Business Communications Ch. 15

Putting "References available upon request" at the end of your résumé is A) not necessary since the availability of references is usually assumed. B) standard practice, and most employers will expect to see it. C) less effective than listing the names and contact information for all references, even if the employer has not requested them. D) necessary only when applying for government positions. E) is less effective than listing the information in the application letter.

A) not necessary since the availability of references is usually assumed.

Your ________ is an essential part of your potential quality as a new hire. A) perceived ability B) salary and benefits package C) motivation D) professionalism E) reliability

A) perceived ability

Regardless of a candidate's work experience, the prime source of jobs in general appears to be A) recommendations from current employees. B) online job posting services. C) college job fairs. D) postings on company websites. E) newspaper and trade journal ads.

A) recommendations from current employees.

When you describe your work experience on your résumé, you should A) start with your most recent job and work back chronologically. B) describe one or two jobs in detail so that employers get an idea of your work ethic. C) list only full-time positions. D) indicate why you left. E) omit any positions which you held for less than six months.

A) start with your most recent job and work back chronologically.

When writing your résumé, A) use strong action verbs. B) use a variety of sentence lengths. C) use the word "I" as often as possible. D) be repetitious when talking about skills and abilities. E) indicate your "self-involvement" by listing volunteer work.

A) use strong action verbs.

In composing a résumé, it is best to avoid A) using the word "I". B) active verbs. C) prepositions. D) past-tense. E) bulleted lists.

A) using the word "I".

One of your first steps in preparing to seek employment should be to A) write the story of you, including what you're passionate about, your abilities, and so forth. B) call some potential employers and ask for interviews. C) visit promising businesses and ask if they have any openings. D) come to terms with the fact that you will have little to no control over where you end up. E) update your online presence, including Facebook and LinkedIn sites.

A) write the story of you, including what you're passionate about, your abilities, and so forth.

Your online presence is A) your private property. B) a career-management tool. C) only available to your friends. D) protected by privacy laws. E) irrelevant to potential employers.

B) a career-management tool.

The best email address to include on a résumé is A) the one you have through your current employer. B) a free personal address from one of the many services that offer them. C) one that creatively includes the name of the company to which you are applying. D) none—that way employers will be forced to call you. E) one that is a reflection of your hobbies and interests.

B) a free personal address from one of the many services that offer them.

According to your textbook, the least desirable way to include keywords in a résumé is in A) an introductory statement. B) a standalone keyword summary. C) the work history section. D) the education section. E) the volunteer section.

B) a standalone keyword summary.

Creating a plain-text file of your résumé A) is easier to upload to an employer's job-posting website. B) allows you to include your résumé in the body of an email message, instead of as an attachment. C) is helpful, but very difficult to do without expensive software. D) requires that you center all headings instead of left-justifying them. E) is preferred for social media résumés.

B) allows you to include your résumé in the body of an email message, instead of as an attachment.

Business-related blogs and microblogs A) are generally not very helpful to job applicants. B) can help you get comfortable with the jargon and buzzwords in a particular field. C) can be useful in a job search, but only for those seeking positions in technical fields. D) are very difficult to find online. E) are almost always thinly veiled attempts to sell products and services.

B) can help you get comfortable with the jargon and buzzwords in a particular field.

An effective résumé design looks A) cute and clever. B) clean and professional. C) colorful and decorative. D) trendy and fashion forward. E) elaborate and congested.

B) clean and professional.

If you have limited work experience, ________ could be used to indicate leadership, teamwork, or other valuable attributes. A) education B) community service C) travel abroad D) length of time at one job E) classes in your major

B) community service

Supplementing a traditional résumé with a PowerPoint presentation A) has a risk in that an employer may not have the software needed to open and view the document. B) enables potential employers to click through to sections of interest. C) is encouraged at events like job fairs and interviews. D) is more convenient for employers than an online résumé. E) makes it more difficult to upload the résumé to employer websites.

B) enables potential employers to click through to sections of interest.

If you are planning a career change and want to deemphasize lengthy unemployment or lack of career progress, the best organizational plan for your résumé would be A) chronological. B) functional. C) targeted. D) indirect. E) combination.

B) functional.

