Name:
Class:
Date:
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. As a job applicant, you should never answer an illegal or inappropriate interview question.
a.
True
b.
False
2. One of the most important steps in effective interviewing is researching the target company.
a.
True
b.
False
3. You should alert your references only after a second or third interview for a position.
a.
True
b.
False
4. Because online interviews are typically conducted using webcams and videoconferencing software, applicants do not
need to worry about their appearance, nonverbal behaviors, or eye contact.
a.
True
b.
False
5. Reviewing a company’s advertising and promotional materials can be an effective way to learn about a target company.
a.
True
b.
False
6. When responding to the question Tell me about yourself, focus on personal information such as your hometown, family,
and hobbies.
a.
True
b.
False
7. If your résumé or application generates no response within a reasonable time, you should consider sending a short
follow-up e-mail or letter to emphasize your qualifications or to add new information.
a.
True
b.
False
8. During your job search, you should treat any call from an employer like an interview.
a.
True
b.
False
9. On the day of your interview, you should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment.
a.
True
b.
False
10. If a company is conducting a panel interview, a job candidate should establish eye contact with only the person who
asked the question.
a.
True
b.
False
Name:
Class:
Date:
11. An interview follow-up message should be driven by I phrases to allow you to stress your qualifications and continued
interest.
a.
True
b.
False
12. When completing a job application form, always leave any items blank that do not apply.
a.
True
b.
False
13. The first thing you should do after an interview is compose a thank-you/follow-up message.
a.
True
b.
False
14. The most common format for hiring/placement interviews is the sequential interview.
a.
True
b.
False
15. Always ask permission before submitting someone’s name as a reference.
a.
True
b.
False
16. If you’ve been interviewed by more than one person, send one thank-you note to the person who appeared to be in
charge.
a.
True
b.
False
17. Even though you will likely receive and accept your job offer via telephone, you should send the employer a letter or
e-mail to document your acceptance of the job.
a.
True
b.
False
18. To demonstrate your humility, openly share at least one personal weakness with the interviewer.
a.
True
b.
False
19. Many screening interviews occur on the telephone.
a.
True
b.
False
20. You should avoid specifying the position you are seeking on an application form so that you will seem more flexible.
a.
True
b.
False
21. One of the best ways to overcome fear is to know what happens in a typical interview.
a.
True
b.
False
Name:
Class:
Date:
22. You should share updates about your job search on social media sites so that as many professionals as possible know
that you are in market.
a.
True
b.
False
23. Most employers contact job applicants by e-mail to set up interviews.
a.
True
b.
False
24. When filling out an application form, you should look over all of the questions before starting to complete them.
a.
True
b.
False
25. As a job candidate, the purposes of an interview are to convince the employer of your potential, learn more about the
job and the company, and expand on the information on your résumé.
a.
True
b.
False
26. Notice of your resignation from a position delivered to your supervisor in person is considered sufficient; you do not
need to document it in writing.
a.
True
b.
False
27. Hiring/placement interviews are typically conducted before screening interviews.
a.
True
b.
False
28. When answering interview questions, interject many verbal pauses to give yourself time to formulate appropriate
answers.
a.
True
b.
False
29. When greeting the interviewer, you should smile, maintain direct eye contact, and wait for the interviewer to initiate a
handshake.
a.
True
b.
False
30. When answering interview questions, always aim your responses at the key characteristics interviewers seek.
a.
True
b.
False
31. A sequential interview is usually shorter than a one-on-one interview.
a.
True
b.
False
32. If you are rejected for a position that you remain interested in, you should avoid corresponding with that company
again.
Name:
Class:
Date:
a.
True
b.
False
33. You should use an interview as an opportunity to ensure that the position and organization are right for you.
a.
True
b.
False
34. A resignation letter typically includes a two-week notice. However, if you hold a management position, you should
provide your employer a longer notice.
a.
True
b.
False
35. From an interview, an employer can learn what drives and motivates you.
a.
True
b.
False
36. Summarizing your relevant qualifications is an effective way to end an interview positively.
a.
True
b.
False
37. If you don’t hear from the interviewer within five days, the best follow up is a phone call to the interviewer to inquire
about the decision and to indicate your extreme desire for the job.
a.
True
b.
False
38. Effective storytelling is key to responding effectively to behavioral interview questions.
a.
