opening that is right for you
B)seeking and attracting a pool of people from which qualified candidates for job vacancies can be chosen
C)providing information and instruction to equip employees with a higher level of knowledge
D)a meeting during which both you and the prospective employer ask questions and exchange information
E)the process of filtering out applicants who are unqualified or otherwise not a good fit for the position

Question 14

You are applying for the position of an H.R.Consultant but are unsure which companies in your city have an opening.You decide to mail your résumé to a few companies.Which of these guidelines would you keep in mind for an effective application letter?

A)You thoroughly research the requirements of your position.
B)You explain your résumé in detail in more than five paragraphs to save the employer time.
C)You refrain from mailing unsolicited application letters.
D)You extensively use personal pronouns and humor to project confidence.
E)You mail them hand-written cover letters to portray personal attention.

Question 15

For an effective application letter ________.

A)include humor and generously use personal pronouns to project confidence
B)volunteer your salary history and requirements
C)add anecdotes and quotes to provide a meaningful concept to the readers
D)describe your résumé in detail in more than five paragraphs
E)show that you understand the company and the marketplace

Question 16

Mentioning your strengths in an application letter ________.

A)can be a strong selling point, when backed up with relevant experience
B)takes a lesser priority compared to stressing about experience
C)is usually overlooked by applicants
D)can be repetitive as it is already mentioned in the résumé
E)is required only in solicited letters

Question 17

Which among these is the crux of your job search package?

A)job-inquiry letter
B)application letter
C)résumé
D)job advertisement
E)application form

Question 18

Alicia was told by Mark about a vacancy at his organization and that the organization is accepting applications for the next two weeks.Alicia applies within a week.What should she do next?

A)She should call as soon as she submits the application.
B)She should email after three days.
C)She should wait for their call.
D)She should call after a week or two.
E)She should ask Mark to contact them.

Question 19

One way of getting the reader's attention in an unsolicited application letter is to ________.

A)inquire about the organization's needs
B)ask which skills will benefit the organization
C)include anecdotes and humor to project confidence
D)refer to the company's publicized achievements and new changes
E)volunteer salary history

Question 20

In a job application letter,salary requirements ________.

A)should never be mentioned
B)are mentioned only if the organization has asked for it
C)should be higher than the typical salary, in accordance with Bureau of Labor Statistics standards
D)should state a negotiable amount
E)should state a non-negotiable amount

Question 21

You have cleared four rounds of grueling interviews at Steadfast Solutions and have been asked to come for one last meeting with Edward Simmons,V.P.of Finance.At this stage of recruitment,Mr.Simmons is most likely to be concerned with ________.

A)your previous job experience
B)your educational background
C)selling you the benefits of joining Steadfast Solutions
D)checking your references
E)reviewing your persuasion skills

Question 22

An interview where the job candidate is criticized or provoked is a type of ________.

A)stress interview
B)structured interview
C)screening interview
D)situational interview
E)guided interview

Question 23

Kelly has scheduled her screening interview for tomorrow and she has requested the interviewer to conduct it over the phone.Since the interview is via telephone Kelly should ________.

A)dress formally because it is still a formal meeting
B)work on her verbal and non-verbal skills
C)make sure that her answers are elaborate and detailed
D)schedule it for a time when she can be focused and free from interruptions
E)not bother to have her résumé with her, because the interviewer will not ask for it over the phone

Question 24

Aaron has cleared the selection round and in the next round,he will be interviewed by a group of interviewers.This kind of interview is a(n)________.

A)guided interview
B)structured interview
C)open-ended interview
D)panel interview
E)group interview

Question 25

You have been assigned the duty of recruiting candidates for your team,by conducting open-ended interviews.During the interview,which of these strategies would you apply?

A)The candidates would be asked a series of questions in a predetermined order.
B)The candidates would only be given written tests.
C)You would make sure that the candidates do not ask any questions, so that more applicants can be interviewed.
D)You would initiate questions but base further questions on the candidate's reply.
E)You would avoid upsetting the candidates.

Question 26

During an interview in Innova Co.for a team manager position,the applicant was asked to lead a brainstorming session.This kind of interview would be classified as a(n)________.

A)screening interview
B)behavioral interview
C)working interview
D)stress interview
E)open-ended interview

Question 27

You have been asked to hire 10 consultants for H.Q.Services,but the company insists that you need not conduct preliminary screening interviews,because they believe that it may lengthen the hiring process.Which of these arguments could help convince them about the benefits of preliminary screening interviews?

