Business Comms Test 5
Which of the following statements about today's job search is correct? A.) The emphasis of today's job search is on the needs of the employer. B.) Today's job searchers should create a universal résumé that can be used for every job for which they apply. C.) Career paths for employees are now linear; that is, employees can expect to remain in the same position throughout their employment years. D.) Jobs are long lasting; therefore, today's employees will need little relearning and retraining.
A.) The emphasis of today's job search is on the needs of the employer.
Because many companies now use social networking sites to screen job candidates, you should remove any photos, content, and links that could make you look unprofessional, remove any negative reviews you may have written on sites such as Amazon, and _______. A.) Make your personal social networking pages available to anyone who wishes to view them B.) Make your personal social networking pages private C.) Make sure that you have a lot of connections on social media to show that you are popular and well-liked D.) Discuss your current job and your search frequently on social media so that friends and family will know
B.) Make your personal social networking pages private
On average in the United States, how many jobs will individuals between the ages of 28 and 52 have over the course of their careers? A.) 3 B.) 7 C.) 12 D.) 20
C.) 12
Which of the following statements is an example of quantifying an achievement on a résumé? A.) Directed workflow 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
C.) Achieved 125 percent of production goal for three consecutive quarters
When you enter the office for an interview, _______. A.) Greet the interviewer confidently, and wait for him or her to initiate a handshake B.) Avoid direct eye contact so that you do not make others feel uncomfortable C.) Introduce yourself to the receptionist, and wait to be invited to sit D.) Immediately open your briefcase to sort through your contents to locate copies of your résumé
C.) Introduce yourself to the receptionist, and wait to be invited to sit
Krista receives an unexpected phone call from a potential employer. Which of the following should she do? A.) Try to schedule an interview for a Friday afternoon. B.) Avoid taking notes during the call because it can take too much time. C.) Assertively begin discussing her qualifications for the position. D.) If she feels caught off guard by the call, ask whether she may call back in a few minutes.
D.) If she feels caught off guard by the call, ask whether she may call back in a few minutes.
Which of these résumé tips is correct? A.) Don't list awards and honors on a résumé; if you list them, you will appear to be bragging. B.) Omit school and community activities from your résumé because they are unrelated to your work experience. C.) Include your personal information (height, weight, and marital status) to give a potential employer a complete picture. D.) Improve the visual impact of your résumé by placing your employment achievements and relevant job duties in an easy-to-read bulleted list.
D.) Improve the visual impact of your résumé by placing your employment achievements and relevant job duties in an easy-to-read bulleted list.
Which of the following is an example of a niche website? A.) Advance Healthcare Network B.) LinkedIn C.) Twitter D.) CareerBuilder
A.) Advance Healthcare Network
You can send positive nonverbal messages during your interview by dressing professionally, controlling your body movements, making eye contact, and _______. A.) Arriving on time B.) Using gender-neutral language C.) Presenting success stories to respond to behavioral questions D.) Preparing thoroughly
A.) Arriving on time
How should you close an interview? A.) Briefly review your strengths, thank the interviewer, and ask what action will follow. B.) Be confident and say, This job sounds great! When do I start work? C.) Ask about salary and benefits. D.) Invite the interviewer to lunch.
A.) Briefly review your strengths, thank the interviewer, and ask what action will follow.
The most popular résumé format is the _______. A.) Chronological format B.) Direct format C.) Functional format D.) Indirect format
A.) Chronological format
Which of the following would help an individual assess his or her employment qualifications? A.) Do I speak, write, or understand another language? B.) How would you describe the perfect job, boss, and coworkers? C.) Would you like to work for someone else or be your own boss? D.) Do you enjoy working with people, data, or things?
A.) Do I speak, write, or understand another language?
What is the correct way to handle an illegal or inappropriate question during an interview? A.) If you find the question harmless and you want the job, go ahead and answer it. B.) Confront the interviewer about the illegal nature of the question. C.) Storm out of the room in anger; after all, you wouldn't work for a company with such low ethics. D.) Refuse to answer the question because it is your legal right to do so.
