Q&A Hero

Q: Should you use the word I in your rsum? Why or why not?

Q: Most employers now conduct online searches about promising candidates, and many have rejected applicants because of what those searches have revealed.

Q: In the work experience section of your rsum, you should leave out any jobs that do not relate directly to your career objective.

Q: The education section of your rsum should list courses that have directly equipped you for the job you are seeking and indicate any scholarships, awards, or academic honors you have received.

Q: One example of an effective career objective is, "A fulfilling position that provides ample opportunity for career growth and personal satisfaction."

Q: Some examples of effective descriptors to include in your rsum would be "works hard," "knows foreign languages," and "gets along well with others."

Q: To ensure your message is clear and immediate, A) use nouns wherever possible. B) use carefully selected evidence that is compelling. C) include as much detail as possible. D) write in the current tense. E) start with a strong introductory statement.

Q: When writing your rsum, A) use strong action verbs. B) use a variety of sentence lengths. C) use the word "I" as often as possible. D) be repetitious when talking about skills and abilities. E) indicate your "self-involvement" by listing volunteer work.

Q: A rsum should be written A) with the expectation of getting the job. B) in two pages or less. C) in detail so the employer has no doubt about skills and experiences. D) with repletion of skills and accomplishments. E) with simplicity, using a direct style.

Q: Applicant tracking systems use keyword filters to A) look for inconsistencies on the rsum. B) look for information on the rsum that may be inaccurate or dishonest. C) determine the number of openings in an organization at a given point in time. D) rank desirability of incoming rsums for current openings. E) track date of receipt for rsums sent through online systems.

Q: When preparing your list of references, A) leave enough space on the rsum to include them. B) have the data on your cell phone so you can write the information down, if asked. C) prepare a reference sheet using the same layout as the rsum. D) offer to email them when the interview is scheduled. E) indicate why you chose that particular person to use as a reference.

Q: If you have limited work experience, ________ could be used to indicate leadership, teamwork, or other valuable attributes. A) education B) community service C) travel abroad D) length of time at one job E) classes in your major

Q: When developing the experience section of the rsum, the most space should be devoted to A) jobs that closely relate to the targeted position. B) jobs that you held the longest. C) jobs that had a higher level of responsibility. D) jobs where you learned the most. E) jobs you enjoyed the most.

Q: In the experience section of the rsum, the focus should be on A) responsibilities of the job. B) abilities developed in coursework. C) training sponsored by businesses. D) high school or military training. E) what you accomplished in each position.

Q: You can use a ________ to recap your career, with a focus on your increasing levels of responsibility and performance. A) career objective B) qualifications summary C) trend analysis D) career summary E) keyword schedule

Q: When you're preparing an introductory statement for your rsum, using a ________ can limit your consideration for interesting opportunities. A) career objective B) qualifications summary C) personality profile D) career summary E) skills summary

Q: According to your textbook, the least desirable way to include keywords in a rsum is in A) an introductory statement. B) a standalone keyword summary. C) the work history section. D) the education section. E) the volunteer section.

Q: Applicant tracking systems help employers by A) charting each applicant's progress through the hiring process. B) mapping out promising career paths for each applicant. C) sifting through the content of the rsums received. D) tracking down promising applicants by searching social media sites. E) cataloging how often an applicant applies to the company.

Q: Military service relevant to the position you're seeking should be listed in the ________ section of your rsum. A) References B) Not-For-Profit Work Experience C) Education or Work Experience D) Personal Information E) Interest

Q: The best email address to include on a rsum is A) the one you have through your current employer. B) a free personal address from one of the many services that offer them. C) one that creatively includes the name of the company to which you are applying. D) nonethat way employers will be forced to call you. E) one that is a reflection of your hobbies and interests.

Q: Putting "References available upon request" at the end of your rsum is A) not necessary since the availability of references is usually assumed. B) standard practice, and most employers will expect to see it. C) less effective than listing the names and contact information for all references, even if the employer has not requested them. D) necessary only when applying for government positions. E) is less effective than listing the information in the application letter.

Q: On your rsum, do not include items that could encourage discrimination, such as A) home address. B) hobbies. C) when you graduated from high school. D) military service. E) extracurricular activities.

Q: In describing activities and achievements on your rsum, you should A) use only mild exaggerations. B) include only what makes you a more attractive job candidate. C) use significant amounts of jargon and technical terms. D) leave out any awards you've won unless they are specifically relevant to your current career objective. E) omit any volunteer activities.

Q: When you describe your work experience on your rsum, you should A) start with your most recent job and work back chronologically. B) describe one or two jobs in detail so that employers get an idea of your work ethic. C) list only full-time positions. D) indicate why you left. E) omit any positions which you held for less than six months.

Q: If you choose not to list your GPA in the "Education" section of your rsum, A) most employers will not interview you. B) employers will generally respect you for being humble. C) you should be prepared to answer questions about it during the interview. D) it should be stated in your application letter. E) you should include a statement that reads, "GPA withheld for privacy reasons."

Q: Effective keywords to list on your rsum include A) business and technical terms. B) action terms. C) proof of your skills and abilities. D) your GPA. E) position applying for and skills needed for the position.

Q: To incorporate the best keywords in your rsum, A) simply make a list of all the adjectives that describe your unique personality and abilities. B) study relevant job descriptions and seek to understand your target audience's needs. C) use a thesaurus to list as many impressive words as possible. D) stick with time-tested phrases such as problem solver and proven track record. E) write them as action verbs.

Q: When you're selecting keywords to include your rsum, you should A) never use more than three of them at a time. B) work them into your introductory statement and other rsum sections. C) avoid placing them in a keyword summary at the end of the rsum. D) choose strong verbs and colorful adjectives. E) limit keywords to a bulleted list on the first page of your rsum.

Q: In composing a rsum, it is best to avoid A) using the word "I". B) active verbs. C) prepositions. D) past-tense. E) bulleted lists.

Q: Which of the following would be the best wording to use on a rsum? A) "I was in charge of a staff of six employees." B) "I supervised six employees." C) "Was in charge of entire departmental staff." D) "Supervised staff of six employees." E) "In this job, I was in charge of six employees including an assistant manager."

Q: Using your rsum to tell employers you are detail oriented, a team player, and a hard worker A) is an effective strategy, since all employers appreciate these characteristics. B) is generally not helpful unless you also include concrete proof and evidence to support your claims. C) is often effective as long as you repeat the claims in your application letter. D) often results in a higher starting salary. E) should be avoided as it is considered to be bragging.

Q: When employers find lies on an applicant's rsum, most will A) ignore it, since almost all applicants exaggerate their qualifications. B) call the applicant to discuss it. C) refuse to hire the applicant, even if it means withdrawing a formal job offer. D) keep the application active, but continue looking for other promising candidates. E) assume that the applicant simply made a mistake.

Q: List and describe the three methods for organizing a rsum along with the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Q: Your work history includes a lengthy gap in employment. How can you handle this challenge when writing a rsum?

Q: A combination rsum combines descriptions of your education and employment background under a single heading.

Q: The main purpose of a rsum is to list all your skills and abilities.

Q: A rsum is a persuasive message designed to help you get an interview.

Q: When you're evaluating a functional rsum as a way to present your qualifications, don't forget that many employers A) are suspicious of them. B) strongly prefer them to chronological rsums. C) view them as a sign of strong communication skills. D) are unfamiliar with the functional rsum format. E) require them from applicants for management positions.

Q: The most common way to organize a rsum is A) chronologically. B) functionally. C) geographically. D) alphabetically. E) a combination of several methods.

Q: The best approach to preparing a rsum is to A) spend a lot of time creating it, and then send the same version to all prospective employers. B) learn as much as you can about who may be reading it, and be sure to meet their needs. C) keep it general, brief, and nonspecific. D) use a hard-sell approach. E) use color, and graphics to help it stand out from the rest.

Q: If you do not have a lot of relevant work experience, A) focus on long term employment with one company. B) do not use dates in the experience sections. C) group all jobs under one general heading. D) emphasize promotions and additional skills learned at the jobs you had. E) emphasize volunteer work and membership in professional groups, or relevant coursework.

