Deck 12: Résumés and Job Applications

Question 1

When going to an interview, what do you need to have with you?

A) A former employer as a reference.
B) Knowledge of the company.
C) A copy of your resume.
D) Both b and c are correct.

Answer 1

D
Explanation: When preparing for an interview, you should arrive with a good understanding of the organization, including its mission, major milestones in its history, chief locations, important products and services, and financial situation. You should always have a copy of your résumé with you, as well as a portfolio of your work (if appropriate), a pen and notebook, a list of your references, and your business card. Common questions employers may ask to evaluate how you will contribute to the organization and make you more comfortable include:
What can you tell me about yourself?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?
Why would you want to work for us?
Why should we hire you?
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
What is the biggest problem you've encountered and how did you solve it?
If a colleague complained to you about his or her boss, how would you manage that situation?
If a client said/did . . . , how would you manage that situation?
Always answer in ways that allow you to discuss your work, educational experiences, and skills and how they are relevant to the needs of the organization. Also, be specific and give concrete examples. These details about your education or work history are persuasive.

Question 2

What is the goal of sending a cover letter and résumé to an employer?

A) A job
B) An emotional roller coaster
C) A pursuit of perseverance.
D) All of the above

Answer 2

D
Explanation: The immediate goal of all your preparation and letter and résumé writing is an interview with a potential employer.

Question 3

A résumé that lists your education, skills, and experience in reverse chronological order in a logical order towards the job you are applying for is what type of résumé?

A) Chronological résumé
B) Persuasive résumé
C) Recency résumé
D) Electronic résumé

Answer 3

A
Explanation: A chronological résumé is a résumé that lists one's education, skills, and experience in a logical progression toward the career one is seeking. Chronological résumés are more traditional and commonly accepted in most cases. A chronological résumé, for example, would list education first, if one's degree exactly matches the job they are applying for and is the most recent in one's education and work history. Next, work history would list each job in order of recency. One disadvantage of a chronological résumé is that your special capabilities or accomplishments may sometimes disappear in the chronological detail while any breaks or holes in your education or employment or history will prove obvious. Most students will list their educational information before their work experience. Individuals with extensive work experience, however, may choose to put it before their educational information.
Colleges and universities attended should be listed in reverse chronological order. Honors, special projects, and emphases in addition to the major should be listed under education.
Extracurricular activities also go here if they are pertinent to the job you seek.
If someone does not have work history, courses that are relevant to the position can be listed emphasizing any course material or skills that one developed that are relevant to the position.
As you did with your educational experience, put your work experience in reverse chronological order.
College internships and work-study programs can be listed in work experience or they can be listed under education. Military experience can also be listed under work experience.
If you have military experience, list it here. Give the highest rank you held, list service schools you attended, and describe your duties. Make a special effort to show how your military experience relates to the civilian job you desire.
Next, hobbies and community service can be listed if they relate to the work sought.
Lastly, you might choose to put, "References available upon request."
Make sure to have at least three references that you have received permission available to be your reference.

Question 4

In which case might you want to compose a follow-up letter?

A) If you are seeking an interview after you sent your résumé to an employer.
B) To request an interview with the hiring manager.
C) To ask where to send your résumé.
D) To accept a job offer.

Question 5

About how long, in seconds, do employers sometimes scan a resume to see if it should be given further consideration?

A) 30 seconds
B) 20 seconds
C) 60 seconds
D) 45 seconds

Question 6

What is one way that employers screen resumes?

A) Using a job advertisement
B) Artificial intelligence
C) Scanning the resume quickly to look for specific details
D) Both b and c are correct

Question 7

In order to allow AI algorithms to locate the pertinent information in your résumé and job application, use…

A) italics
B) tables
C) key words listed in the job advertisement
D) pictures

Question 8

How are employers able to find out about your personality prior to hiring you?

A) By doing a background check
B) By doing a criminal history report
C) By doing a drug test
D) By reviewing your online profiles and social media

Question 9

Refer to the following statement on a resume: "Had to show new employees how to use the cash register." Which of the following is a more effective statement using action verbs?

A) "Trained new employees on the cash register."
B) "Required me to show how to use the register to new employees."
C) "Showed how to use the cash register to new employees."
D) Had to use cash register experience when training new employees."

Question 10

In most résumés, work history appears in which order?

A) Reverse chronological order.
B) Chronological order.
C) From general to specific
D) From least important to most important.

Question 11

When writing a cover letter you should NOT…

A) explain that you are applying for a specific job.
B) name drop.
C) compose a clever and witty opening.
D) identify a significant characteristic of the organization.

Question 12

Administer, reduce, promote, and design are examples of which type of word?

A) Passive adjectives
B) Passive verbs
C) Action verbs
D) Activity words

Question 13

In what section of a cover letter should you emphasize key items from your education and experience that express your qualifications for the job?

A) Body
B) Introduction
C) Conclusion
D) End

Question 14

How many references should you have available when sending a cover letter and résumé in application for a job?

A) At least three
B) At least one
C) Three, at maximum.
D) You do not need references any more in today's modern age.

Question 15

List two situations in which sending a follow-up letter to an employer is appropriate.

Question 16

Chapter 12 describes two types of résumés. List these two types.

Question 17

Use action verbs to describe the duties of the job title below.
"Grocery store bagger"

Question 18

Describe the basic differences between chronological and functional résumés, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Question 19

Describe the basic differences between chronological and functional résumés, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Question 20

Chapter 12 describes finding a job to be…

A) A job
B) An emotional roller coaster
C) A pursuit of perseverance.
D) All of the above

Question 21

One way to show that you've "done your research" when writing your cover letter is to…

A) show that you know something about the history or reputation of the company you are applying to.
B) tell them that you have a clear salary range in mind.
C) address your letter to the CEO by name.
D) address your letter "To Whom it May Concern."

Question 22

What is another term for, "cover letter?"

A) Job letter
B) Persuasive letter
C) Letter of persuasion
D) Electronic application

Question 23

Which design elements should you use to organize the information on your résumé?

A) A three-column format
B) White space
C) Headings
D) Both b and c are correct.

Question 24

When uploading files to a job site…

A) avoid making them read-only so that reviewers can insert comments.
B) make them read-only so that nothing can be later inserted or deleted.
C) be sure to submit in MLA or APA format.
D) save them with colorful backgrounds so yours stands out.

Question 25

What is a functional résumé?

A) A résumé that uses reverse chronological order when listing education.
B) A résumé that allows an individual to highlight the experiences and abilities he or she possesses that are pertinent to the job for which she or he is applying for.
C) A résumé that lists an individual's skills and experience in categories that serve as evidence of her or his abilities related to the job for which she or he is applying for.
D) Both b and c are correct.

Question 26

If your degree is in Technical Communication, but the job advertisement specifies a degree in Business and Professional Communication, what should you list as your degree?

A) Business and Professional Communication (Technical Communication)
B) Technical Communication (Business and Professional Communication)
C) Technical and Business Communication
D) Business and Professional Communication

Question 27

How many columns of text should you use when formatting your résumé to be easily scanned by AI filters?

A) Three
B) One
C) Two
D) Four

Question 28

When would it be appropriate for your cover letter to exceed a single page?

A) If you really want the job.
B) If you have extensive pertinent experience to the job you are applying for.
C) If you use 24-point font size.
D) If you are using a non-standard font type, like MV Boli.

Question 29

What aspect of the job should you avoid mentioning in a cover letter?

A) Your qualifications
B) The company's history
C) The salary
D) The name of the supervisor who oversees the job you are applying for.

Question 30

Conduct, exhibit, organize, and create are examples of which type of word?

A) Passive adjectives
B) Passive verbs
C) Action verbs
D) Activity words

Question 31

In what section of a cover letter should you express interest in an interview?

A) Body
B) Beginning
C) Heading 1
D) Conclusion / Ending

Question 32

When answering questions about your strengths during an interview, you need to…

A) support your answers with specific evidence.
B) direct the interviewer to read your résumé.
C) make it clear how much you need the job.
D) deflect the question with one about the company you are applying to.

Question 33

What do you need to do prior to listing references on your résumé?

A) Ask the employer how many you need.
B) Ask for their permission.
C) Get your résumé notarized.
D) Send your references your criminal history.

Question 34

What can you post on your social media sites that show you are knowledgeable in the industry you want to work in?

A) Information about resources pertinent to your field.
B) Presentations and conferences you have attended.
C) Journals or articles in your industry.
D) All of the above.

Question 35

Chapter 12 provides five strategies to effectively formatting your résumé for AI algorithms. List two of these strategies.

Question 36

List an advantage and disadvantage of a functional résumé.

Question 37

List an advantage and disadvantage of a chronological résumé.

Question 38

Identify the four situations in which you should write a follow- up letter and the reasons a follow-up letter would be useful in each situation.

Question 39

When formatting a résumé, the goal is to emphasize qualifications, organize information, and provide ease of reading. Identify at least three formatting strategies you would use in designing a résumé and what those formatting strategies would accomplish.