A)Screening interviews help companies to thoroughly investigate their applicants.
B)They can give multiple tests at the screening round.
C)It will help them in restricting the number of applications they would receive.
D)They can narrow the field of applicants.
E)They can hire more candidates, as a reserve.

Question 28

In the selection round of interviews,your best approach is to ________.

A)stick to brief, yes or no answers
B)relate your training and experience to the organization's needs
C)inquire about salary and benefits
D)identify top candidates and underplay their skills
E)inquire about benefits and bonus

Question 29

During interviews,the ________ helps the organization identify the top candidates from all those who qualify.

A)follow-up stage
B)screening stage
C)ice breaker stage
D)final stage
E)selection stage

Question 30

Michael needs to hire two computer programmers for his team.For the interviews,his best approach would be to ________.

A)insist all applicants get their laptops
B)forego the screening process, because it doesn't apply to programmers
C)restrict the number of applicants to ten
D)ask the applicants to write a code for an assigned task, so that he can compare their work
E)use a conversational tone in the interview

Question 31

Eucalygen Technologies (E.T.)is recruiting young,creative and talented individuals to fill their vacancies.As an applicant for this job your objective should be to ________.

A)mirror company objectives
B)answer elaborately to confirm your fit for the position
C)conduct research on their customer base
D)find out if the job is a right match for your goals and capabilities
E)be boastful and sell yourself

Question 32

In ________ interviews you are asked to relate specific incidents and experiences from your past.

A)working
B)stress
C)behavioral
D)screening
E)structured

Question 33

In a(n)________ interview,the interviewer (or a computer program)asks a series of questions in a predetermined order.

A)open-ended
B)structured
C)unguided
D)panel
E)group

Question 34

During interviews,the objective of the ________ is to sell you on the advantages of joining the organization.

A)introduction stage
B)selection stage
C)ice breaker stage
D)final stage
E)screening stage

Question 35

Indus Tec is hiring market analysts for the automobile industry.You have applied for this position and have been asked to appear for a screening interview.During the screening interview you would ________.

A)ask as many questions as possible, interviews are about knowing the organization too.
B)keep your answers short while differentiating yourself from other applicants
C)give elaborate and descriptive answers so that the interviewer is aware of your attention to detail
D)keep a low profile because the time to differentiate yourself from other candidates is yet to come
E)insist on a computer-based screening system

Question 36

Nicole has cleared seven rounds of interviews in three days and she still hasn't been offered the job.In her previous organization she cleared two rounds of interviews and she got the job.Nicole should ________.

A)be worried because she may not be offered this job
B)commend herself on getting this far and persevere through the rest of the rounds
C)express her concern to the organization
D)insist that further rounds be conducted on the telephone, to save her the trouble of commuting
E)let the company know that she can attempt only one more round

Question 37

Jason has just cleared the final round of the interview and was told that he will be sent the offer letter by email.Jason should ________.

A)congratulate himself and look forward to his offer letter
B)insist that the offer letter be hand-delivered to him
C)request that they also let him know about it on the phone, as further confirmation
D)call them back frequently
E)request that the offer letter be given immediately, because he may not be in town

Question 38

Beth and Ruby need to know,which of their short-listed candidates are good with problem solving while working as a team.Which of these interview formats would you suggest?

A)panel interview
B)group interview
C)behavioral interview
D)stress interview
E)structured interview

Question 39

During an interview,if several candidates are asked to discuss a certain topic with each other it is a(n)________.

A)guided interview
B)structured interview
C)open-ended interview
D)panel interview
E)group interview

Question 40

Realistic job simulation tests ________.

A)cannot mimic actual job skills
B)fail to give applicants an idea of what the job might be like
C)should not be used for testing applicants' skills in decision-making scenarios
D)are used in email and IM interviews
E)are good tools for online interviews

Question 41

When the employer asks you about what you didn't like about your previous job,you should ________.

A)let him know about the negatives, so you could avoid the same situation
B)highlight the similarities between your previous and prospective employer
C)brush off the question with humor
D)avoid answering the question and ask the interviewer a question instead
E)make sure that you don't give the impression that you are a difficult employee

Question 42

Leading the conversation yourself and answering a question before the interviewer has finished asking it ________.

A)is being proactive, a quality appreciated by most employers
B)keeps the interview short, which is crucial when there are multiple applicants
C)is a rude interruption
D)helps you alter your response
E)gives you more time to plan your answer

Question 43

Simone has been invited by Ivy Selections Corp.to be interviewed by Mr.Yang.How should Simone conduct herself during the warm-up phase of the interview?