A.) If you find the question harmless and you want the job, go ahead and answer it.
Which of the following is an example of a situational question? A.) If you were aware that a coworker submitted false data, what would you do? B.) What is your ideal work environment? C.) What do you predict for the future of our industry? D.) Tell me about a time when you dealt with confidential information.
A.) If you were aware that a coworker submitted false data, what would you do?
Which of these is an effective response to the question, What do you think is your greatest weakness? A.) One of my long-term goals is to learn more about accounting, so I signed up for a course. B.) To tell the truth, I become frustrated with lazy coworkers who don't pull their own weight. C.) My typing speed isn't as fast as I would like, but this position doesn't require me to use the computer. D.) I've worked hard to eliminate every weakness, and I am confident you will find me the perfect employee for this position.
A.) One of my long-term goals is to learn more about accounting, so I signed up for a course.
When the interviewer asks you questions about the future, you should provide answers that _______. A.) Show ambition and interest in succeeding with the company B.) Are vague because no one can predict the future C.) Indicate that you want the interviewer's job D.) Focus on your needs
A.) Show ambition and interest in succeeding with the company
Which of the following is appropriate nonverbal behavior to display during an interview? A.) Sit erect, leaning forward slightly to show interest and confidence. B.) Change positions often and gesture as frequently as possible to convey high energy. C.) Lean forward, resting your arms on the desk or table before you, to indicate control. D.) Relax back into your chair, slouching slightly, to demonstrate self-assurance.
A.) Sit erect, leaning forward slightly to show interest and confidence.
Will has just driven home following an interview. What is the first thing he should do? A.) Take notes about the interview. B.) Contact his current employer to explain that he may be leaving. C.) Call the interviewer to thank him or her. D.) Begin compiling a list of references.
A.) Take notes about the interview.
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.
B.) Because recruiters and hiring managers want to know your skills, make it as long as needed to sell yourself.
If an interviewer says Tell me about yourself, what is the correct way to respond? A.) Present your brief biography as a chronology, beginning with when and where you were born. B.) Briefly discuss educational, professional, or business-related strengths. C.) To start the interview positively, provide a few humorous personal anecdotes. D.) Tell several success stories, making sure to fill at least ten minutes of interview time.
B.) Briefly discuss educational, professional, or business-related strengths.
If an interviewer asks Why do you want to work for us? you should show what you know about the interviewer's company, explain why you want to become a part of the organization, and _______. A.) Briefly summarize problems at your current job that require you to change employers B.) Discuss the skills you have to offer that will benefit the company C.) Explain that as a recent graduate you want to work for any company needing a person with your skills and background D.) Tell the truth about your reasons for seeking this job; for example, you are unemployed, you need more pay or better benefits, or you just graduated
B.) Discuss the skills you have to offer that will benefit the company
A 30-second pitch describing who you are and what you can offer to a company or industry is called a(n) _______. A.) Branding monologue B.) Elevator speech C.) Interview introduction D.) Job speech
B.) Elevator speech
Which of the following is correct advice when traveling to and arriving at your interview? A.) Limit grooming time because the more time you have, the more nervous you will get. B.) If something unexpected happens causing you to be late, immediately call the interviewer to explain what is happening. C.) If you smoke on the way to the interview, brush your teeth or chew some gum when you arrive and liberally apply perfume or cologne. D.) Arrive at the interview 15 to 20 minutes early and greet the receptionist promptly on arrival.
B.) If something unexpected happens causing you to be late, immediately call the interviewer to explain what is happening.
In the education section of your résumé, you should _______. A.) List all college courses that 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.) Specify your high school and college GPAs
B.) Include relevant seminars attended and workshops completed
What is a key benefit for the candidate of one-way video interviewing? A.) One-way video interviewing is less stressful than other types of interviews. B.) It lets the candidate be interviewed at their leisure without having to travel to distant locations. C.) The candidate does not have to dress professionally for this type of interview. D.) This type of interview saves the candidate time.
