Deck 6: Principles of Interviewing

Question 1

Kio was injured while performing a safety inspection at the chemical plant he worked for and was taken to the emergency room.The doctor asked him a number of questions about his injuries to determine the proper course of action for treatment.According to the text,which of the following types of information-gathering interviews did Kio's doctor perform?

A) diagnostic
B) research
C) survey
D) exit

Answer 1

A
Explanation: Diagnostic interviews provide data needed for assessing and treating clients.

Question 2

Which of the following is true about the interaction that occurs during a formal interview?

A) At least one person has a serious, predetermined reason for participating.
B) The conversation does not have a specific purpose.
C) All participants know the questions ahead of time.
D) All participants know the responses to the questions ahead of time.

Answer 2

A
Explanation: In an interview, at least one of the participants has a serious, predetermined reason for conducting the interview.

Question 3

Which of the following types of interviews is most appropriate if you want to give direction to the interview,yet still allow for open-ended discussion of your chosen topics?

A) participative
B) spontaneous
C) moderately structured
D) unstructured

Answer 3

C
Explanation: A moderately structured interview ensures that your main topics will be covered, but still allows some flexibility.

Question 4

A disadvantage of a structured interview is that

A) the possible answers are limited.
B) there is an opportunity to follow up with secondary questions on topics that turn out to be interesting to the interviewee.
C) it's easy to get sidetracked and go off on tangents.
D) it takes more training to conduct structured interviews than any other form of interview.

Question 5

If a supervisor decides to drop by and informally talk to her subordinates to find out how satisfied they are with their jobs,which of the following types of interview schedules would she use?

A) structured
B) performance
C) unstructured
D) appraisal

Question 6

Which characteristic best describes an unstructured interview?

A) It requires less skill by the interviewer than the other types of interviews.
B) The results are easy to quantify and tabulate.
C) It allows for much flexibility in exploring the interviewee's responses.
D) It is easy for the interviewer to control the flow of the interview.

Question 7

All of the following are typical types of workplace interviews EXCEPT

A) diagnostic interviews
B) investigative interviews
C) exit interviews
D) portfolio interviews

Question 8

After years of experience,Raylene has come to believe that the most effective way to determine a person's true personality during a job interview is to allow the conversation to go in any direction the interview may lead.Which type of interview schedule does Raylene prefer?

A) structured
B) extemporaneous
C) unstructured
D) moderately structured

Question 9

Rob was selected by his supervisor to conduct interviews with prospective college graduates for their law firm.This is the first time Rob has ever been on the other side of the table in the interview process.He decided to prepare well in order to make a good impression on the partners of the firm.First,he developed a list of topics he felt needed to be covered.He then developed a number of open-ended questions with follow-up probes related to each of his major topics.Which type of interview schedule has Rob created?

A) legalist
B) moderately structured
C) structured
D) unstructured

Question 10

Interviews that gather information from large samples of people in order to learn about customers' preferences are called ____________ interviews.

A) journalistic
B) survey
C) diagnostic
D) research

Question 11

Which of the following steps should come first in planning the interview?

A) Think up possible questions to ask.
B) Identify and assess the interviewee.
C) Prepare a list of topics.
D) Define your goal.

Question 12

When an interviewer introduces a new topic area,she is using a

A) turn-taking question.
B) primary question.
C) secondary question.
D) leading question.

Question 13

Which of the following goals for an information-gathering interview is the most specific?

A) Would I like a career as a photographer?
B) Should I become a photographer?
C) What are the advantages and disadvantages of photography as a career, and how could I best prepare myself for a photography career?
D) What can I learn about photography?

Question 14

In most interviews (unlike typical conversations),the ratio of speaking turns is uneven.During a typical interview,the interviewee will do about ______ percent of the talking.

A) 40
B) 50
C) 70
D) 80

Question 15

Structured interviews

A) allow for an unlimited range of questions and answers.
B) should be used only by skilled interviewers.
C) obtain answers to standardized responses from a large number of people (commonly used in market research and opinion polls).
D) use open-ended questions to provide in-depth examination of the interviewee.