A)She should make sure that she uses humor and start by asking the interviewer a question to break the ice.
B)She should avoid small talk, in order to maintain professionalism.
C)When she meets Mr. Yang, she should greet him by saying "It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Yang" and respond with a firm hand-shake.
D)She should maintain unflinching eye-contact and not fidget.
E)She should avoid talking about herself, because that would be unprofessional.

Question 44

________ tests measure a variety of attributes involved in acquiring,processing,analyzing,using,and remembering information.

A)Integrity
B)Personality
C)Cognitive
D)Language proficiency
E)Substance

Question 45

When choosing what to wear for an interview,the best policy is to ________.

A)pick something that will make you stand out from the crowd
B)choose conservative business wear
C)buy an expensive suit to project prosperity
D)wear whatever makes you most comfortable
E)maximize jewelry and accessories

Question 46

Your dream job is to be a Food Analyst at Fast Foods Inc.,a company which prides itself as being the "King of Fries." They also promote themselves as a company which respects their employees' right to privacy.When you applied to this job,you were asked to take a few tests.Which of these tests could be perceived as an invasion of your privacy?

A)integrity tests
B)personality tests
C)cognitive tests
D)drug tests
E)online search

Question 47

Barney has been invited for an interview at McLloyd Brokerage.Before his interview,he wants to try and learn all he can about the organization.The most effective strategy for this would be to ________.

A)download podcasts of any news related to the company
B)contact the employees on LinkedIn and get their opinions about the organization
C)refer to business books and directories
D)email management with questions
E)go deeper than just basic research by learning everything you can about the organization and your position

Question 48

When an employer asks you to tell him something about yourself,you should ________.

A)email him the link to your blog to show that you are tech-savvy
B)only speak about your relevant qualifications
C)offer a short summary of what colleagues or customers think about you
D)give him references for a background check
E)avoid sharing something business relevant because the interviewer would like a glimpse of your personal side

Question 49

Oliver is in charge of recruiting soup chefs for his restaurant De Lait.The candidates need to have a healthy appetite for creativity and should be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma.He is aware that the law prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race,ethnicity,gender,age,marital status,and religion.Which of these questions asked by Oliver would violate the law?

A)Are you over 18?
B)When did you graduate from high school?
C)Did you graduate from high school?
D)Do you have the legal right to work in the United States?
E)Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

Question 50

As interviewees,we are generally advised to handle interviews with proper preparation and a "never budge under pressure" attitude.During an interview,if the applicant is asked a difficult question,which of these actions is the most appropriate to tackle that question?

A)The applicant acknowledges the difficulty of the question and humbly refrains from answering it.
B)To maintain spontaneity, the applicant starts off with a witty retort and vaguely builds an answer.
C)At the cost of delaying the response, the applicant first considers the implications of the question and only then answers.
D)The applicant skillfully reverts the question back to the employer and asks his opinion on the issue.
E)The applicant pauses to reflect and quickly diverts the discussion to topics which are his/her strength.

Question 51

You are more likely to succeed in a job interview if you ________.

A)carry a know-it-all attitude
B)maintain eye contact with the interviewer
C)avoid using hand gestures
D)use an impersonal communication style
E)be laid-back to project confidence

Question 52

Although the warm-up stage is brief it does ________.

A)take precedence over the other stages
B)not involve substantial questions
C)focus only on body language
D)not follow a conversation style
E)allow for relaxed behavior

Question 53

Competence and confidence are the foundation of your interviewing style,and you can enhance them by ________.

A)avoiding questions that make you uncomfortable
B)being boastful to project confidence
C)using humor and colorful adjectives and adverbs to highlight competence
D)giving the interviewer an impression of poise, good manners, and good judgment
E)practice speaking in monotone, while making eye-contact

Question 54

The best way to counteract the stress during a job interview is to ________.

A)remind yourself that you have value to offer
B)use humor to mask these feelings
C)act overly confident to counteract these feelings
D)rely on your appearance alone
E)avoid face-to-face interviews

Question 55

When going in for a job interview,it's best to take ________.

A)a list of questions to ask the interviewer
B)gum or candy to help reduce stress during the interview
C)a palmtop computer, to avoid fumbling with papers
D)a branded briefcase, to showcase good taste
E)your mobile phone

Question 56

Which of the following questions would you ask the interviewer to check if you're jumping into a problematic situation?

A)How tough is the job?
B)What is the first problem that needs the attention of the person you hire?
C)How would you define your organization's managerial philosophy?
D)What makes your organization different from others in the industry?
E)Can you tell me something about yourself?

