Answers to Chapter Review Questions
1. During a job interview, do the interviewer and the interviewee want the same thing?
How do their purposes differ? (Obj. 1)
Although both the interviewer and the interviewee want a mutually beneficial outcome, their
purposes during an interview are fundamentally different. Job candidates strive to (a)
convince the employer of their potential, (b) find out more about the job and the company, and
2. Name the two main types of employment interviews, and explain how they differ.
(Obj. 1)
Screening interviews help businesses eliminate applicants who fail to meet the minimum
requirements and, thus, save time and money. Screening interviews are typically conducted
by telephone but increasingly also online. Hiring/placement interviews follow screening
interviews. Employers use them to evaluate whether the most promising candidates are
3. Briefly describe the types of hiring/placement interviews you may encounter. (Obj. 1)
One-on-one interviews are most common and require the candidate to sit down with a
company representative and talk about the job and his or her qualifications.
Panel interviews, also called team interviews, are interviews conducted by teams of two or
more people.
4. Career coaches warn candidates to never enter a job interview “cold.” What does this
mean, and how can a candidate heed the warning? (Obj. 2)
Entering an interview “cold” means knowing little or nothing about the organization or
position. It suggests that a candidate is uninterested in the position or too lazy or unskilled
to collect information. Job candidates should learn as much as possible about an
5. What are success stories, and how can they be used? (Obj. 2)
Success stories are 30-second “sound bites” with specific examples of your educational and
6. What is digital dirt, and what should you do to clean it up during the employment
process? (Obj. 2)
Digital dirt is inappropriate information that appears online that might cause an employer to
not hire you. Examples include provocative or inappropriate photographs or information;
postings about drinking or doing drugs; negative comments about previous employers,
7. When an interviewer asks, Tell me about yourself, what should a candidate do? (Obj. 3)
Candidates should keep this answer short (one to two minutes) and on target. They should
8. When an interviewer asks, Where do you expect to be five (or ten) years from now, what
is a sure kiss of death in a candidate’s response? How should a candidate respond?
(Obj. 3)
A sure kiss of death is for a candidate to express a desire for the interviewer’s or hiring
manager’s job. Instead, a candidate should show an interest in the current job and making a
9. Should candidates be candid with interviewers when asked about their weaknesses?
(Obj. 3)
Most experts advise against being candid about weaknesses. No one was ever hired for a job
because of his or her weaknesses. If pressed to name a weakness, a candidate could name a
10. What are situational and behavioral interview questions, and how can a candidate
craft responses that will make a favorable impression on the interviewer? (Obj. 3)
Situational questions:
Questions related to situations help employers test a candidate’s thought processes and
logical thinking. When using situational questions, interviewers describe a hypothetical
Behavioral questions:
The interviewer may ask the candidate to tell stories. The interviewer may say, Describe a
time when . . ., or, Tell me about a time when . . . . To respond effectively, candidates
11. What kinds of questions should you ask during an interview? (Obj. 3)
You should ask questions that help you gain information about the position and that will
12. List the steps you should take immediately following your job interview. (Obj. 4)
a. Make notes of what was said in case you are called back for another interview.
b. Jot down key points, the names of your interviewers, and other details.
13. If you are offered a position, why is it important to write an acceptance letter, and
what should it include? (Obj. 4)
It is important to write an acceptance letter to confirm your acceptance of the position. It
14. When filling out an employment application form, how should a candidate respond
when asked the reasons for leaving previous positions? (Obj. 5)
When explaining the reasons for leaving previous positions, candidates should use positive
15. Is it a good idea to follow up after a job rejection? Why or why not? (Obj. 5)
Employment specialists encourage applicants to respond to rejections, especially if they
Answers to Critical Thinking Questions
1. “Like criminal background checks and drug tests, the social media check is quickly
becoming an automatic part of the hiring process,” asserts Melissa Bell, editor of
BlogPost for The Washington Post. Do you believe employers are justified or ethical in
making these kinds of searches before hiring? Does this assume that candidates may be
criminals? Isn’t this similar to snooping?
Many employers who search for information about a job applicant online say that the
information they gather gives them a more accurate picture of the job applicant. Some
employers contend that they want to protect their existing employees from negligent hires.
2. Most job seekers are thrilled to be offered a job, and they fear haggling over salary. Yet,
employment specialists say that failing to negotiate can be a mistake that reverberates
for years. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
Because subsequent raises are based on initial salaries, candidates who begin at lower rates
are at a disadvantage throughout their careers. However, most people fear that a job offer
3. If you are asked an illegal interview question, why is it important to first assess the
intentions of the interviewer? (Obj. 4)
Most illegal interview questions are asked in true innocence. Inexperienced interviewers are
ignorant of the law. They do not know what questions are proper and are unaware of how the
4. Why is it a smart strategy to thank an interviewer, to follow up, and even to send a
rejection follow-up message? Are any risks associated with this strategy?
To stand out positively in the crowd of applicants, be polite and conduct yourself in an
ethical manner. Saying thank you is common courtesy. Following up shows your
commitment to the job and makes you memorable to the interviewer. Finally, responding
5. Ethical Issue. A recruiter for an organization has an outstanding prospect for a position.
As part of his screening process, the recruiter checks the online presence of the
candidate and discovers from her social networks that she is 18 weeks pregnant—and
happily so. He knows that the target position involves a big project that will go live just
about the time she will be taking maternity leave. He decides not to continue the hiring
process with this candidate. Is his action legal? Ethical? What lesson could be learned
about posting private information online?
His action seems to violate numerous laws, such as Title VII, the ADA, GINA, and ADEA.
Many of these laws were enacted to prohibit discrimination in the following categories: age,
sex, religion, disability, genetic information, race/color, national origin, and pregnancy. These
ZOOMING IN: Sharpening Job Interview Skills for Rookies
Critical Thinking
Can novice job seekers predict what a job interview will involve?
Surprisingly enough, even novice job seekers can fairly closely predict what a job interview
will entail. Most interviews include a “getting to know each other” opening that usually
includes questions such as “Tell me about yourself.” This chapter presents an excellent
How is interviewing a two-way street? What does this mean for a job candidate?
Interviewing is indeed a two-way street. Candidates must promote their best qualities and
impress the company. However, companies also must sell the position and company to the
candidate. Recruiters realize that good candidates are difficult to find and that they may have
other offers. Because candidates are evaluating the position, it is appropriate for them to ask
How can job seekers show recruiters or hiring managers that they are “invested” in a
position during the job interview?
Job candidates can demonstrate their interest and “investment” in a position by doing
considerable research to prepare for the interview. Job candidates should learn as much as
ZOOMING IN
Your Turn
Many students find it difficult to translate experiences from course work in school or entry-level
or low-wage jobs such as babysitting or waiting tables into anecdotes that illustrate innate skills
Photo Essay Solutions
Photo Essay, Page 588
A job interview allows both the applicant and the employer to evaluate each other to find a good
match. For the applicant, pre-interview planning involves gathering information about the
company and its culture. To help determine fit, job candidates should search news sources, trade
Photo Essay, Page 593
Students should do a careful online search and uncover any digital dirt. They should remove
photos or information that will tarnish their reputation or reveal unflattering behavior. In
Photo Essay, Page 611
Writing a resignation letter is worth it because it builds bridges that can lead to even better jobs
in the future. As a courtesy, employees should always give notice before exiting a firm. Two