Question 1

There are ten closing techniques recommended for interviewers. Among them are:
A)offer to answer questions, declare completion of your purpose, and express appreciation.
B)state that is all, stand up and move away, and close your notebook.
C)stop talking, ask if the interviewee has any questions, and give the interviewee your business card.
D)use humor, stand up, shake hands, and express appreciation.

Accepted Answer

Offering to answer any additional questions, declaring completion of the purpose, and expressing appreciation are all professional and courteous strategies for closing an interview. Option B is abrupt and may come across as impolite or disinterested. Option C is a good choice as well, but using humor and shaking hands (option D) may not be appropriate for all situations.

Question 2

Compare and contrast highly scheduled, and highly scheduled standardized, interviews.

Accepted Answer

Highly scheduled interviews and highly scheduled standardized interviews both involve a structured and organized approach to the interview process. However, there are some key differences between the two.

Highly scheduled interviews typically involve setting specific time slots for each candidate to be interviewed. This ensures that the interview process runs smoothly and efficiently, without any overlap or delays. This type of scheduling is common in high-volume hiring situations, where multiple candidates need to be interviewed within a short period of time.

On the other hand, highly scheduled standardized interviews take the scheduling process a step further by also standardizing the interview questions and evaluation criteria. This means that all candidates are asked the same set of questions and are evaluated based on the same criteria. This approach allows for a more consistent and fair assessment of all candidates, as it minimizes the potential for bias or variation in the interview process.

In summary, while both highly scheduled and highly scheduled standardized interviews involve a structured approach to scheduling, the standardized approach takes it a step further by standardizing the interview process itself. This can lead to a more fair and consistent evaluation of candidates, but may also limit the flexibility of the interview process.

Question 3

What are the major advantages of using an inverted funnel sequence?

Accepted Answer

An inverted funnel sequence is a marketing strategy that flips the traditional sales funnel approach. Instead of starting with a broad audience and narrowing down to a few customers, the inverted funnel begins with a targeted, smaller group of potential customers and aims to expand reach through word-of-mouth, referrals, and social proof. Here are the major advantages of using an inverted funnel sequence:

1. **Increased Efficiency**: By focusing on a smaller, more targeted group of potential customers, businesses can tailor their marketing efforts more precisely, which often results in higher conversion rates and a better allocation of resources.

2. **Higher Quality Leads**: Starting with individuals who are already interested or have a higher propensity to purchase can lead to acquiring customers who are more likely to be satisfied and loyal, as they were selected based on a fit for the product or service.

3. **Enhanced Customer Relationships**: The inverted funnel approach allows for more personalized interactions with potential customers. This can lead to stronger relationships and a better understanding of customer needs and preferences.

4. **Leveraging Word-of-Mouth**: Satisfied customers from the targeted group are more likely to share their positive experiences with others, effectively recruiting new customers and expanding the funnel outward through organic, trust-based marketing.

5. **Building Social Proof**: As the targeted customers advocate for the product or service, their testimonials and reviews serve as social proof, which can be a powerful influence on others' purchasing decisions.

6. **Cost-Effectiveness**: Since the inverted funnel focuses on a smaller audience initially, the cost of acquisition per customer can be lower compared to traditional methods that cast a wider net but may have lower conversion rates.

7. **Faster Sales Cycles**: With a more targeted approach, the time from initial contact to sale can be shorter, as the messaging and value proposition are more aligned with the audience's needs from the outset.

8. **Scalability**: Once the initial group of customers is secured and satisfied, they become a foundation upon which to build and scale the business. Their advocacy helps to attract more customers, creating a self-sustaining growth cycle.

9. **Better Product Feedback**: Early adopters in an inverted funnel sequence can provide valuable feedback that can be used to improve the product or service, making it more appealing to subsequent customers.

10. **Competitive Advantage**: By building a strong base of loyal customers and harnessing their networks, businesses can gain a competitive edge, as competitors may find it harder to break the trust and satisfaction established between the company and its customers.

In summary, the inverted funnel sequence is a strategic approach that can lead to more efficient use of marketing resources, higher quality leads, stronger customer relationships, and ultimately, a more sustainable and scalable business model.

Question 4

There are a number of common structures used in developing an interview guide. Among them are
A)topical, familiarity, and unknown.
B)color-coded, replicative, and bar coded.
C)topical, time, and cause-effect.
D)front-to-back, space, and incorrect to correct.

Accepted Answer

Topical, time, and cause-effect structures are common methods used in developing an interview guide, allowing for organization by topic, chronological order, or exploring causes and effects.

Question 5

Develop a five-question funnel sequence for an interview on a soldier's experience in Iraq.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Develop a five-question funnel sequence for an...

Question 6

Compare and contrast an interview guide and an interview schedule.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast an interview guide and...

Question 7

When might you consider organizing questions into a quintamensional design sequence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When might you consider organizing questions into...

Question 8

List five nonverbal closing actions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List five nonverbal closing actions....

Question 9

Compare and contrast the hourglass and diamond sequences.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the hourglass and diamond...

Question 10

Closing an interview typically has three primary functions:
A)stop the flow of information, let the other party know you are finished, and leave-taking.
B)terminate the interview but not the relationship, express supportiveness of the relationship, and summarize the interview.
C)motivate the interviewee to give last comments, hush the interviewee tactfully, and signal you have the information needed.
D)close off further comments, avoid a false closing, and maintain the relationship.

Accepted Answer

Option B is the most appropriate choice as it highlights the key elements of closing an interview - bringing the interview to a close, expressing support for the relationship, and summarizing the main points. It helps to ensure that the interviewee feels valued and leaves with a positive impression of the interviewer. The other options either miss important elements of closing an interview or could be perceived as negative or abrupt.

Question 11

What are the essential functions of openings in interviews?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the essential functions of openings...

Question 12

Compare a false closing with a failed departure.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare a false closing with a failed...

Question 13

Interview schedules can best be described as
A)open, closed, and random.
B)inverted, selective, and data-based.
C)nonscheduled, moderately, highly, and highly scheduled standardized.
D)scheduled, nonscheduled, and standardized.

Accepted Answer

Interview schedules can be categorized based on their structure and the degree of standardization, ranging from nonscheduled (informal, flexible), through moderately scheduled (semi-structured), to highly scheduled standardized (structured, with predetermined questions and order).

Question 14

List the steps in the quintamensional design sequence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List the steps in the quintamensional design...

Question 15

Write an appropriate opening (closing) for the following situation: You are interviewing an author of a best selling book on terrorism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Write an appropriate opening (closing) for the...

Question 16

A topical sequence can be described as
A)treating topics in a chronological order.
B)following natural divisions of a topic.
C)arranging topics according to geographical areas.
D)treating causes and effects topically.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A topical sequence can be described as
A)treating...

Question 17

An interview guide consists of
A)major questions and some probing questions.
B)an outline of topics and subtopics.
C)all questions but no answer options.
D)all questions and answer options.

Accepted Answer

An interview guide typically consists of an outline of topics and subtopics to be covered rather than just questions and answer options. However, major questions and some probing questions may also be included within these topics and subtopics.

Question 18

How can you reduce relational uncertainty in the early part of an interview?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can you reduce relational uncertainty in...

Question 19

Compare and contrast cause-effect and problem-solution sequences for structuring an interview guide.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast cause-effect and problem-solution sequences...

Question 20

Define each of the question sequences.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define each of the question sequences....

Quiz 4: Structuring the Interview

There are ten closing techniques recommended for interviewers. Among them are: