Case Synopsis, Uses, Discussion Questions, and Answers
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CASE 37 Interviewing for a Management Trainee Position
Synopsis: This case asks students to participate in a variety of professional development steps in
Use:
Chapters 1 Illustrates important elements of the interview process for retail management trainees
Chapter 15 Human Resources
Teaching note
It is unreasonable to expect a college student to have a resume loaded with jobs and experiences, but
it is perfectly reasonable to expect a college graduate to have a succinct resume that highlights
education, job experiences, significant accomplishments, and honors.
1. Assume the role of the college recruiter for a national retail chain that is reviewing
résumés to select candidates to interview for a management trainee position. Which of the
three résumés on the following pages do you find effective? Ineffective? Why? Which
applicant would you select to interview? Why?
Marti Cox has a poor resume. Her objective is vague. She seeks a position in product planning, but
has no experience to uphold this ambition. The student does not offer any related courses or jobs
Case Synopsis, Uses, Discussion Questions, and Answers
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Richard Kates has a better resume. He lists a more specific objective than Marti Cox and offers
reasonable experience for a college student. He has a good amount of experiences to share, but
Richard forgot that the resume should be brief, succinct, and uncluttered. Despite a more
professional introduction, his resume is muddled and difficult to follow. He could improve it by
bulleting the responsibilities he had in his positions and in his leadership experiences. By