Deck 29: Job Interviews

Question 1

Though job interviews are often stressful, they're never scary, especially if you've prepared for them.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

You should be polite only to those people likely to interview you.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Employers today expect you to participate in many interviews.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

You may be expected to provide a sample of your work at a job interview.

Question 5

If you call an employer and get voice mail, leave a concise message with your name and phone number.

Question 6

It's not really necessary to follow job application instructions carefully-companies expect applicants to supply only the information they're interested in supplying to the company.

Question 7

Inappropriate clothing or being late rarely can cost you a job.

Question 8

Wear a suit no matter what kind of job you're applying for.

Question 9

Interviewers almost never ask candidates to explain weaknesses, such as lack of experience or bad grades.

Question 10

If you are interviewing for a management or office job, you should wear a suit.

Question 11

Bringing extra copies of your resume to the interview is a bad idea because the interviewer will be insulted.

Question 12

Dressing less well than the interviewer is the best strategy because it demonstrates that you're not trying to show him or her up.

Question 13

Jeans are acceptable for a job interview if those are the types of clothes you'll be wearing for the job.

Question 14

On the day of the interview, arrive 15 minutes early.

Question 15

When note-taking, don't ask for the interviewer's business card; instead, tactfully get that information from materials on his or her desk, such as a memo or letter.

Question 16

Knowing how to get to the interview site is a good idea, so do a practice run ahead of time.

Question 17

There's no reason to "be yourself"at the interview, as interviewers always expect people to mirror what interviewers really want.

Question 18

You should close the interview with an assertive statement.

Question 19

It's best to talk about work-related strengths rather than personal (not work-related) weaknesses.

Question 20

Negotiating for salary and benefits after you've received a firm offer is considered presumptuous and almost certainly will cost you the job.

Question 21

While face-to-face interviews are common, phone and video interviews are so rare in business, there's no point in preparing for them.

Question 22

One way to show positive aggressiveness in your job interview is to tell the interviewer to stop interviewing anyone else-the interviewer has found the right employee in you.

Question 23

Because secretaries have no power to hire you, there's little reason beyond simple courtesy to treat them well when you show up for your interview.

Question 24

Always wear a suit to a job interview, regardless of the type of job sought. The standard you will be measured against includes wearing upscale and fashionable clothing to the job interview, even if those aren't the clothes you'll wear regularly on the job.

Question 25

Always bring a briefcase to a job interview, even if you have nothing to put in it; if nothing else, a briefcase is a good prop to keep your nervous hands occupied.

Question 26

If you are interviewing for a position that involves working, visiting, or supervising muddy or dirty sites, you may not need to wear a suit to be regarded as a professional.

Question 27

Rather than be yourself at a job interview, practice to be the person you want to be; just be prepare to be that person when you get hired.

Question 28

In a stress interview, it's best to show when you're upset; in many cases, the interviewer is simply trying to determine how honest and direct you are, and your emotions will communicate sot.

Question 29

In the opening, good interviewers will test your nerves, so be prepared for difficult questions.

Question 30

In today's business world, few people respond negatively to hard liquor, so feel free to have a couple drinks if you're invited by the interviewer to socialize.

Question 31

Even if a stress interview puts you under stress, you should do your best to stay at ease and respond assertively.

Question 32

Though they're not yet common in business, stress interviews that ask the interviewer to do something that the job would require sometimes happen.

Question 33

When asked a hostile question in a stress interview, you should counter-attack to show your assertiveness.

Question 34

If you use only positive adjectives to describe yourself in an interview, the interviewer will perceive you as dishonest or conceited.

Question 35

When the interviewer asks you to tell him or her something about yourself, you should talk about things that are not work-related to show how well-rounded you are.

Question 36

Ask questions about salary or benefits during a first interview; that way, you'll know if you even want to pursue the position.

Question 37

Your interviewer takes you out to the local bar after the interview and quickly drinks enough to become loud and boisterous. You should

A) Drink as much as the interviewer does.
B) Drink enough to make the interviewer comfortable.
C) Drink very little if at all.
D) Refuse to drink, telling the interviewer how unprofessional you find his or her behavior.
E) None of the above.

Question 38

If you get questions that put you on the defensive, you should

A) Rephrase them in less inflammatory terms.
B) If necessary, treat them as requests for information.
C) Leave the interview, as the questions are probably inappropriate.
D) Both A and B
E) Both B and C

Question 39

You walk into a dark interview room and sit in a chair with a broken spring. The interviewer suddenly raises the blinds of the window and sunlight blinds you momentarily. "So what are you here for?"the interviewer asks. You are probably in a

A) Stress interview.
B) Second interview.
C) Third interview.
D) Behavioral interview.
E) Situational interview.

Question 40

The BEST response to the question "Why should I hire you?"is to

A) Explain your financial situation.
B) Admit that you probably aren't the best person for the job.
C) Explain your strengths for this job.
D) List the relatives and friends who hope you get this job.
E) Storm out of the interviewer's office.

Question 41

Which of following is NOT a communication behavior of successful interviewees?

A) Expressing clearly why they wanted the position.
B) Rarely using the company name.
C) Asking personalized questions, such as "What would my duties be?"
D) Talking more than half of the total time of the interview.
E) All of the above are behaviors of successful interviewees.

Question 42

Successful job applicants use

A) The same communication behaviors as unsuccessful ones, just better.
B) Different communication behaviors than unsuccessful ones.
C) Different communication behaviors than each other.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question 43

During your job interview, you're asked what college courses you liked best and why. What is the BEST way to address this question?

A) Figure out what course best fits the job you're applying for, and play that course up.
B) Tell the interviewer that you hated math. Everybody hates math.
C) Check to see what degree the interviewer holds, and discuss a relevant course.
D) Rather than answer the question, ask the interviewer what his or her favorite course was.
E) None of the above.

Question 44

During the job interview, you're asked where you see yourself in five years. The BEST way to answer this question is

A) "That's a very good question."
B) "With the current economy, it's difficult for anyone to forecast where he or she will be."
C) "I never make predictions-doing so is irrational, and were I in your place, I wouldn't want to hire an irrational person."
D) "Sitting in the chair you currently occupy."
E) None of the above.

Question 45

During the job interview, you're asked about why your grades are so low. The BEST way to answer this question is

A) "Everyone's grades were low because the instructors were so tough."
B) "Grades were less important to me than the actual knowledge I got from my courses."
C) "I faced some challenges when my parents went through a bitter divorce."
D) "Low grades show how well rounded I am-for instance, I spent much of my time doing charitable work through the Greek system."
E) "I'm sure that people with low grades have accomplished great things, and I intend to be one of them."

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a good question to ask an interviewer?

A) "What kind of training programs do you have?"
B) "What happened to the last person who had this job?"
C) "How would you describe the company's culture?"
D) "This sounds like a great job-what are the drawbacks?"
E) All of the above are good questions.

Question 47

List and explain the three questions you should answer to develop an overall interview strategy.

Question 48

Explain what you should do to prepare for a phone or video interview.

Question 49

Explain how stress, situational, and behavioral interviews differ.

Question 50

In the ________ of the interview, the interviewer will usually tell you what happens next.

Question 51

Try to schedule phone interviews for ________, not work, and for time when things will be _________.