Deck 10: Writing Job-Application Materials

Question 1

What are the two major types of résumés discussed in the chapter?

A) descriptive résumé
B) skills résumé
C) narrative résumé
D) chronological résumé
E) developmental résumé

Answer 1

B, D

Question 2

which of these sections is LEAST likely to appear in a typical chronological résumé?

A) your identifying information
B) your employment history
C) your education
D) your references

Answer 2

D

Question 3

what is a transferable skill?

A) a skill that you can apply across many different job settings and professional fields
B) a skill that you take when you transfer from one company to the same job in a different company
C) a skill that you develop through attending special training classes
D) a skill that you learn through a mentoring technique called skill-transfer

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of these is NOT a means of looking for a job that Chapter 10 discusses?

A) the website of a company you are interested in
B) a professional placement bureau
C) a newspaper's ads
D) your personal network

Question 5

Which of these is most important to include in your résumé to avoid having it placed into the "no" pile?

A) a hashtag to link with a database
B) keywords from the requirements for a specific job
C) a QR code
D) names of specific courses you have completed

Question 6

which of these is NOT a guideline for developing your professional brand?

A) Research what others have done.
B) Highlight your job skills.
C) Focus on problem-solving and accomplishments.
D) Focus on academic accomplishments and awards.

Question 7

what should you do after interviewing for a job?

A) Call to express your continued interest in the position.
B) Refrain from taking any action until the interviewer follows up with you.
C) Write a letter or email of appreciation.
D) All responses are correct.
E) None of the responses are correct.

Question 8

what percentage of hiring officers are likely to use LinkedIn to search for job candidates?

A) a great majority (90% or more)
B) a solid majority (around 70%)
C) about one-half (around 50%)
D) a solid minority (around 30%)

Question 9

In 2000, you received a B.S. in computer programming. Although you have had several jobs over the years, including positions at two major companies, your work history is irregular because you opted to stay at home with your two young children until they began elementary school. You now wish to return to the workforce but realize that the rapid changes in computer technology and your irregular work history may be a disadvantage. Which is the most appropriate strategy for dealing with your employment history in your résumé?

A) Omit the dates of employment.
B) Omit the dates of employment but explain in the job-application letter that you were out of the workforce because of child-care responsibilities.
C) Include the dates of employment and explain in the application letter that you chose to leave the workforce to care for your children.
D) Modify the dates of employment to eliminate the gaps.

Question 10

Which of these is NOT a typical follow-up message to write after interviewing for a job?

A) a message declining the job
B) a message to show appreciation for the interview
C) a message requesting salary information
D) a message acknowledging that you were not selected for the job

Question 11

Chapter 10 shows four paragraphs that should appear in a job-application letter. One is the introductory paragraph. What are two other paragraphs shown in the chapter?

A) education paragraph
B) professional-interests paragraph
C) references paragraph
D) concluding paragraph
E) None of the responses are correct.

Question 12

Chapter 10 lists four questions you should ask before posting your résumé on an Internet job board. One question is "Who has access to your résumé?" What is one of the other questions?

A) How will you know if an employer requests your résumé?
B) Will the formatting of your résumé remain unchanged once the résumé is converted to an electronic file?
C) Will a prospective employer have to pay a fee to retrieve your résumé?
D) How secure are the servers where your résumé is stored?
E) None of the responses are correct.

Question 13

Which of the following statements best displays appropriate levels of both confidence and politeness?

A) "I hope you will have some time available to consider my qualifications for this position. Please contact me at [phone] if you would be able to set up a time."
B) "I am eager to meet with you to discuss my qualifications for this position. Please contact me at [phone] to set up a time."
C) "I am clearly a solid candidate for this position. Call me at [phone] to get this thing going."
D) "I hope you will be able to consider me for this position. Please contact me at [phone] if you would be able to meet with me. Thank you for your time."

Question 14

Which of the following statements about plain-text résumés is true?

A) The word plain refers to the language you use to write such a résumé.
B) The word plain refers to the visual style of this type of résumé.
C) The word plain refers to the email you use to send the résumé.
D) The word plain refers to the formatting of the résumé.

Question 15

Which of these statements best explains how your use of social media affects your professional brand?

A) Potential employers will review your social-media use as one way to judge how well you would succeed at marketing.
B) Potential employers will review your social-media use to see if you are a fun person to be around.
C) Potential employers will review your social-media use as one way to assess how you would behave on the job.
D) Potential employers will review your social-media use to see if you take good pictures.

Question 16

While a college student, you spent two years as an officer in the campus chapter of your field's main professional association. Which of the following statements best shows a focus on problem-solving and accomplishments?

A) "In my two years on the leadership team, membership was increased by 12 percent."
B) "In my two years on the leadership team, my work on recruiting and retention led to a 12-percent increase in membership."
C) "In my two years on the leadership team, we conducted several meetings about becoming professional engineers."
D) "I served on the leadership team for two years."

Question 17

You are majoring in environmental studies. Last year, you worked for six months as a volunteer caregiver at an orphanage in Asia. Does this help you in your job search?

A) Yes. It gives you opportunities to discuss the transferable skills you developed in areas such as problem-solving and collaboration.
B) No. It is not related to your intended field of study.
C) No. It shows that you took time off from finishing school.
D) Yes. It shows that you are willing to work for free, which employers like.

Question 18

Chapter 10 describes a plain-text résumé. Which two of the following are forms of a plain-text résumé?

A) a résumé created in PowerPoint and submitted on a CD
B) an ASCII résumé
C) a résumé posted to a Usenet newsgroup
D) a résumé posted on an Internet discussion board
E) a text résumé

Question 19

What is most important to convey in the employment section of your résumé?

A) information about your accomplishments on the job
B) information about how to contact your previous managers
C) information about relevant courses you took during your academic career
D) information about the size of each company you have worked for

Question 20

At 23, Becky has just received her B.S. in horticulture from a state college. She has been interested in flowers and gardening since grade school. While in high school, she won several state-fair ribbons for her flowers, which she grew in her spare time while working part-time at a fast-food restaurant and going to school. She continued working at the restaurant while in college. What advice would you give Becky as she prepares her résumé for a full-time position as a horticulturist for the local county extension service?

A) Write a skills résumé.
B) Write a chronological résumé.
C) Write either style of résumé, but leave out the employment section.
D) Write either style of résumé, but add to the professional information section a detailed paragraph describing in professional terms her love of flowers.

Question 21

what should you do after interviewing for a job?

Question 22

If the information on your résumé comes to just over one page, you should eliminate or condense some material to make it fit onto one page.

Question 23

what is an elevator pitch?

Question 24

If you write your own résumé instead of paying someone else to do it, you will be more likely to adapt the résumé to different situations.

Question 25

Why might you want to create a plain-text version of your résumé?

Question 26

Any picture of yourself that you display on your LinkedIn profile or your portfolio must be taken by a professional.

Question 27

Chapter 10 lists four questions you should ask before posting your résumé on an Internet job board. One question is "Who has access to your résumé?" What is one of the other questions?

Question 28

What are the four parts of the body of a job-application letter?

Question 29

It is safe to assume that former employers in your recent past will serve as references for you.

Question 30

A job-application letter should expand on all the information contained in your résumé.

Question 31

The best way to find keywords for your résumé is to study the job titles for jobs you like.

Question 32

If you are rejected for a position, you should not write back to the employer.

Question 33

In terms of how they are organized, what are the two major types of résumés discussed in the chapter?

Question 34

When should you use enclosure notation on a job-application letter?

Question 35

As you develop your professional brand online, you should include keywords that employers look for in your field.

Question 36

An effective job-application letter shows a potential employer that you can write well.

Question 37

Chapter 10 lists six guidelines for building the foundation of your professional brand. One is to research what others have done. Name two other guidelines.

Question 38

Chapter 10 lists four ways to look for a job. One is through a job site on the Internet. Name two of the other ways to look for a job.

Question 39

The chronological résumé is popular among job candidates who are re-entering the workforce or who have changed jobs frequently.

Question 40

Why is it important to include keywords in your LinkedIn profile?