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Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 1
CHAPTER 14 SOLUTIONS AND DISCUSSION MATERIAL
Activities and Cases
14.1 Surviving Cattle-Call Interviews
Although controversial, cattle-call interviews have been conducted by organizations as varied as
IBM, various airlines, and secondary school systems. Students are likely to find articles and
blogs about group interviews in mainstream publications such as Fortune and the Chicago
Tribune or at career advice sites.
The key insight in this research will most likely be that group interview participants are being
A commonsense recommendation to students might be that they behave courteously, are
pleasant, and act naturally. Standing out among dozens or even hundreds of candidates can’t be
easy, but whatever attention attendees draw to themselves should be positive. Very large group
interviews are often conducted by breaking up the crowd into smaller groups for preliminary
screening. These screening interviews eliminate unqualified applicants or those who appear to be
a poor fit and may go into several rounds until a solid applicant pool is determined.
14.2 The Kiss of Death to Job Prospects or a Job Offer?
We tend to turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings but discover other people’s flubs and flaws
much more readily. This exercise may sharpen students’ perceptions of the danger they may be
Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 2
14.3 Learning What Jobs Are Really About Through Blogs, Facebook, and
Twitter
Students should enjoy this activity. More and more company blogs are being created every day,
14.4 Using Glassdoor to Prepare for Interviews and Find Salary Data
Results will vary. Suffice it to say that Glassdoor is a terrific resource for any job seeker or
14.5 Warren Buffett’s Career Advice to Millennials
The assignment is devised to stimulate critical thinking. Although interesting, Buffett’s advice
about pay and passion may meet with student skepticism. Generally, few people truly feel
passionate about what they do, and many feel underpaid and unappreciated. Yet they stay, even
in dead-end jobs, for various reasons. Most workers probably at least like their jobs, but many
Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 3
14.6 Yes, You Can Interview People in Fewer Than 140 Characters!
The assignment will help students practice conciseness while also making them think about
career-related questions and answers. In addition, students interested in marketing, branding, and
social media will be able to learn from the top expert in the field. For example, Question 4 in Jay
Baer’s Twitter interview with Amber Naslund on listening reads as follows:
Question:
@jaybaer: Community management is a burgeoning job category. What makes a good
community manager?
14.7 Telling Effective Success Stories
Students must learn how important it is to develop success stories in advance of an interview.
Consider having them select one of their success stories to share with the class.
14.8 Cleaning up Digital Dirt
This exercise should generate a lively discussion. It should also raise awareness in students who
often don’t think twice about posting inappropriate photos of themselves and their friends.
Young people may feel safe posting on Facebook even with minimal or no privacy settings and
Aside from questionable images on Facebook and elsewhere, job seekers should worry about
inflammatory statements or controversial comments they may have made online. Likewise,
certain causes and associations that job seekers may have openly embraced could be viewed
negatively by recruiters. Fair or not, this “digital dirt” may come back to haunt young job
hunters.
Now, if students believe that recruiters will be happy if the search turns up nothing at all, and the
applicant is practically a blank slate, they need to think again. The absence of a footprint on the
Web raises suspicions too because it suggests that the job seeker has no positive
accomplishments to show, either. The assumption today is that active and accomplished
Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 4
14.9 Talent Assessments: Evaluating Job Scenarios
A careful search will reveal quite a few sources online that post sample talent or soft skill
assessments. The three scenarios in the activity come from the website Everything Soft Skills.
The answers are as follows:
A discussion of the questions and answers might reinforce chapter content and prompt further
reflection on tact, workplace etiquette, etc. Parts of the assignment could be completed in
writing—for example, when students devise their own scenarios and multiple-choice questions.
Here are additional questions without answers to spark a discussion of the purpose such
questions may serve:
a. On a scale of one to 10, how happy are you?
b. Would you disturb a busy supervisor with a problem or try to resolve it on your own?
c. How often do you yell at customers, colleagues, and your boss?
d. How much have you stolen from your employer?
Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 5
14.10 Getting Ready to Wear Interview Attire
Students need to know more than to wear a suit to an interview. The opportunities for dress code
violations are many and involve crucial details—for example, the correct fit of a suit, proper
length of pants and sleeves, matching socks, and so forth. Students may need help distinguishing
between high-end wool or silk ensembles and polyester duds. Quality suits don’t need to be
14.11 Rehearsing Interview Questions
This activity could also be done in pairs or small groups. Have students select three questions
from each category to ask their partners or teammates.
14.12 Anticipating Situational Interview Questions
Students will enjoy writing their own situational interview questions and playing the roles of
14.13 Examining Behavioral Interview Questions
Students should list some of the following skills areas: analytical/problem solving,
14.14 Compiling a Digital or Paper Interview Cheat Sheet
Preparing an interview cheat sheet is an excellent strategy, particularly for new job seekers. Once
students have prepared their cheat sheets, have them share them with others for feedback. This
will also promote idea sharing.
14.15 Responding to Inappropriate and Illegal Interview Questions
Students may be confronted with questions in interviews that they do not even realize are
Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 6
14.16 Asking Your Own Questions
Students are sometimes caught off guard when asked if they have any questions at the end of a
job interview. Careful preparation can help them ask appropriate questions that demonstrate their
interest in the company and the position.
14.17 Embracing Mock Interviews
Students will enjoy this activity and will learn from it. Carefully observe these mock interviews
14.18 YouTube: Critiquing Interview Skills
In classrooms equipped with Internet access and video screens, students could watch instructor-
selected video clips of successful and unsuccessful job interviews or share previously approved
14.19 Minding Your Table Manners
Students may enjoy this activity because they tend to fear violating table manners more than any
other etiquette blunder. Fortunately, with some diligence, recent graduates can acquire
acceptable table manners. In fact, dining etiquette is easier to conquer than most other social
14.20 Thanking the Interviewer
Activities 14.20 through 14.23 enable students to prepare an interview thank-you message, a
reference request, a résumé follow-up message, a follow-up to a rejection message, and an
acceptance message. Decide which of these messages you would like your students to prepare,
Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 7
14.21 Following Up After Submitting Your Résumé
Students are to compose a follow-up e-mail or letter to an employer of their choice that does not offend
the reader or damage the student’s chances of employment.
14.22 Refusing to Take No for an Answer
Students are to write a follow-up message indicating their disappointment but continuing interest
in a position.
14.23 Accepting a Job Offer
14.24 Evaluating Your Course
This activity prompts students to think in terms of targeted employer benefits rather than their