The best way to handle frequent job changes on a résumé is to A) avoid any mention of a job you held for less than a year. B) group similar jobs under a single heading. C) provide a detailed explanation of each one. D) omit descriptions of several positions. E) mention only the ones that pertain to the job being sought.

B) group similar jobs under a single heading.

In describing activities and achievements on your résumé, you should A) use only mild exaggerations. B) include only what makes you a more attractive job candidate. C) use significant amounts of jargon and technical terms. D)leave out any awards you've won unless they are specifically relevant to your current career objective. E) omit any volunteer activities.

B) include only what makes you a more attractive job candidate.

A type of résumé that emphasizes a candidate's skills and accomplishments while also including a complete job history is termed A) a chronological résumé. B) a functional résumé. C) a combination résumé. D) an indirect résumé. E) a comprehensive résumé.

C) a combination résumé.

The résumé format that allows you to highlight your capabilities and education when you don't have a long work history is the A) function résumé. B) online résumé. C) combination résumé. D) chronological résumé. E) skills résumé.

C) combination résumé.

Potential employers view your résumé as A) unrelated to your workplace qualifications. B) little more than an employment-related document. C) evidence of your attention to quality and detail. D) your opportunity to channel your creative spirit. E) an indication of what they can do to help fulfill you work goals.

C) evidence of your attention to quality and detail.

The purpose of a résumé is to A) induce the reader to hire you. B) list all your skills and abilities. C) get you an interview. D) take the place of an application letter. E) exaggerate your qualifications and impress potential employers.

C) get you an interview.

Résumés and curriculum vitaes, or CVs, are essentially the same, except A) CVs are more detailed and include personal information. B) résumés are longer and list all past experiences. C) personal information should never be on a CV, but can be on a résumé. D) résumés use only months and years as dates, CVs use exact dates. E) CVs start with general information and become more detailed, résumés start with detailed information that becomes more general.

A) CVs are more detailed and include personal information.

When you're evaluating a functional résumé as a way to present your qualifications, don't forget that many employers A) are suspicious of them. B) strongly prefer them to chronological résumés. C) view them as a sign of strong communication skills. D) are unfamiliar with the functional résumé format. E) require them from applicants for management positions.

A) are suspicious of them.

When you're preparing an introductory statement for your résumé, using a ________ can limit your consideration for interesting opportunities. A) career objective B) qualifications summary C) personality profile D) career summary E) skills summary

A) career objective

The most common way to organize a résumé is A) chronologically. B) functionally. C) geographically. D) alphabetically. E) a combination of several methods.

A) chronologically.

When mailing a résumé, it is a good idea to A) have it delivered via Priority Mail in a cardboard mailer. B) use a standard white #10 envelope. C) pay to have it delivered the next day. D) use a large craft envelope. E) use a tube mailer so you do not have to fold it.

A) have it delivered via Priority Mail in a cardboard mailer.

Learning which keywords will be most effective on your résumé A) is easy when you access leading business publications, blogs, and other sources. B) is impossible unless you already have a job in the industry you wish to work in. C) can only be accomplished by calling potential employers and asking them. D) is unnecessary, since most employers no longer pay much attention to them. E) is easy since most firms look for the same skills and abilities.

A) is easy when you access leading business publications, blogs, and other sources.

When developing the experience section of the résumé, the most space should be devoted to A) jobs that closely relate to the targeted position. B) jobs that you held the longest. C) jobs that had a higher level of responsibility. D) jobs where you learned the most. E) jobs you enjoyed the most.

A) jobs that closely relate to the targeted position.

When emailing your résumé to a prospective employer, you should A) always send it as a Microsoft Word attachment. B) make it less formal than you would for other formats. C) include in the subject line the reference number or job ad number. D) use lots of colors to make your résumé stand out. E) use a subject line that will grab attention, such as "This is the one."

C) include in the subject line the reference number or job ad number.

The vast majority of all job openings in the United States are A) advertised in the newspaper. B) posted on Craigslist or Monster. C) never advertised to the general public. D) senior positions that require years of experience. E) entry level.

C) never advertised to the general public.

When preparing your list of references, A) leave enough space on the résumé to include them. B) have the data on your cell phone so you can write the information down, if asked. C) prepare a reference sheet using the same layout as the résumé. D) offer to email them when the interview is scheduled. E) indicate why you chose that particular person to use as a reference.