B.) It lets the candidate be interviewed at their leisure without having to travel to distant locations.
What is a key advantage for the employer of two-way video interviewing? A.) It allows the candidate to see the employer. B.) It provides a forum that helps employers assess a candidate's communication skills, body language, and personality. C.) It allows the employer to record the interview. D.) It helps to make the interview shorter.
B.) It provides a forum that helps employers assess a candidate's communication skills, body language, and personality.
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.) Adaptable to changing work environments
B.) Mastered QuickBooks Pro accounting software in 20 hours with minimal instruction
A large part of your job-search strategy should be deciding what makes you special and desirable in the job market. This introspective process is called _______. A.) Networking B.) Personal branding C.) Desired workplace behavior D.) Cognitive reflection
B.) Personal branding
Which of the following statements about today's job market is correct? A.) Today's job market remains stable and remarkably similar to the job market ten years ago. B.) Personal networking and referrals continue to be the primary route to hiring. C.) Despite its popularity, the Internet has not affected the way in which individuals search for jobs. D.) Job candidates should avoid using job boards, search engines, and social networks to hunt for jobs.
B.) Personal networking and referrals continue to be the primary route to hiring.
Which of the following telephone tips should you follow during your job search? A.) Create a unique, edgy voice mail message to demonstrate your individuality. B.) Prepare others who live with you to speak professionally and take complete messages. C.) Answer your cell phone any time it rings so that you don't miss the opportunity to speak with a potential employer. D.) Hire a professional to record your voice mail message to ensure that proper articulation, enunciation, and vocal intonations are used.
B.) Prepare others who live with you to speak professionally and take complete messages.
Effective interview-preparation techniques include practicing answers to possible questions, preparing to explain problem areas on your résumé, deciding on professional attire, and _______. A.) Informing your current employer of your plans B.) Preparing success stories C.) Writing a resignation letter D.) Purchasing a gift for the interviewer
B.) Preparing success stories
Panel interviews are typically conducted by people who will be your supervisors and colleagues. An important advantage of the panel interview is _______. A.) Allowing the company to measure the candidate's leadership and communication skills B.) Saving company money on repeated interviews and related costs C.) Determining the best candidate through multiple interviews D.) Testing the reactions of a candidate during nerve-racking situations
B.) Saving company money on repeated interviews and related costs
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 and CareerBuilder B.) Specific company websites C.) Her college website job board D.) Niche websites
B.) Specific company websites
Which statement about open and hidden job markets is correct? A.) More jobs are secured through the open job market than through the hidden job market. B.) The open job market consists of jobs that are advertised or listed. C.) Most job seekers start searching for jobs using the hidden job market. D.) The hidden job market refers to those jobs that are filled through illegal or unethical tactics.
B.) The open job market consists of jobs that are advertised or listed.
In which part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions should you focus on yourself (rather than a group or team)? A.) Situation B.) Task C.) Action D.) Results
C.) Action
The first step in the job-search process is to _______. A.) Prepare a résumé B.) Contact professional and personal references C.) Analyze individual interests and goals and evaluate personal qualifications D.) Purchase appropriate interview clothing
C.) Analyze individual interests and goals and evaluate personal qualifications
Which of the following is a correct description of a sequential interview? A.) You must be totally committed to the job and the company to participate in a sequential interview, which often takes weeks or even months to complete. B.) You can assume that later interviewers know what was said in a previous interview because sequential interviews are designed to save time. C.) As sequential interviews progress, interviews become more in-depth, which means that you need to know even more about the company. D.) As an applicant, you should never repeat yourself because each interviewer will brief the other interviewers, making it unnecessary for you to answer the same questions.
C.) As sequential interviews progress, interviews become more in-depth, which means that you need to know even more about the company.