Question 16

If a company conducts focus-group interviews with consumers to discover desired improvements for a product,which type of information-gathering interview are they performing?

A) investigative
B) diagnostic
C) research
D) exit

Question 17

According to your text,which of the following is NOT true about interviewing?

A) At least one party has a predetermined reason for participating.
B) An interview is less structured than a typical conversation.
C) Conversation is directed toward a predetermined goal.
D) The interviewee typically does about 70 percent of the talking.

Question 18

Your text identifies several characteristics that showcase an interview as a special kind of conversation.Which of the following is NOT a special characteristic of interviews?

A) It has a predetermined purpose, at least for one of the parties involved.
B) There is an element of control, because one of the parties directs the flow of conversation toward a goal.
C) Only two people will participate.
D) The focus is on questions and answers.

Question 19

Which of the following would be the clearest specific goal for an interview?

A) Talk to my instructor about my grade.
B) Complain to my instructor.
C) Make a good impression on my instructor.
D) Find out from my instructor what I can do to improve my grade on the next assignment.

Question 20

A standardized list of questions with precise wording would be found in which kind of interview?

A) structured
B) unstructured
C) moderately structured
D) loosely structured

Question 21

If I asked someone "Which do you prefer,working alone or working with others?" during an interview,which type of question would I be using?

A) factual
B) opinion
C) hypothetical
D) indirect

Question 22

Mr.Madaren asks "How many years did you work for your previous employer?" Which type of question is Mr.Madaren using?

A) critical incident
B) indirect
C) hypothetical
D) factual

Question 23

Which basic functions should be included in the opening phase of an interview?

A) rapport, orientation, and motivation
B) rapport, discussion, and follow-up
C) motivation, orientation, and probes
D) introduction, body, and conclusion

Question 24

Which of the following factors was mentioned in your text as likely to increase the ability of interview participants to think creatively?

A) sitting at a desk in the supervisor's office
B) scheduling the interview just after an important meeting
C) sitting 40 inches apart
D) meeting away from the normal habitat of either participant

Question 25

All of the following are closed questions EXCEPT

A) "What is your GPA?"
B) "What are your career plans?"
C) "When do you expect to graduate?"
D) "Would you prefer to use a highly structured, moderately structured, or nonstructured interview format?"

Question 26

Which type of question is the following: "What is your opinion about our new benefits package?"

A) indirect
B) closed
C) factual
D) open

Question 27

The opening of the interview is a time to accomplish all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Build rapport.
B) Motivate the interviewee to cooperate.
C) Provide a sense of direction for the interview.
D) Ask a clearinghouse question.

Question 28

Which of the following types of questions restricts the interviewee's response most?

A) open
B) hypothetical
C) closed
D) opinion

Question 29

Shane knew that he was not supposed to ask interviewees whether they had children.However,he found that if he asked them what they spent most of their time on outside of work,it became obvious from their answers whether they had children.What type of question is Shane using in this example?

A) illegal
B) secondary
C) hypothetical
D) indirect

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT true about conducting an effective video interview?

A) A video or telephone interview should generally be shorter than an in-person interview.
B) Arrange an alternate way of contacting the other party in case you need to communicate while you're establishing the connection.
C) If your interviewee needs to see information that you will discuss in the interview, send it in advance.
D) Set the video equipment up on the interviewer's end so that the interview will occur in a location that is typical of your business, such as the lunchroom or lobby; this gives the interviewee a chance to view the physical setting he or she would be working in.

Question 31

As an interviewer,if you wanted to be able to maintain as much control as possible over the conversation,which of the following types of questions would you use?

A) secondary
B) indirect
C) open
D) closed

Question 32

During an interview for a new marketing position in the company that she worked for,Sharon's boss asked her a number of questions such as "If you were in the following situation,what would your reaction be?" Which of the following types of question is her boss asking?