Question 57

If you realize that your future employer has been reviewing your credit record,you should ________.

A)sue them, because it is an invasion of your privacy
B)reconsider joining that organization
C)inform the authorities
D)ask your employer for an apology
E)consider it part of the background check process

Question 58

Which of the following is true about the question-and-answer stage of an interview?

A)It is the final opportunity to emphasize your value to the organization.
B)It is usually the perfect time to thank the interviewer for the offer.
C)During this stage, employers filter out unqualified applicants and identify promising candidates.
D)During this stage, take the initiative to write to companies even though they haven't announced a job opening that is right for you.
E)The interviewer will discuss some points of the résumé.

Question 59

One of the ways in which a job applicant's managerial potential,commitment,and motivation is evaluated,is by conducting a(n)________.

A)personality test
B)cognitive test
C)integrity test
D)substance test
E)background check

Question 60

While practicing for interviews ________.

A)evaluate the quality of your voice
B)elaborate all answers and include anecdotes
C)avoid using hand gestures
D)use filler words
E)practice speaking in monotone, while making eye-contact

Question 61

An open-ended interview is an informal meeting,with a conversational tone.

Question 62

During an interview,the last opportunity to correct any misconceptions the interviewer might have ________.

A)is at the end of the interview
B)is at the warm-up stage
C)is at the question-answer stage
D)should be over looked
E)is the screening stage

Question 63

You have received a job-offer but because of prior engagements you are unable to join on the suggested date.In this case,you would ________.

A)turn down the offer
B)request for a time extension and include humor to soften the serious matter
C)suggest another day when you can join the organization
D)request for a time extension and use a strong statement regarding your continued interest in the job
E)accept the offer but not show up on the joining date

Question 64

It has been two days since Kurt finished his interview and he hasn't heard from the organization.In this case he should ________.

A)have a friend call to see whether he got the job
B)write a follow-up letter and include another copy of his résumé
C)write a note of thanks and reinforce the reasons why he is a good fit for the position
D)assume that he didn't get the job if he hasn't heard anything
E)request for another interview to prove his candidacy

Question 65

Declining a job offer ________.

A)usually involves persuasive communication and humor
B)should be done tactfully, but the reasons for declining need not be mentioned
C)should always be done in person but using impersonal communication
D)should end amicably and not leave any doors open for future contact
E)can be done using the techniques for negative messages

Question 66

If your application letter and résumé fail to illicit a response,you may contact them a week after the close date.

Question 67

In a solicited application letter it is not necessary to discuss each requirement specified in the job ad.

Question 68

In a group interview,you meet several interviewers at once.

Question 69

Once you have mailed the letter of acceptance for a job you can ________.

A)request for an extension
B)negotiate the salary
C)apply for other jobs
D)ask how well you did compared to others
E)consider it a legally binding contract between you and the employer

Question 70

Unsolicited application letters are sent in response to ads for job openings.

Question 71

During a stress interview you might be asked pointed questions designed to anger or unsettle you.

Question 72

In order to find out if your applicant has committed a felony ________.

A)you can ask the candidate if he has committed any felony
B)you can ask the candidate if they have been arrested
C)you should rely on EEOC
D)you should contact the authorities
E)you actually cannot ask the applicant

Question 73

While writing resignation letters,________.

A)use the positive messages technique
B)state the reason for resigning the job
C)make sure it is paired with an application letter
D)mention criticisms about your colleagues, but be tactful
E)use anecdotes and humor to avoid appearing as unfriendly

Question 74

When the interviewer asks you if you have any more questions and checks the time,you should ________.

A)let him know the time
B)conclude gracefully
C)summarize the interview
D)ask for more time
E)express your interest in the organization

Question 75

In the middle section of an application letter,you should point out your "selling points" and other potential benefits to your employer.

Question 76

You should never volunteer salary information in a cover letter unless the employer has asked for it specifically.

Question 77

If your interview does not end with a job offer you should ________.

A)not bring up the topic
B)mention that you have another job offer and need to give the other company an answer by a specific date
C)tactfully ask when you can expect to know the decision
D)ask whether you did anything wrong during the interview
E)request an offer of employment

Question 78

When you discuss salary requirements with a job recruiter you should ________.

A)be proactive and initiate the discussion
B)let the interviewer raise the topic first
C)insist on a signing bonus
D)be certain about the company's compensation policies
E)mention that your salary is non-negotiable

Question 79

As part of background checks,employers can check whether you have a criminal history and review your credit card record.

Question 80

The goal of a screening interview is to gauge a candidate's personality and non-verbal skills.