Most recruiters favor a _______. A.) Video résumé B.) Functional résumé C.) Chronological résumé D.) Plain-text résumé
C.) Chronological résumé
How should you respond if an interviewer asks, Why should we hire you when other applicants have better credentials? A.) Admit that you are less qualified, but stress you can be paid less than more experienced applicants. B.) Describe how you are correcting one of your most significant weaknesses to display your strong work ethic and determination. C.) Confidently explain your strengths such as your openness to new ideas and knowledge of the latest methods and equipment. D.) Since it is clear that you will not get this job offer, do not answer this question.
C.) Confidently explain your strengths such as your openness to new ideas and knowledge of the latest methods and equipment.
All of the following are ways you can develop a personal brand: preparing a brief speech that describes who you are and what problems your skills can solve, creating an individual tagline that separates you from other candidates, and _______. A.) Showing how you are similar to other job candidates B.) Emailing all of your contacts a five-minute multimedia presentation that profiles your skills and experience C.) Distributing business cards whenever you have an opportunity D.) Creating an attractive résumé
C.) Distributing business cards whenever you have an opportunity
An important question to be asking yourself during a job interview is _______? A.) When will my start date be B.) Where do I want to live C.) Do I want to work for this organization D.) How quickly could I be promoted
C.) Do I want to work for this organization
Which approach to organizing parts of your résumé will help to strategically profile your skills and experiences? A.) Place your most important qualifications last so that they will be remembered. B.) Use as many headings as needed to present your experiences and skills. C.) Emphasize your skills and achievements aimed at a particular job or company. D.) Always place the education section before the work experience section.
C.) Emphasize your skills and achievements aimed at a particular job or company.
Many job candidates use LinkedIn to research companies, receive job alerts, and _______. A.) Get free résumé coaching B.) Make friends C.) Expand their personal and professional networks D.) Find out the number of people who have applied for a job
C.) Expand their personal and professional networks
To help you develop your personal network, you should develop a contact list of anyone who would be willing to talk with you about finding a job, make contacts with people in person and online, and _______. A.) Wait for your contacts to contact you about potential job openings B.) Do not initiate additional communication with your contacts because it would be too pushy C.) Follow up on referrals. D.) Use only online resources to help you connect with others.
C.) Follow up on referrals.
You are just graduating from college and have little employment experience. Which résumé style would help you emphasize your skills? A.) Chronological résumé B.) Video résumé C.) Functional résumé D.) Infographic résumé
C.) Functional résumé
Which of the following is an effective answer to the question, What type of people do you have no patience for? A.) I hate working with people who talk too much--it exhausts me. B.) I get along with everyone. C.) I consider myself a strong team player and usually can get along with anyone, but I get easily irritated by people who don't accept responsibility. D.) I don't like working with people who are different from me.
C.) I consider myself a strong team player and usually can get along with anyone, but I get easily irritated by people who don't accept responsibility.
Rebecca has an interview with a large company in a nearby city. Before the interview, she should learn about the company's mission and goals, the company's customers and competitors, and the _______. A.) Company dress code policy B.) Cost of parking C.) Management structure and names of leaders D.) Company's retirement and vacation benefits
C.) Management structure and names of leaders
If an interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of an interview, which of the following is an inappropriate response? A.) May I have a tour of the facilities? B.) When do you expect to make a decision? C.) No, I have no questions right now; you have shared all the information I need. D.) What are the major challenges for a person in this position?
C.) No, I have no questions right now; you have shared all the information I need.
The primary route to hiring today continues to be ________. A.) A well-crafted résumé B.) Detailed cover messages C.) Personal networking D.) Strong interview follow-up messages
C.) Personal networking
To help reduce your fears about interviews, get as much interview practice as you can, take deep breaths while waiting for the interview to begin, and _______. A.) Let the interviewer have complete charge of the entire interview. B.) Avoid rehearsing frequently asked questions because you will sound too rehearsed and unnatural C.) Rehearse answers to the most frequently asked interview questions. D.) Be more spontaneous by going into the interview without any expectations
C.) Rehearse answers to the most frequently asked interview questions.
