Deck 11: Communicating Your Professional Brand: Social Media, Résumés,

Question 1

In the context of your professional brand, which of the following terms best represents something that you have to offer that other applicants might not?

A) point of difference
B) unique selling proposition
C) point of parity
D) elevator pitch
E) value proposition

Answer 1

B
Explanation: B) A unique selling proposition is something that you have to offer that other applicants might not.

Question 2

Julia is majoring in art history, but isn't sure whether she should pursue a career in the art field. Which of the following could help her determine this through practical experience?

A) getting an internship at a local business firm
B) working at an art gallery over the summer
C) volunteering at political rallies
D) working online for a technical writing firm
E) reading about careers in the art world in the Occupational Outlook Handbook

Answer 2

B
Explanation: B) Once you have a better understanding of your interests, you can learn about career options by researching different positions. Working at an art gallery will give her a better idea of her subject and how the art-related firms are organized.

Question 3

Many colleges and universities have ________ that provide résumé assistance, mock interviews, and workshops that focus on employability skills.

A) quality circles
B) unions
C) job banks
D) kaizen groups
E) career centers

Answer 3

E
Explanation: E) Many colleges and universities have career centers that provide career-counseling services, résumé assistance, mock interviews, and workshops that focus on employability skills.

Question 4

To outline your experiences, ________.

A) make a list of only those work experiences that directly relate to your current job search
B) list all your work experiences as bullet items beginning with an action verb
C) create ten to twelve bullet points for each job you've had
D) mention details only about your current job and avoid including details of your previous jobs
E) identify the skills you used at your jobs, not the results you accomplished

Question 5

Which of the following would be an appropriate bullet point describing your work study experience on your college campus?

A) Worked in the media relations office for the university
B) Typing, filing, and other miscellaneous general office duties
C) Tracked coverage of the university in print, online newsletters, and social networking media
D) Press releases, web updates, social media
E) Writing, editing, proofing

Question 6

Monster and HotJobs are examples of ________.

A) college career centers
B) professional organizations focused on academic disciplines
C) social networking outlets
D) job banks
E) personal networks

Question 7

Reggie wants to develop some transferrable skills related to programming which will apply to his career goals. Which of the following would most likely help him to do so?

A) researching the details of IT positions in the Occupational Outlook Handbook
B) asking an acquaintance about her career experience in the IT field
C) thinking about whether he prefers working on his own or collaborating with others
D) learning about the educational requirements for specific IT positions
E) volunteering to design and manage websites for charitable organizations

Question 8

Which of the following points is most likely to be an example of a quality not related to work experience but a generally applicable workplace quality that employers value?

A) learned how to program Java applets in a computer class
B) designed and maintained websites for previous employer
C) proficient in Italian
D) gained leadership skills as chair of the youth committee at local community center
E) self-taught piano player

Question 9

Which of the following is least important when you are about to begin a job search?

A) analyzing your career interests and goals
B) analyzing your strengths and skills
C) analyzing options for identifying job openings
D) analyzing effective résumé formats
E) analyzing your professional image

Question 10

Which of the following is true of analyzing your strengths and skills?

A) It should be done after composing résumés and cover letters.
B) It helps you determine which jobs you are best qualified to pursue.
C) It builds a strong occupational network around you.
D) It helps you gain experience in the particular field.
E) It helps you gain transferrable skills that relate to your career goals.

Question 11

Virtual internships ________.

A) require you to move to a new location for an internship opportunity
B) are decreasing in number due to technology problems
C) allow you to work for a company online
D) make up more than half of the postings at Urban Interns
E) cannot be conducted with the help of the "Skype" application

Question 12

Aisha is considering if she wants to work for a large or small company, work collaboratively or on her own, and whether she would enjoy a job that requires travel, etc. She is engaged in ________.

A) gaining transferable skills by volunteering
B) narrowing her focus by identifying preferences
C) researching the prospects for her career options
D) keeping an open mind about possible job locations
E) gaining experience with internships and summer jobs

Question 13

Your younger brother wants to post his résumé on Monster. What advice should you give him?

