Chapter 12—Employment Communication
TRUE/FALSE
1. Your résumé should summarize your work history and qualifications for a job.
2. When you develop your résumé, you should focus on how your work background and education have
prepared you for future jobs.
3. The best résumé is tailored to show how your education and work experience have prepared you for a
specific job.
4. Recruiters typically spend less than one minute looking at each résumé during the initial screening of
applications.
5. The purpose of a résumé is to get an interview.
6. It is unlikely that you will be hired on what is listed in your résumé alone.
7. Often, applicants are rejected due to poorly written résumés.
8. Use different typefaces in one or two sizes including bullets and indentations to clarify the
organization of information in your résumé.
9. A well-written résumé and cover letter will make you stand out from thousands of job applicants.
10. You must always proofread your résumé for spelling, grammar, and format.
11. You should not include personal information such as marital status or ethnicity on your résumé.
12. It is okay to exaggerate on your résumé.
13. A specific objective listed at the top of your résumé may help a recruiter know how you might fit into
the organization.
14. If you lack ten years of consecutive work experience or your background is not directly related to the
job posting, put your education above your work experience on the résumé.
15. If you only worked part-time while in college, you should omit this information from your résumé.
16. A chronological organizational pattern for a résumé is appropriate when most of your work experience
is related to your job objective.
17. When formatting your résumé, you should use a clear, simple design with plenty of white space.
18. If you do not have ten years of consecutive work experience, your résumé should highlight your
involvement in civic or professional organizations showing how your skills are transferable to the
workplace.
19. You must include a photograph and personal information (for example, your age, ethnicity, religion,
sex, marital status, etc.) on your résumé.
20. You must always include a job objective when writing a résumé.
21. When developing your résumé, you should begin with the name of your high school first under
“Education.”
22. One key benefit of submitting an electronic résumé is that you may be considered for jobs of which
you weren’t even aware.
23. Many companies have an applicant tracking system which will search résumés for keywords.
24. Employers prefer chronological résumés.
25. When writing a résumé, it is essential that you use language that targets the job posting.
26. When submitting an electronic résumé, send it as an email attachment.
27. You should avoid weak verbs such as attempted, hoped, and tried when writing a résumé.
28. It has become common to post your résumé online at various job sites such as Monster, CareerBuilder,
Yahoo, and others.
29. Posting your résumé online is becoming more popular.
30. Video résumés are a good way to show more of your personality.
31. Even if you don’t include a photograph with your printed résumés, you should include one if you post
your résumé on a personalized webpage.
32. A letter written to an organization that has not advertised a vacancy is called a solicited application
letter.
33. If you use the same résumé when applying to more than one employer, you should use the same cover
letter as well.
34. A cover letter tells an employer that you are interested in and qualified for a position.
35. If you are writing an unsolicited application letter, your opening should get to the point quickly.
36. When responding to a job-vacancy ad that does not identify the name of the hiring company, use a
personalized salutation, complete with courtesy title.
37. Use the direct organizational plan when writing a solicited application letter.
38. Cover letters may be sent as email attachments in addition to your résumé.
39. The body of an application letter should highlight your strongest qualifications and show how they can
benefit the employer.
40. Because the cover letter is a persuasive letter making a strong case for you as a job candidate, you
should start most sentences with “I.”
41. An application letter should close with a respectful request for a personal interview.
42. Include your phone number and email address in the first paragraph of your cover letter or in the
closing lines below your name and signature.
43. A cover letter is a sales letter where you sell yourself and your qualifications to a prospective
employer.
44. You should keep your cover letter to one page in length.
45. When writing a cover letter, your opening should be short, interesting, and reader-oriented.
46. In closing your cover letter, always ask for an interview.
47. A job interview helps the organization learn more about the applicant and investigate any issues raised
by the applicant’s résumé.
48. You should treat a job interview as an opportunity to promote yourself and your qualifications.
49. After you have thoroughly researched the potential employer, you should bring up key facts during the
interview only if they flow naturally into the conversation.
50. You must present yourself well during an employment interview.
51. In today’s business world it is okay to wear jeans and a nice shirt to an interview.
52. It is wise to explore analysts’ ratings and customers’ reviews about a specific company prior to
applying for the job.
53. Check the classified ads, library sources, Internet sources, and your college career service to learn what
a reasonable salary range for a particular position would be.
54. Wear brightly colored clothing that helps you stand out during a job interview so the interviewer will
remember you and your qualifications.
55. It helps to video tape yourself answering questions during a “mock” interview.
56. If the interviewer addresses you by your first name, then you can begin using the interviewer’s first
name.