Which of the following statements about personal data on a résumé should you follow? A.) Résumés should include an individual's birth date, marital status, height, weight, national origin, health, disabilities, and religious affiliation. B.) Smart job seekers do not include hobbies or interests on their résumés because they know that recruiters cannot legally inquire about such information. C.) Résumés in the United States should omit personal data. D.) Résumés in the United States should include a personal photo to show what you look like.
C.) Résumés in the United States should omit personal data.
Which of the following statements about interview thank-you messages is correct? A.) Thank-you messages are not important to employers. B.) To avoid appearing as overzealous, an applicant should wait at least two to three days before sending a thank-you note. C.) Separate thank-you messages should be sent to each interviewer. D.) To personalize a thank-you message, an interviewee should begin each sentence in the thank-you message with the personal pronoun I.
C.) Separate thank-you messages should be sent to each interviewer.
Which statement accurately describes the summary of qualifications portion of a résumé? A.) Recruiters and hiring managers dislike the summary of qualifications section because it adds reading time. B.) The summary of qualifications usually appears at the end of a résumé to provide a strong closing. C.) Smart job seekers add a summary of their most impressive qualifications to their résumés to save the time of recruiters and hiring managers. D.) The summary of qualifications section is typically one or two concise paragraphs.
C.) Smart job seekers add a summary of their most impressive qualifications to their résumés to save the time of recruiters and hiring managers.
When the interviewer says Describe a time when you worked successfully as a member of a team, your correct response will be to _______. A.) Reply that you have been a member of so many successful teams that no particular instance stands out B.) Say that you not only enjoy teamwork, especially problem-solving groups, but also work well independently C.) Tell a success story about a specific group project, your contributions, and the results D.) List the names of all work teams on which you participated and stress that all were successful
C.) Tell a success story about a specific group project, your contributions, and the results
The advantages of building a LinkedIn résumé to have in addition to your print résumé are that you can expand the description of your skills and qualifications, add media such as images, hyperlinks, and more, and _______. A.) You don't have to worry about proofreading your résumé because errors don't matter in an online format B.) You can upload personal photos as you would with Facebook or Instagram C.) You can use I to tell your story more personally D.) You can save money by not printing your résumé on paper
C.) You can use I to tell your story more personally
Global Connections Inc. is interviewing several candidates for a leadership position requiring strong communication skills. What form of interview will help the interviewer assess the candidate's communication style and leadership skills? A.) A one-on-one interview conducted by the human resources director B.) A stress interview conducted by the head of the programming division C.) A computer screening interview to test applicants' programming skills D.) A group interview of several candidates at one time
D.) A group interview of several candidates at one time
Braden is preparing several success stories prior to his job interview for a sales representative position. Which of the following scenarios would help to illustrate Braden's skills relative to sales? A.) A story about a lemonade stand that Braden ran when he was a child B.) A story about working as part of a team in college to prepare a classroom presentation about a company's history C.) A story about volunteering for a local food bank over the holidays D.) A story about developing a new sales technique that increased his customer sales by 30 percent over a six-month period
D.) A story about developing a new sales technique that increased his customer sales by 30 percent over a six-month period
Which of the following is correct advice when answering interview questions? A.) Focus your answers on your strengths but reveal a weakness or two to show that you are not perfect. B.) Use the interviewer's name and title each time you answer a question to show respect. C.) To be concise, answer questions with a simple yes or no whenever possible. D.) Aim answers at the key characteristics needed, such as expertise, motivation, and a pleasant personality.
D.) Aim answers at the key characteristics needed, such as expertise, motivation, and a pleasant personality.
