Deck 13: The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters

Question 1

What is the most accurate statement about plain-text résumés?

A) Plain-text résumés are rarely requested by employers because they prefer attachments.
B) A plain-text résumé may also be called an ASCII résumé.
C) Scannable résumés and plain-text résumés require very different guidelines for preparation.
D) When sending a plain-text résumé via e-mail, leave the subject line blank.

Answer 1

B
Explanation:Plain-text résumés may also be called ASCII résumés. Employers prefer plain-text résumés because they avoid possible e-mail viruses and word processing incompatibilities.

Question 2

Which of these is the best tip for arranging the parts of a persuasive résumé?

A) Always include a career objective to show your commitment.
B) Use as many headings as needed to cover your background essentials.
C) List education before work experience.
D) Always begin your résumé with your name and contact information.

Answer 2

D
Explanation:Whether your résumé is chronological or functional, it should always begin with your name followed by your contact information: complete address, phone number with area code, and e-mail address. The use of a career objective is optional, headings should be limited to no more than six, and education is listed before work experience only if it is the more important qualification.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the changing nature of jobs in today's workplace is most accurate?

A) In many companies teams complete special projects and then disband.
B) The primary employers in today's economy are large businesses.
C) Employers prefer hiring people for jobs with narrow descriptions.
D) Jobs are becoming less flexible and more permanent.

Answer 3

A
Explanation: In many companies teams complete special projects and then disband. In addition, jobs are becoming more flexible and less permanent as companies employ fewer people in permanent positions and outsource work to groups not part of the organization. Because new technologies can spring up overnight, making today's skills obsolete, employers are less willing to hire people into jobs with narrow descriptions. Instead, they are hiring contingency employees who work temporarily and then leave. What's more, big companies are no longer the main employers. People work for smaller companies, or they are starting their own businesses.

Question 4

Because of today's technologies, you may need three versions of your résumé. Which of the following is not one of these versions?

A) A traditional print-based résumé
B) A résumé professionally typeset by a specialist
C) A scannable résumé
D) A plain-text résumé for e-mailing or online posting

Question 5

Which of the following is a traditional job search technique?

A) Networking
B) Attending career fairs
C) Contacting companies in which you are interested, even if you know of no current opening
D) These are all traditional job search techniques.

Question 6

Of the following statements describing employment achievements, which is most effective?

A) Directed work flow and scheduling for emergency room personnel.
B) Performed preventative maintenance on production equipment.
C) Achieved 125 percent of production goal for three consecutive quarters.
D) Knowledgeable in a variety of production processes and Just-in-Time theories.

Question 7

What statement best describes the summary of qualifications portion of a résumé?

A) Recruiters and hiring managers dislike the summary of qualification section because it adds to reading time.
B) Place the summary of qualifications at the bottom of your résumé to give it a strong ending.
C) Smart job seekers add a summary of qualifications to their résumés to save the time of recruiters and hiring managers.
D) Format the summary of qualifications section as one or two concise paragraphs.

Question 8

In the Education section of your résumé, you should

A) list all college courses you have taken to give the employer a complete picture.
B) include relevant seminars attended and workshops completed.
C) list only colleges where you have completed a degree or certificate program.
D) include high school information.

Question 9

The primary way to make a résumé persuasive is to

A) limit it to one page.
B) customize it to fit each company and position.
C) use a good laser printer to print it on high-quality bond paper.
D) put a copy of it on the Web.

Question 10

Which of the following is the best career objective for a résumé?

A) An entry-level job in the human resources field with opportunity for advancement.
B) A challenging position with a company pushing the envelope in electronic surveillance.
C) Work as a team player for a company that values independent thinking.
D) A human resources position assisting your company with employee recruitment, selection, background checks, and in-house training.

Question 11

You are just graduating from college and have little employment experience, yet you want to put together a persuasive résumé. What would be the best résumé style to use?

A) Chronological résumé
B) Scannable résumé
C) Functional résumé
D) Online résumé

Question 12

An e-portfolio is

A) an electronic copy of your résumé recorded on a CD or flash drive.
B) the addition of work samples and personal information as an attachment to your embedded résumé.
C) a collection of digitized materials that give a snapshot of the candidate's qualifications.
D) the name given to résumés posted on job search Web sites such as Monster.com.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) Awards and honors should not be listed on a résumé because doing so will sound as if you are bragging.
B) Since they're not related to your work experience, school and community activities should be omitted from your résumé.
C) To give a potential employer a complete picture, you should include personal information such as height, weight, and marital status.
D) Your employment achievements and job duties will be easier to read if you place them in a bulleted list.

Question 14

Which of the following is the best advice about résumé length?

A) Because recruiters are busy, keep it to one page.
B) Because recruiters and hiring managers want to know your skills, make it as long as needed to sell yourself.
C) Because recruiters interview applicants with two-page résumés, make it two pages.
D) Because experts are divided between one- or two-page résumé length, make your résumé a page and a half.

Question 15

Which statement most accurately describes references?

A) Include a list of references directly on the résumé.
B) Do not include personal or character references.
C) Remember that companies generally check references before a job interview to learn about a candidate in advance.
D) Be sure to add the statement References furnished upon request at the bottom of your résumé.

Question 16

Because it quickly reveals a candidate's education and experience record, most recruiters favor a(n)

A) scannable résumé.
B) functional résumé.
C) chronological résumé.
D) online résumé.

Question 17

Which of the following statements uses an action verb to highlight an aptitude?

A) Competent in creation of multimedia presentations.
B) Mastered QuickBooks Pro accounting software in 20 hours with minimal instruction.
C) Ability to develop innovative and interactive Web pages.
D) Able to adapt quickly to changing work environments.

Question 18

Well-informed job candidates know that the first step in finding a satisfying career is

A) researching salary, benefits, and job stability in a chosen field.
B) developing an effective résumé to send to prospective employers.
C) locating job openings at desirable companies.
D) learning about themselves, the job market, and the employment process.

Question 19

Kendra is searching for a job and wants to use electronic sources. Which of the following will probably be her best source of online job listings?

A) Big job boards such as Monster.com and Yahoo HotJobs
B) Specific corporate Web sites
C) Professional association Web sites
D) Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook

Question 20

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) You can expect to have two or three employers over the course of your career.
B) Because you are likely to change jobs often, you need not train now for a specific career.
C) You make better career decisions if you match your interests to specific career requirements.
D) The Web provides all the career data you need to gather.

Question 21

The purpose of preparing a persuasive résumé is to obtain an interview.

Question 22

Which of the following is considered unethical on a résumé?

A) Misrepresenting a job title to make it sound more important
B) Extending employment dates to avoid showing periods of unemployment
C) Making your job duties sound more impressive and responsible than they really were
D) All of the above are unethical.

Question 23

A cover letter has all but which of the following purposes?

A) Securing a job offer
B) Introducing the résumé
C) Relating the sender's strengths to reader benefits
D) Gaining an interview

Question 24

You can analyze your qualifications by asking such questions as Do I enjoy working with people, data, or things? and Would I rather work for a large company or a small company?

Question 25

Because your résumé is probably the most important document you will ever write,

A) enhance your job titles to make your résumé more impressive.
B) include ample use of the personal pronoun I to make it more personal.
C) consider having a knowledgeable friend or relative proofread it.
D) have it prepared professionally by a résumé service.

Question 26

Which of the following is the best closing sentence for a cover letter?
A) I would prefer an interview on Tuesday, September 7, at 10

A)m.
B) Please feel free to call me at your earliest convenience.
C) I hope you contact me soon to set up an interview for the systems analyst position.
D) To add to your team an experienced systems analyst with proven analytical and troubleshooting skills, call me at [phone] to arrange an interview.

Question 27

People who are willing to broaden their skills and adapt to change will always be in demand in today's new workplace.

Question 28

The employment process begins with introspection. Introspection means "looking inside yourself to analyze what you like and dislike."

Question 29

Which of the following is the most effective opening sentence in a cover letter for a job that has been announced?

A) You need a Web designer and I need a job; it's the perfect match!
B) At the suggestion of Mr. Ric Messner of your IT Department, I submit to you details of my 12 years' experience in multimedia for your Web designer opening.
C) Please consider my application for the available position of Web designer.
D) Does your company have an opening for a Web designer with three years of experience?

Question 30

Many job seekers today are using social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to network and to find positions.

Question 31

You should explain your qualifications in the body of your cover letter. Which of these is the best statement to use?

A) I am a qualified and fully licensed pediatric nurse.
B) Recent seminars in dysfunctional family dynamics have helped me develop the skills to interact effectively with families that your ad indicates is essential.
C) You need a licensed, registered nurse, and I meet those qualifications.
D) Having graduated summa cum laude from Southwest College, I am well-prepared and eager to apply my knowledge in nursing.

Question 32

Which of the following statements is inaccurate regarding the opening in a cover letter for an unsolicited job?

A) If you are unsure whether a position exists, use a more persuasive opening.
B) Demonstrating knowledge of the reader's business may convince the person to read on.
C) Show how your special talents will benefit the company to convince the readers you can do something for them.
D) Be vague about the type of position you're seeking so that you might be considered for a variety of jobs.

Question 33

Which of the following is the best tip for creating a successful cover letter?

A) Use different paper colors and paper types for your résumé and cover letter to create a strong visual impact.
B) Make activities and outcomes, and not yourself, the subject of sentences to reduce overuse of "I."
C) Use a creative letter style to surprise the reader and make a big impact.
D) Keep the focus on your skills and traits through frequent use of "I" statements.

Question 34

Which of the following is the best advice for a cover letter that accompanies a résumé sent via e-mail or by fax?

A) Take the time to prepare a professional cover letter to accompany your résumé sent electronically.
B) Mail the cover letter separately from the résumé sent via fax or e-mail.
C) Shorten your e-mail or fax cover letter to a brief statement such as Please consider the attached résumé for your opening.
D) Skip the cover letter as it is unnecessary to introduce yourself because the fax or e-mail includes your name.

Question 35

A résumé should never be longer than one page in length.

Question 36

The most popular résumé format is the functional résumé.

Question 37

To make sure that a potential employer can identify the document, always include the word Résumé above the main heading.

Question 38

Landing a job today depends largely on your technical expertise and ability to navigate the big job boards.

Question 39

In today's workplace companies are employing more permanent employees than ever before.

Question 40

Which of the following statements about résumés is inaccurate?

A) A résumé is expected to showcase your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
B) An ethical résumé may include half-truths but not outright lies.
C) Even after you have been hired, a misrepresentation on the résumé can be cause for firing.
D) Although they can't verify everything, most recruiters will verify your previous employment and education before hiring.

Question 41

The first reader of your résumé may be a computer.

Question 42

The education section of your résumé should always list your grade point average (GPA).

Question 43

If an employment position has been announced and applicants are being solicited, you can write your cover letter using a direct approach.

Question 44

A ___________ of qualifications, located near the top of your résumé, will include three to eight bulleted statements that prove you are the ideal candidate for the position.

Question 45

The most important reason to prepare an e-portfolio is that it shows off your talents and qualifications more thoroughly than a print résumé.

Question 46

A résumé that focuses on a candidate's skills rather than on past employment has been prepared using the __________ style.

Question 47

Don't include any foreign languages you know on your résumé because doing so might reveal your nationality.

Question 48

A cover letter should never be longer than one page.

Question 49

Position in public relations that requires creativity, time management skills, and excellent communication to create press releases, answer constituent inquiries, and represent the organization at charitable functions is an example of a career ___________.

Question 50

Consider including on your résumé hobbies or interests that might grab the recruiter's attention or serve as conversation starters.

Question 51

The Summary of Qualifications section that lists your most impressive accomplishments and qualifications replaces the Education and Experience sections.

Question 52

If you submit your résumé by fax or e-mail, a cover letter is not necessary.

Question 53

You can maximize recognition of your résumé by a scanner if you use targeted keywords and incorporate words from the advertisement or job description.

Question 54

A plain-text résumé is a document that can be pasted directly into the body of an e-mail message.

Question 55

The biggest mistake job seekers make when writing cover letters is making them sound too generic.

Question 56

Although a résumé must be perfect, a few errors or typos in a cover letter are acceptable.

Question 57

To fool scanning programs into ranking your résumé higher, you should insert hidden keywords into your scannable résumé.

Question 58

Addressing your application letter to the Human Resources Department or Hiring Manager will make your letter more appealing to the employer.

Question 59

A résumé that lists work history job by job, starting with the most recent position, has been prepared using the ___________ style.

Question 60

____________ accounts for almost two thirds of the jobs found by candidates. Therefore, plan to spend a considerable portion of your job-search time developing personal and professional contacts.

Question 61

An e-____________ offers links to examples of a job candidate's performance, talents, and accomplishments in digitized form.

Question 62

A(n) ___________ application letter is written when an employer has advertised a job opening.

Question 63

A______________ résumé should be sent to companies that use automated applicant-tracking software to screen incoming résumés.

Question 64

You will use the _______ of your application letter to promote your qualifications for the position.

Question 65

In the ___________ of your application letter, you should motivate action by requesting an interview.