C) prepare a reference sheet using the same layout as the résumé.

When employers find lies on an applicant's résumé, most will A) ignore it,since almost all applicants exaggerate their qualifications. B) call the applicant to discuss it. C) refuse to hire the applicant, even if it means withdrawing a formal job offer. D) keep the application active, but continue looking for other promising candidates. E) assume that the applicant simply made a mistake.

C) refuse to hire the applicant, even if it means withdrawing a formal job offer.

Applicant tracking systems help employers by A) charting each applicant's progress through the hiring process. B) mapping out promising career paths for each applicant. C) sifting through the content of the résumés received. D) tracking down promising applicants by searching social media sites. E) cataloging how often an applicant applies to the company.

C) sifting through the content of the résumés received.

Creating a traditional paper résumé is A) unnecessary in most cases, since so many applicants apply for jobs online. B) helpful only if you are applying for old-fashioned jobs. C) still useful, even if most or all of your application efforts take place online. D) a hindrance for most job seekers, since it suggests they are out of touch with technology. E) unnecessary if the résumé is scannable.

C) still useful, even if most or all of your application efforts take place online.

It is acceptable and expected to include photographs if A) the employer asks for one. B) you are in a creative design field. C) the résumé is a social media résumé and is not being submitted to one employer. D) the résumé is being submitted online. E) the résumé also includes infographics to supplement other parts of the résumé.

C) the résumé is a social media résumé and is not being submitted to one employer.

On your résumé, do not include items that could encourage discrimination, such as A) home address. B) hobbies. C) when you graduated from high school. D) military service. E) extracurricular activities.

C) when you graduated from high school.

Including a photo of yourself with your résumé A) is a great way to personalize your application. B) helps you stand out among other applicants. C) will cause some employers to discard your application immediately. D) is the best way to guard against potential discrimination. E) is a good idea if it shows you having fun and being yourself.

C) will cause some employers to discard your application immediately.

If you choose not to list your GPA in the "Education" section of your résumé, A) most employers will not interview you. B) employers will generally respect you for being humble. C) you should be prepared to answer questions about it during the interview. D) it should be stated in your application letter. E) you should include a statement that reads, "GPA withheld for privacy reasons."

C) you should be prepared to answer questions about it during the interview.

If you are just graduating from college and have limited professional experience, A) a traditional chronological résumé is your only option. B) a functional résumé is your only option. C) your chronological résumé should probably list educational qualifications before listing experience. D) your résumé can be written in a casual, informal tone. E) avoid mentioning volunteer work.

C) your chronological résumé should probably list educational qualifications before listing experience.

Which of the following would be the best wording to use on a résumé? A) "I was in charge of a staff of six employees." B) "I supervised six employees." C) "Was in charge of entire departmental staff." D) "Supervised staff of six employees." E) "In this job, I was in charge of six employees including an assistant manager."

D) "Supervised staff of six employees."

You should keep ________ of your résumé on hand, in case a prospective employer wants you to send your résumé in the body of an email message. A) an RTF version B) a PDF version C) an MS word version D) a Plain-Text version E) a PowerPoint version

D) a Plain-Text version

For someone who's involved in the job search process, volunteer work A) has little to no value, since it does not involve working for pay. B) is helpful only for those seeking employment in the nonprofit sector. C) should not be mentioned, since many employers view it as a waste of time. D) can highlight problem-solving and leadership skills. E) is helpful only if it allows you to do temporary workfor a potential employer.

D) can highlight problem-solving and leadership skills.

You can use a ________ to recap your career, with a focus on your increasing levels of responsibility and performance. A) career objective B) qualifications summary C) trend analysis D) career summary E) keyword schedule

D) career summary

Starting with your initial contact and continuing throughout the interview process, you should A) stress to the employer how much getting the job will mean to you. B) press for a decision because you are scheduled for other interviews. C) let the employer determine how to use your knowledge, skills, and abilities. D) explain how your skills and accomplishments will meet the needs of the employer. E) determine how much your skills are worth to the employer.

D) explain how your skills and accomplishments will meet the needs of the employer.

The best way to find job opportunities is usually A) searching online job boards such as Monster. B) looking for them in the newspaper's classified ads. C) counting on the people you know to keep you in the loop. D) identifying the companies you want to work for and focusing your efforts on them. E) to send a form letter to as many companies as possible, asking that they call you when they have openings.