Which of the following is an example of a well-written career objective for a résumé? A.) An entry-level position in the marketing area with a possibility of promotion B.) A challenging job at an organization that raises the bar in data security C.) Serving as a team player in a company where independent thinking is a top priority D.) An accounting position in which ten years' experience and a license as a CPA will allow me to assist your company with payroll, employee benefits, and governmental tax and records reporting
D.) An accounting position in which ten years' experience and a license as a CPA will allow me to assist your company with payroll, employee benefits, and governmental tax and records reporting
Opinions on the use of a career objective are mixed. Which of the following is the best reason for candidates to add a career objective to their résumés? A.) An objective shows flexibility and indicates that a candidate is adaptable and willing to change to suit the employer's needs. B.) The primary goal of an objective is to make the recruiter's life easier by quickly classifying the résumé, which means the applicant is more likely to be hired. C.) An objective can rapidly disqualify a candidate if the stated objective does not match a company's job description. D.) An objective can tell the prospective employer that this candidate is sure about what he or she wants to do.
D.) An objective can tell the prospective employer that this candidate is sure about what he or she wants to do.
Which of the following is a legal interview question? A.) Are you married? B.) Are you a U.S. citizen? C.) Do you have any disabilities? D.) Are you authorized to work in the United States?
D.) Are you authorized to work in the United States?
Which of the following statements about screening interviews is correct? A.) Screening interviews are conducted after hiring/placement interviews. B.) Screening interviews are always conducted face-to-face. C.) Most screening interviews are conducted during job fairs. D.) Companies use screening interviews to save time and money.
D.) Companies use screening interviews to save time and money.
Which of the following tips will help you protect your privacy and safeguard your personal data when posting to online job boards? A.) Respond only to "blind" job postings. B.) Post your résumé on any online site to increase your employment opportunities. C.) Post your résumé only on sites that charge a fee. D.) Consider omitting your home address.
D.) Consider omitting your home address.
Which of the following should you do during a panel interview? A.) Contact each panel member personally beforehand. B.) When answering a question, maintain eye contact only with the person who posed the question. C.) Use your laptop to take notes during the interview. D.) Demonstrate active listening skills by leaning slightly forward and maintaining eye contact will all panel members.
D.) Demonstrate active listening skills by leaning slightly forward and maintaining eye contact will all panel members.
Which of the following is correct advice about conducting company research? A.) Cancel the interview if you learn information that tells you that you don't wish to work for the company. B.) To make the interview feel more informative, ask questions to suggest that you don't know much about the organization. C.) Avoid connecting on social media with people who work at the company. D.) Examine the company's ads and promotional materials.
D.) Examine the company's ads and promotional materials.
A job interview provides an opportunity for you to expand on the information in your resume, convince the employer of your potential, and _______. A.) Find out who else is applying for the position B.) Be shown the space and desk where you might be working C.) Meet with all the company's employees. D.) Learn more about the job and the company.
D.) Learn more about the job and the company.
Which online source is used most for job searching and recruiting? A.) Twitter B.) Monster C.) CollegeGrad D.) LinkedIn
D.) LinkedIn
Although you can't expect to be perfect in an employment interview, you can improve your interview responses by _______. A.) Showing some passion by bringing up a controversial topic and taking a clear stand B.) Speaking forcefully but using some slang such as like and ya know to sound relaxed and friendly C.) Elaborating on your answers and criticizing the person or object causing the problems at a previous job D.) Occasionally refocusing and clarifying vague questions by asking Do you mean?
D.) Occasionally refocusing and clarifying vague questions by asking Do you mean?
Which type of hiring/placement interview is the most common? A.) Sequential interview B.) Online interview C.) Panel interview D.) One-on-one interview
D.) One-on-one interview
Which of the following is an example of a behavioral interview question? A.) Who in your life has most inspired you and why? B.) An irate customer is demanding her money back. How would you handle the situation? C.) Tell me about a time when you solved a difficult problem. D.) What is your greatest strength?
D.) What is your greatest strength?
