682 ⚫ CHAPTER 14 – TEST BANK
Chapter 14—Test Bank
Interviewing and Following Up
DIFFICULTY (DIF) TYPE OTHER CODES
5 = Most difficult Ap: Application question ANS: Answer
3 = Average difficulty Con: Conceptual question REF: Page Reference
1 = Least difficult Def: Definition OBJ: Chapter Objective
NOT: Note (feedback/explanations)
AAC: AACSB Competencies
Multiple Choice
1. For the job candidate, the job interview is an opportunity to
a. convince the employer of your potential and to expand on information in your
résumé.
b. find out more about the job and whether it suits your career goals.
c. learn more about the company to decide whether you would fit into the company
culture.
d. do all of these.
2. Which of the following statements about hiring/placement interviews is most accurate?
a. During sequential interviews, sell your qualifications to each interviewer.
b. During an interview the hiring manager of the department with the job opening will
probably ask more general questions than will a representative from human
resources.
c. Panel interviews occur when a company interviews several candidates for the same
position at the same time.
d. The most common type of interview is the stress interview.
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3. Global Connections, Inc., is interviewing several candidates for a leadership
position that requires strong communication skills. What form of interview will
most likely be used to conduct 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 the applicants’ programming skills
d. A group interview in which the company interviews several candidates at the same
time
4. Having submitted several job applications, Abdul is an active job seeker. Which of the
following is the best advice for Abdul?
a. If you put your cell phone number on your application, answer the cell phone only if
your location is appropriate.
b. Inform your children or roommates that they must answer the phone promptly to
avoid missing any job calls.
c. Stop using voice mail to screen calls because employers are likely to find voice mail
unprofessional.
d. If you use voice mail, have someone with a clear, professional speaking voice record
your outgoing message for you.
5. Which of the following is the best advice for making a positive first impression in a
phone conversation with an employer?
a. Don’t refer to your résumé or references during the first phone call because these are
appropriate only in the placement interview.
b. Take notes about the conversation immediately after hanging up to avoid forgetting
details.
c. In the first phone call, be polite and enthusiastic; but don’t be pushy by discussing
your qualifications.
d. If caught off guard by the call, ask whether you can call back in a few minutes.
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6. Rebecca has an interview with a large company in a nearby city. What information
should she learn about the company before her interview?
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 of this information about the prospective employer.
7. Probably the best source of inside information about a company would result from
a. investigating its record at the Better Business Bureau.
b. calling the local Chamber of Commerce.
c. searching Wikipedia.
d. talking with company employees.
8. 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.
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9. Kevin 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 Kevin 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
10. You are trying to decide what to wear to a job interview. What should you do?
a. Buy the most expensive suit you can afford to make a good impression.
b. Call the company to find out how its employees dress and dress the same to look as
if you fit in.
c. Dress professionally, regardless of how company employees dress.
d. Don’t worry about what you wear; it’s what you say during the interview that
counts.
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11. Which of the following will not help you reduce your fears during an interview?
a. Let the interviewer have complete charge of the entire interview.
b. Practice interviewing as much as you can, especially with real companies.
c. Practice how you will answer the most frequently asked interview questions.
d. Take deep breaths while waiting for the interview to begin.
12. Which of the following statements about nonverbal messages during an interview is
most accurate?
a. Sit erect, leaning forward slightly to show interest and confidence.
b. Change positions often and gesture very frequently to convey high energy.
c. Lean forward and rest your arms on the desk or table before you to indicate control.
d. Relax back into your chair, slouching slightly, to demonstrate self-assurance.
13. 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 that show you
are human and humble.
b. Use the interviewer’s name and title every time you answer a question to show
respect.
c. To be concise, answer questions with a simple yes or no whenever possible.
d. Aim answers at the key characteristics needed, such as expertise, motivation, and a
pleasant personality.
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14. If an interviewer says Tell me about yourself, what is the best way to respond?
a. Give the interviewer a brief chronological history, beginning with when and where
you were born.
b. Briefly discuss educational, professional, or business-related strengths.
c. Provide a few personal or humorous references to get the interview started
positively.
d. Tell several success stories, making sure to fill at least ten minutes of interview
time.
15. 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 that needs a
person with your skills and background.
d. simply 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.
16. 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 to show that you’re honest, but stress that you will
work more cheaply than applicants with more experience or training.
b. Identify a major weakness and describe how you are correcting it; this will prove to
the interviewer your strong work ethic and determination.
c. Show your confidence in your own ability by stressing strengths such as your
openness to new ideas and knowledge of the latest methods and equipment.
d. Don’t answer the question because it is clear that you’re not going to get the job.
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17. Which of these responses is the best answer to the question, Where do you see yourself
in your career five years from now?
a. I see myself in your job, because this response shows a good sense of humor.
b. I see myself as the president of this company, because this response shows ambition.
c. I hope to be running my own business, because this response shows self-motivation.
d. As a member of your team, I will have grown and learned enough to advance to a
position in management, because this response shows that you want to grow with
the organization.
18. The interviewer asks, What do you think is your greatest weakness? Which of the
following is the best way to respond?
a. Reply that you have no weaknesses at all because this response proves you have
only strengths to offer.
b. Be completely honest with the interviewer and talk about the employment weakness
that concerns you most.
c. Mention a previous weakness and how you have corrected it.
d. Bring up every weakness you can identify to demonstrate your honesty.
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19. Which of the following is an example of a situational question?
a. If you were aware that a coworker was submitting 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.
20. 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?
21. The interviewer asks, Describe a time when you worked successfully as a member of a
team. Which of the following is the best way to respond?
a. Reply that you have worked successfully as a team member so many times that no
particular instance stands out.
b. Say that you enjoy teamwork such as group problem solving but that you also work
well independently.
c. Tell a success story about a group project, how you contributed, and what the results
were.
d. List the names of the work teams on which you have been a member and stress that
all of these teams have been successful.
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22. If the interviewer begins a question with Tell me about a time when you . . . , you should
a. recognize that this is a trick question and tactfully refuse to answer.
b. politely explain that you have never experienced such a situation.
c. make up any answer and wish that you had been better prepared.
d. describe a situation or task, tell what action you took, and emphasize a positive
result.
23. 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.
24. If an interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of an interview, which of the
following would not be an appropriate 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; I think I am satisfied.
d. What are the major challenges for a person in this position?
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25. 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.
26. What should you do after the interview?
a. Write a thank-you letter immediately.
b. Wait a few days to see if you hear from the employer; if not, write a thank-you
letter.
c. Call the interviewer to thank him or her.
d. Send the interviewer flowers.
27. 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.
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28. Kendra made a follow-up call to her interviewer five days after the interview. Several
weeks later, Kendra has still not heard from the employer. What action should Kendra
take now?
a. Assume that no decision has been made yet and that a call could come soon.
b. Send the interviewer a rejection follow-up letter.
c. Show her frustration and determination by calling the employer at least once or
twice a day for the next two weeks.
d. Assume that she didn’t get the job and continue her job search.
29. 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. Ignore misspellings because you are not expected to carry a dictionary.
d. Leave any questions about salary blank since they might limit what you will be paid.
30. When writing a resignation letter to notify your employer of your intentions, 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.
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True-False
1. Most screening interviews occur on the telephone.
2. The panel interview is the most common format for hiring/placement interviews.
3. If the company is conducting a panel interview, candidates should direct an answer only
to the person who asked the question.
4. No matter what interview structure you encounter, you will feel more comfortable and
better prepared if you know what to do before, during, and after the interview.
5. If you have sent out only one résumé or filled out one job application, you must
consider yourself an active job seeker.
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6. Most employers contact job applicants by e-mail to set up interviews.
7. During your job search you should treat any call from an employer just like an
interview.
8. Avoid using employee blogs to learn about a company because the information there is
usually biased and inaccurate.
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9. Don’t worry about what information is available about you online because this
information is irrelevant to the job search.
10. If something unexpected happens that will cause you to be late to your interview, call
the interviewer right away to explain what is happening.
11. When greeting the interviewer, you should smile, maintain direct eye contact, and wait
for the interviewer to initiate a handshake.
12. Remember that you will be judged not only by the interviewer but also by the
receptionist and anyone else who sees you before and after the interview.
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13. One of the best ways to overcome fear is to know what happens in a typical interview.
14. When answering interview questions, use slurred words such as wanna and slangy
expressions such as cool to show that you’re just a normal person who will fit into the
company’s culture.
15. After opening introductions, recruiters generally try to start the interview with a series
of stress-inducing questions to see immediately how the job applicant will hold up under
fire.
16. Even if you have less experience and fewer accomplishments than other candidates, you
may be hired if you can demonstrate the skills required.
17. When explaining how you would handle a negative hypothetical situation described in a
situational question, you should respond positively even though the situation sounds
negative.
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18. To respond effectively to behavioral questions, use the storytelling technique to relate a
success story about an educational or work situation or task that is relatively current.
19. A job applicant should never answer an illegal or inappropriate interview question.
20. If you’ve been interviewed by more than one person, send one thank-you note to the
person who appeared to be in charge.
21. Always ask permission before submitting someone’s name as a reference.
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22. After an interview, you should always wait for the interviewer to contact you first.
23. If you have submitted a résumé and cover letter, you will not be required to fill out a job
application form.
24. Writing a follow-up letter after being turned down for a job is unprofessional and
unnecessary.
25. Although you will likely accept a position over the phone, it is a good idea to follow up
with an acceptance letter to confirm the details and to formalize the acceptance.
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Fill-in-the-Blank
1. During ______________ interviews, companies save time and money by eliminating
less-qualified candidates before scheduling face-to-face interviews.
2. A(n) ___________ interview is meant to test a candidate’s reactions during nerve-
racking situations.
3. _________ interviews are typically conducted by a group of people who will be your
supervisors and colleagues. Usually seated around a table, interviewers may take turns
asking questions.
4. To feel confident and to be able to sell your qualifications, prepare and practice
______________ stories. These stories are specific examples of your educational and
work-related experience that demonstrate your qualifications and achievements.
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5. You can send positive _____________ messages by arriving on time, dressing
professionally, controlling your body movements, exhibiting good posture, using
appropriate eye contact, smiling appropriately, and listening attentively.
6. When using ________________ questions, interviewers will describe a hypothetical
situation and ask how you would handle it. These questions help employers test your
thought processes and logical thinking.
7. When an interviewer begins a question with Describe a time when… or Tell me about a
time when…, he or she is asking a(n) _______________ question.
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8. To provide the best possible recommendation of you to a potential employer, your
___________ need information about the company and position.
9. When you decide to turn down a job offer, you might want to write a _________ letter
to thank the employer for the job offer and to decline the position.
10. When leaving a position you held for a period of time, you should write a formal _______
letter to confirm the exact date you will terminate your employment.