D) identifying the companies you want to work for and focusing your efforts on them.

A scannable résumé differs from the traditional format in that A) its formatting is more complex. B) it is printed in all caps. C) it is printed in boldface type. D) it always includes a keyword summary. E) it is printed in an extra-large font.

D) it always includes a keyword summary.

Applicant tracking systems use keyword filters to A) look for inconsistencies on the résumé. B) look for information on the résumé that may be inaccurate or dishonest. C) determine the number of openings in an organization at a given point in time. D) rank desirability of incoming résumés for current openings. E) track date of receipt for résumés sent through online systems.

D) rank desirability of incoming résumés for current openings.

When determining the best method to use in developing your résumé, remember A) all companies scan the résumés for keywords. B) the résumé must be one page or less. C) a traditional résumé is no longer necessary as most applications are online. D) to adapt the résumé to meet the needs of your audience. E) the strongest résumés use a chronological format.

D) to adapt the résumé to meet the needs of your audience.

If you have frequent job changes, minimize the negative impression by A) indicating they were a series of promotions. B) mentioning volunteer experience during those same time periods. C) focusing exclusively on the skills that relate to the position applying for. D) trying to group them under a single heading. E) leaving them off entirely.

D) trying to group them under a single heading.

Posting a job opening on a major job board such as Monster is often A) a company's first step in seeking promising candidates. B) helpful for high-tech companies, but not for others. C) the most successful way for companies to discourage unqualified candidates from applying. D) an effective way for companies to limit the number of applications they receive. E) a company's last resort, after it has exhausted other possibilities for finding desirable

E) a company's last resort, after it has exhausted other possibilities for finding desirable

Customizing your résumé for each job opening is A) a waste of valuable time, since your qualifications are the same no matter where you apply. B) necessary only if you are slightly exaggerating some aspect of your qualifications. C) a good way to get into trouble, since you might forget what you wrote on one of the versions. D) not necessary unless you are applying for senior executive positions. E) an important step in showing each employer that you will be a good fit.

E) an important step in showing each employer that you will be a good fit.

If you do not have a lot of relevant work experience, A) focus on long term employment with one company. B) do not use dates in the experience sections. C) group all jobs under one general heading. D) emphasize promotions and additional skills learned at the jobs you had. E) emphasize volunteer work and membership in professional groups, or relevant coursework.

E) emphasize volunteer work and membership in professional groups, or relevant coursework.

The best way to become a valued network member is by A) expecting others in your network to help you. B) emailing your résumé to everyone you meet. C) broadcasting other people's contact information. D) asking others to provide information that you can find yourself. E) helping others in some way.

E) helping others in some way.

Contacting people in a job candidate's online network for background information A) is illegal unless the candidate has listed them as references. B) occurs very rarely, since most employers don't have time to check online networks. C) is possible only when the candidate provides contact information. D) violates Facebook and LinkedIn user agreements. E) is becoming more common among employers.

E) is becoming more common among employers.

Effective keywords to list on your résumé include A) business and technical terms. B) action terms. C) proof of your skills and abilities. D) your GPA. E) position applying for and skills needed for the position.

E) position applying for and skills needed for the position.

In the experience section of the résumé, the focus should be on A) responsibilities of the job. B) abilities developed in coursework. C) training sponsored by businesses. D) high school or military training. E) what you accomplished in each position.

E) what you accomplished in each position.

A résumé should be written A) with the expectation of getting the job. B) in two pages or less. C) in detail so the employer has no doubt about skills and experiences. D) with repletion of skills and accomplishments. E) with simplicity, using a direct style.

E) with simplicity, using a direct style.

In most cases A) a good résumé will get you the job you want. B) the résumé should list all your skills and abilities. C) a résumé should be at least two pages long. D) your résumé will be read carefully and thoroughly. E) your résumé will be screened by a computer before a human ever looks at it.

E) your résumé will be screened by a computer before a human ever looks at it.

Using your résumé to tell employers you are detail oriented, a team player, and a hard worker A) is an effective strategy, since all employers appreciate these characteristics. B) is generally not helpful unless you also include concrete proof and evidence to support your claims. C) is often effective as long as you repeat the claims in your application letter. D) often results in a higher starting salary. E) should be avoided as it is considered to be bragging.

