Business Communication Essentials, 6e (Bovee/Thill)
Chapter 13 Building Careers and Writing Résumés
1) For any career path that you might want to pursue, two guidelines are to be kept in mind:
________.
A) choose the career that suits your needs and obtain the required qualifications
B) be ready to start as soon as you are qualified and stay motivated
C) get organized and start with essential research and planning tasks
D) stay in touch with every organization you have applied to and learn to be persuasive
E) do not miss opportunities, but don’t go for jobs that do not meet your requirements
2) Many companies judge the success of their recruiting efforts by the ________.
A) stringency of the hiring process
B) quality of hire
C) number of temporary contracts
D) quantity of applicants
E) experience of hiring managers
3) Quality of hire is ________.
A) a measure of the effectiveness of the hiring process
B) the number of applicants who applied through employee referral
C) the candidate’s perceived ability to work
D) a measure of how closely new employees meet the company’s needs
E) a measure of the performance of an organization
4) An important step in showing employers that you will be a good fit is to ________.
A) customize your résumé to each job opening
B) research competing organizations
C) emphasize on overqualification
D) be elaborate in your communication and send numerous requests and messages to company
representatives
E) make an infographic résumé
5) Steve is beginning his job search this semester. He is ready with his strategy and is focused on
what he needs. Before he takes the plunge, he needs to know which hot-button issues recruiters
face. For this, he should ________.
A) check the company website for clues about the recruiting process
B) “listen in” on their professional conversations by reading relevant blogs and publications
C) speak to potential colleagues
D) send a set of questions to the interviewer with his résumé
E) separately arrange to interview his interviewers
6) James is interested in working as a developer for Next Level Gaming Solutions. However, he
is not sure of how he should apply for this dream job. In order to maximize his chances, James
should ________.
A) look out for this job advertisement in job sites
B) get in touch with their HR department and sell himself
C) scan periodicals for job openings
D) monitor the company’s website for openings
E) get to know the company’s customers
7) ________ is the process of making informal connections with mutually beneficial business
contacts.
A) Networking
B) Soliciting
C) Temping
D) Coaching
E) Recruiting
8) Callum is looking for a job as a research analyst at a leading chemical company. He already
works at a local company as a research assistant. He decides to attend industry functions and
develop connections on popular social media sites. He is ________.
A) using persuasive communication
B) measuring the quality of hire
C) coaching
D) temping the employer
E) networking
9) Kenneth is a popular writer who dispenses advice on career, job search, and management
issues. He argues that candidates should not be apprehensive and reach out to company
representatives on social networks to maximize their chances of finding the right job. Which of
the following statements strengthens the argument?
A) As a job candidate, customizing your résumé to each job opening is an important step in
showing employers that you will be a good fit.
B) Posting jobs on major job boards and classified services such as Craigslist is often a
company’s last resort.
C) To avoid the time and expense of sifting through thousands of applications and the risk of
hiring complete strangers, companies prefer to ask their employees for recommendations first.
D) Job seekers prefer employers to start salary conversations because they know that they are a
risk of selling themselves short.
E) www.rileyguide.com offers advice for online job searches as well as links to hundreds of
specialized websites that post openings in specific industries and professions.
10) Brad, a student in his final semester, is planning to start his job search soon. In order to find
the right job, Brad should start thinking like a networker. His first step in building a network
should be to start with ________.
A) his classmates
B) contacts at hiring agencies
C) HR managers of organizations
D) LinkedIn users
E) campus recruitment agents
11) While building a network, which of the following should serve as a guideline?
A) Don’t overwhelm others with too many messages or requests.
B) Be as elaborate as you can in all your communication efforts.
C) Help fellow networkers by giving them contact information, even if it is without permission.
D) Email your résumé to all contacts that you find interesting.
E) Don’t send thank-you notes because it is too assertive.
12) Which of the following is a networking etiquette?
A) Keep sending messages or requests to others until they reply.
B) Be as elaborate as you can in all your communication efforts.
C) Help fellow networkers by giving them contact information, even if it is without permission.
D) Never email your résumé to complete strangers.
E) Don’t send thank-you notes because it is too assertive.
13) Which of the following actions will make you a valued network member?
A) connecting one person with another who can help
B) sending résumés of acquaintances to strangers
C) giving contact information of people you know without their permission
D) sending messages and requests on behalf of your friends
E) sending elaborate information on industries and trends of your choice
14) Which of the following candidates will make a negative impact on his job search?
A) Bob visits automobile trade shows to meet people from the manufacturing industry with
similar interests.
B) Ted sends his résumé to the HR department of a leading software company to enquire about
job posts in the technical department.
C) Maria exchanges contact information with a company representative on a popular networking
website.
D) Liz applies for the position of bank marketing representative and arrives a few minutes early
for her interview.