True
b.
False
39. An effective way to begin a thank-you message is Thank you for taking the time to interview me.
a.
True
b.
False
40. To avoid coming across as tentative in an interview, always answer a question even if you don’t understand it.
a.
True
b.
False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
41. Will has just driven home following an interview. What is the first thing he should do?
a.
Take notes about the interview.
b.
Contact his current employer to explain that he may be leaving.
c.
Call the interviewer to thank him or her.
d.
Begin compiling a list of references.
42. Rebecca has an interview with a large company in a nearby city. What information should she learn about the
company before her interview?
Name:
Class:
Date:
a.
The company’s mission and goals
b.
The company’s customers and competitors
c.
The management structure and names of leaders
d.
Rebecca should find out all this information about the prospective employer.
43. Which of the following is the best advice when traveling to and arriving at your interview?
a.
Limit grooming time because the more time you have, the more nervous you will get.
b.
If something unexpected happens causing you to be late, immediately call the interviewer to explain what is
happening.
c.
If you smoke on the way to the interview, brush your teeth or chew some gum when you arrive and liberally
apply perfume or cologne.
d.
Arrive at the interview 15 to 20 minutes early, and greet the receptionist promptly on arrival.
44. Which of these is the most effective response to the question, What do you think is your greatest weakness?
a.
Some people complain that I’m a workaholic with nearly too much passion for this field.
b.
To tell the truth, I become frustrated with lazy coworkers who don’t pull their own weight.
c.
My typing speed isn’t as fast as I would like, but this position doesn’t require me to use the computer.
d.
I’ve worked hard to eliminate every weakness, and I am confident you will find me the perfect employee for
this position.
45. You can send positive nonverbal messages during your interview by dressing professionally, controlling your body
movements, making eye contact, and
a.
arriving on time.
b.
using gender-neutral language.
c.
presenting success stories to respond to behavioral questions.
d.
preparing thoroughly.
46. The purposes of sending an application or résumé follow-up message to an employer include jogging the memory of
the hiring manager, showing your serious interest in the position, and
a.
emphasizing your qualifications or adding new information.
b.
sending a personal note to the receptionist, who often helps make the final decision.
c.
sharing your photograph to match your qualifications to your face.
d.
setting a deadline for the employer to offer you the position.
47. Although you can’t expect to be perfect in an employment interview, you can do your best by
a.
showing some passion by bringing up a controversial topic and taking a clear stand.
b.
speaking forcefully but using some slang such as like and ya know to sound relaxed and friendly.
c.
elaborating on your answers and criticizing the person or object causing the problems at a previous job.
d.
occasionally refocusing and clarifying vague questions by asking Do you mean…?
48. Theresa decides to follow up with an employer a few days after her interview. Which communication channel is
safest for her to use if she does not want to appear too intrusive?
a.
Phone
b.
E-mail
c.
Twitter
Name:
Class:
Date:
d.
Office visit
49. Which of the following statements about interview thank-you messages is most accurate?
a.
Thank-you messages are not important to employers.
b.
To avoid appearing as overzealous, an applicant should wait at least two to three days before sending a thank-
you note.
c.
Separate thank-you messages should be sent to each interviewer.
d.
To personalize a thank-you message, an interviewee should begin each sentence in the thank-you message
with the personal pronoun I.
50. In which part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions should you focus on yourself
(rather than a group or team)?
a.
Situation
b.
Task
c.
Action
d.
Results
51. Global Connections Inc. is interviewing several candidates for a leadership position requiring strong communication
skills. What form of interview will most likely be used for this interview?
a.
A one-on-one interview conducted by the human resources director
b.
A stress interview conducted by the head of the programming division
c.
A computer screening interview to test applicants’ programming skills
d.
A group interview of several candidates at one time
52. Effective interview-preparation techniques include practicing answers to possible questions, preparing to explain
problem areas on your résumé, deciding on professional attire, and
a.
informing your current employer of your plans.
b.
preparing success stories.
c.
writing a resignation letter.
d.
purchasing a gift for the interviewer.
53. Which of the following is an acceptable reason for following up with an employer in writing?
a.
Your résumé or application has received no response.
b.
You have learned that you are not being offered the position.
c.
You received an offer for the position.
d.
All of these are acceptable reasons to follow up with an employer in writing.
