Business Comms - Chapter 16

Which of the following statements are true about following up after a job interview?

A thank-you note should be sent within a few hours to one day after an interview. A thank-you note should be brief and genuine. Most HR professionals recommend following up after the interview in some way.

What are guidelines you should follow when creating a list of references?

Ask people for permission before using them as references. Seek advice from your references about how to handle the job application process.

What are rules for describing your accomplishments and experiences on a resume? (Choose every correct answer.)

Avoid verbs that undersell your attributes and abilities. Use strategically selected action verbs.

Which of the following is true of errors on résumés?

Careless mistakes and typos often lead to immediate rejection.

Which statement about making connections on LinkedIn is true?

Connect strategically with professionals and peers who share your professional interests.

Which of the following are benefits of using LinkedIn in your job search?

It helps connect you with hiring managers who are looking for people with your abilities and attributes. It provides additional background information to job interviewers. It provides further support for your résumé.

Which of the following are true of a good résumé? (Choose every correct answer.)

It must help employers rapidly understand how the candidate will deliver value to them. It should catch the attention of hiring managers with a good design. It should present the candidate's main credentials within 15 to 30 seconds

Which of the following should you keep in mind as you construct your reference list? (Choose every correct answer.)

It should provide current contact information. It should be formatted in a manner compatible with your résumé.

Lachelle, a business management major, hears about an upcoming networking event for students interested in marketing. Which statement about this situation is true?

Lachelle should attend the event to practice meeting and holding conversations with other people in this type of setting.

Which of the following are best practices for creating your résumé?

Make sure that the content is balanced across the page. Use a layout with white space to avoid a cluttered look. Plan and fine-tune the message before selecting a layout.

Which statement best describes networking?

Networking involves actively pursuing professional relationships to reach shared career, company, and professional development goals.

What should you do when conducting an informational interview?

Prepare thoughtful questions before the meeting. Keep the interview short, ideally between 20 and 30 minutes. Before the meeting, learn as much as possible about the interviewee.

In her cover letter, Cassie wrote, "I am interested in a position in the New York City office." Though Cassie was highly qualified, she did not hear back from the company. Based on this information, what is the most likely reason for this?

She did not clearly specify the position she was applying for.

Which of the following should you do when invited to a job interview via web conference? (Choose every correct answer.)

Test your equipment. Ask a friend or colleague to do practice interviews with you.

Which of the following are true about listing accomplishments and contributions on résumés?

The most important contributions should be placed first. The order in which accomplishments are listed shows how they are prioritized. Hiring managers often read only the first couple of pieces of supporting evidence.

Which of the following are reasons why clichés should be avoided on résumés? (Choose every correct answer.)

They do not focus on your specific accomplishments. They may make you appear to be naïve or unsophisticated. They may show you have unrealistic views about your own abilities.

Which of the following statements are true of functional résumés?

They draw special attention to your key skills. They are used both by people with little experience and by professionals with extensive experience.

Which of the following statements are true of chronological résumés?

They present information grouped by work and education over time. They are the most preferred layout for hiring managers. They are the most common and preferred format for young professionals.

What statement about cover letters is true?

They should be error free.

Which of the following are true concerning cover letters?

They should be uniquely tailored to each specific position. They describe your qualifications for a position. They describe your interest in a position.

Which of the following statements about reference lists is true?

They will need to be provided as part of most job applications.

Which statement about campus speeches and other professional development events is true?

To benefit from these networking opportunities, you should show interest in the trainers, speakers, and other attendees.

True or false: Like other types of business communication, preparing for the job application process requires you to analyze your audience.

True

True or false: References may be one of the most important factors in hiring decisions.

True

True or false: You should identify the position you are applying for in your cover letter.

True

Which of the following statements are true of the job interview?

You can be more successful with some preparation. It is the most consequential part of the job application process. You are competing against the best applicants for the job.

Which of the following are reasons why you should thank your references?

You may need them to act as references again in the future. They may want to know how your job search went. It is the professional and polite thing to do.

Which of the following should you keep in mind as you construct a reference list?

You should check the job announcement to see how many references are required. You should provide a brief description of your relationship to each reference.

What is one benefit of volunteering for a community organization?

You will join and interact with a whole new network of people.

Doing trial runs when preparing for a web conference job interview are recommended for which of the following reasons? (Choose every correct answer.)

You will know if your equipment is working adequately. You will learn how to act professionally and feel natural.

What two things are likely to happen when you attend campus speeches and professional development events?

You will learn a lot. You will meet new people.

What are two reasons why you should join clubs and professional interest groups?

You will likely make friendships that will last for years and result in job leads. You are likely to learn skills that will make you more marketable.