E) Jack sends his résumé for the post of financial auditor in a leading company, but misspells the
name of the company’s manager in the email.
15) Which of the following is the first step in planning your résumé?
A) organize the information
B) analyze the situation
C) select the right medium
D) gather information
E) adapt to your audience
16) Which of the following is the last step in planning your résumé?
A) select the right medium
B) analyze the situation
C) organize the information
D) gather information
E) adapt to your audience
17) The purpose of a résumé is ________.
A) to get you a job
B) to get you an interview
C) to identify your essential skills
D) to make informal connections with business contacts
E) to find opportunities
18) Which of the following is true about résumés?
A) The purpose of your résumé is to list all your skills and abilities.
B) If you want a really good résumé, you need to have it prepared by a résumé service.
C) All a résumé can do is get you in the door.
D) The more good information you present about yourself in your résumé, the better, so stuff
your résumé with every positive detail.
E) A good résumé will get you the job you want.
19) Which of the following is true about résumés?
A) Recruiters don’t need much information about you at the initial screening stage, and they
probably won’t read it.
B) Present your work experience in chronological order and avoid translating your past
experience to the new position.
C) The purpose of your résumé is to list all your skills and abilities.
D) If you want a really good résumé, you need to have it prepared by a résumé service.
E) The more good information you present about yourself in your résumé, the better, so stuff
your résumé with every positive detail.
20) Which of the following is NOT true regarding résumés?
A) All a résumé can do is get you in the door.
B) In most cases, your résumé needs to make a positive impression within 30 or 45 seconds.
C) The purpose of a résumé is to list all your skills and abilities.
D) If the résumé doesn’t contain the right keywords, a human being may never see it.
E) Recruiters don’t need that much information about you at the initial screening stage.
21) Which of the following résumé formats is applicable for college graduates with limited
professional experience?
A) a chronological résumé, with educational qualifications before experience
B) a functional résumé, with educational qualifications before experience
C) a combination résumé, with experience before educational qualifications
D) a functional résumé, with experience before educational qualifications
E) a chronological résumé, with experience before educational qualifications
22) In a chronological résumé, ________.
A) the stress is on individual areas of competence rather than job history
B) you can deemphasize any lengthy unemployment or lack of career progress
C) the work experience section dominates and is placed immediately after your contact
information and introductory statement
D) the employers and academic experience is identified in the subordinate sections
E) you can emphasize earlier job experience through the skills you gained in those positions
23) In which of the following ways are jobs listed in the work experience section of a
chronological résumé?
A) according to the job titles held
B) in a chronological order
C) in alphabetical order of organizations
D) after emphasizing the skills and abilities
E) in a reverse chronological order
24) Mac has served in the army as a general officer, but now he is applying for jobs in the private
corporate sector. When he lists his experience in his résumé, he needs to make sure that
________.
A) he doesn’t mention his army background
B) he mentions only the ranks he held and not the responsibilities
C) he does not disclose his rank
D) he elaborates on the general responsibilities of the positions he held
E) he provides a comparison of business ranks and army ranks
25) Nina has been on a long break since her previous job and has been taking advantage of the
time off to travel. Now she is applying for the position of an analyst at a leading organization
that intends to hire people who can work well in a diverse environment. Being well-traveled,
Nina has a healthy respect for different cultures. Assuming that Nina possesses the necessary
qualifications, which of these actions will best help Nina secure an interview at the organization?
A) Nina emphasizes her relevant skills and qualifications but deemphasizes the break because
this information will not serve the employer’s needs.
B) Nina prepares a single sheet résumé, highlighting the skills and capabilities she acquired in
her previous employment that might be relevant to this job and does not mention her break.
C) Nina presents her work history in reverse chronological order, highlights relevant skills and
mentions how the break has enriched her cultural understanding.
D) Nina prepares a chronological résumé and attaches a copy of her blog, in which she has
written her thoughts about how meeting people from various countries has enriched her life.
E) Nina prepares a chronological résumé and posts it on her personal Web page. Then she mails
her application letter to the employer, which includes a link to her Web page and requests them
to view her résumé on her Web page.
26) A ________ emphasizes your skills and capabilities, identifying employers and academic
experience in subordinate sections.
A) functional résumé
B) chronological résumé
C) cover letter
D) recommendation letter
E) reverse chronological résumé
27) Which of the following is true regarding a functional résumé?
A) It is the most preferred format.
B) It stresses individual areas of competence.
C) It emphasizes an individual’s job history.
D) It presents an individual’s academic experience first.
E) It is generally more complex to prepare
28) A ________ allows you to focus attention on your capabilities when you don’t have a long or
steady employment history, without raising concerns that you might be hiding something about
your past.
A) recommendation letter
B) cover letter
C) combination résumé
D) chronological résumé
E) functional résumé
29) Joe has worked as an independent contractor and has been part of many temporary
assignments. In his résumé, he should ________.
A) group similar assignments under a single heading
B) mention only the bigger assignments
C) mention all assignments in their chronological order
D) not mention his customers without notifying them
E) only focus on his skill and not bother with the work history
30) Jane has a criminal record and had been incarcerated for a month. When Jane is applying for
a job, she should ________.
A) deny her criminal record
B) not be held liable for her action since it has no bearing on her job skills
C) only apply to companies that encourage rehabilitation of criminals
D) use the interview process to explain any mitigating circumstances and emphasize her
rehabilitation
E) mention this on her résumé because she is legally obligated to do so
31) When writing a résumé, in order to handle overqualification, ________.
A) mention related volunteer work and membership in professional groups. List relevant course
work and internships
B) use the interview process to explain any mitigating circumstances and to emphasize your
rehabilitation and commitment to being a law-abiding, trustworthy employee
C) itemize each position held at the firm to show growth within the organization and increasing
responsibilities along the way
D) tone down your résumé, focusing exclusively on the experience and skills that relate to the
position
E) group a number of short-term jobs of a similar type under a single heading
32) When writing a résumé, in order to handle inexperience, ________.
A) mention related volunteer work and membership in professional groups. List relevant course
work and internships
B) use the interview process to explain any mitigating circumstances and to emphasize your
rehabilitation and commitment to being a law-abiding, trustworthy employee
C) itemize each position held at the firm to show growth within the organization and increasing
responsibilities along the way
D) tone down your résumé, focusing exclusively on the experience and skills that relate to the
position
E) group a number of short-term jobs of a similar type under a single heading
33) The writing step of the three-step process for résumés includes ________.
A) adapting to your audience
B) proofreading the message
C) selecting the right medium
D) organizing the information
E) analyzing the situation
34) Experts say that the positive earnings in various industries suggests that the recession is over.
However, the unemployment rate and housing market do not support this theory. Young workers
had the most difficulty entering the workforce over the past four years, and a larger percentage of
older workers were job hunting in the recent year than at the beginning of the recession. In the
wake of recession, and with the competition for jobs getting tougher, bending the truth on
résumés is helping job seekers to find employment. Which of the following statements, if true,
weakens the argument?
A) The Official Bureau of Economic Analysis suggests that the unemployment rate in the
country has fallen by two percent this year.
B) Planning an effective résumé starts with understanding its true function—as a brief,
persuasive business message intended to stimulate an employer’s interest in meeting you and
learning more about you.
C) Estimates vary, but one comprehensive study uncovered lies about work history in more than
40 percent of the résumés tested.
D) More than 90 percent of companies that find lies on résumés refuse to hire the offending
applicants, even if that means withdrawing formal job offers.
E) Many people have gaps in their careers or other issues that could be a concern for employers.
To handle such gaps, mention relevant experience and education you gained during employment
gaps.
35) The importance of adapting your résumé to your target readers’ needs and interests cannot be
overstated. Adapting to your readers can mean ________.
A) customizing your résumé, sometimes for each job opening
B) mentioning all your skills and abilities on your résumé
C) make a résumé to get you the job you want
D) generalizing your experience to suit a variety of needs
E) not using any specific terminology
36) An essential step in adapting your résumé is ________.
A) reading news sites, blogs, and other online sources and following industry leaders on Twitter
B) to make informal connections with mutually beneficial business contacts
C) using the same terminology as the employer uses to describe job responsibilities and
professional accomplishments
D) showing up early for your job interview
E) emphasizing your skills and capabilities, identifying employers and academic experience in
subordinate sections
37) Sam has been told that to create an effective résumé he should keep its style direct and
simple. Therefore, Sam should ________.
A) focus on his work history
B) use long sentences
C) use an indirect approach
D) use short, crisp phrases
E) use the word “I”
38) Which of the following statements is most effective for a résumé?
A) I am detail oriented, good team player and focused on results.
B) A highly motivated, energetic, confident professional.
C) Answered calls from customers with a 90% record of effective problem solving.
D) Made creative and innovative posters for the 2012 AIDS campaign in the company.
E) Organized a donation campaign that raised $1200 for a local animal shelter.
39) Which of the following is an active statement for a résumé?
A) Responsible for customer communication.
B) Implemented an efficient software application in the sales department.
C) Solved the highest number of customer complaints in the department.
D) Proven track record of success with strong work ethics.
E) Member of the student organization that addressed academic issues.
40) The majority of résumés are now subjected to keyword searches in an applicant tracking
system or other database, in which a recruiter ________.
A) provides feedback after an interview
B) identifies the influence of a job seeker’s network
C) translates a job seekers experience into measurable items
D) hunts for résumés most likely to match the requirements of a particular job
E) matches accomplishments to action-based keywords