54. After writing a follow-up letter to thank your interviewer, your next step should be
a.
alerting your references that they may be contacted by the employer.
b.
sending a small gift to the receptionist to show your sincere appreciation.
c.
calling the organization’s human resources department to learn more about your competitors for the open
position.
d.
waiting at least one month for a call of acceptance or rejection.
55. Which of the following telephone tips should you follow during your job search?
a.
Create a unique, edgy voice mail message to demonstrate your individuality.
Name:
Class:
Date:
b.
Prepare others who live with you to speak professionally and take complete messages.
c.
Answer your cell phone any time it rings so that you don’t miss the opportunity to speak with a potential
employer.
d.
Hire a professional to record your voice mail message to ensure that proper articulation, enunciation, and vocal
intonations are used.
56. If an interviewer says Tell me about yourself, what is the best way to respond?
a.
Present your brief biography as a chronology, beginning with when and where you were born.
b.
Briefly discuss educational, professional, or business-related strengths.
c.
To start the interview positively, provide a few humorous personal anecdotes.
d.
Tell several success stories, making sure to fill at least ten minutes of interview time.
57. Which of the following will not help you reduce your fears about interviews?
a.
Let the interviewer have complete charge of the entire interview.
b.
Practice interviewing as much as you can, especially with real companies.
c.
Rehearse answers to the most frequently asked interview questions.
d.
Take deep breaths while waiting for the interview to begin.
58. How should you close an interview?
a.
Briefly review your strengths, thank the interviewer, and ask what action will follow.
b.
Be confident and say, This job sounds great! When do I start work?
c.
Ask about salary and benefits.
d.
Invite the interviewer to lunch.
59. Which of the following is an example of a situational question?
a.
If you were aware that a coworker submitted false data, what would you do?
b.
What is your ideal work environment?
c.
What do you predict for the future of our industry?
d.
Tell me about a time when you dealt with confidential information.
60. What information should you provide your references so that they can write a recommendation?
a.
Name of the company
b.
Position title and expected job requirements
c.
A copy of your résumé
d.
You should provide all this information to your references.
61. Which of the following is the best nonverbal behavior to display during an interview?
a.
Sit erect, leaning forward slightly to show interest and confidence.
b.
Change positions often and gesture as frequently as possible to convey high energy.
c.
Lean forward, resting your arms on the desk or table before you, to indicate control.
d.
Relax back into your chair, slouching slightly, to demonstrate self-assurance.
62. When interviewing for high-pressure positions, companies may use stress interview techniques, which include being
a.
greeted immediately by the interviewer.
b.
asked rapid-fire questions by members of a team.
Name:
Class:
Date:
c.
given a test with no time limit.
d.
offered challenging food, beverages, or tobacco products.
63. An important question to be asking yourself during a job interview is
a.
When will my start date be?
b.
Where do I want to live?
c.
Do I want to work for this organization?
d.
How quickly could I be promoted?
64. Which of the following should you do during a panel interview?
a.
Contact each panel member personally beforehand.
b.
When answering a question, maintain eye contact only with the person who posed the question.
c.
Use your laptop to take notes during the interview.
d.
Demonstrate active listening skills by leaning slightly forward and maintaining eye contact will all panel
members.
65. Because many companies now use social networking sites to screen job candidates, you should do each of the
following except
a.
remove yourself from all groups or fan pages.
b.
make your personal social networking pages available to anyone who wishes to view them.
c.
remove any photos, content, and links that could make you look unprofessional.
d.
discuss your current job and your search frequently on social media so that friends and family will know.
66. Which of following is a legal interview question?
a.
Are you married?
b.
Are you a U.S. citizen?
c.
Do you have any disabilities?
d.
Are you authorized to work in the United States?
67. When an interviewer asks you a challenging question about a weakness, what is the best way to respond?
a.
To prove you have only strengths, reply that you have no weaknesses at all.
b.
To be completely honest with the interviewer, talk about the employment weakness that concerns you most.
c.
Mention a previous weakness and the way you have corrected it.
d.
Demonstrate your honesty by bringing up every weakness you can identify.
68. Which type of hiring/placement interview is the most common?
a.
Sequential interview
b.
Online interview
c.
Panel interview
d.
One-on-one interview
69. Which of the following is the best advice when answering interview questions?
a.
