Deck 13: Building Careers and Writing Résumés

Question 1

A(n) ________ résumé emphasizes your skills and capabilities, identifying employers and academic experience in subordinate sections.

A) functional
B) chronological
C) online
D) plain-text

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Ruth is filling out an online application form for a job as an accountant at a large organization. She needs to make sure that she includes all the required details because ________.

A) the organization might notice her lack of interest
B) the missing information can create a gap in the chronology
C) a mistake such as missing simple details can remove her from contention for the job
D) she's required to by law

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Jasmine is interested in working as a developer for Next Level Gaming Solutions. However, she is not sure of how she should apply for this dream job. She should ________.

A) look out for this job advertisement in jobsites
B) get in touch with their HR department and sell herself
C) scan periodicals for job openings
D) monitor the company's website for openings

Answer 3

B

Question 4

An essential task in your job search is presenting your skills and accomplishments in a way that is relevant to the employer's business challenges. An important step in showing employers that you will be a good fit is to ________.

A) customize your résumé to each job opening
B) research the organizations
C) be aware of company's sales regions
D) master persuasive communication

Question 5

May has served in the army as a general officer, but now she is applying for jobs in the private corporate sector. When she lists her experience in her résumé, she needs to make sure that she ________.

A) doesn't mention her army background
B) mentions only the ranks she held and not the responsibilities
C) does not disclose her rank
D) elaborates on the general responsibilities of the positions she held

Question 6

Which among these is a fallacy regarding résumés?

A) All a résumé can do is get you in the door.
B) In most cases, your résumé needs to make a positive impression within 30 or 45 seconds.
C) The purpose of a résumé is to list all your skills and abilities.
D) If the résumé doesn't contain the right keywords, a human being may never see it.

Question 7

When Callum talks to anyone, whether it is at his company functions, at his sister's wedding, at his college reunions, or on social sites, he is ________.

A) using persuasive communication
B) expressing himself
C) building speaking skills
D) networking

Question 8

________ is the process of making informal connections with mutually beneficial business contacts.

A) Networking
B) Soliciting
C) Temping
D) Resourcing

Question 9

When you are networking, don't overlook ________; you not only meet people but also demonstrate your ability to solve problems, manage projects, and lead others.

A) your community centre
B) gaming sites
C) social networking sites
D) volunteering

Question 10

Brad, a student in his last semester, will start hunting for jobs soon. For that, he should start thinking like a networker now and start with ________. They could turn out to be some of his most important business contacts.

A) his classmates
B) contacts at hiring agencies
C) HR managers of organizations
D) LinkedIn users

Question 11

The more you network, the more ________ you become in your network.

A) involved
B) expendable
C) valuable
D) marketable

Question 12

The chief advantage of the ________ résumé format is that it allows you to focus attention on your capabilities when you don't have a long or steady employment history, without raising concerns that you might be hiding something about your past.

A) plain-text
B) online
C) combination
D) chronological

Question 13

Learn as much as you can about the individuals who may be reading your résumé. One media format that can help you learn valuable details about individual managers at your target employers is ________.

A) news articles
B) company websites
C) blogs
D) Twitter

Question 14

Experienced recruiters will spend no more than ________ minutes deciding who they want to see for further prescreening.

A) 2
B) 10
C) 20
D) 30

Question 15

Kirndeep needs to immediately hire two copy editors for her organization. As with most companies that try to avoid the time and expense of sifting through thousands of applications, she decides to first ________.

A) use a hiring agency
B) place an advertisement in the local newspaper, before going for the national newspapers
C) ask for recommendations from her employees
D) establish a presence at a local career fair

Question 16

Which of the following is TRUE regarding a functional résumé?

A) It is the most preferred format.
B) It stresses individual areas of competence.
C) It emphasizes an individual's job history.
D) It presents an individual's academic experience first.

Question 17

Fresh out of college, Maria is curious to discover the secret to finding the right job and career. Securing the right career opportunity is largely a process of ________.

A) focused search
B) clarity in requirements
C) identifying employers' needs
D) persuasive communication

Question 18

Steve is beginning his job search this semester. He is ready with his strategy and is focused on what he needs. Before he takes the plunge, he needs to know which hot-button issues recruiters face. For this he should ________.

