TEST #1- Ch. 12,13,14 (Business Communication/ UCA Carson Fall 2019)
On average in the U.S., how many employers will employees between the ages of 18 and 38 have over the course of their careers?
10
If you cannot find the name of a person to address your cover message to, which of the following is the most suitable replacement?
A descriptive subject line such as Marketing Specialist Position
Global Connections Inc. is interviewing several candidates for a leadership position requiring strong communication skills. What form of interview will most likely be used for this interview?
A group interview of several candidates at one time
What is the most accurate statement about plain-text résumés?
A plain-text format is widely used for posting to online job boards and for applying by e-mail.
Braden is preparing several success stories prior to his job interview for a sales representative position. Which of the following scenarios would result in the best success story for this position?
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 the best advice when answering interview questions?
Aim answers at the key characteristics needed, such as expertise, motivation, and a pleasant personality.
Which of the following is an acceptable reason for following up with an employer in writing? a. Your résumé or application has received no response. b. All of these are acceptable reasons to follow up with an employer in writing. c. You have learned that you are not being offered the position. d. You received an offer for the position.
All of these are acceptable reasons to follow up with an employer in writing.
How should you respond if an interviewer asks, Why should we hire you when other applicants have better credentials?
Confidently explain your strengths such as your openness to new ideas and knowledge of the latest methods and equipment.
Some of today's employers often use applicant tracking software to sort and evaluate résumés. Which of these steps will maximize the "hits" your résumé receives from this kind of software?
Focus on nouns that describe your skills and qualifications.
Krista receives an unexpected phone call from a potential employer. Which of the following should she do?
If she feels caught off guard by the call, ask whether she may call back in a few minutes.
Which of the following is the best advice when traveling to and arriving at your interview?
If something unexpected happens causing you to be late, immediately call the interviewer to explain what is happening.
What is the most effective way to handle an illegal or inappropriate question during an interview?
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?
If you were aware that a coworker submitted false data, what would you do?
Which online source is used most for job searching and recruiting?
Which of the following statements about online interviews is most accurate?
Online interviews save job applicants and companies time and money.
Which of the following statements about today's job market is most accurate?
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?
Prepare others who live with you to speak professionally and take complete messages.
Which of these is the most effective response to the question, What do you think is your greatest weakness?
Some people complain that I'm a workaholic with nearly too much passion for this field.
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?
Specific company websites
Will has just driven home following an interview. What is the first thing he should do?
Take notes about the interview.
Which of the following is the best advice to follow for a cover message accompanying a résumé sent by e-mail or fax?
Take the time to prepare a customized cover message to accompany your résumé sent electronically.
When interviewing for high-pressure positions, companies may use stress interview techniques, which include being
asked rapid-fire questions by members of a team.
When writing a resignation letter to your employer, you should a. remind the employer of your contributions. b. All answer choices are correct. c. allow more than the standard two-week notice if you have a high or responsible position within the company. d. offer thanks and end with a forward-looking statement.
b. All answer choices are correct.
Which of the following is considered unethical on a résumé? a. Making your job duties sound more impressive and responsible than they really were b. All answer choices are unethical. c. Extending employment dates to avoid showing periods of unemployment d. Misrepresenting a job title to make it sound more important
b. All answer choices are unethical.
Which of the following is an advantage of building a LinkedIn résumé to have in addition to your print résumé? a. You can expand the description of your skills and qualifications. b. All of these are advantages to building a resume on LinkedIn. c. You can be more conversational. d. You can use I to tell your story more personally.
b. All of these are advantages to building a resume on LinkedIn.
All of the following are ways you can develop a personal brand except a. creating an individual tagline that separates you from other candidates. b. creating an attractive résumé. c. distributing business cards whenever you have an opportunity. d. preparing a brief speech that describes who you are and what problems your skills can solve.
b. creating an attractive résumé.
Follow all of these guidelines to deliver your presentation effectively except
begin speaking immediately; that is, speak as soon as you are behind the lectern.
Ryan has been asked to give his supervisor a concise summary of a proposal that he will be delivering to the board of directors later in the week. This type of business presentation is called a(n) ________.
briefing
Many job candidates use LinkedIn to a. expand their personal and professional networks. b. receive job alerts. c. All answer choices are ways that LinkedIn can help candidates locate jobs. d. research companies
c. All answer choices are ways that LinkedIn can help candidates locate jobs.
Connor opened his presentation to an audience of business owners with this statement: If you want to reduce employee benefit costs by at least 15 percent without hurting employee morale or impacting your work environment, please stand up right now. By asking them to stand, Connor is
capturing listeners' attention and getting them involved.
The most popular résumé format is the
chronological format
Most recruiters favor a
chronological résumé.
After you determine your purpose and analyze your audience, your next step is to
collect information.
Which of the following is not a valid reason to create a multimedia slide for a presentation?
To demonstrate your use of technology
Anna plans to use a PowerPoint presentation in her speech. What advice should she follow?
Use a laser pointer to draw her audience's attention to important points on her PowerPoint slides.
What kind of business presentation uses technology to allow remote colleagues to collaborate in real time?
Virtual presentation
Which of the following statements about special effects is most accurate?
Your goal should be for audience members to be commenting on the ideas you conveyed rather than on special effects.
The purposes of sending an application or résumé follow-up message to an employer include jogging the memory of the hiring manager, showing your serious interest in the position, and
emphasizing your qualifications or adding new information.
The purpose of a cover message is to
introduce the résumé.
When you enter the office for an interview,
introduce yourself to the receptionist, and wait to be invited to sit
Nearly every speaker must overcome stage fright; one of the most effective techniques to decrease stage fright is
knowing the subject thoroughly.
Effective interview-preparation techniques include practicing answers to possible questions, preparing to explain problem areas on your résumé, deciding on professional attire, and
preparing success stories
Which of the following statements describing employment achievements would be most effective on a résumé?
Achieved 125 percent of production goal for three consecutive quarters
In which part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions should you focus on yourself (rather than a group or team)?
Action
Which of the following is an example of a niche website?
Advance Healthcare Network
Which of the following is the best career objective for a résumé?
An accounting position in which 10 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?
An objective can tell the prospective employer that this candidate is sure about what he or she wants to do.
Tyrone has just told his audience that engineering a hostile business takeover is similar to conducting guerilla warfare. He is using what technique?
Analogy
After determining your purpose for the presentation, what is your next important step?
Analyzing the audience
Which of following is a legal interview question?
Are you authorized to work in the United States?
Which of the following statements most accurately describes a sequential interview?
As sequential interviews progress, interviews become more in-depth, which means that you need to know even more about the company.
Which statement represents the best advice on the use of references?
Be sure to add the statement References furnished upon request at the bottom of your résumé.
Which of the following is the best advice about résumé length?
Because recruiters and hiring managers want to know your skills, make it as long as needed to sell yourself
If you will take questions at the end of your presentation, which of these is the best advice?
Begin each answer with a repetition of the question.
If an interviewer says Tell me about yourself, what is the best way to respond?
Briefly discuss educational, professional, or business-related strengths.
How should you close an interview?
Briefly review your strengths, thank the interviewer, and ask what action will follow
Which of the following statements about screening interviews is most accurate?
Companies use screening interviews to save time and money.
What statement about the use and meaning of color is most accurate?
Colors can be used to arouse different responses or to symbolize concepts.
Which of the following tips will best help you protect yourself when posting at online job boards?
Consider omitting your home address and home phone number.
Which of the following should you do during a panel interview?
Demonstrate active listening skills by leaning slightly forward and maintaining eye contact will all panel members
Which of the following would help an individual assess his or her employment qualifications?
Do I speak, write, or understand another language?
An important question to be asking yourself during a job interview is
Do I want to work for this organization?
Theresa decides to follow up with an employer a few days after her interview. Which communication channel is safest for her to use if she does not want to appear too intrusive?
Which of these is the best tip for organizing the parts of a résumé?
Emphasize your skills and achievements aimed at a particular job or company.
Which of the following is the best advice about conducting company research?
Examine the company's ads and promotional materials.
Research shows that readers of online résumés approach them using which letter as a pattern?
F
You are just graduating from college and have little employment experience. What would be the best résumé style to use?
Functional résumé
As the human resources director for your company, you must give a presentation to the company owners about the staff demographics in each of your company's two locations. What organizational pattern would be best for you to present your data?
Geography/space
Will is giving a company-wide presentation and wants to create a sense of confidence in the organization's growth and financial stability. Which color should he incorporate into his slides?
Green
Which of these tips regarding the use of handouts as a visual aid is most accurate?
Handouts should be discussed during the presentation, but they should not be distributed until the presentation is finished.
For which of the following types of audiences should you avoid a question-and-answer period at the end of a presentation?
Hostile
Nico's presentation has had a rocky start since he has stumbled over two points in his introduction. What should he do?
Ignore the stumbles and try to continue confidently.
Which of these résumé tips is most accurate?
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 slide titles best represents the "you" view?
Increase Your Sales Online
What kind of résumé uses colorful charts, graphics, and time lines to illustrate a candidate's work history and experience?
Infographic résumé
Which of the following will not help you reduce your fears about interviews?
Let the interviewer have complete charge of the entire interview.