A) Never post your résumé online because there is no way to protect yourself from identity theft.
B) Create a special online version of your résumé to protect against identity theft.
C) Provide your physical address in the résumé rather than a post-office box number.
D) Ensure that the cell phone number provided in the résumé is listed in a directory.
E) Reveal as much personal information as possible because that will help the recruiters in evaluating your profile.

Question 14

Megan is an English major, but she's not sure if she'd like to work in academia or in a commercial field like publishing. She is trying to decide if she would enjoy a creative job or a more procedural job. She is trying to ________.

A) identify her preferences and narrow down her focus
B) learn about the working conditions in various jobs in her broad field
C) be flexible about job locations
D) test drive a company and career path
E) enhance her résumé

Question 15

________ are an opportunity for you to "test drive" a company and career path.

A) Internships
B) Volunteering jobs
C) Interviews
D) Job banks
E) Career centers

Question 16

Which of the following statements is most likely to be true about identifying your weakness?

A) Identifying your weakness helps you identify your sellable qualities.
B) Being aware of your weaknesses has no benefits.
C) Knowing your weaknesses helps you identify areas for improvement.
D) Recognizing your weaknesses helps you in identifying an appropriate job location for you.
E) Recognizing your weaknesses is counterproductive and wastes time.

Question 17

During his job search Matt is invited for an interview at a company several hours away from where he currently resides. The job opportunity sounds interesting, but he is not sure that he would be willing to relocate. He should ________.

A) decline the interview since accepting it will require him to take the job if it is offered
B) decline the interview since it is a waste of time if he is unsure about relocating
C) agree to the interview since one should never decline an invitation to interview
D) decline the interview because it will be unethical to appear for the interview when he is not sure about whether he would take the job
E) agree to the interview since it will enable him to see the area and learn more about the job

Question 18

________ are abilities that make you an asset to a company.

A) Related hobbies
B) Personal preferences
C) Skill inventories
D) Sellable qualities
E) Motor skills

Question 19

The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that employers convert ________ of eligible interns into full-time employees.

A) barely 5 percent
B) less than 10 percent
C) almost 25 percent
D) more than 40 percent
E) less than 30 percent

Question 20

Ginny is preparing to enter the workforce, and before she starts looking for a job, she is analyzing her career goals. She starts with outlining her work experiences, identifying areas of expertise, and listing other sellable qualities that employers value. This list ________.

A) once completed will not need to be updated for several years
B) will not be useful for tailoring her résumé for different jobs
C) should be updated frequently to reflect her current "skill inventory"
D) should only include skills acquired at an actual job
E) should not be used in the creation of résumés

Question 21

A(n) ________ résumé is a traditional format that organizes the content in sequential order, starting with the most recent and working backward.

A) chronological
B) integrated
C) functional
D) distributive
E) unformatted

Question 22

The chronological résumé ________.

A) is a nontraditional format
B) lists contents in sequential order, starting with the least recent and working forward
C) highlights education and work experience as the primary assets of the applicant
D) is more appropriate for those applicants who have limited work experience related to the position
E) emphasizes the skills that qualify an applicant for the position

Question 23

Which of the following must be avoided to create a well-designed résumé?

A) using Arial as your font
B) creating columns with spaces
C) using a larger font size for headings
D) formatting headings in bold
E) separating sections with lines

Question 24

While designing your professional business card, you should ________.

A) avoid listing your professional memberships
B) include your family information in it
C) include your contact information in it
D) avoid mentioning your LinkedIn account
E) include details about your social background in it

Question 25

In terms of projecting a professional image, which of the following email addresses for a job candidate named Bob Smith would be least appropriate?

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

Question 26

It is recommended that you update your status ________ so people in your network are reminded about you and your job search.

A) twice a day
B) once in six months
C) weekly
D) once in three months
E) once a year

Question 27

Job recruiters find formal networking sites like ________ to be great resources in finding job candidates.

A) LinkedIn
B) Twitter
C) Facebook
D) Bing
E) Google

Question 28

Kurt needs to send an unformatted copy of his résumé to a prospective employer. To accomplish this in Microsoft Word, he ________.

