Deck 16: Applying and Interviewing for Employment

Question 1

Interviewers don't expect questions during an interview;they are there to ask questions,not to answer them.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

During a situational interview,you might be asked pointed questions designed to get candidates to use their own experiences to craft answers.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

It's important to greet the interviewer by name,with a smile and using direct eye contact.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

During a screening interview,it's best to emphasize a few key points that differentiate you from other candidates.

Question 5

Job simulations and working interviews give candidates an idea of what the job will be like.

Question 6

Candidates are judged by their qualifications.There is no need to be concerned about clothing and grooming.

Question 7

You prepare for a virtual interview the same way you would prepare for an in-person interview.

Question 8

Most interviewers expect applicants to be a few minutes late for their appointment.

Question 9

Participating in mock interviews can help you identify self-defeating nonverbal behaviours and speech mannerisms.

Question 10

There's no need to follow up after submitting your résumé.

Question 11

A recent survey of hiring professionals identified texting and answering calls during interviews as the most common mistake job candidates made at interviews.

Question 12

It's a good idea to take two copies of your résumé with you to an interview,as well as a list of questions to ask and any past correspondence about the position.

Question 13

Application letters are also called cover letters.

Question 14

A screening interview is usually used to filter out applicants who are unqualified or not a good fit for the position.

Question 15

At a structured interview the interviewer asks a series of prepared questions in a determined order.

Question 16

Employers like Google asks candidates in-depth questions to see how they
"think about complicated things."

Question 17

Interviews give employers a chance to answer two essential questions.

Question 18

Employers often use integrity tests and background checks before interviews.

Question 19

Part of your preparation for job interviews is knowing about the organization including its operations,markets and challenges.

Question 20

There is no need to take notes during an interview.

Question 21

Even if you feel that you have little chance for the job,you should still send a thank-you message.

Question 22

When inquiring about a hiring decision as a follow-up to a job interview,use a message of inquiry with the general plan for a direct request.

Question 23

Body language is particularly important during the warm-up phase of a job interview.

Question 24

If you are asked an unlawful question during a job interview,you can refuse to answer or try to answer the "question behind the question."

Question 25

Negotiating benefits may be one way to get more value from an employment package.

Question 26

Immediately after a job interview,it's a good idea to record the answers you received to your questions and evaluate your performance during the interview.

Question 27

After an interview you should never follow up with a phone call;use regular mail or email.

Question 28

Employers cannot legally discriminate against job candidates on the basis of religious affiliation,marital status,or how many children you have.

Question 29

An application letter should follow the AIDA model and highlight qualifications while mentioning the posted job requirements.

Question 30

A letter accepting a job can constitute a legally binding contract.

Question 31

Unsolicited application letters are those sent in response to advertisements for job openings.

Question 32

Whether you can negotiate on salary depends on only one factor.

Question 33

During the question-and-answer phase of an interview,try to keep your answers short;usually just a yes or no will do.

Question 34

The opening of an application letter identifies the specific job for which you are applying.

Question 35

If you receive a job offer before you have finished interviewing for other positions there is no need to give a specific date when you will respond.

Question 36

At the close of an interview,you can impress the interviewer with your assertiveness by pressing for an immediate decision.

Question 37

Unsolicited application letters are challenging and you need to do research to find the position you hope to obtain.

Question 38

Of the three stages of a job interview,the close is the most important.

Question 39

When declining a job offer or resigning,your letter should include criticism of your employer and colleagues.

Question 40

A job interviewer will expect you to be the one who raises the issue of salary.

Question 41

During a screening interview,your best approach is to __________________

A)ask as many questions as possible.
B)provide key points that differentiate you from other candidates.
C)expand on your answers as much as possible so that the interviewer knows you are at ease.
D)keep as low a profile as you can;this is not the time to try to differentiate yourself from other candidates.

Question 42

Employers use pre-employment testing and background checks to __________________

A)find out as much as possible about each job candidate.
B)give employment tests.
C)improve the predictability of the selection process.
D)offer jobs to the best candidates.

