Deck 16: Employment Communications

Question 1

When describing accomplishments and experiences in a résumé, never begin statements with action verbs.

Answer 1

False
Explanation: As you describe your accomplishments and experiences in your résumé, begin your statements with action verbs. By doing so, you highlight your abilities and attributes in a way that emphasizes action and results.

Question 2

In a résumé, one should generally avoid giving details about one's personal life, especially those that some people may find objectionable or unprofessional.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: Writing résumés and cover letters requires the discipline to tell a story of how your key abilities and attributes will provide value to an employer. You should generally avoid details about your personal life, especially those that some people may find objectionable or unprofessional.

Question 3

Focusing on ease of processing and consistency is important while formatting a résumé.

Answer 3

True
Explanation: As you format your résumé, focus on ease of processing and consistency.

Question 4

Preparing for the job application process is completely different from preparing for other forms of business communication.

Question 5

The first step in creating résumés or cover letters is to understand the needs of your potential employers.

Question 6

The most common and generally preferred résumé format, especially for young professionals, is the chronological résumé.

Question 7

Long lists of items in a résumé will help recruiters quickly grasp applicants' abilities.

Question 8

A thorough search for the best potential positions at the initial stages of the job search process can save you a lot of time and increase the likelihood you will get a position that is in your long-term interests.

Question 9

When leaving an organization, you should inform your supervisor that you are leaving, preferably in person.

Question 10

During job interviews, telling stories about your successes can diminish your chances of getting selected.

Question 11

Sending a note of appreciation following an interview is a good strategy.

Question 12

Your résumé should be persuasive and so should highlight everything that you do well.

Question 13

Cover letters are the same for all positions.

Question 14

In order to demonstrate your interest in a position and company, it is best to use flowery language when writing a cover letter.

Question 15

When you have secured an interview, you have made the initial cut and are likely deemed a good candidate.

Question 16

Recruiters rarely have any tolerance for inaccuracies in a résumé.

Question 17

To help you identify your interests, abilities, and attributes, you might consider completing a self-inventory.

Question 18

Providing a list of personal references is a part of most job applications.

Question 19

Cover letters and résumés are persuasive messages that show how you meet the needs of your prospective employers.

Question 20

When interviewees do not ask questions, hiring managers often view them as capable or experienced.

Question 21

_____ are skills and knowledge that can be applied to accomplishing work tasks.

A)Attributes
B)Abilities
C)Instincts
D)Traits
E)Characteristics

Question 22

Which of the following is an example of an ability?

A)Analytical
B)Reliable
C)People-oriented
D)Leadership
E)Flexible

Question 23

Which of the following sections is considered optional while creating a résumé?

A)Education
B)Work experience
C)Name block
D)Objective statement
E)Contact information

Question 24

Identifying your career goals helps you:

A)address those areas where you most need improvement.
B)discover your personal strengths and abilities.
C)prepare a career summary for your résumé.
D)understand the needs of your potential employer.
E)recognize your career accomplishments.

Question 25

_____ represents one's ability to maintain effective workplace relationships.

A)Credibility
B)Caring
C)Aptitude
D)Skill
E)Character

Question 26

_____ is the ability to uphold company norms and standards.

A)Competence
B)Character
C)Skill
D)Aptitude
E)Personality

Question 27

Cover letters and résumés are persuasive messages that:

A)show how you meet the needs of your prospective employers.
B)provide a detailed insight into your personal interests and hobbies.
C)allow you to communicate informally with your prospective employers.
D)identify your areas of improvement.
E)introduce your former organization and supervisor to your prospective employers.

Question 28

Which of the following additional information adds value to a résumé?

A)Licensure
B)Age
C)Sexual orientation
D)Marital status
E)Religion

Question 29

A mistake that many job applicants make while creating résumés is:

A)neglecting to include areas they need to improve on.
B)forgetting to include their hobbies and other interests.
C)trying to display everything they do well.
D)highlighting only a few of their abilities and attributes.
E)condensing all their important work-related information into one-two pages.

Question 30

Sam has just completed his master's degree in management and wants to apply for an assistant manager's post at a recruitment firm.Which of the following is the first step Sam should take to create his résumé and cover letter?

A)He should work on his areas of improvement.
B)He should carefully evaluate his career ambitions and qualifications.
C)He should use clichés, buzzwords, and jargon.
D)He should communicate informally with his prospective employers.
E)He should provide a career summary.

Question 31

One of the best ways to understand a potential employer's needs is to:

A)develop new interests that are related to your job.
B)work on building effective workplace relationships.
C)reach out to people who can provide credible accounts of your qualifications.
D)work on your areas of improvement.
E)carefully read and analyze the job position announcement.

Question 32

Which of the following is considered additional information in a résumé?

A)Contact information
B)Unpaid internships
C)Language abilities
D)Career goals
E)Academic degrees

Question 33

Which of the following is guideline for writing an effective résumé?

A)Provide details about your personal life.
B)Demonstrate humility by deemphasizing your accomplishments.
C)Use buzzwords and jargon to appear knowledgeable.
D)Position your most important contributions first.
E)Avoid using layouts with a lot of white space.

Question 34

Which of the following will help you identify your interests, abilities, and attributes?

A)Speaking to people who can provide credible accounts of your qualifications
B)Working on your various areas of improvement
C)Developing hobbies relevant to the job you are applying for
D)Completing a self-inventory
E)Understanding the needs of your potential employer

Question 35

_____ focuses on the technical skills to achieve work tasks.

A)Credibility
B)Instinct
C)Competence
D)Motivation
E)Character

Question 36

Ryan is considered to be a reliable employee at his workplace.Being reliable is a(n) _____.

A)ability
B)skill
C)aptitude
D)attribute
E)competence

Question 37

Your résumé should tell a story of:

A)the value you can provide to a company.
B)how you plan to improve your areas of weakness.
C)everything you know and have done in your previous job.
D)your personal life, interests, and hobbies.
E)why you want to leave your current organization.

Question 38

Which of the following is the first step of a job application process?

A)Developing a reference list
B)Developing the ideas
C)Analyzing the audience
D)Setting up the message structure
E)Getting the tone, style, and design right for résumés

Question 39

Career summaries focus on the needs of _____.

A)job seekers
B)employees
C)job incumbents
D)interviewees
E)employers

Question 40

All of the following is considered additional information in a résumé EXCEPT:

A)volunteer work.
B)unpaid internships
C)professional associations.
D)community activities.
E)certifications and licensure.

Question 41

When you are seeking employment with a company that does not even have an open position, you will submit a(n) _____ cover letter, since the company has not requested job applications.

A)informal
B)chronological
C)unsolicited
D)conversational
E)serialized

Question 42

Which of the following statements in a résumé shows quantifiable accomplishments in a previous job?

A)Supervised a 10-member telemarketing team
B)In charge of the "Save the Tiger" campaign
C)Looked after the foster care program
D)Raised funds for the poor
E)Assisted with buying medical supplies

Question 43

One of the most challenging aspects of writing a cover letter is:

A)listing your references in a brief manner.
B)ensuring that it is free of typos.
C)getting the tone right.
D)mentioning the position you are applying for.
E)conveying your interest in a job position while being non-committal.

Question 44

_____ résumés present information in terms of key skills and are most often used by professionals with extensive experience and individuals with little or no work experience.

A)Sequential
B)Chronological
C)Combination
D)Functional
E)Nontraditional

Question 45

Adrian is one of several engineers applying for a job in response to a recent Internet advertisement.Which of the following should Adrian keep in mind while writing his cover letter?

A)Clearly and prominently identify the position being applied for in the subject line.
B)Adopt a friendly, informal, and conversational style.
C)Use clichés to sound impressive.
D)Be as elaborate as possible.
E)Provide personal information as much as possible.

Question 46

Which of the following should you do in order to develop a reference list?

A)Contact your references just in time so that you don't nag them beforehand.
B)Add a brief statement describing your professional relationship with each of your references.
C)Provide your current supervisor as a reference even if he/she is unhappy with your decision to leave the company.
D)Provide a detailed introduction about each of your references.
E)Avoid sharing details about the position you are applying for with your references.

Question 47

While describing accomplishments and experiences in a résumé, begin statements with _____ verbs.

A)irregular
B)modal
C)static
D)auxiliary
E)action

Question 48

The primary goal of a cover letter is to:

A)provide a strong, emotional tone to the applicant's résumé.
B)show how applicants' hobbies and personal interests are related to the job position.
C)highlight applicants' strengths and weaknesses.
D)make candidates look impressive through the use of clichés and exaggeration.
E)sell key abilities and attributes in a way that matches the needs of the employer.

Question 49

Generally, employers prefer to receive résumés:

A)in standard format through electronic channels.
B)by post in a standard size envelope.
C)in person during the interview only.
D)through company referrals.
E)via third-party firms.

Question 50

When reviewing résumés and cover letters, it is important to ensure that:

A)you have included a section on your areas of improvement.
B)you have used a friendly, informal, and conversational style.
C)you have displayed everything that you do well.
D)you have emphasized your selling points in a compelling manner.
E)you have included personal information such as marital status, age, religion, and sexual orientation.

Question 51

Which of the following statements in a résumé is effective in highlighting an individual's key skills and attributes?

A)I waited tables at the restaurant.
B)Kept track of all the goods sold.
C)I am a good leader.
D)Took inventory of all goods sold in the store.
E)Responsible for advertising.

Question 52

The most common and generally preferred format, especially for young professionals, is the _____ résumé.

A)functional
B)chronological
C)combination
D)targeted
E)nontraditional

Question 53

When people apply to formal job announcements, they must write a(n) _____ cover letter since it is for an open position that a company advertises.

A)informal
B)chronological
C)serialized
D)conversational
E)solicited

Question 54

Which of the following modifications should you make while writing unsolicited cover letters?

A)Use a friendly, informal, and conversational style.
B)Open immediately with a proposition about how you can add value to the company.
C)Be as elaborate as possible.
D)Add a section on areas of improvement.
E)Do not mention the position you are applying for.

Question 55

Why should job applicants avoid using clichés in résumés?

A)They portray applicants as being desperate for a job.
B)They are perceived as a sign of deception.
C)They do not indicate an applicant's areas of improvement.
D)They are perceived as showing unrealistic or naïve expectations about a job.
E)They reflect negatively on previous employers.

Question 56

By taking a focused approach in writing cover letters, _____.

A)you can use flowery language to convey a confident and enthusiastic tone
B)you can avoid identifying the position you are applying for
C)you can avoid the need to write a résumé
D)you strengthen the story you are telling of your qualifications
E)you can increase the size of your cover letter to two to three pages

Question 57

In order to construct a reference list for your résumé, you should:

A)focus on people you actually know rather than potential references.
B)provide your current supervisor as a reference even if he/she is unhappy with your decision to leave the company.
C)provide the references of people without informing them of your plan to use their names.
D)contact your references just before sending your résumé so that you don't disturb them.
E)build relationships with potential references over time.

Question 58

Some job applicants fail to understand the importance of providing _____ in their résumés, which is actually among the most important factors in gaining a new position.

A)additional information
B)personal details
C)personal references
D)information about their high-school education
E)an objectives statement

Question 59

Potential employers discard résumés immediately if they:

A)do not contain an objective statement.
B)do not include hobbies and interests.
C)contain typos or other careless errors.
D)do not provide details about high school education.
E)include personal information such as age and marital status.

Question 60

Which of the following is a guideline for writing a cover letter?

A)Tailor your cover letter to the job posting and needs of the employer.
B)Do not write cover letters for jobs that have not been advertised by companies.
C)Use a conversational style with flowery language to convey enthusiasm.
D)Be as elaborate as possible and write long cover letters.
E)Do not mention the position you are applying for.

Question 61

The STAR method is an approach to telling success stories during an interview.What does "A" stand for in the STAR method?

A)Abilities
B)Accomplishments
C)Achievements
D)Actions
E)Acquisitions

Question 62

When interviewees do not ask questions, hiring managers often view them as:

A)confident about the new position.
B)uninterested or inexperienced.
C)highly motivated and eager to work.
D)having a strong personality.
E)arrogant and rude.

Question 63

In the STAR method of telling success stories, "R" stands for _____.

A)ranking
B)rating
C)risks
D)results
E)revenue

Question 64

Discuss the need for clearly identifying the position you are applying for in cover letters.

Question 65

Describe how a job applicant should emphasize his/her accomplishments in a résumé.

Question 66

Define abilities and attributes.

Question 67

As a job seeker, how should you analyze the needs of your potential employers?

Question 68

Why should you send a note of appreciation following an interview?

A)To demonstrate your grasp of social etiquette
B)To flatter your employer in the hope of getting the job
C)To increase your chances of getting your expected salary
D)To show your potential employer that you are desperate to get the job
E)To express goodwill and confirm your interest in the position

Question 69

Describe the steps involved in developing a reference list.

Question 70

In the interview process, which of the following is considered inappropriate by hiring managers?

A)Talking about past success stories
B)Having an unprofessional email id
C)Not sending a thank-you note after the interview
D)Asking questions during the interview
E)Dressing provocatively

Question 71

Discuss the etiquette for leaving an organization with grace and foresight.

Question 72

Discuss the etiquette for following up after job interviews.

Question 73

Which of the following is a principle you should follow when you resign from an organization?

A)Describe how your former job did not match your competency levels.
B)Elaborately and enthusiastically explain the new position to your former employers.
C)Show graciousness and appreciation for the professional opportunities that were given to you.
D)Use your new job offer to bargain for a better compensation package from your former employer.
E)Express your negative experiences with your supervisor and colleagues.

Question 74

Success stories should:

A)follow the AIM planning process.
B)be relatively brief-not more than 1-2 minutes long.
C)reveal both your strengths and weaknesses.
D)contain some fictitious details.
E)provide profound insights into your personality.

Question 75

If you ask about salary, compensation, and other perks on the first interview, you:

A)may inadvertently send the meta message "this is all about me."
B)increase your odds of getting selected.
C)send out a message that you are a "go-getter" and confident.
D)demonstrate your eagerness to start working.
E)increase your chances of getting your expected salary.

Question 76

Discuss the importance of removing irrelevant details from résumés.

Question 77

In order to succeed in an interview, you should:

A)talk only about your abilities and accomplishments.
B)be perceptive about what hiring managers are evaluating.
C)talk about personal success stories in great detail.
D)avoid asking the interviewer questions.
E)speak negatively of your former employers.

Question 78

Explain the process of reviewing résumés and cover letters.

Question 79

Which of the following is a guideline to succeed in an interview?

A)Take credit for your individual accomplishments but also demonstrate your team orientation.
B)Provide detailed and elaborate responses to questions.
C)Frankly express your displeasure with your previous jobs.
D)Ignore questions on weaknesses.
E)Say "we" instead of "I" more often when talking about accomplishments at work.