A) only needs to change the font of the document to a less contemporary looking one, like Times New Roman
B) should remove all capital letters in the résumé
C) should start by copying and pasting his résumé's content into blank Word file using Paste Special
D) should change the line spacing to two blank lines
E) should ensure that there is extra spaces before or after paragraphs

Question 29

Hugh is applying for a job as a help desk associate, though his employment experience to date has not been in this field. His extracurricular interests have given him skills that would be desirable in this position. It would be most appropriate for him to use a(n) ________ résumé for this job opportunity.

A) chronological
B) experiential
C) traditional
D) combined
E) functional

Question 30

Mark Jaffe, president of a headhunting firm, says that including a photo in your profile on a site like LinkedIn ________.

A) will never help you in job search
B) is a must for an effective professional profile
C) should project your nonprofessional side
D) could cause you to be dismissed from consideration despite your credentials
E) always increases your chances for landing a job

Question 31

Which of the following statements is true about a network?

A) Your network is the circle of people who profit from your career goals and achievements.
B) Your network includes coworkers, faculty, staff, and business contacts - not family and friends.
C) The smaller your network, the more likely you are to hear about open positions.
D) Telling everyone in your network that you're looking for a job will reduce your chances of getting a job.
E) Attending job fairs and researching alumni databases are two ways to expand your network.

Question 32

Which of the following is one of the ways recommended to build your personal brand?

A) Have your email templates designed by a professional designer to make it look attractive.
B) Include a signature block in your email to provide educational qualifications and family details.
C) Choose an email address that represents your name, phone number and date of birth.
D) Wait for 24 hours before returning calls and emails so as not to appear too eager.
E) Avoid distracting background music or cute sayings in your voicemail greeting.

Question 33

The chronological résumé format ________.

A) emphasizes work experience
B) emphasizes skills
C) emphasizes professional contacts
D) is the most appropriate for those applicants who have limited work experience related to the position
E) is most appropriate for those students who are about to start their career

Question 34

Janelle is preparing for her job search and wants to make sure that employers won't find any inappropriate information if they choose to research her online. In this context, which of the following is NOT necessary?

A) removing photographs that present her in an unprofessional light
B) asking friends to remove any questionable information about her on their social media sites
C) cleaning up her existing social media sites
D) deleting all her profiles on social networking sites
E) conducting a Google search on herself to see what others can find out about her online

Question 35

Why should you create a second plain text version of your résumé?

A) so that you have a back-up in case the formatted copy is lost
B) so employers can fairly compare candidates' qualifications without being biased by the résumés' design features
C) so that companies can put them into databases that allow for easy search and sorting
D) so that your résumé will stand out among all the professionally designed résumés
E) so that you can insert more information in a comparatively smaller space

Question 36

Professional résumé templates ________.

A) are not recommended
B) are frowned upon by employers
C) are good style guides
D) must be copied exactly
E) usually lead to unprofessional looking résumés

Question 37

In the context of creating a professional brand, which of the following terms best represents a concise statement designed to communicate your value and initiate a deeper conversation?

A) value proposition
B) elevator pitch
C) mission statement
D) memorandum
E) vision statement

Question 38

Miranda is creating her first résumé and is unsure how to design it so that it looks professional yet still stands out from the pack. She should ________.

A) put her focus on making her résumé look personalized and quirky, instead of professionally designed
B) copy exactly the format of the sample résumé she sees online and consider it to be professional and appealing
C) stop worrying about the format - employers will not be deterred from seeing the substance of a résumé because of poor design
D) ensure that her résumé is at least five pages long
E) use the best elements from a few samples as guides to create a professionally yet uniquely designed résumé

Question 39

Zara's mother laughs when Zara tells her that she is using Facebook to help her in her job search. Zara's mom ________.

A) is right to laugh, as Facebook plays no role in a job search
B) knows that the only way Facebook impacts a job search is when employers find embarrassing personal information about job candidates on it
C) doesn't realize that letting friends know you are job hunting via Facebook is an effective way to find unadvertised job opportunities
D) does not know that job recruiters find professional sites like Facebook to be great resources in finding job candidates
E) is aware that Facebook can only harm your chances of finding a job

Question 40

Which of the following is most likely to be included in the professional signature block on an email message?

A) link to Facebook account
B) hobbies
C) family details
D) contact information
E) personal medical details

Question 41

Denise is pursuing a degree in hospitality. After an internship at a boutique hotel she decides that she is interested in guest management, preferably for a large operation in a major city. In analyzing her strengths and skills, she realizes that she has acquired problem solving and interpersonal skills as well as written and oral communication skills during her internship. Additionally she speaks Spanish and has used social media to effectively promote events for her school's Spanish club. As graduation approaches, Denise comes to know about an entry-level position at a large hotel chain through a friend.
"To acquire a challenging position in the publishing field that allows me to use my strong editorial, interpersonal, and communication skills to help produce quality written materials for print, online and other media." Which of the following is illustrated in the statement mentioned above?

A) a traditional objective statement
B) a qualifications summary
C) a professional profile
D) a document title
E) a professional reference

Question 42

Exaggerating on your résumé ________.

A) is permitted to a given level
B) is acceptable if the information is trivial
C) is acceptable if the information pertains to your previous job but not current job
D) can't hurt you after you have made it through the screening process
E) can be perceived as lying by potential employers

Question 43

Denise is pursuing a degree in hospitality. After an internship at a boutique hotel she decides that she is interested in guest management, preferably for a large operation in a major city. In analyzing her strengths and skills, she realizes that she has acquired problem solving and interpersonal skills as well as written and oral communication skills during her internship. Additionally she speaks Spanish and has used social media to effectively promote events for her school's Spanish club. As graduation approaches, Denise comes to know about an entry-level position at a large hotel chain through a friend.
When she composes her résumé to apply for this position, which of the following objectives would be most appropriate to include?

A) To obtain a challenging position in hospitality that allows me to use my strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication skills to provide excellent guest experiences.
B) To secure a challenging position with a top-tier company that enjoys a premier reputation and provides the potential for employee growth.
C) To find a position at a large hotel chain in a major metropolitan location so I can fulfill my ambition to work in hospitality.
D) I would love the opportunity to work for your company and get a chance to be part of the "team" and contribute to helping you succeed.
E) To obtain good work experience at a great company so that I can open my own hotel in future.

Question 44

In your résumé, your name ________.

A) should have a font size that is two times smaller than the rest of the résumé text
B) should appear on every page in the résumé in the margin
C) should have a font size that is the same as the rest of the résumé text
D) should be in bold font
E) should appear at the bottom of the résumé

Question 45

Which of the following is acceptable to do on your résumé?

A) including your major GPA with the correct label
B) rounding up your GPA
C) changing dates of employment
D) increasing previous salary amounts
E) inflating previous job titles

Question 46

Generally, the work experience section of your résumé should include ________.

A) detailed bullet points describing duties at all prior jobs
B) supervisors' information
C) salary information
D) reasons for leaving past employment
E) related internship experiences

Question 47

"I oversaw updates of annual editions and developed the concept, format, and look of the new titles." The statement mentioned above is a bullet point description of one of Liza's responsibilities at a previous job. Which of the following changes will best modify this statement for describing job duties?

A) It should be revised by changing "oversaw" to "oversee."
B) It should be revised by adding "Used to oversee" at the start of the phrase.
C) It should be rewritten to read, "Worked at a publishing company."
D) It should be rewritten to read, "Helped with annual editions and creating new titles."
E) It should be revised by removing the "I" at the beginning.

Question 48

Cutting and pasting a sample cover letter into a new document, and then replacing the name and job description with yours ________.

A) helps you sell your strength more effectively than writing it yourself
B) is a quick, easy, and ethical way to create your own cover letter
C) is more effective than creating your own personal template that you modify for each new job application
D) passes up a valuable opportunity to create a customized letter selling your specific strengths and skills
E) results in a more persuasive letter than the one you would have created on your own

Question 49

The contact information on your résumé ________.

