smartbook ch 8
What is an unsolicited cover letter?
A message you send to a company that is not requesting job applications
Why is it important to be a giver rather than a taker on networking sites?
A reputation for being helpful and valuable will lead to career opportunities.
What design characteristics should a resume have?
A simple layout A consistent scheme for headings and format Plenty of white space
Which achievements should be included in the education section of a resume?
Any scholarships you received Participation in intramural sports teams Inclusion on the dean's list
How is a profile at LinkedIn different than a resume?
Because LinkedIn has more space, it can display more information.
How do members of a professional network typically help each other?
By providing advice By coaching other members By sharing information
After a hiring manager has made an initial selection of the most likely job candidates, what happens next?
Candidates with typos on their resumes will probably be eliminated. Inconsistencies on the resume could be grounds for disqualification. Their resumes will be examined closely.
When job seekers are analyzing their abilities and attributes, what aspects of credibility should they consider?
Caring Character Competence
Which type of resume is usually the best choice for a young professional?
Chronological
What might you include in the education section of your resume to highlight key abilities and attributes?
Class projects Practicum experiences Service learning activities
Which action verbs demonstrate teamwork skills?
Coached Coordinated
Match the components of credibility (on the left) with their definitions (on the right).
Competence: Ability to accomplish work tasks Caring: Ability to maintain good relationships with co-workers Character: Personal integrity and ability to comply with business norms
What will identifying career goals will help you do?
Compose a resume and cover letter that reflect your career hopes Evaluate your abilities and attributes Show employers you are serious about work and a career
What should the goals of resume design be?
Consistency Emphasis on pertinent information Ease of processing
Which statement has the best wording for a resume?
Developed and supervised drug awareness program for local youth.
What should you do when completing a self-inventory?
Do some soul-searching. Research potential careers. Write down your career goals.
Why is it important to have a perfectly designed resume?
During the initial screening, the resume often has to catch an employer's attention in less than a minute or two.
What information is typically displayed in a LinkedIn profile?
Education and work experience Personal interests
What should be incorporated into a cover letter?
Emphasis on your key abilities and attributes
What should you do when crafting your resume?
Emphasize two or three key abilities and attributes. Show how you meet the employer's needs. Have a central sales theme.
What should a job seeker do when preparing an unsolicited cover letter?
Explain how your qualifications could benefit the company. Summarize your key abilities and attributes. Research the company in some depth.
True or false: Although clubs and professional interest groups are likely to help you learn marketable skills, they are unlikely to result in job leads.
False
How does having a LinkedIn profile benefit job seekers?
Hiring managers look at LinkedIn profiles before interviewing candidates. HR professionals often view LinkedIn profiles after reading cover letters and resumes. A hiring manager might contact candidates after finding that their profiles match the available position.
In a list of supporting details on a resume, why is it best to position the most impressive accomplishments first?
Hiring managers skim resumes and might see only the top one or two items.
What do employers typically assess when examining a job applicant's attributes?
How much effort and commitment the applicant will bring to the work How the applicant will affect the work of others How well the applicant will fit into the company's culture
Why are employers interested in knowing a job applicant's attributes?
How much effort and commitment the applicant will bring to the work. How the applicant will affect the work of others. How well the applicant will fit into the company's culture.
What should you do early in life to evaluate your career ambitions and qualifications?
Identify personal traits that define who you are. Clarify your professional goals. Identify skills attained through school and work.
Which statement about including activities on a resume is true?
Include activities that demonstrate abilities such as leadership and commitment to the community.
How can a job applicant increase the probability that a resume will pass a computer screening for minimum qualifications?
Include keywords in the text.
What information should you focus on displaying on a site like LinkedIn?
Information that emphasizes your key selling points
On a resume, why is it better to say, "Greeted clients and scheduled appointments," instead of, "Answered phones"?
It demonstrates that the candidate has valuable business skills. It shows the candidate's focus on customers. It sounds less menial.
On a resume, why is "in charge of outreach to local high school" a weak statement in comparison to "supervised 15 co-workers who mentored 73 local high school students"?
It lacks an action verb. It emphasizes responsibilities instead of accomplishments. It lacks quantification.
On a resume, why is "supervised four clerks and one secretary, and coordinated projects in the office" more effective wording than "supervised other office workers"?
It shows that the candidate has supervised a team.
When submitting a resume to a platform with numerous open positions, what is the best way to emphasize your main selling points?
Keywords
Which employers are most likely to use software to screen job applicants?
Large companies
What is a recommendation you should follow when conducting an informational interview?
Limit the conversation to about half an hour.
What is currently the most popular online professional networking platform?
During career planning, what is the first step in the process of analyzing your abilities and attributes?
List 10 to 15 of your key professional abilities and attributes.
Briana received an important academic award for a research project that she did during her last year of college. She would like to list it on her resume, but it is unlikely that potential employers will be familiar with the award. What should she do?
List the award on her resume, and briefly explain its significance.
What should you do when designing your resume so that it can pass an initial electronic screening done by software?
Maintain simple formatting. Use keywords that show your abilities and attributes.
What is the best way to make a good first impression with a cover letter?
Make sure the letter has no errors.
Which statements are true of chronological resumes?
Most hiring managers prefer them. They are the most common type of resume. They organize work experiences by when they occurred.
Which statements are true of chronological resumes
Most hiring managers prefer them. They organize work experiences by when they occurred. They are the most common type of resume.
What section of a resume provides the employer with the applicant's contact information?