Focus your answers on your strengths, but reveal a weakness or two to show that you are not perfect.
b.
Use the interviewer’s name and title each time you answer a question to show respect.
c.
To be concise, answer questions with a simple yes or no whenever possible.
Name:
Class:
Date:
d.
Aim answers at the key characteristics needed, such as expertise, motivation, and a pleasant personality.
70. If you must turn down a job offer, employment experts suggest you should send the employer a letter
a.
declining the offer, providing a thorough explanation of the reasons for declining, and expanding on your
qualifications for a new position.
b.
thanking the employer for the offer and briefly declining the position.
c.
specifying personal reasons for your decision.
d.
declining the position and offering assistance finding your replacement.
71. Which of the following statements most accurately describes a sequential interview?
a.
You must be totally committed to the job and the company to participate in a sequential interview, which often
takes weeks or even months to complete.
b.
You can assume that later interviewers know what was said in a previous interview because sequential
interviews are designed to save time.
c.
As sequential interviews progress, interviews become more in-depth, which means that you need to know even
more about the company.
d.
As an applicant, you should never repeat yourself because each interviewer will brief the other interviewers,
making it unnecessary for you to answer the same questions.
72. Recommended guidelines for completing application forms include which of the following?
a.
Disregard questions that do not apply to you by leaving them blank.
b.
Read the entire form before beginning to complete it.
c.
Do not specify a position or job title to make yourself appear flexible.
d.
Leave any questions about salary blank because they might limit what you will be paid.
73. How should you respond if an interviewer asks, Why should we hire you when other applicants have better
credentials?
a.
Admit that you are less qualified, but stress you can be paid less than more experienced applicants.
b.
Describe how you are correcting one of your most significant weaknesses to display your strong work ethic
and determination.
c.
Confidently explain your strengths such as your openness to new ideas and knowledge of the latest methods
and equipment.
d.
Since it is clear that you will not get this job offer, do not answer this question.
74. Which of the following is the best advice about conducting company research?
a.
Cancel the interview if you learn information that tells you that you don’t wish to work for the company.
b.
To make the interview feel more informative, ask questions to suggest that you don’t know much about the
organization.
c.
Avoid connecting on social media with people who work at the company.
d.
Examine the company’s ads and promotional materials.
75. A job interview provides an opportunity for you to do all of the following except
a.
expand on the information in your résumé.
b.
convince the employer of your potential.
c.
meet with all the company’s employees.
d.
learn more about the job and the company.
Name:
Class:
Date:
76. Each of the following represents effective phrasing of a reason for leaving a previous position on an application
form except
a.
Relocation
b.
Seasonal
c.
Quit
d.
To continue education
77. Krista receives an unexpected phone call from a potential employer. Which of the following should she do?
a.
Try to schedule an interview for a Friday afternoon.
b.
Avoid taking notes during the call because it can take too much time.
c.
Assertively begin discussing her qualifications for the position.
d.
If she feels caught off guard by the call, ask whether she may call back in a few minutes.
78. Panel interviews are typically conducted by people who will be your supervisors and colleagues. An important
advantage of the panel interview is
a.
allowing the company to measure the candidate’s leadership and communication skills.
b.
saving company money on repeated interviews and related costs.
c.
determining the best candidate through multiple interviews.
d.
testing the reactions of a candidate during nerve-racking situations.
79. Which of the following is an example of a behavioral interview question?
a.
Who in your life has most inspired you and why?
b.
An irate customer is demanding her money back. How would you handle the situation?
c.
Tell me about a time when you solved a difficult problem.
d.
What is your greatest strength?
80. When the interviewer says Describe a time when you worked successfully as a member of a team, your best response
will be to
a.
reply that you have been a member of so many successful teams that no particular instance stands out.
b.
say that you not only enjoy teamwork, especially problem-solving groups, but also work well independently.
c.
tell a success story about a specific group project, your contributions, and the results.
d.
list the names of all work teams on which you participated and stress that all were successful.
81. Which of the following statements about screening interviews is most accurate?
a.
Screening interviews are conducted after hiring/placement interviews.
b.
Screening interviews are always conducted face-to-face.
c.
Most screening interviews are conducted during job fairs.
d.
Companies use screening interviews to save time and money.