A) factual
B) hypothetical
C) leading
D) indirect

Question 33

Which of the following is the most appropriate type of question if you want to acquire information that you believe might be risky or embarrassing?

A) risky
B) counterfeit
C) indirect
D) manipulative

Question 34

In the orientation segment of a typical interview,the interviewer should not

A) mention the approximate length of the interview.
B) conceal the true purpose of the interview.
C) give an overview of what information is needed and how it will be used.
D) state the reason for the interview.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT one of the stages of an interview?

A) opening
B) body
C) persuasion
D) closing

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT one of the suggested reasons for an interviewer to use an open question in an interview?

A) to discover the interviewee's feelings or values
B) to discover the interviewee' values
C) to maintain control over the conversation
D) to evaluate the interviewee's communication skills

Question 37

Tucker was interviewing for a sales position with a local pharmaceutical company.During the interview he was asked a significant number of demanding questions that warranted complex,detailed responses.According to the text,which type of questions was the interviewer asking?

A) open
B) imaginary
C) direct
D) closed

Question 38

All of the following are effective strategies for participating in a job fair EXCEPT

A) Do research ahead of time about employers that interest you.
B) While standing in line, ask other candidates what they've learned at the fair.
C) Ask each company's representative to describe what their company does.
D) Follow up after the fair by calling or emailing potential employers to thank them and to confirm your interest.

Question 39

As manager of the human resource center for a local newspaper for the past 10 years,Darcy has found that the best way to get accurate information from prospective employees is to ask them questions that require them to expand on topics and explain their personal opinions.Which type of questions does Darcy like to use?

A) closed
B) leading
C) open
D) factual

Question 40

In which of the situations below would you choose an open question?

A) You want to evaluate the interviewee's communication skills.
B) Time is short.
C) You need to compare the results of many interviews in a standardized format.
D) You (the interviewer) are not highly skilled at interviewing.

Question 41

Which of the following should NOT be included in your written request for an informational interview?

A) Introduce yourself in writing.
B) Point out that you would eventually like to be employed by this person or at their company.
C) List several times when you could be available for a meeting.
D) Promise that you will be making a follow-up telephone call.

Question 42

The functions of an effective interview closing are to ____________________.

A) control and focus the conversation
B) use primary questions, secondary questions, and paraphrasing
C) review the outcome of the interview; establish future actions; and conclude with pleasantries
D) listen actively, summarize answers, and probe for more information

Question 43

Three types of interviews identified by your text as essential for almost every occupation are

A) information-gathering, career research, and employment.
B) disciplinary, survey, and performance.
C) career research, performance appraisal, and exit.
D) information-gathering, diagnostic, and career.

Question 44

Josh was being interviewed for a new position at an advertising firm.The interviewer asked questions for forty-five minutes.She then explained to Josh that the top three interviewees would be called back for a second interview.The interviewee's explanation of future actions represents the ____________ phase of an interview.

A) probing
B) orientation
C) motivation
D) closing

Question 45

During the opening phase of an interview,the interviewer should accomplish all of the following EXCEPT:

A) greet the interviewee.
B) explain the reason for the interview.
C) clarify ground rules.
D) ask a critical incident question.

Question 46

When an interviewer responds to an interviewee's comment with silence,this might mean any of the following EXCEPT:

A) "Tell me more".
B) "I'm interested in your answer".
C) "I'm not satisfied with the depth of your answer".
D) "I'm ready to move on to the next topic".

Question 47

Which of the following is recommended as an effective method for getting in touch with a person you want to interview,even if they are well guarded by a gatekeeper?

A) Make your first contact by telephone.
B) Phone during regular business hours.
C) Announce a specific time and place for the interview and stick to it.
D) Ask the gatekeeper to help you.

Question 48

Three purposes of a career research interview are to

A) get references, get referrals, write your résumé.
B) be remembered, prepare a résumé, get references.
C) read, remember, write.
D) conduct research, be remembered, get referrals.