A) check the company website for clues about the recruiting process
B) "listen in" on their professional conversations by reading relevant blogs and publications
C) speak to potential colleagues
D) keep up with market trends

Question 19

Nina has been on a long break since her previous job and has been taking advantage of the time off to travel. Now she is applying for the position of an analyst at a leading organization that intends to hire people who can work well in a diverse environment. Being well-travelled, Nina has a healthy respect for different cultures. Assuming that Nina possesses the necessary qualifications, which of these actions will best help Nina secure an interview at the organization?

A) Nina emphasizes her relevant skills and qualifications but de-emphasizes the break because this information will not serve the employer's needs.
B) Nina prepares a single sheet résumé, highlighting the skills and capabilities she acquired in her previous employment that might be relevant to this job and does not mention her break.
C) Nina presents her work history in reverse chronological order, highlights relevant skills and mentions how the break has enriched her cultural understanding.
D) Nina prepares a chronological résumé and attaches a copy of her blog, in which she has written her thoughts about how meeting people from various countries has enriched her life.

Question 20

In a chronological résumé, develop your work experience section by listing your jobs according to the ________.

A) job titles held
B) chronological order
C) alphabetical order of organizations
D) reverse chronological order

Question 21

Bethany is aware that the majority of résumés are now subjected to keyword searches in an applicant tracking system, in which a recruiter searches for résumés most likely to match the requirements of a particular job. To help Bethany use keywords for her benefit, which part of her résumé should include relevant keywords?

A) Contact information
B) Personal data
C) Introductory statement
D) Hobbies

Question 22

Joe has worked as an independent contractor and has been part of many temporary assignments. In his résumé, he should ________.

A) group similar assignments under a single heading
B) mention only the bigger assignments
C) mention all assignments in their chronological order
D) not mention his customers without notifying them

Question 23

Two of the more common issues that employers may perceive as weaknesses are gaps in your work history and ________.

A) a criminal record
B) inexperience
C) under qualification
D) frequent job changes

Question 24

Keywords that catch a computer's attention are usually ________ that describe the specific skills, attributes, and experiences an employer is looking for in a candidate.

A) adjectives
B) action phrases
C) action verbs
D) nouns

Question 25

Of all the parts of a résumé, the ________ probably generates the most disagreement.

A) font size
B) order of the contact information
C) brief introductory statement that follows your name and contact information
D) nonprofessional email address

Question 26

Which of the following identifies either a specific job you want to land or a general career track you would like to pursue?

A) A career objective
B) A qualifications summary
C) A career summary
D) An introductory statement

Question 27

________ can include the business and technical terms associated with a specific profession, industry-specific jargon, names or types of products or systems used in a profession, job titles, and college degrees.

A) Scannable words
B) Professional language
C) Business language
D) Keywords

Question 28

Devote the most space to the jobs that ________.

A) are relevant to your education
B) were the most challenging
C) you held the longest
D) are related to your target position

Question 29

Sam has been told that to create an effective résumé he should keep its style direct and simple. So Sam should ________.

A) focus on his work history
B) use long sentences
C) focus on what he wants the reader to know
D) use crisp phrases

Question 30

Include activities and achievements outside of a work context only if they make you a more attractive job candidate. Mentioning fluency in multiple languages ________.

A) could count against you for domestic positions
B) should not be mentioned on résumés because it could lead to bias
C) should be backed up by relevant evidence
D) could weigh heavily in your favour with employers who do business internationally

Question 31

A ________ can cost you interview opportunities.

A) combination résumé, highlighting your skills
B) résumé based on a website sample
C) single page résumé
D) single mistake or oversight on your résumé

Question 32

Which of these candidates should include a career summary in his or her résumé?

A) Derrick has just graduated from college and plans to continue a career in nonprofit fundraising, a job for which he has internship experience since his freshman year.
B) In his short stint at the organization, Nathan was promoted three times.
C) As an experienced manager, Grover had grown with the company, managing double-digit annual growth in revenue and employees in his division.
D) After all these years as a junior assistant, Chris is finally relieved that he is a junior manager now.

Question 33

If you do NOT name your current employer in the work experience section of your résumé and only mention the industry, you ________.

A) are creating doubt in the mind of your potential employer, who is entitled to disqualify you based on this omission
B) may not be noticed by recruiters
C) may lose out on the keyword search
D) are following expected résumé protocol and are allowed to keep your employer confidential

Question 34

In the education section mention ________ only if the associated achievements are pertinent to your career goals.

A) educational objectives
B) career objectives
C) scholarships
D) high school or military training

Question 35

Chris has a criminal record and has been incarcerated for a month. What should Chris do when applying for a job?

A) Deny the criminal record
B) Not be held liable for the action since it has no bearing on these job skills
C) Only apply to companies that encourage rehabilitation of criminals
D) Not lie because companies will check criminal records

Question 36

Which of these email addresses would be appropriate in a résumé?

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

Question 37

The importance of adapting your résumé to your target readers' needs and interests cannot be overstated. Adapting to your readers can mean ________.

A) customizing your résumé, sometimes for each job opening
B) putting their needs ahead of your needs
C) maintaining consistency and attention to detail
D) generalizing your experience to suit a variety of needs

Question 38

Linda has spent a number of years in the professional work force. However, when she started she held a number of part-time, temporary, or entry-level jobs that don't relate to her career objective now. In the work experience section of her résumé, she should ________.

A) include all those details to give the right picture of her career path
B) never mention them
C) include them only in the career summary
D) exclude the irrelevant details that might clutter her résumé

Question 39

Ruth is actively involved in her church. She goes to great lengths to organize events for charity. In her community, Ruth is known for her leadership and organization skills. If she wants to mention these activities in her résumé as part of an application at a local bank she should ________.

A) not consider mentioning these because doing so might raise concerns for people with differing beliefs
B) mention these activities because employers find these attributes valuable and religious tolerance should be assumed
C) highlight her skills and mention that she did these for a not-for-profit organization
D) highlight her skills without mentioning any group she worked with

Question 40

For which of these applicants is education their strongest selling point?

A) A college graduate who has no experience
B) An upper-level manager who is to be promoted soon
C) A recently promoted lower level manager
D) An office assistant looking to upgrade his qualifications

Question 41

When printing a résumé, what should you do?

A) Use a heavier, higher-quality paper.
B) Use a pastel colour so your résumé stands out.
C) Use a border to increase reader-friendly design.
D) Use a background to create interest.

Question 42

Experts debate the value of including this particular piece of information. What is it?

A) Names of references
B) Name of your previous employer
C) Your gender
D) Your GPA

Question 43

Do not include or enclose a photo in résumés, unless it is a ________.

A) PDF
B) printed scannable résumé
C) social media résumé
D) electronic plain-text file

Question 44

Producing and distributing a résumé used to be fairly straightforward; you printed it on quality paper and mailed or faxed it to employers. However, the advent of databases that let managers sort through incoming applications to find the most promising candidates, called ________, and social media has dramatically changed the nature of résumé production and distribution.

A) applicant recruitment systems
B) quality tracking systems
C) auto-tracking systems
D) applicant tracking systems

Question 45

What distribution method for résumés is preferred by employers?

A) Regular mail
B) Email
C) Dropped off in person
D) It depends

Question 46

What does an effective online profile include?

A) Your photo
B) A headline
C) A summary
D) All of the above

Question 47

Jon is preparing a video résumé along with six different résumé formats so that he can stand out in the crowd of applicants. Video résumés can be a compelling supplement, but ________.

A) it is suitable only for creative jobs
B) most employers today prefer online résumés
C) it should be created by hiring professional video producers
D) some recruiters may use visual cues of ethnicity, age, or gender in the early selection process

Question 48

Gerald has just prepared his résumé and is ready to mail the printed traditional résumés to organizations. However, his friends insist that he should be ready with more formats because, depending on the companies he applies to, he might want to produce his résumé in as many as six formats including ________.

A) audio
B) graphic animation
C) brochure
D) PDF file

Question 49

What is the most important website to incorporate in your job search?

A) LinkedIn
B) Monster
C) A personal website
D) Instagram

Question 50

Helen is applying for a job as a senior accountant. With regard to her references, she should ________.

A) prepare a list of references and include them in her résumé
B) not prepare a list of references because in the U.S. she need not mention their names in her résumé
C) prepare a list of references only if she is applying for a position outside the U.S.
D) prepare a list of references but not necessarily include them in her résumé

Question 51

After a lot of thought, Jeremy has planned, researched, and finally prepared his résumé. When distributing his résumé, he should take equal care and ________.

A) pay close attention to the specific instructions provided by every employer
B) make sure he uses a Priority Mail flat-rate envelope
C) mail the résumé with the reference list
D) create an e-portfolio and direct the employers towards his website

Question 52

Post your résumé on a job website only when it gives you the option of ________.

A) displaying your photo
B) not having to register as a client
C) accessing their sample résumé formats
D) restricting the display of your contact information

Question 53

Avery has created a résumé that is simple, clean, and professional because she fears falling victim to the most common way to get into trouble with résumé design. The most common way to get in trouble in this regard is by ________.

A) using more than one colour
B) using graphic design
C) being creative
D) going overboard with creativity

Question 54

A plain-text version of your résumé is simply a computer file ________.

A) that contains only font formatting, bullet symbols, and colours
B) that cannot be emailed
C) sometimes known as a text file
D) that cannot be pasted into the application forms on an employer's website

Question 55

Rebecca is contemplating setting up an e-portfolio. Which of these media is suitable for her résumé?

A) Traditional paper
B) Printed scannable résumé
C) Electronic plain-text
D) Video

Question 56

Which delivery method do many employers prefer nowadays?

A) Email
B) Online to a job website
C) Regular mail
D) Online to the employer's website

Question 57

A variety of terms are used to describe online résumés, including ________.

A) web forum résumés
B) personal multimedia pages
C) social networking résumés
D) e-portfolios

Question 58

What kind of résumé attempts to convey a person's career development and skill set graphically through a visual metaphor such as a timeline or subway map or as a poster with array of individual elements?

A) Portfolio
B) Social media
C) Infographic
D) Video

Question 59

Some employers and websites want your résumé in Microsoft Word format. However, make sure ________.

A) your computer is virus-free first
B) that the document is scannable
C) that you include a picture of yourself in the résumé
D) you use electronic signatures

Question 60

When sending a résumé electronically, what should you include in the subject line of the email?

A) Your name
B) The job ad number
C) The date
D) The source of the job ad

Question 61

The chronological résumé is the most common approach and generally favoured by newer job seekers.

Question 62

Getting a job that is right for you takes little more than sending out résumés and application letters.

Question 63

A variety of terms are used to describe online résumé types, including personal webpage, e-portfolio, social media résumé, and multimedia résumé.

Question 64

Stay on top of business news because you never know which avenue will provide a job opportunity.

Question 65

When it comes to finding the right job opportunities for you, the easiest ways are not always the most productive ways.

Question 66

If you applied online, you are not expected to bring a print copy of your résumé to the interview.

Question 67

Military experience can help you develop many skills that are valuable in business, so include standard military terminology to build credibility in your résumé.

Question 68

Depending on the companies you apply to, you might want to produce your résumé in as many as six formats.

Question 69

Even if you haven't graduated it is not too early to get started with some of the essential research and planning tasks of the job search.

Question 70

Be sure to provide complete and accurate educational information; mistakes in this section of the résumé are surprisingly common.

Question 71

When applying to foreign companies, your résumé should include personal data such as age, marital status, and Social Insurance number.

Question 72

You should cover up a criminal record or time spent incarcerated on your résumé.

Question 73

Your résumé will probably get tossed aside if it doesn't speak to audience needs, even if it doesn't contain mistakes.

Question 74

Résumés and curriculum vitae (CV) are essentially the same, although résumés can be much more detailed.

Question 75

Networking is a mutually beneficial activity, so look for opportunities that benefit you.

Question 76

A functional résumé, sometimes called a combination résumé, emphasizes your skills and capabilities, identifying employers and academic experience in subordinate sections.

Question 77

The purpose of a résumé is not to get you a job but rather to get you an interview.

Question 78

Most of your application efforts will take place online, so don't bother with a traditional paper résumé.

Question 79

A scannable version of your résumé is simply a computer file without any of the formatting that you typically apply using a word processor.

Question 80

A career summary offers a brief recap of your career and is particularly useful for upper-level managers.