chapter 16

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

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

The location where you will have your web conference job interview should be

tidy. well organized

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 statement about making connections on LinkedIn is true?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

Résumés typically include which of the following major sections?

education the name block experience

The first step in creating a résumé is to

evaluate your career ambitions and qualifications.

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

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 drafting a cover letter, you should

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

During a job interview, most hiring managers make the decision not to hire you

within 15 minutes.

Most résumés typically begin with

your name and contact information.

The name block of a résumé typically contains

contact information.

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.

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

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

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 further support for your résumé. It provides additional background information to job interviewers.

Cindy is actively looking for a new job. She knows recruiters will be looking at her profile on Skype or Google Hangouts. Which of the following should she do?

She should make sure to use a professional-looking profile picture.

Missy has a web conference interview with an architectural firm. Which of the following is the best option regarding her appearance for the interview?

She should wear professional business attire to show her interest in the job.

Which of the following are reasons why clichés should be avoided on résumés?

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

The tone of a cover letter

should be enthusiastic.

The primary purpose of a cover letter is to

show how you meet the employer's needs.

During a first interview you have for a job, you should

show your interest by asking questions.

Hiring managers typically

skim through a résumé on the first pass.

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

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

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 nonverbal cues should you use during a web conference interview?

use gestures, smile

Which of the following is most effective in helping recruiters understand your primary abilities and attributes?

using white space to highlight information

Which of the following statements about asking questions during a job interview are true?

Applicants who do not ask questions may seem uninterested. Interviewers often ask applicants if they have any questions. Questions about salary are best saved for second and third interviews.

What are rules for describing your accomplishments and experiences on a resume?

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

What should you do when conducting an informational interview?

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

Which of the following is true of errors on résumés?

Careless mistakes and typos often lead to immediate rejection.

When interviewing for a job, which of the following most reduces your chances of getting hired?

Dressing too provocatively

Which of the following are true of cover letters?

Employers like shorter letters because they have many applications to review. They should generally be three to five paragraphs long. They help shape how the employer interprets your résumé.

In a web conference interview, why is it important to make sure that your profile for the web conference software is appropriate?

It is generally the first thing recruiters see.

Which of the following are true about a job interview?

It is likely that the hiring manager will make a decision about whether to hire you within 15 minutes. It is the time when most hiring managers decide whether or not to hire you. You may have a brief window to present yourself as a good fit for the company.

Which of the following are true of a good résumé?

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

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

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

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?

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

Which of the following statements are true of chronological résumés?

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

Which of the following statements are true of functional résumés?

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

Which of the following are true concerning cover letters?

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

What statement about cover letters is true?

They should be error free.

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.

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.

The skills you use to complete your work are known as

abilities

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.

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.

A job candidate's personality traits are known as

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.

How can joining clubs help your career?

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

Tips for writing an effective cover letter include

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

The last step in the résumé process is

choosing a layout.

In a résumé, quantifying accomplishments

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

Successfully searching for a job

commonly takes months.

You should respond to interview questions

confidently. strategically. concisely.

Preparing for the job application process

is similar to preparing for other forms of business communication.

Writing an unsolicited cover letter

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

While reviewing résumés, potential employers

may skim and toss the document if errors are found. are generally unforgiving of mistakes. judge an applicant's character when they see contradictory information.

Getting the tone right in a cover letter

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

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.

An unsolicited cover letter

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

A good reference would be a

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

Once you have written your cover letter, you should

review it carefully before sending it along

Seeking helpful advice during a job search includes

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

Buzzwords and jargon on résumés

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