Name block
What are some of the major sections of a typical resume?
Name block Work history Summary statement
Which statement accurately describes networking through volunteering, professional interest groups, and job fairs?
Networking through any method can take months or years.
Which statement regarding cover letters is true?
No two cover letters should be the same.
Why is it so important to polish your resume and cover letter?
Numerous other applicants are probably applying for the same job.
How many pages are preferred for most resumes?
One
Which statements feature strong action verbs that would enhance a resume?
Organized office files and supplies. Initiated eight new marketing projects.
Who would be the best choices to include on a list of personal references to submit with your job application?
People who have knowledge of your qualifications Acquaintances who work in fields of interest to you Professors who have a positive relationship with you
What details should usually be left out of a resume?
Personal interests Religious views Political views
What information would be least helpful to include on most resumes?
Pet-sitting experience
What educational information is typically included on a resume?
Professional training Higher education
What should you do to quantify accomplishments on a resume?
Provide numbers that show the significance of the work. Show how the work affected the company's financial results.
What should usually be included in the work experience section of a resume?
Responsibilities from previous jobs Unpaid internships Accomplishments from previous jobs
In what order should previous jobs be listed on a resume?
Reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent one.
What information is usually acceptable to include on a resume?
School clubs Community activities Foreign language skills
What section of a resume usually outlines the applicant's accomplishments, abilities, and attributes?
Summary statement
Which of the following describe a well-crafted cover letter?
Tailored to the employer's needs Focused and concise Confident
Why is it important to clearly identify the position you are seeking in a cover letter?
The employer might be screening applications for numerous positions.
Which statement about clubs and other professional interest groups is true?
They are a good place to learn marketable skills.
Why are trite phrases such as "dream job" a poor choice of wording on a resume?
They fail to highlight abilities and attributes.
Which statements about informational interviews are true?
They involve meeting with accomplished professionals. They are intended to provide career advice. Young professionals should schedule them frequently.
What would a prospective employer most likely think of phrases such as "waited tables" and "answered calls" on a resume?
They undersell the applicant's abilities and attributes. They focus on menial duties.
Why should a job candidate's most important contributions be placed first or second in a list of supporting details on a resume?
Those positions are strategically the most effective for highlighting a candidate's best features. Those two positions form the deepest impression about the candidate's abilities and attributes. Employers skim resumes and might miss items that are lower on the list.
What is the purpose of an informational interview?
To ask professionals about career choices and career paths
Why should you attend campus job fairs and other networking events, even if you are not yet looking for a job?
To build a professional network To practice talking to people in that type of situation To see how people should behave during these events
What is the basic purpose of professional networking?
To build relationships and achieve shared goals
What should be the objectives in the preparation of a resume?
To convince employers to invest in you To stand out from other job applicants To emphasize your distinctive abilities and attributes
Why is it best to highlight abilities and attributes with action verbs on a resume?
To emphasize action and results To enhance credibility To draw attention to them through vivid language
What are the purposes of cover letters and resumes?
To inform employers of your interest in job openings To make a good first impression with employers
What is the main purpose of a resume?
To persuade employers that you can be valuable to them
Why should you attend a job fair for a career that is outside your professional interests?
To practice talking to people in important business situations
Why are employers interested in knowing a job applicant's attributes?
To see what kind of person the applicant is To evaluate the individual's personal characteristics
What is the primary goal of a cover letter?
To sell your key attributes and abilities by matching them to a specific job
Why is it important to quantify accomplishments on a resume?
To show how valuable the work was to the employer
What elements of a resume require particular attention and should be flawless?
Tone Design Style
Which phrase is an example of a cliche?
Track record of success
True or false: Conducting a self-inventory will help you identify you abilities, attributes, and interests.
True
How many of your best professional abilities and attributes should be emphasized on your resume?
Two or three of each
What flaws in a resume are likely to eliminate the candidate from consideration for a job?
Typographical errors
Which questions are appropriate during an informational interview?
What advice do you have for someone at the beginning of a career? How did you get this position? What do you enjoy about your career?
When should the education section of a resume be placed before the work experience section?
When it emphasizes studies in a discipline related to the job opening
As you compile a resume, when is it appropriate to include a list of educational classes you have completed?
When they are related to the job you seek
What should be included in the name block of a resume?
Your email address Your telephone number Your mailing address
Skills and knowledge you can apply to accomplishing work tasks are called ______.
abilities
Adjectives such as honest, conscientious, people-oriented, and hard-working are descriptions of a job applicant's ______.
attributes
Because some employers use software to screen resumes for minimum qualifications, it is important to include ______.
effective keywords
Periodically conducting an evaluation of their best features is important for professionals because it helps them ______.
emphasize their value to prospective employers
When designing your resume, you should ______.
help recruiters grasp your key abilities and attributes within 20 to 30 seconds
A resume should have a layout that ______.
is simple and visually appealing
Attending speeches given by successful professionals is a good way to ______.
learn about the profession
Volunteering for a local nonprofit organization is an excellent way to ______.
meet generous people improve your social skills grow your network
When building a network of connections at LinkedIn, it is important to ______.
personalize the invitations
The summary statement of a resume is also referred to as a ______ summary.
qualifications
When considering job candidates, employers often use automated software tools to ______.
screen resumes for minimum qualifications match resumes to available jobs
When including people on a personal reference list, you should ______.
thank them during and after the job search
While attending a speech or other professional development event, you should look for opportunities to meet ______ because they might be good additions to your professional network.
the trainers people in the audience the speakers