82. When you apply for a position but are rejected, employment experts recommend that you
a.
send a rejection letter saying you believe the employer has made a hiring decision error in not choosing you.
b.
phone the employer’s personnel office to determine the reason why you were not selected.
c.
send a rejection follow-up message indicating you are disappointed but will contact the company again in a
month in case a job opens up.
Name:
Class:
Date:
d.
do not apply at that company again for at least 12 months.
83. If an interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of an interview, which of the following is an inappropriate
response?
a.
May I have a tour of the facilities?
b.
When do you expect to make a decision?
c.
No, I have no questions right now; you have shared all the information I need.
d.
What are the major challenges for a person in this position?
84. Which of the following statements about online interviews is most accurate?
a.
Very few of today’s companies conduct online interviews.
b.
Online interviews save job applicants and companies time and money.
c.
Individuals who participate in online interviews need not be concerned about their appearance, eye contact,
and nonverbal behaviors.
d.
Companies conduct online interviews only when they must interview candidates who reside in other countries.
85. When writing a resignation letter to your employer, you should
a.
allow more than the standard two-week notice if you have a high or responsible position within the company.
b.
offer thanks and end with a forward-looking statement.
c.
remind the employer of your contributions.
d.
All answer choices are correct.
86. Braden is preparing several success stories prior to his job interview for a sales representative position. Which of the
following scenarios would result in the best success story for this position?
a.
A story about a lemonade stand that Braden ran when he was a child
b.
A story about working as part of a team in college to prepare a classroom presentation about a company’s
history
c.
A story about volunteering for a local food bank over the holidays
d.
A story about developing a new sales technique that increased his customer sales by 30 percent over a six-
month period
87. When the interviewer asks you questions about the future, you should provide answers that
a.
show ambition and interest in succeeding with the company.
b.
are vague because no one can predict the future.
c.
indicate that you want the interviewer’s job.
d.
focus on your needs.
88. If an interviewer says Why do you want to work for us?, you should
a.
briefly summarize problems at your current job that require you to change employers.
b.
show what you know about the interviewer’s company and how your goals match the company and its culture.
c.
explain that as a recent graduate you want to work for any company needing a person with your skills and
background.
d.
tell the truth about your reasons for seeking this job; for example, you are unemployed, you need more pay or
better benefits, or you just graduated.
89. When you enter the office for an interview,
Name:
Class:
Date:
a.
greet the interviewer confidently, and wait for him or her to initiate a handshake.
b.
avoid direct eye contact so that you do not make others feel uncomfortable.
c.
introduce yourself to the receptionist, and wait to be invited to sit.
d.
immediately open your briefcase to sort through your contents to locate copies of your résumé.
90. What is the most effective way to handle an illegal or inappropriate question during an interview?
a.
If you find the question harmless and you want the job, go ahead and answer it.
b.
Confront the interviewer about the illegal nature of the question.
c.
Storm out of the room in anger; after all, you wouldn’t work for a company with such low ethics.
d.
Refuse to answer the question because it is your legal right to do so.
Enter the appropriate word(s) to complete the statement.
91. Many companies now use telephone ____________________ interviews to save time and money by eliminating less-
qualified candidates before scheduling face-to-face interviews.
92. Some job candidates who are declining a job offer choose to write a(n) ____________________ message to thank the
employer for the job offer and to formally refuse the position.
93. Your interviewer says to you Describe a time when… or Tell me about a time when… These phrases are openings for
a(n) ____________________ question.
94. A(n) ____________________ interview is meant to test a candidate’s reactions during nerve-racking situations.
95. You should write a formal ____________________ letter to confirm the exact date you will terminate your
employment when it is a position you have held for an extended period.
96. The ____________________ part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions should
describe the problem — what needed to be done and why.
97. Examples of positive ____________________ messages for the interview process include arriving on time, dressing
professionally, controlling your body movements, exhibiting good posture, using effective eye contact, smiling
appropriately, and listening attentively.
98. To feel confident and to sell your qualifications, you should prepare and practice ____________________ stories that
provide specific examples of your educational and work-related experience to showcase your qualifications and
achievements.
99. In the ____________________ part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions, you should
describe what you did and how, including the skills or resources that you used.
100. ____________________ interviews occur when a company interviews several candidates for the same position at the
same time.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Name:
Class:
Date:
Name:
Class:
Date:
Name:
Class:
Date: