Deck 15: Writing Job-Application Materials

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Chapter 15 lists four paragraphs that should appear in a job-application letter. One is the introductory paragraph. What are two other paragraphs listed in the chapter?

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

Answer 2

A, D

Question 3

what is a "transferrable 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 questions is best for a self-inventory to help plan a job search in engineering?

A) Which engineering companies attend our annual job fair on campus?
B) Which engineering companies are listed on the NASDAQ exchange?
C) Which engineering companies provide the highest starting salaries?
D) What kind of company will give me the best opportunities to develop into an engineering project manager?

Question 5

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 6

which of these is a guideline for preparing for a job interview?

A) Study organizations that are similar to the one that will interview you.
B) Study lists of common interview questions.
C) If you get to ask questions, focus yours on company salary and benefit policies.
D) Avoid mock interviews or any type of rehearsing.

Question 7

Chapter 15 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 disk
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 8

Which of the following statements is true about applying for jobs outside the United States?

A) Information disclosed in job applications is standard and universal around the world.
B) You might have to include information about your marital status.
C) With the prevalence of the Internet, the job-application process is standard around the world.
D) None of the responses are correct.

Question 9

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 transferrable 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 10

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

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

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 13

planning a job search involves four tasks. One is to conduct a self-inventory. What are two other steps?

A) Learn about your field.
B) Learn about potential employers.
C) Participate in mock interviews.
D) Put your portfolio items online.
E) Purchase clothes to wear to interviews.

Question 14

what does it mean to be a "passive applicant" for jobs?

A) Your résumé uses more passive verbs than active verbs.
B) You do not submit application letters, but you do send out plain-text copies of your résumé.
C) You maintain contacts with professionals in your field and keep an open mind about future job opportunities.
D) You pay a placement firm to submit your job-application materials for you.

Question 15

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 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 16

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

A) information about your successful 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 17

Chapter 15 lists four questions you should ask before posting an electronic 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 18

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 19

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

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

Question 20

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 21

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

Question 22

what are the four main steps in planning a job search?

Question 23

Chapter 15 lists four questions you should ask before posting an electronic résumé on an Internet job board. One question is "Who has access to your résumé?" What is one of the other questions?

Question 24

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

Question 25

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

Question 26

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

Question 27

what should you do after interviewing for a job?

Question 28

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

Question 29

what is an elevator pitch?

Question 30

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

Question 31

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

Question 32

doing a self-inventory is part of planning a job search.

Question 33

Chapter 15 lists four ways to look for a job. One is through a job board on the Internet. Name two of the other ways to look for a job.

Question 34

what does it mean to be a passive applicant?

Question 35

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

Question 36

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 37

Chapter 15 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

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 39

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

Question 40

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