Which of the following is the best tip for creating a successful cover message?
Make activities and outcomes, not yourself, the subject of sentences to reduce overuse of "I."
Which of the following statements uses an action verb to highlight an aptitude?
Mastered QuickBooks Pro accounting software in 20 hours with minimal instruction
When an interviewer asks you a challenging question about a weakness, what is the best way to respond?
Mention a previous weakness and the way you have corrected it.
Which of the following statements about public speaking is most accurate?
Most people are apprehensive about speaking in public.
If an interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of an interview, which of the following is an inappropriate response?
No, I have no questions right now; you have shared all the information I need.
Which type of hiring/placement interview is the most common?
One-on-one interview
Irina will make her presentation to a large audience of members whose negative attitudes range from displeased to outraged. What advice should Irina follow in preparing her presentation for this audience?
Present objective data and expert opinion in a calm, controlled delivery style.
To help his listeners keep track of where he is in the presentation, Dominic has just said, Next I will discuss three plans for reducing waste. What verbal signpost is Dominic using?
Previewing
Paul is explaining to upper-level management how converting to a four-day workweek can solve their budget woes by decreasing expenses. How will he most likely organize his presentation?
Problem/solution
Each of the following represents effective phrasing of a reason for leaving a previous position on an application form except
Quit
Recommended guidelines for completing application forms include which of the following?
Read the entire form before beginning to complete it.
Which of the following statements about personal data on a résumé is most accurate?
Résumés in the United States should omit personal data.
Which of the following statements about interview thank-you messages is most accurate?
Separate thank-you messages should be sent to each interviewer.
Which of these is the most accurate description regarding the use of pauses or silence in a presentation?
Silence can be effective for speakers when they are transitioning from one point to another.
Which of the following is the best nonverbal behavior to display during an interview?
Sit erect, leaning forward slightly to show interest and confiden
What statement best describes the summary of qualifications portion of a résumé?
Smart job seekers add a summary of their most impressive qualifications to their résumés to save the time of recruiters and hiring managers.
Which of the following is an example of a behavioral interview question?
Tell me about a time when you solved a difficult problem.
Which of the following statements about today's job search is most accurate?
The emphasis of today's job search is on the needs of the employer.
Which statement about open and hidden job markets is most accurate?
The open job market consists of jobs that are advertised or listed
Which of the following statements about video résumés is most accurate?
They allow candidates to demonstrate their public speaking, interpersonal, and technical skills more impressively than in print résumés.
Choose the best closing sentence for a cover message.
To add to your team an experienced systems analyst with proven analytical and troubleshooting skills, call me at (555) 555-4321 to arrange an interview.
Which of these is the best statement to present a job candidate's information in the body of a cover message?
Your posting description closely matches my experiences assisting dysfunctional families in crisis, and recently I've taken seminars in family dynamics to develop the additional skills that your ad indicates are essential.
Your speech will be more effective if you establish rapport, which refers to
a bond connecting the speaker with the audience.
An e-portfolio is
a collection of digital files that can be accessed with the use of menus and hyperlinks
An effective visual aid a. All answer choices are correct. b. helps to jog the memory of a speaker. c. emphasizes and clarifies main points. d. increases audience interest.
a. All answer choices are correct.
When analyzing your audience, you should consider the a. All answer choices are important factors to consider when analyzing an audience. b. educational level of the audience members. c. approximate age of the audience members. d. size of the audience.
a. All answer choices are important factors to consider when analyzing an audience.
Rebecca has an interview with a large company in a nearby city. What information should she learn about the company before her interview? a. Rebecca should find out all this information about the prospective employer. b. The management structure and names of leaders c. The company's customers and competitors d. The company's mission and goals
a. Rebecca should find out all this information about the prospective employer.
You should do all of the following in the introduction of a presentation except a. develop the main points with adequate explanation and details. b. introduce yourself and establish your credibility. c. preview the main points of your presentation. d. capture your listeners' attention and get them involved.
a. develop the main points with adequate explanation and details
After writing a follow-up letter to thank your interviewer, your next step should be
alerting your references that they may be contacted by the employer.
The first step in the job-search process is to
analyze individual interests and goals and evaluate personal qualifications.
Effective speakers must be aware of their nonverbal messages. Nonverbal means
appearance, movements, and vocal qualities.
The body of a short, 20-minute presentation should focus on
approximately two to four main points
You can send positive nonverbal messages during your interview by dressing professionally, controlling your body movements, making eye contact, and
arriving on time.
