Question 1

Adorn, a designer boutique, extends a job offer in writing to Jenna. The company requests for a written acknowledgement of the job offer from her. In this scenario, Jenna should write a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

In order to formally accept the job offer, Jenna should write a job-acceptance message to Adorn. This acknowledges that she has received the offer and intends to take the position. A thank-you message or follow-up message may be appropriate as well, but they do not fulfill the specific request for an acknowledgement of the job offer. An employment verification message would be used in a different context, such as when confirming details of a previous employment with a potential employer.

Question 2

Laurent is being interviewed for the position of a content analyst at Alping Inc. Zara, the interviewer, asks Laurent to tell her about a time when he was able to convince someone to look at things from his perspective. This question posed by Zara is an example of a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

Zara's question is an example of a behavioral question, which asks the candidate to provide concrete examples of how they have behaved in certain situations in the past. In this case, the question is specifically focused on the candidate's ability to persuade others, which is an important trait for a content analyst.

Question 3

During an interview, an interviewer should refrain from asking an interviewee about his or her _____.

Accepted Answer

Marital status is not relevant to a person's qualifications or ability to perform the job. Asking about it could potentially lead to discrimination. Salary expectations and previous employer may be asked but in a professional and appropriate manner. Extracurricular activities may be relevant if they are related to the job or demonstrate leadership qualities or teamwork skills.

Question 4

_____ are designed to show why job applicants want to work for a particular organization.

Accepted Answer

Standard interview questions often include inquiries about why a candidate wants to work for a particular organization, allowing them to express their interest and motivation.

Question 5

Which of the following is true of resignation messages?

Accepted Answer

Resignation messages may be written either inductively or deductively, depending on the writer's preference and style. Option A is incorrect because resignation messages may be submitted in either formal or informal writing, depending on the relationship between the employee and the employer. Option B is incorrect because resignation messages are written by employees who want to leave their current job, not to decline a job offer. Option D is incorrect because resignation messages are not appropriate instruments for telling managers how a business should be run - rather, they are a means for communicating the decision to leave a current position.

Question 6

To display a professional attitude during an interview, you should first:

Accepted Answer

Showing strong interest in the company demonstrates a professional attitude during an interview. Focusing on extrinsic rewards or salary expectations can come across as selfish and memorizing answers can seem rehearsed and insincere.

Question 7

You have just returned from an interview with a company, and you are considering the appropriateness of a thank-you letter or note. The thank-you message:

Accepted Answer

Sending a thank-you message promptly after the interview can show your appreciation for the opportunity and keep you in the interviewer's attention. Option A is not entirely necessary but it is still considered polite to send a thank-you note even if you thanked the interviewer in person, an email would suffice. Option C is not necessarily true as many people prefer email for its speed and efficiency. Option D is unnecessary as the company is already aware that you have applied for the job.

Question 8

Talking too much is a typical interviewer error.

Accepted Answer

When conducting an interview, the interviewer's primary role is to gather information from the interviewee through asking questions and active listening. If the interviewer talks too much, they may miss important information, steer the conversation in the wrong direction, or discourage the interviewee from sharing their perspective. Thus, talking too much is considered a common interviewer error.

Question 9

Danielle receives a good job offer from a company because of which she decides to quit her current job. She decides to write a letter to the concerned authorities in her current company regarding her decision. In this scenario, Danielle should write a _____.

Accepted Answer

Danielle should write a resignation message to inform her current company that she is quitting her current job.

Question 10

The STAR method (Situation or Task/Action/Result) refers to a:

Accepted Answer

The STAR method is a consistent format used to help a job applicant present a complete answer to open-ended behavioral questions during job interviews. It stands for Situation or Task, Action, and Result, and is a proven strategy for effectively conveying a candidate's skills and experiences.

Question 11

Rochelle decides to turn down a job offer after thoughtful consideration. Which of the following writing styles should she use while writing the job-refusal message?

Accepted Answer

An inductive sequence is appropriate for a job-refusal message because it allows Rochelle to start with a positive note or explanation before delivering the refusal, which can help maintain goodwill with the employer.

Question 12

Mia applies for a senior accountant position in a firm. She attends the interview for the position, but after her interview gets over, she feels that she will not get the job. However, Mia still wishes to send a message of appreciation to the company for giving her the opportunity. Which of the following messages should Mia write?

Accepted Answer

A thank-you message is the best choice in this scenario as it expresses Mia's gratitude towards the company for considering her for the position. Sending a thank-you message also leaves a good impression on the company, which may be beneficial for Mia in the long run. A follow-up message may be suitable if Mia is waiting to hear back about the job, but in this case, it seems she has already given up on the job opportunity. A job-acceptance message and an inductive message are not appropriate in this situation.

Question 13

Which of the following messages should be written inductively?

Accepted Answer

Job-refusal messages should be written inductively to soften the blow of rejection by leading with a positive or neutral statement before delivering the bad news.

Question 14

Which of the following is a behavioral interview question related to communication?

Accepted Answer

This question asks specifically about communication in the context of dealing with an irate customer, which requires the candidate to explain their approach to diffusing a potentially tense situation and effectively communicating with a difficult customer.

Question 15

Which of the following is a behavioral interview question related to adaptability?

Accepted Answer

This question specifically asks about a situation where the candidate had to be tolerant of a different opinion, which highlights their ability to adapt to different perspectives and work with diverse teams.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true of a recommendation request?

Accepted Answer

A recommendation request is a message where someone asks another person to write a letter of recommendation for them. In such a message, it is important to express gratitude for the recipient's time and effort, rather than apologizing for making the request. A, B, and C are all incorrect because they do not accurately describe a recommendation request.

Question 17

Which of the following must the last line of a job-acceptance message contain?

Accepted Answer

The last line of a job-acceptance message must contain the report-for-work date to confirm the start of the employment. This ensures that both parties are clear on the employment start date and can make necessary arrangements.

Question 18

Asking _____ is an objective way to evaluate job applicants' skills and involves asking potential employees for specific examples to illustrate their answers.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral questions ask about past behavior and experiences, which can provide a more objective way to evaluate job applicants' skills compared to standard interview questions that rely on more general responses. This approach can help assess the job candidate's ability to handle different situations and work well with a team. Technical interview questions and case questions are more specific and may not provide a well-rounded view of the candidate's overall skills and abilities.

Question 19

_____ ensure consistency in the information received from each job candidate and can prevent decisions based on illegal topics that might be presented in a résumé.

Accepted Answer

Application forms typically ask for the same information from each job candidate, such as work history, education, and skills. This helps ensure consistency and a fair evaluation process for all candidates. Additionally, application forms do not typically allow for candidates to provide illegal information such as age, race, or gender, which can be a risk if only relying on résumés or follow-up messages. Recommendation forms and job-acceptance messages are not relevant to the information consistency and prevention of illegal topics.

Question 20

During an interview, an interviewee should focus on asking questions that can help him or her gain information about _____.

Accepted Answer

During an interview, an interviewee should focus on asking questions that can help him or her gain information about the job, such as job duties, responsibilities, company culture, and potential opportunities for growth and development. Questions about salary and extrinsic rewards are important but should be addressed after the interviewee has a clear understanding of the job requirements and expectations. Overtime may also be discussed later in the process after a job offer has been made.

Quiz 14: Interviewing for a Job and Preparing Employment Messages