B) is generally not helpful unless you also include concrete proof and evidence to support your claims.

The best approach to preparing a résumé is to A) spend a lot of time creating it, and then send the same version to all prospective employers. B) learn as much as you can about who may be reading it, and be sure to meet their needs. C) keep it general, brief, and nonspecific. D) use a hard-sell approach. E) use color, and graphics to help it stand out from the rest.

B) learn as much as you can about who may be reading it, and be sure to meet their needs.

An online résumé A) consists of a PDF version of a traditional chronological résumé and a cover letter. B) lets jobseekers use multimedia to expand on the information in a basic résumé. C) requires a paid subscription to an online hosting service or social networking site. D) will not be well received outside of technology-related fields. E) is cumbersome and time consuming to update.

B) lets jobseekers use multimedia to expand on the information in a basic résumé.

To achieve the best physical appearance for your résumé, you should A) have it prepared by a professional résumé service. B) make subheadings easy to find and easy to read. C) use colored paper. D) use a variety of typefaces. E) incorporate design graphics and artwork.

B) make subheadings easy to find and easy to read.

The best time for college students to begin developing a job-search strategy is A) about six months prior to graduation. B) now—even if they are a year or more away from graduation. C) no earlier than the second semester of their senior year. D) immediately after graduation. E) when they locate a promising job ad.

B) now—even if they are a year or more away from graduation.

As a general guideline the length of the résumé should be A) only long enough to showcase your most important skills. B) one page for every five years of experience. C) at least two pages—one for experience and one for keywords and one for keyword search terms. D) at least two pages—one for education and experience and one for a list of references. E) one page if there are several links included to additional information.

B) one page for every five years of experience.

Many companies judge the success of their recruiting efforts by the A) quantity of hire. B) quality of hire. C) cost-benefit hiring ratio. D) social media click-through rate. E) corporate turnover ratio

B) quality of hire.

By definition, a résumé is a A) detailed account of a jobseeker's personal journey through life. B) structured summary of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications. C) random sample of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications. D) catalog of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications. E) written account of someone's musings about the job-search process.

B) structured summary of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications.

To incorporate the best keywords in your résumé, A) simply make a list of all the adjectives that describe your unique personality and abilities. B) study relevant job descriptions and seek to understand your target audience's needs. C) use a thesaurus to list as many impressive words as possible. D) stick with time-tested phrases such as problem solverand proven track record. E) write them as action verbs.

B) study relevant job descriptions and seek to understand your target audience's needs.

When developing a chronological résumé, the experience section should include A) the most relevant job first. B) the employer's name, your job title and the dates you held the position. C) background information on what the organization does. D) the address of the employer. E) the name of your manager or direct supervisor.

B) the employer's name, your job title and the dates you held the position.

Your mobile device should be used as a A) tool to abandon a search at nonmobile friendly companies. B) tool to enhance your personal brand and online portfolio. C) tool to conduct a background check on a firm. D) blogging device for networking. E) tool to separate your personal life from your professional life.

B) tool to enhance your personal brand and online portfolio.

To ensure your message is clear and immediate, A) use nouns wherever possible. B) use carefully selected evidence that is compelling. C) include as much detail as possible. D) write in the current tense. E) start with a strong introductory statement.

B) use carefully selected evidence that is compelling.

An infographic résumé uses ________ to convey a person's career development and skill set. A) storyboarding B) visual metaphors C) keyword summaries D) digital innuendos E) boilerplate text

B) visual metaphors

When you're selecting keywords to include your résumé, you should A) never use more than three of them at a time. B) work them into your introductory statement and other résumé sections. C) avoid placing them in a keyword summary at the end of the résumé. D) choose strong verbs and colorful adjectives. E) limit keywords to a bulleted list on the first page of your résumé.

B) work them into your introductory statement and other résumé sections.

Military service relevant to the position you're seeking should be listed in the ________ section of your résumé. A) References B) Not-For-Profit Work Experience C) Education or Work Experience D) Personal Information E) Interest

C) Education or Work Experience

The most common file format for uploading résumés directly to websites such as Monster.com is A) WordPerfect. B) PDF. C) Microsoft Word. D)Microsoft Publisher. E) HTML.

C) Microsoft Word.