Because your résumé is probably the most important document you will ever write, you should
consider having a knowledgeable friend or relative proofread it
You can overcome stage fright during a presentation by a. using positive self-talk. b. shifting the spotlight to your visuals. c. breathing deeply. d. doing all of these
d. doing all of these
What information should you provide your references so that they can write a recommendation? a. A copy of your résumé b. Name of the company c. Position title and expected job requirements d. You should provide all this information to your references.
d. You should provide all this information to your references.
In the body of a cover message, you should
demonstrate your qualifications and show how they fit the targeted job.
The best technique to establish your credibility in a business presentation is
describing your knowledge, position, or experience
The most important part of preparing for an oral presentation is
determining the purpose
Because many companies now use social networking sites to screen job candidates, you should do each of the following except
discuss your current job and your search frequently on social media so that friends and family will know.
An established rule of thumb for choosing your attire for a business presentation is
dress at least as well as the likely best-dressed person in the audience.
For effective presentation slides, you should apply the 6-x-6 rule to most slides. The 6-x-6 rule means that
each slide has no more than six words per line and no more than six lines.
A 30-second pitch describing who you are and what you can offer to a company or industry is called a(n)
elevator speech.
Two of the most effective techniques to improve your audience's ability to understand and remember your speech are
good organization and intentional repetition
Jessica tells her audience about her five years' experience as a social networking professional helping over 100 local businesses learn to use social networking as an effective marketing tool. Jessica is attempting to
identify herself and establish credibility.
In the opening of an unsolicited cover message, you should aim to be more persuasive by
implementing all of these strategies.
When you give a speech without multimedia technology, you may need to prepare notes. You should prepare these notes by writing major ideas
in a complete sentence or two.
In the education section of your résumé, you should
include relevant seminars attended and workshops completed.
Speakers build audience rapport by
incorporating imagery, supplying verbal signposts, and using body language strategically
When selecting and preparing your visual aids, keep in mind that your goals as a speaker are to
make listeners understand, remember, and act on your ideas.
The biggest error most applicants make when writing a cover message is
making the letter too generic.
Business presentations
may vary in complexity
A job interview provides an opportunity for you to do all of the following except
meet with all the company's employees.
Because the presenter can create dynamic, colorful presentations that incorporate audio, videos, images, animation, and hyperlinks, one of the most popular visual aids is
multimedia slides.
An applicant tracking systems (ATS) is most likely to select your résumé if it focuses on
nouns.
Although you can't expect to be perfect in an employment interview, you can do your best by
occasionally refocusing and clarifying vague questions by asking Do you mean...?
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
personal branding.
The primary route to hiring today continues to be
personal networking
In the conclusion of your speech, you say, I recommend developing and posting high-quality video podcasts on our website to recruit new employees. You are using the conclusion to
review the main theme of the presentation and to provide a final recommendation.
Panel interviews are typically conducted by people who will be your supervisors and colleagues. An important advantage of the panel interview is
saving company money on repeated interviews and related costs
When you apply for a position but are rejected, employment experts recommend that you
send a rejection follow-up message indicating you are disappointed but will contact the company again in a month in case a job opens up.
When the interviewer asks you questions about the future, you should provide answers that
show ambition and interest in succeeding with the company
If an interviewer says Why do you want to work for us?, you should
show what you know about the interviewer's company and how your goals match the company and its culture.
Extemporaneous delivery refers to
speaking freely, generally without notes, after preparing effectively.
In an effective presentation conclusion, you will strive to accomplish three goals:
summarize the main themes, give the audience a memorable take-away, and include a statement that allows for a graceful exit.
In her presentation on improving employee morale, Jillian makes this statement: So far, you've heard only about the problems we have with morale; let's move to some solutions. Jillian has employed the verbal signpost called
switching directions.
When the interviewer says Describe a time when you worked successfully as a member of a team, your best response will be to
tell a success story about a specific group project, your contributions, and the results.
If you must turn down a job offer, employment experts suggest you should send the employer a letter
thanking the employer for the offer and briefly declining the position.
Zoom presentations
use 3D to help audiences better understand and remember content, details, and relationships
All of these are good advice for nonverbal messages during a presentation except a. avoid being planted behind the podium. b. punctuate your words by varying your tone, volume, pitch, and pace. c. use a variety of gestures planned and rehearsed in advance. d. maintain appropriate eye contact to show your confidence and preparation
use a variety of gestures planned and rehearsed in advance.
To help you develop your personal network, you should do all of the following except
use only online resources to help you connect with others.
When creating a plain-text résumé,
use white space or a line of hyphens or equal signs to separate sections.
Your audience analysis reveals that audience members will be friendly and interested in your topic. You should be
warm and pleasant, using a lot of eye contact and smiles.
Which of the following statements is most accurate?
Effective speakers analyze their audience and the speaking occasion to help them determine what type of visual aid to use.