57. You should take detailed notes during a job interview to help you remember specific topics.
58. As part of the interview process, you may be asked to answer case questions which may be complex
and take between 20-40 minutes.
59. If questioned about your salary requirements during an interview, you should state a broad range based
on the position and responsibilities.
60. It is illegal for an interviewer to ask if you are married.
61. When answering a question during a group interview, focus on the person who asked the question.
62. Always prepare a list of ten questions to ask during an interview.
63. You may research salaries in your job field by using Internet sites such as www.salary.com.
64. When evaluating your performance after a job interview, think of more effective responses to
questions that you answered unsatisfactorily.
65. Although Google prides itself on timely communication, it has reported employers taking up to four
weeks to contact candidates.
66. The purpose of writing a thank-you note after an interview is to sell yourself again.
67. You can send the interviewer a typed thank-you note or an email message, but not a handwritten letter.
68. You should use the direct organizational pattern when writing a thank-you note after a job interview.
69. After expressing appreciation for the interview, your thank-you letter should mention a specific
incident that occurred or a specific insight gained from the interview.
70. Close your post-interview thank-you note with a tactful request for a second interview.
71. One way to learn etiquette rules for a particular organization is through observation.
72. Each organization has its own rules about business etiquette.
73. If you are new to a job, you should introduce yourself to the people you work with.
74. Using a person’s name in conversation immediately after being introduced helps fix the name in your
memory.
75. As the host of a business meal in a restaurant, assume you will be in the preferred seat and will take
the lead in ordering the meal.
76. After you host a business meal, it is polite to send a follow-up note thanking your guest for attending.
77. It is appropriate to take leftovers home after a business meal. It shows that you are conscience about
money.
78. Personal gifts such as jewelry or perfume are appropriate only for business clients, not for colleagues.
79. Out of courtesy, always request permission before entering someone’s cubicle.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
80. Your résumé should be designed to
a.
show your creativity and problem-solving capabilities.
b.
focus on your skills, references, and education.
c.
help you network to identify open positions.
d.
get you an interview.
81. How long do employers spend reviewing résumés?
a.
An hour.
b.
15 minutes.
c.
30 minutes.
d.
60 seconds.
82. If you recently graduated from college and are seeking an entry-level position, your résumé should
a.
be one page long unless your circumstances are unusual.
b.
be at least two pages long to include your complete job history.
c.
emphasize your personal history rather than your education.
d.
make strengths out of any minor weaknesses.
83. The most serious mistake that job candidates make when preparing their résumés is
a.
missing grammatical errors.
b.
missing typographical errors.
c.
not describing their previous job functions.
d.
including so much that the document is excessively long.
84. When preparing a résumé, you should not
a.
use bulleted lists for items such as job responsibilities.
b.
use three or four typefaces for variety.
c.
use lots of white space for readability.
d.
emphasize and subordinate points as needed.
85. Most recruiters prefer a résumé to be
a.
one page.
b.
two pages.
c.
three pages.
d.
four pages.
86. You may highlight important content in your résumé by using
a.
red type.
b.
double-spacing throughout.
c.
font enhancements (bold or italics) and bullets.
d.
a large font of 14 pt. or higher.
87. Résumés must begin with
a.
education.
b.
work experience.
c.
professional development.
d.
contact information.
88. How far back should you list your work history?
a.
five years
b.
12 years
c.
ten years
d.
20 years
89. Functional résumés focus on
a.
skills and job functions.
b.
your education.
c.
your degree.
d.
your awards.
90. If you stopped working for five years to care for a family member you should choose to do a
a.
chronological résumé.
b.
functional résumé.
c.
modified résumé.
d.
computer résumé.
91. You may include in your work experience
a.
organizations to which you belong.
b.
internships and volunteer work.
c.
high school club affiliations.
d.
awards.
92. The identification information on a résumé should include all of the following except
a.
your name as you normally sign it (with or without a middle name or initial).
b.
a telephone number where you can be reached.
c.
your college and home addresses if you will soon be moving.
d.
your preferred personal title (Mr., Mrs., Ms.).
93. What would a recruiter be likely to think about the following job objective? “A challenging position
that lets me apply my education and experience and allows for increased responsibilities over time.”
a.
The objective is too vague to be useful.
b.
The objective reveals a lot about the applicant.
c.
The objective is specific and personalized.
d.
The objective excludes the applicant from many positions.
94. If you are a recent college graduate, your résumé should
a.
include a lengthy list of your courses.
b.
include keywords referring to your education.
c.
include an objective referring to your education.
d.
show your work experience before your education.
e.
show your education before your work background.
95. After your freshman year in college, the education section of your résumé should not include
a.
your high school information.
b.
your major course of study.
c.
the title of your degree.
d.
your expected date of graduation.
96. Which statement regarding the work experience section of a résumé is correct?
a.
The functional arrangement is most appropriate when you have a strong continuing work
history.
b.
The chronological arrangement organizes your experience by type of skills.
c.
The functional arrangement is more appropriate when you are moving into an entirely
different line of work.
d.
The chronological arrangement lists work experience from your earliest jobs to your most
recent.
97. Your résumé should reflect all of the following except
a.
strong communication skills.
b.
your innovativeness.
c.
a pattern of increasing work responsibility.
d.
chronological keywords.
98. Which word or phrase would be most effective in describing previous job duties on a résumé?
a.
attempted
b.
made an effort
c.
hoped
d.
achieved
99. The work description “Supervised the successful installation of a new wireless networking system” is
appropriate for a résumé because it
a.
subordinates a previous work achievement.
b.
shows that the candidate is innovative and reliable.
c.
is concrete and indicates a specific accomplishment.
d.
uses action verbs that recruiters seek as keywords.
100. Identify the correct guideline for composing the job description section of a résumé.
a.
Always write in complete sentences.
b.
Choose general words.
c.
Avoid quantifying accomplishments until you can explain them in the interview.
d.
Start each job description with an action verb.
101. Of the following job descriptions on a résumé, which does not begin with an action verb?
a.
Created customer databases with complex queries.
b.
Maintained appointment calendars for seven executives.
c.
Organized manuscript topics in a logical sequence.
d.
Responsible for warehouse inventory.
102. If you have little or no work experience, your résumé should
a.
use the chronological organizational pattern, putting job history first.
b.
show how skills you developed through volunteering or civic groups are transferable to the
job.
c.
omit any volunteer work because you were not paid for these activities.
d.
subordinate statements of minor accomplishments that are directly related to the job.
103. Which of the following characteristics or qualifications should not be listed on a résumé?
a.
religion
b.
fluency in a second language
c.
any special awards or recognition related to the job you want
d.
involvement in extracurricular activities
104. Recruiters usually expect to see all of the following on a résumé except
a.
your job objective.
b.
any special skills or talents.
c.
your personal references.
d.
the names of previous employers.
105. What of the following guidelines about putting references on a résumé is accurate?
a.
You should include recommendation statements along with reference information.
b.
You should include names and complete contact information for all your references.
c.
You should include all character references when applying for jobs.
d.
You should note “References available on request” so that you will know when your
references will be called.
106. Which of the following is not a benefit of electronic résumés?
a.
The job seeker might be considered for jobs he or she didn’t know about.
b.
A large number of employers can potentially have access to the résumé.
c.
Employers can search through computerized résumé databases faster than they can read
through printed résumés.
d.
Multiple keywords can be positioned in hypertext links to highlight work
accomplishments.
107. The purpose of using appropriate keywords to describe your characteristics and credentials in an
electronic résumé is to
a.
concisely and honestly describe your work history.
b.
emphasize action verbs that show what you have accomplished.
c.
have your résumé chosen by an automated résumé system.
d.
make a consistent and professional impression.
108. To make your résumé computer-friendly, you should not
a.
use nouns that people in your industry recognize.
b.
rely on action verbs to summarize your abilities.
c.
choose a variety of words to describe your skills.
d.
put keywords in proper context throughout.
109. Which of the following is a valid guideline for formatting an electronic résumé?
a.
Vary your typefaces to attract attention.
b.
Use spaces instead of tabs to indent text.
c.
Restrict the length to one page.
d.
Use horizontal or vertical rules for graphic interest.
110. Which is listed first on a functional résumé?
a.
Summary of Qualifications or Skills
b.
Awards and Certifications
c.
References
d.
Organization Affiliations
111. Which of the following is not a suggestion for developing a chronological résumé?
a.
Begin with your work experience.
b.
Include a photograph of yourself.
c.
Develop your job responsibilities.
d.
Use plenty of white space and make section headings stand out.
112. When you write in response to an advertised job opening, you are sending a(n) ____ application letter.
a.
solicited
b.
blind
c.
prospecting
d.
unsolicited
113. When writing an effective cover letter you should
a.
highlight how your background specifically matches the job qualifications.
b.
tell the employer how much you expect to be paid.
c.
ask the employer about how to earn vacation and sick time.
d.
tell the employer your college GPA.
114. In the last paragraph of your cover letter, it is essential that you
a.
give information about your college transcripts.
b.
give your qualifications.
c.
tell the potential employer that you will call them in seven-ten days.