Question 43

If your application letter and résumé fail to bring a response you should send them your updated resume outlining additional qualifications or additional experience.

Question 44

If you are a smoker it's best to __________________

A)ask the interviewer politely if you can smoke.
B)smoke only if the interviewer smokes.
C)refrain from smoking before the interview.
D)smoke just prior to the interview to calm yourself.

Question 45

In the video interviews,your best approach is to __________________

A)stick to brief,yes and no answers to the interview questions.
B)sit up straight and focus on the camera.
C)inquire about salary and benefits.
D)do all the above.

Question 46

An interview in which job candidates are asked how they would handle hypothetical situations is called a ________________.

A)stress interview.
B)structured interview.
C)screening interview.
D)situational interview.

Question 47

The three steps of a successful employment interview are __________________

A)screening,selection,offer.
B)warm-up,question-and-answer,close.
C)questions,conclusion,follow-up.
D)none of the above apply.

Question 48

In the middle part of an application letter,reference your resume and discuss skills and qualifications related to the job posting.

Question 49

When choosing the clothing you will wear for an interview,the best policy is to __________________

A)pick something that will make you stand out from the crowd.
B)wear only dark colours.
C)dress as you expect your interviewer to be dressed.
D)dress conservatively and be well groomed.

Question 50

In general,employers are looking for two things: proof that a candidate can handle a specific job and __________________

A)excellent references.
B)high employment test scores.
C)evidence that the person will fit in with the organization.
D)long-term commitment to the organization.

Question 51

In panel or group interviews several candidates are used to determine how candidates interact with potential peers.

Question 52

When asking questions during a job interview,you should __________________

A)stick to neutral topics such as the weather.
B)prepare insightful questions of your own.
C)stick to questions that elicit simple yes or no answers.
D)put as much pressure on the interviewer as possible.

Question 53

The best way to make you feel more confident at job interviews is to __________________

A)emphasize your positive traits.
B)use humour to mask feelings of unease
C)act overly confident to counteract feelings of unease.
D)see a psychotherapist,since you obviously can't deal with such a serious problem on your own.

Question 54

Which of the following is an example of a question you might ask a job interviewer?

A)"What qualities do you want in the person who fills this position?"
B)"What kind of salary are you offering?"
C)"Does your company have a pension plan?"
D)"How soon would the job start?"

Question 55

When going in for a job interview,it's best to take __________________

A)a list of questions to ask.
B)some kind of object to occupy your hands,such as a pen or a key ring.
C)a tape recorder.
D)all of the above.

Question 56

In the final paragraph of your application letter,you should forcefully demand an interview.

Question 57

You are more likely to have a successful interview if you __________________

A)refrain from smiling.
B)give the impression of poise,good manners and good judgement.
C)avoid using hand gestures.
D)do all of the above.

Question 58

When going to a job interview,__________________

A)take along samples of your work.
B)don't bring copies of your résumé;you can assume the interviewer already has one.
C)try not to be more than five or ten minutes late.
D)do all of the above.

Question 59

An interview in which a job candidate is criticized or provoked is a type of __________________

A)stress interview.
B)structured interview.
C)screening interview.
D)situational interview.

Question 60

Planning for a successful job interview includes ___________________

A)sticking to neutral topics such as the weather.
B)learning about the organization.
C)bringing a companion to the interview with you for support.
D)completing a few pre-employment tests and bringing the results with you.

Question 61

Which of the following would be the most effective opening for an unsolicited application letter?

A)"Hi! Let me introduce myself.My name is Clydene Desmond,and I'd like to apply for any positions you may have for graphic artists."
B)"I hear you've been looking for a graphic artist.Look no further."
C)"I've just graduated from the Pasadena School of Graphic Arts,and somebody gave me your name as a company that could use my services."
D)"As a recent honors graduate of one of the top graphic arts programs in the country,I could make a strong contribution to Westec's publications division."

Question 62

Use the model for _________________ when you write a letter of acceptance.

A)direct messages
B)persuasive messages
C)negative messages
D)positive messages

Question 63

Poorly trained interviewers begin making a decision about the applicant __________________

A)within the first 20 seconds.
B)during the question-and-answer stage.
C)during the final minutes of the interview.
D)after the candidate has left.

Question 64

When it comes to discussing salary you should __________________

A)let the interviewer raise the topic first.
B)tell the interviewer how much you expect.
C)negotiate a higher salary if you are not satisfied with the offer and are in a good bargaining position.
D)mention that your salary is not negotiable.

Question 65

In the middle section of a job application letter,you __________________

A)summarize your skills that are directly related to the job and research about the company.
B)give your entire work history,in case the employer doesn't read your résumé.
C)mention any ways in which you do not meet the job qualifications but point out that you are willing to learn.
D)do all of the above.

Question 66

In a letter of resignation,you __________________

A)follow the direct plan.
B)air your gripes with the organization.
C)state your intention to leave and your last day on the job.
D)do all of the above.

Question 67

When requesting time extensions to consider job offers use the format for __________________

A)positive messages
B)bad-news messages.
C)persuasive messages.
D)goodwill messages.

Question 68

The longest phase of a job interview is __________________

A)the warm-up.
B)the question-and-answer stage.
C)the close.
D)none;all are about the same length.

Question 69

Sending an unsolicited application letter to an employer means _______________________

A)that you'll need to do some research to identify the requirements of the position you would like to get.
B)That you are likely to irritate the personnel office staff.
C)that your letter will not get read.
D)that you have a better chance of getting hired because you are demonstrating your desire for the position.

Question 70

A solicited letter written in response to a job advertisement begins __________________

A)by identifying the specific job for which you are applying.
B)by identifying the writer of the letter.
C)with an attention-getting device.
D)with a request for a job application.

Question 71

On your second or third visit to an organization,if you haven't been told by the end of an interview whether you got the job,you __________________

A)don't bring up the topic.
B)mention that you have another job offer and need to give the other company an answer by a specific date.
C)ask tactfully when you can expect to learn of the decision.
D)ask whether you did anything wrong during the interview.

Question 72

Use an message of inquiry as a follow-up to a job interview if you __________________

A)would like to have more information about the job.
B)are running low on funds and really need the job.
C)have received a job offer from another firm and need to make a decision.
D)want to bring your name to the interviewer's attention once again.

Question 73

Which of the following letters would follow the bad-news plan?

A)Letter accepting a job offer
B)Letter of resignation
C)Letter requesting a time extension
D)All the above

Question 74

Within two days of an interview,you __________________

A)have a friend call to see whether you got the job.
B)write a follow-up letter (using the format for persuasive messages)and include another copy of your résumé.
C)write a short note of thanks (using the format for routine messages).
D)assume that you didn't get the job if you haven't heard anything.

Question 75

When writing a letter accepting a job,keep in mind that __________________

A)it begins with a buffer.
B)it can be considered a legally binding contract.
C)it is written within two weeks of receiving the job offer.
D)all of the above are true.

Question 76

You can tell that the interview is coming to a close when the interviewer __________________

A)tries to prolong the interview,since the more the interviewer interacts with you,the better impression you'll make.
B)leaves as quickly as possible.
C)asks if you have any more questions.
D)asks how you did.

Question 77

Solicited and unsolicited application letters are similar in ________________.

A)length.
B)the way qualifications are presented.
C)the use of the AIDA model.
D)the way the letter closes.

Question 78

When writing a letter declining a job offer,you begin with __________________

A)an apology.
B)a buffer.
C)a statement of the bad news.
D)a cheery greeting.

Question 79

You'll impress prospective employers with your application letter if you __________________

A)use a gimmicky layout.
B)show your knowledge about the organization.
C)use a personal,"chummy" tone.
D)do all of the above.

Question 80

In general,the following topics should not be directly or indirectly addressed by an interviewer: __________________

A)age.
B)a prior criminal record.
C)child-care arrangements.
D)all of the above