A) does not require a postal mailing address in this increasingly technological age
B) should not include links to your social media sites
C) should omit your email address
D) should include a phone number that has a professional voice mail greeting
E) needs to be all-inclusive: all your email addresses, permanent and present addresses if applicable, as well as your landline and mobile phone numbers

Question 50

A letter of application is a(n) ________ sent to a prospective employer.

A) routine message
B) persuasive message
C) goodwill message
D) FYI message
E) claim message

Question 51

In the context of résumés, objectives ________.

A) are required on all résumés
B) should never appear on résumés
C) must be vague and general enough to apply to a wide range of positions
D) should clearly express what you want to get from the employer
E) must directly and concisely state what you can do for the company

Question 52

When listing educational information on your résumé, ________.

A) always include it near the bottom of the résumé
B) list only schools from which you have received (or will receive) a degree
C) if you have several stops and starts in pursuit of a single degree, list all the institutions along the way
D) if you are a transfer student, be sure to list the school where you earned credits but did not graduate
E) never include your grade point average

Question 53

Julian is applying for a position at a publishing company, and organizes his résumé to emphasize the skills he has that are related to the position before his work experience. His work experience to date has been in food service and retail environments. He documents this experience but doesn't provide detailed descriptions of his duties, as they don't support his objective of getting the publishing position. Which of the following résumé formats is used by Julian to create his résumé?

A) chronological
B) traditional
C) functional
D) combined
E) plain text

Question 54

Which of the following must be avoided regarding references?

A) including references in the main body of the résumé
B) providing professional references on a separate page
C) formatting the references in the same style as the résumé
D) including previous employers under professional references
E) using personal titles like Mr. or Dr. for the references.

Question 55

Which of the following best describes a responsibility you had at a previous job in your résumé?

A) Wrote content for a weekly website
B) I formatted fliers, memos, and newsletters
C) I helped with general office duties
D) I worked with computers
E) Strong interpersonal skills

Question 56

A cover letter ________.

A) should not include your skills as they will be mentioned in your résumé
B) is not a persuasive message
C) can convey your professional personality and writing skills
D) should be generic enough so that you can use it to apply for any job in your field
E) does not need to specify the position you are applying for

Question 57

Eileen finished college with a 5.21 GPA. She started a job after graduation and now, two years later, she is looking for a new position. Which of the following is true in her case?

A) She should round her GPA up to 5 and include it on her résumé.
B) She should not include her GPA on her résumé because she has two years of work experience following college.
C) She should include her GPA on her résumé because if she doesn't, hiring managers may assume it is very low, perhaps lower than it actually is.
D) She should not include her GPA on her résumé because it is not above 8.
E) She should round her GPA up to 6 and include it on her résumé.

Question 58

A(n) ________ is written in response to an advertisement or posting that requests applications.

A) solicited cover letter
B) unsolicited cover letter
C) memorandum
D) letter of reference
E) recommendation

Question 59

The ________ format is most appropriate for applicants who have worked in positions closely related to the one they are applying for and who also want to emphasize the advanced skillsets required for the new position.

A) chronological
B) traditional
C) functional
D) combined
E) plain text

Question 60

Which of the following guidelines should be followed for writing an effective résumé?

A) List educational information at the end of a résumé.
B) If you are a transfer student, list even those schools where you earned credits but did not graduate.
C) Avoid placing your name at the top of the résumé.
D) If you have less than five years of work experience following college, avoid including your grade point average.
E) Do not include a document title such as résumé or curriculum vitae, which takes up unnecessary space.

Question 61

Some college and university career centers offer services to alumni.

Question 62

Which of the following would be the best statement to include in a cover letter?

A) I believe I have the knowledge, skills, and interest to make a valuable contribution to your team.
B) I know that my interest, experience, and abilities put me far ahead of competition for this position.
C) I am enthusiastic about working at your company, and really hope you realize that I'm the best candidate for this position.
D) I feel confident that my unique skill set and experience make me the perfect candidate for the job.
E) I am sure you agree that my credentials are exemplary, and coupled with my great interest and desire to work for your company, make me the perfect fit.

Question 63

Brynn has designed web pages for her friends, but shouldn't consider this expertise when analyzing her strengths and skills since it is not related to her employment history.

Question 64

Which of the following is true of web résumés?

A) A web résumé should include a link to a PDF version of your resume but apart from this, it should not include any other links referring to any other supporting material.
B) Web résumés cannot be searched through search engines, and you will need to send the link to the recruiters.
C) Web résumés should always be kept up to date and include a "last updated" date.
D) Once uploaded, the web résumés cannot be updated or changed.
E) Web résumés can only be used for sales and marketing jobs.

Question 65

If you are just starting your career, ensure that your résumé is at least five pages long.

Question 66

According to the National Association of College and Employers, only 10 percent of college graduates use social media in their job search.

Question 67

Fiona is interested in an internship at a local art museum. Because she has no work experience related to this position, she should use a chronological résumé format when applying.

Question 68

Which of the following statements is true regarding submitting your job application by email?

A) It is unethical to use a return-receipt feature with an email submission of your application materials.
B) Using a return-receipt feature when sending your employment materials via email communicates to the recipient that the message is important.
C) All email systems support a return-receipt feature so it is easy to verify if your message was received.
D) If you do not receive an email response confirming receipt of your documents within two days, send a follow-up email requesting confirmation.
E) Asking a potential employer to confirm receipt of your job application sent by email is considered intrusive and inappropriate.

Question 69

If you send your résumé by email, ________.

A) including your cover letter in the body of the email message is considered more formal than attaching it to the email
B) cover letters included in the body of an email can be problematic for recipients who read their email on mobile devices
C) you should save your attachments in .rar format if a file type is not mentioned specifically
D) you should not attach your résumé and cover letter as two separate files; instead, combine them in one document
E) your cover letter may be inadvertently overlooked if you choose to include it in the body of the email instead of as an attachment

Question 70

It is most effective to focus your time and energy into creating one perfect résumé which you can use for all situations.

Question 71

How you communicate your knowledge and skills through your professional brand will determine your job opportunities as well as your continued success throughout your career.

Question 72

Providing your application materials in person ________.

A) is a mandatory option for most advertised positions
B) requires that you consider the impression you will make on those you interact with
C) guarantees that someone at the company will discuss your application with you
D) requires you to collect a return receipt to prove that the company received your material
E) prevents you from following up with the company if they do not respond to your application

Question 73

Which of the following would be the best statement to include in a cover letter to address the fact that you lack the two years of full-time experience specified in the job posting?

A) I know that I don't have the two years of full-time work experience, but I hope that you won't hold that against me.
B) I may not have two years of full-time work experience, but is that really so important?
C) While my full-time work experience is less than two years, my related internship and part-time work have given me a great understanding of the industry.
D) I hope that you will not overlook all of the other applicable skills and abilities I will bring to the team only because I lack two years of full-time experience.
E) Although I don't have two years of full-time experience, I still think that I am a strong candidate for the job.

Question 74

Analyzing your own career interests and goals will help you decide what employment opportunities to pursue.

Question 75

Content marketing means publishing content that audiences will value.

Question 76

The use of applicant tracking systems is considered unethical by many companies.

Question 77

When you write an unsolicited cover letter, ________.

A) gaining attention is relatively easy
B) you are replying to a posting that requests applications
C) your audience is actively looking for someone to fill the job
D) do not end the letter by requesting an interview
E) you need to persuade your audience to read your letter rather than discard it

Question 78

Jamie is writing an unsolicited cover letter to a company that she would like to work for. She should ________.

A) just name the position she is interested in applying for
B) avoid ending her cover letter by requesting an interview
C) try to send the letter to someone in the company with whom she is connected to through her professional network
D) find a sample of an unsolicited cover letter and cut and paste its text into a new document so she can just change her name and the position title
E) avoid outlining her skills in the cover letter as the skills will be listed in the résumé.

Question 79

Unlike Facebook, LinkedIn is primarily intended to be an interactive professional networking tool.

Question 80

Internships and summer jobs can help you determine if you are truly interested in pursuing a career in a particular field.