Question 49

Reasons for using probes include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) seeking elaboration.
B) requesting clarification.
C) encouraging the interviewee to say more (by pausing or inserting short prods such as "uh-huh" or "hmmmm").
D) demonstrating authority.

Question 50

In most cases,the interviewer should NOT

A) control the direction of the conversation.
B) let the interviewee continue to talk about one question for a long time, if this encroaches on other significant question areas.
C) allot preplanned blocks of time to each agenda item.
D) use probes.

Question 51

Which of the following is the responsibility of the interviewee?

A) Control and focus the conversation.
B) Use secondary questions to probe for important information.
C) Cover your own agenda.
D) Glance at your watch frequently to be sure you aren't talking too long on any one topic.

Question 52

According to the text,in developing personal networks to discover job contacts,__________ are often most helpful.

A) close friends
B) close relatives
C) associates who are not relatives or close friends
D) personnel departments of major corporations

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the interviewer during the interview process?

A) Control and focus the conversation.
B) Listen actively.
C) Give clear and detailed answers.
D) Use secondary questions to probe for important information.

Question 54

Why would an important person in an organization be willing to be interviewed by you,a mere student?

A) Many successful people want to help others, just as they have been helped.
B) If you've made contact through a referral, your interviewee will be helping the person who referred you.
C) The interviewee may be flattered that you asked for an interview.
D) All of the above are reasons why an important person in an organization would be willing to meet with you.

Question 55

Motivating the interviewee to participate should occur during the ___________ stage of the interview.

A) opening
B) body
C) review
D) follow-up

Question 56

The majority of new job hires obtain their employment offers through

A) Web-based employment sites.
B) advertisements.
C) sending mass mailings of their résumé s to Human Resource departments.
D) personal contacts.

Question 57

The first step in conducting an information-gathering interview is to

A) choose the right interviewee.
B) define your interview goals.
C) conduct pre-interview research to gain background information.
D) write the interview questions.

Question 58

Stating the purpose and length of the interview is part of the __________ step of the interview.

A) body
B) orientation
C) rapport
D) procedural

Question 59

In most cases,interviewees should not

A) make corrections if the interviewer has misunderstood their meaning.
B) evade the interviewer's questions.
C) try to cover their own agendas.
D) give detailed answers.

Question 60

"Our purpose for this interview is to find out what features you'd like in the new office design so we can try to make everyone as comfortable as possible." In which part of the interview does this question belong?

A) rapport
B) orientation
C) disclosure
D) norming

Question 61

Which of the following activities is NOT identified in your text as a recommendation for conducting background research prior to an employment interview?

A) taking classes relevant to jobs that sound appealing to you
B) cold-calling companies to ask about openings
C) talking about jobs with people who can tell you more about your chosen field
D) doing Internet research on organizations you're interested in

Question 62

During his employment interview,Chen was asked several times to describe challenges he had encountered on his last job and to explain how he handled them.Chen was experiencing a(n)________ interview.

A) panel
B) audition
C) experiential
D) behavioral

Question 63

Which of the following should NOT be included in the cover letter you send to an organization along with your résumé?

A) a description of your ability to meet the needs of the company
B) highlights about one or two of your accomplishments relevant to the specific job you're applying for
C) a request for an interview
D) a list of all your major accomplishments

Question 64

Chinda has been invited to a job interview that will be conducted in a behavioral format.She is changing career fields,so she has little specific work experience relevant to the position she is applying for.What should she do?

A) Ask if she can have an audition interview instead.
B) Decline the interview.
C) Look for sample answers on the Internet and memorize them.
D) Think of ways to explain how her prior accomplishments are relevant to the job she is seeking

Question 65

Choose the best answer to the interview question,"Why should we hire you?"

A) "I understand from your website that your most popular product is Zanos. I've been using Zanos for three years now. I've shown several of my friends how effective it is, and now they're buying it, too. With my knowledge of the product and my enthusiasm for it, I can be a sincere and valuable sales rep."
B) "I really need the money."
C) "I just completed my Associates Degree, and I'm ready to work."
D) "I am a hard-working, motivated, people-person."