Q: If you have frequent job changes, minimize the negative impression by A) indicating they were a series of promotions. B) mentioning volunteer experience during those same time periods. C) focusing exclusively on the skills that relate to the position applying for. D) trying to group them under a single heading. E) leaving them off entirely.

Q: The rsum format that allows you to highlight your capabilities and education when you don't have a long work history is the A) function rsum. B) online rsum. C) combination rsum. D) chronological rsum. E) skills rsum.

Q: When developing a chronological rsum, the experience section should include A) the most relevant job first. B) the employer's name, your job title and the dates you held the position. C) background information on what the organization does. D) the address of the employer. E) the name of your manager or direct supervisor.

Q: Rsums and curriculum vitaes, or CVs, are essentially the same, except A) CVs are more detailed and include personal information. B) rsums are longer and list all past experiences. C) personal information should never be on a CV, but can be on a rsum. D) rsums use only months and years as dates, CVs use exact dates. E) CVs start with general information and become more detailed, rsums start with detailed information that becomes more general.

Q: In most cases A) a good rsum will get you the job you want. B) the rsum should list all your skills and abilities. C) a rsum should be at least two pages long. D) your rsum will be read carefully and thoroughly. E) your rsum will be screened by a computer before a human ever looks at it.

Q: When determining the best method to use in developing your rsum, remember A) all companies scan the rsums for keywords. B) the rsum must be one page or less. C) a traditional rsum is no longer necessary as most applications are online. D) to adapt the rsum to meet the needs of your audience. E) the strongest rsums use a chronological format.

Q: The purpose of a rsum is to A) induce the reader to hire you. B) list all your skills and abilities. C) get you an interview. D) take the place of an application letter. E) exaggerate your qualifications and impress potential employers.

Q: The best way to handle frequent job changes on a rsum is to A) avoid any mention of a job you held for less than a year. B) group similar jobs under a single heading. C) provide a detailed explanation of each one. D) omit descriptions of several positions. E) mention only the ones that pertain to the job being sought.

Q: A type of rsum that emphasizes a candidate's skills and accomplishments while also including a complete job history is termed A) a chronological rsum. B) a functional rsum. C) a combination rsum. D) an indirect rsum. E) a comprehensive rsum.

Q: If you are planning a career change and want to deemphasize lengthy unemployment or lack of career progress, the best organizational plan for your rsum would be A) chronological. B) functional. C) targeted. D) indirect. E) combination.

Q: For someone who's involved in the job search process, volunteer work A) has little to no value, since it does not involve working for pay. B) is helpful only for those seeking employment in the nonprofit sector. C) should not be mentioned, since many employers view it as a waste of time. D) can highlight problem-solving and leadership skills. E) is helpful only if it allows you to do temporary work for a potential employer.

Q: If you are just graduating from college and have limited professional experience, A) a traditional chronological rsum is your only option. B) a functional rsum is your only option. C) your chronological rsum should probably list educational qualifications before listing experience. D) your rsum can be written in a casual, informal tone. E) avoid mentioning volunteer work.

Q: List at least five common mistakes that can severely hinder your job search.

Q: Explain the importance of networking as part of your career search, and describe how to go about finding helpful networks.

Q: Explain what it means to take the initiative to find job opportunities, and why it is necessary in today's job market.

Q: How can reading business-related blogs, microblogs, and podcasts help you prepare to seek employment?

Q: What is meant by quality of hire, and how do companies use it?

Q: Briefly explain the best time to begin designing a personal job-search strategy.

Q: A good rsum is targeted for specific situations and prospective employers.

Q: Because the competition for most jobs is so great, even a seemingly minor mistake (such as a typo on a rsum) can eliminate your chances of success.

Q: Your mobile device should be used as a A) tool to abandon a search at nonmobile friendly companies. B) tool to enhance your personal brand and online portfolio. C) tool to conduct a background check on a firm. D) blogging device for networking. E) tool to separate your personal life from your professional life.

Q: Your ________ is an essential part of your potential quality as a new hire. A) perceived ability B) salary and benefits package C) motivation D) professionalism E) reliability

Q: Many companies judge the success of their recruiting efforts by the A) quantity of hire. B) quality of hire. C) cost-benefit hiring ratio. D) social media click-through rate. E) corporate turnover ratio.