Which statement about job fairs and career networking events is true?

Your school's career office will have information on job fairs and networking events on campus.

Which of the following should be included on a résumé or cover letter?

abilities that can help an employer

In the job interview process,

adequate preparation can help applicants receive job offers.

What is an informational interview?

an interview where you seek career advice by talking with a successful professional

In a job interview, you should dress

appropriately for the standards of the company.

While reviewing résumés, potential employers

are generally unforgiving of mistakes. may skim and toss the document if errors are found.

How should you view volunteering?

as a way to help your community as a way to improve at small talk as a way to grow your network

How do the most effective networkers view networking?

as relational

You can review résumés and cover letters by

asking a professor to look them over for you. getting the opinions of people in the career center. rereading them to make sure they accurately highlight your abilities and attributes.

When you craft a cover letter, you should

be concise and focused.

On a résumé, your most important contributions should

be listed first.

Your cover letter should

be three to five paragraphs in length.

What are ways of getting helpful information for a job search? (Choose every correct answer.)

becoming involved with professional organizations in your field searching websites that feature job listings talking to experts at a university career center

How can joining clubs help your career? (Choose every correct answer.)

by helping you form relationships with other future professionals by teaching you marketable skills

In a résumé, quantifying accomplishments

can show the significance of your work. clarifies your accomplishments and gives them specificity. should be done whenever possible.

Tips for writing an effective cover letter include

carefully reading the job announcement to help you prioritize your selling points. using the Internet to research the company and the type of job. making sure to demonstrate that you are responsive to the needs of the company.

The last step in the résumé process is

choosing a layout

When drafting a cover letter, you should

clarify your short-term professional goals. identify the skills you have developed. sort out attributes that define you as a professional.

Successfully searching for a job

commonly takes months.

A cover letter should

demonstrate that you have researched the position.

When citing your accomplishments in a résumé, you should

describe how your contributions impacted the bottom line.

Tips for effectively developing a reference list include

developing relationships with potential references over time.

When using action verbs on a résumé, it is important to remember that

different action verbs are better suited to different career fields.

The first step in creating a résumé is to

evaluate your career ambitions and qualifications

Résumés typically include which of the following major sections?

experience education the name block

In order to make a long list of items more readable, you should

group them and label each group.

When you organize long lists of items on a résumé into groups, you

help recruiters quickly grasp your abilities. help prevent employers from glossing over your information. demonstrate understanding of related skill sets.

The main purpose of using bold, italics, spacing, and other features in a résumé is to

help recruiters understand your abilities and attributes in less than 30 seconds.

A good résumé should

highlight your relevant abilities and attributes

When including personal details in your résumé or cover letter, you should

include only interests that accentuate your abilities and attributes. avoid revealing anything that is not strictly relevant. tell a story of how your key abilities and attributes will help the company.

Some good ideas to keep in mind when leaving a job include

informing your supervisor immediately and in person. leaving on good terms so you may receive positive references in the future. writing an appreciative letter of resignation, if required.

Preparing for the job application process

is similar to preparing for other forms of business communication.

When going to a job interview, you should

maintain a certain level of formality in your behavior. dress on the conservative side. avoid wearing too many accessories.

Writing an unsolicited cover letter

may require more research about the company than a solicited cover letter.

After a job interview,

most hiring managers expect a follow-up of some type relatively soon.

When compiling a reference list, you should

not use your current supervisor as a reference if you think your supervisor will be unhappy to find you are looking for work elsewhere. use your current supervisor as a reference if that person encourages you to move on and seek opportunity.

A cover letter

often forms the first impression with a hiring manager.

A good reference would be a

professor you have had for several classes relating to your field.

Getting the tone right in a cover letter

requires confidence without coming across as arrogant. means avoiding overly complex language. is one of the hardest tasks in the process.

An unsolicited cover letter

requires several modifications from a standard solicited cover letter. opens immediately with a proposition about how you can add value to a company. often summarizes abilities and attributes with a bulleted list.

Once you have written your cover letter, you should

review it carefully before sending it along

Buzzwords and jargon on résumés

should be avoided because they fail to highlight your abilities and attributes.

The tone of a cover letter

should be enthusiastic.

If you plan to leave your current position, you should

show appreciation for the professional opportunities the position has given you.

The primary purpose of a cover letter is to

show how you meet the employer's needs.

Hiring managers typically

skim through a resume on the first pass.

You should respond to interview questions

strategically. concisely. confidently.

When your job search is over, you should ______ your references.

thank

During an interview, being strategic means

that you find ways to bring up your selling points.

Which of the following is the most effective way to help recruiters understand your primary abilities and attributes from your résumé?

using bold or italic fonts