Question 66

An example of a behavioral job interview question is:

A) "Tell us about a time when you had to fire someone and how you handled it."
B) "Where do you see yourself ten years from now?"
C) "Would you prefer to work at our West Coast or our East Coast location?"
D) "Who is your favorite mentor, and why?"

Question 67

You enter the interview room and sit down before a group of eight interviewers,each of whom will ask you two questions.This interview is being conducted in a(n)________ format.

A) panel
B) stress
C) audition
D) work team

Question 68

All of the following are typical mistakes of candidates in employment interviews EXCEPT

A) appearing interested in the company's success
B) answering their cell phone during the interview
C) talking negatively about previous employers
D) dressing inappropriately.

Question 69

One survey indicates that the leading factor shaping interviewers' initial impressions of the candidates is

A) the appearance of the résumé.
B) the clothing the candidate wears to the interview.
C) the candidate's eye contact during the rapport stage of the interview.
D) the firmness of the candidate's handshake.

Question 70

The "PAR" approach refers to

A) "prepare," "answer," and "review."
B) "personality," "appearance," and "references."
C) a method of backing up your interview answers with evidence.
D) an honesty test that is frequently administered to potential job candidates.

Question 71

A probable result of thinking constructively about the chance to participate in an interview is

A) increased anxiety during the interview.
B) overconfidence.
C) planning ahead to think of ways to handle the upcoming challenges.
D) negative self fulfilling prophecies.

Question 72

In an employment interview,which of the following would be the best answer to the question,"What is your greatest weakness?"

A) "I eat too much chocolate."
B) "I hate to sound so sure of myself, but I've been a receptionist for so many years that I don't think I have any weaknesses as far as this job goes."
C) "I had some troubles in my last job, but they were all caused by my boss, who was such a micro-manager."
D) "Sometimes I tend to be too much of a perfectionist, so I'm hesitant to let my subordinates work without close supervision. But I know it's important to let them have autonomy, so I'm learning to give them more chances to work independently."

Question 73

All of the following are recommended ways to manage your online profile EXCEPT

A) Un-google yourself.
B) Clean up your digital dirt.
C) Use a clever email nomiker, such as "[e-mail]."
D) Edit your Facebook site to show a professional image.

Question 74

Sheila was interviewing for her first job as a kindergarten teacher.Her interviewer took her into a kindergarten class and asked her to take over as the teacher for 20 minutes.Sheila was experiencing a(n)_________ interview.

A) panel
B) audition
C) behavioral
D) stress

Question 75

Which of the following does NOT influence the rating a candidate receives in a job interview?

A) the interviewer's mood
B) the time of day when the interview occurs
C) whether the candidate pronounces the interviewer's name correctly
D) Any of these factors can influence a candidate's rating.

Question 76

Often,the person who gets the job offer is the person who

A) knows the most about how to get hired.
B) has the longest employment history.
C) sends out the most résumés.
D) has the most technical skills.

Question 77

According to a recent survey,which of the following is the most important in shaping a hiring decision?

A) grade-point average
B) extra curricular activities
C) ability to communicate effectively
D) work experience

Question 78

All of the following except ___________ should be included in the cover letter you send to an organization along with your résumé.

A) your specific purpose for writing
B) objective evidence that proves how you can help the company
C) two very specific times and dates when you are available for an interview
D) a cordial expression of gratitude

Question 79

Which of the following elements is NOT suggested by the text as an effective method for contacting potential employers?

A) Send a unique cover letter along with your résumé to each company you apply to.
B) Send résumé s to every company in the area.
C) Develop a personal network.
D) Conduct background research.

Question 80

All of the following activities EXCEPT __________________ will distinguish you as a professional,serious person,worth the interviewee's time and effort.

A) sending emails or letters that contain spelling and/or grammar errors.
B) giving your interviewee in advance a list of topic areas and questions you hope to cover.
C) following up with a second letter e-mail or phone call to confirm your interview.
D) sending a letter of thanks after the interview.