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
scrutinized from the moment they walk in. One manager said that he likes to observe people
before the official starting time. He looks for behavioral cues about how people are going to
interact in general. For example, he says, some candidates just sit by themselves, checking their
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
courting with inappropropriate social media content. Whereas friends may not feel the need to
warn their Facebook buddies about risqué online material, the critical eye of a classmate may
help identify potential pitfalls.
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:
14.7 Telling Effective Success Stories
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
don’t show much regard for potentially adverse effects on their job search. A special threat to
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:
1. Answer B: About 60-70 percent is correct. Any more than that would make the
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?
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
14.11 Rehearsing Interview Questions
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
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
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-
14.19 Minding Your Table Manners
Students may enjoy this activity because they tend to fear violating table manners more than any
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
Solutions – Chapter 14 ⚫ 7
14.21 Following Up After Submitting Your Résumé
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