Question 1

Hal listed his former supervisor,Jean,as a reference.Because Hal asked permission to list Jean,he has no legal recourse to negative comments Jean might make about him to a prospective employer.

Accepted Answer

While Hal did ask permission to list Jean as a reference, which implies consent to provide feedback, he may still have legal recourse if Jean's comments are false, malicious, or otherwise legally actionable (e.g., defamation).

Question 2

A recommended response to an illegal interview question is to refuse to answer and end the interview.

Accepted Answer

While refusing to answer an illegal interview question is within your rights, ending the interview abruptly might not be the best approach. A recommended response could be to tactfully redirect the conversation or inquire how the question relates to the job requirements, maintaining professionalism and keeping the interview on track.

Question 3

In a structured interview,the interview format evolves as interaction between the interviewer and the candidate takes place.

Accepted Answer

In a structured interview, the questions and format are pre-determined and standardized, with little deviation allowed. The same questions are asked to each candidate in the same order, with the same follow-up prompts or probes. This approach ensures fair and objective assessment of each candidate and minimizes interviewer bias.

Question 4

Since Pein has not received a response to his letter of application and résumé sent several weeks ago,it would be appropriate for him to send a follow-up message to the company.

Accepted Answer

It is appropriate and professional to follow-up on a job application if no response has been received after a reasonable amount of time has passed.

Question 5

Since interviewers typically delay forming their impression about an applicant until well into the interview,the interviewee need not be concerned with nervousness or a slow warm up in the first few minutes.

Accepted Answer

While it is possible that interviewers delay forming their impression, it is not a guarantee. It is always important for interviewees to make a good first impression and be prepared from the start. Nervousness or a slow warm up may lead to a negative first impression.

Question 6

The best advice concerning dress for a career interview is conservatism.

Accepted Answer

Conservative dress is generally the safest and most professional choice for a career interview. It shows that you are serious about the opportunity and respectful of the company culture.

Question 7

Practicing for a job interview is not generally recommended as it causes the candidate to sound rehearsed and insincere.

Accepted Answer

Practicing for a job interview is actually recommended as it helps the candidate to be prepared, confident and articulate. However, it is important to avoid sounding overly rehearsed or insincere during the actual interview. Practice should be done in moderation and with appropriate feedback from others.

Question 8

The best time to find out general information about an organization is during the job interview.

Accepted Answer

It is best to research and gather general information about an organization before the job interview, so that you can come prepared and ask more specific questions to demonstrate your interest and knowledge during the interview.

Question 9

Companies may use brain teasers and riddles as part of the interview to determine the job applicant's ability to think quickly and creatively.

Accepted Answer

Brain teasers and riddles are often used in interviews to assess a candidate's problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They can help the interviewer gauge the applicant's ability to think creatively and come up with solutions under pressure.

Question 10

Like other messages that convey unpleasant news,job-refusal letters are written inductively.

Accepted Answer

Job-refusal letters usually start with a neutral or positive statement and then provide the main reason for the refusal in the second paragraph. This structure is known as the inductive writing style.

Question 11

Sending a thank-you message following an interview is a professional courtesy,but unnecessary if you thank the interviewer before departing from the interview.

Accepted Answer

While it is important to thank the interviewer in person before leaving the interview, it is still recommended to send a thank-you message afterwards. This shows that you are grateful for the opportunity and reinforces your interest in the position. It also gives you another opportunity to highlight your qualifications and express your enthusiasm for the role.

Question 12

In general,companies using video interviews agree that video interviews are excellent for screening applicants,while live interviews are appropriate for final interviews.

Accepted Answer

Companies prefer using video interviews for screening applicants because it can save time and resources, and they reserve live interviews for final interviews where they can meet the candidate in person and have a more in-depth conversation.

Question 13

It is generally acceptable to be a few minutes late to a job interview with a U.S.company,as long as you call and explain the reason for the delay.

Accepted Answer

Being late to a job interview, even with a call to explain, can negatively impact the first impression you make on potential employers, as punctuality is highly valued in professional settings in the U.S.

Question 14

When the interviewer follows a predetermined agenda such as a checklist or series of questions,he or she is conducting a structured interview,even though it may not seem structured to the applicant.

Accepted Answer

A structured interview is characterized by a predetermined agenda, such as a checklist or series of questions, which is followed by the interviewer. So, the statement is true.

Question 15

As an applicant,if you look and dress like the people who already work at the company,the interviewer will be able to visualize you working there.

Accepted Answer

When you dress appropriately for the company culture, the interviewer can easily imagine you as part of the team. This helps create a positive impression and increases your chances of being hired.

Question 16

Increasingly,companies are designing application forms to be tests of the applicant's written communication skills.

Accepted Answer

Many companies want to ensure that their employees have strong written communication skills, as this skill is crucial in many job roles. Therefore, they design their application forms in a way that tests the applicant's ability to write clearly and effectively.

Question 17

The goal of behavioral questions asked during an interview is to challenge you to provide real evidence of your skills.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral questions are designed to ask about past experiences and how you handled specific situations or challenges. The interviewer wants to see concrete examples of your problem-solving abilities and how you have applied your skills in the past. By providing real evidence of your skills, you can demonstrate your ability to succeed in the job and convince the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the position.

Question 18

When an interviewer deliberately creates anxiety to assess your ability to perform under stress,the interviewer is conducting an unstructured interview.

Accepted Answer

This technique is part of a stress interview, not necessarily an unstructured interview. An unstructured interview typically involves open-ended questions without a specific set of questions planned in advance, focusing on seeing how the conversation unfolds. Stress interviews, on the other hand, are designed to put the interviewee in a stressful or uncomfortable situation to assess their performance under pressure.

Question 19

Good preparation for an interview is to study your résumé,as the typical interview focuses on information contained in the applicant's résumé.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Good preparation for an interview is to...

Question 20

The purpose of a stress interview is to observe how an interviewee performs in an anxiety-producing situation.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a stress interview is to intentionally create a stressful environment to observe how the interviewee handles pressure and stress. It is often used for positions that require working in high-pressure environments, such as management or sales positions. The interviewer may use tactics such as asking difficult or unexpected questions, remaining silent after the interviewee’s responses, or even being intentionally rude or confrontational to see how the interviewee responds under pressure.

Quiz 14: Interviewing for a Job and Preparing Employment Messages