Q: Contacting people in a job candidate's online network for background information A) is illegal unless the candidate has listed them as references. B) occurs very rarely, since most employers don't have time to check online networks. C) is possible only when the candidate provides contact information. D) violates Facebook and LinkedIn user agreements. E) is becoming more common among employers.

Q: Regardless of a candidate's work experience, the prime source of jobs in general appears to be A) recommendations from current employees. B) online job posting services. C) college job fairs. D) postings on company websites. E) newspaper and trade journal ads.

Q: By definition, a rsum is a A) detailed account of a jobseeker's personal journey through life. B) structured summary of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications. C) random sample of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications. D) catalog of a person's education, employment background, and job qualifications. E) written account of someone's musings about the job-search process.

Q: The best way to become a valued network member is by A) expecting others in your network to help you. B) emailing your rsum to everyone you meet. C) broadcasting other people's contact information. D) asking others to provide information that you can find yourself. E) helping others in some way.

Q: The vast majority of all job openings in the United States are A) advertised in the newspaper. B) posted on Craigslist or Monster. C) never advertised to the general public. D) senior positions that require years of experience. E) entry level.

Q: Starting with your initial contact and continuing throughout the interview process, you should A) stress to the employer how much getting the job will mean to you. B) press for a decision because you are scheduled for other interviews. C) let the employer determine how to use your knowledge, skills, and abilities. D) explain how your skills and accomplishments will meet the needs of the employer. E) determine how much your skills are worth to the employer.

Q: The best way to find job opportunities is usually A) searching online job boards such as Monster. B) looking for them in the newspaper's classified ads. C) counting on the people you know to keep you in the loop. D) identifying the companies you want to work for and focusing your efforts on them. E) to send a form letter to as many companies as possible, asking that they call you when they have openings.

Q: Business-related blogs and microblogs A) are generally not very helpful to job applicants. B) can help you get comfortable with the jargon and buzzwords in a particular field. C) can be useful in a job search, but only for those seeking positions in technical fields. D) are very difficult to find online. E) are almost always thinly veiled attempts to sell products and services.

Q: Learning which keywords will be most effective on your rsum A) is easy when you access leading business publications, blogs, and other sources. B) is impossible unless you already have a job in the industry you wish to work in. C) can only be accomplished by calling potential employers and asking them. D) is unnecessary, since most employers no longer pay much attention to them. E) is easy since most firms look for the same skills and abilities.

Q: Posting a job opening on a major job board such as Monster is often A) a company's first step in seeking promising candidates. B) helpful for high-tech companies, but not for others. C) the most successful way for companies to discourage unqualified candidates from applying. D) an effective way for companies to limit the number of applications they receive. E) a company's last resort, after it has exhausted other possibilities for finding desirable candidates.

Q: Customizing your rsum for each job opening is A) a waste of valuable time, since your qualifications are the same no matter where you apply. B) necessary only if you are slightly exaggerating some aspect of your qualifications. C) a good way to get into trouble, since you might forget what you wrote on one of the versions. D) not necessary unless you are applying for senior executive positions. E) an important step in showing each employer that you will be a good fit.

Q: One of your first steps in preparing to seek employment should be to A) write the story of you, including what you're passionate about, your abilities, and so forth. B) call some potential employers and ask for interviews. C) visit promising businesses and ask if they have any openings. D) come to terms with the fact that you will have little to no control over where you end up. E) update your online presence, including Facebook and LinkedIn sites.

Q: The best time for college students to begin developing a job-search strategy is A) about six months prior to graduation. B) noweven if they are a year or more away from graduation. C) no earlier than the second semester of their senior year. D) immediately after graduation. E) when they locate a promising job ad.

Q: Offer some practical suggestions for overcoming anxiety related to public speaking.

Q: When delivering presentations online, it is especially important to ask the audience for frequent feedback.

Q: When developing a presentation for an online audience, A) send out study materials immediately after the presentation is over. B) break complicated slides into multiple slides. C) limit the use of the backchannel to Twitter breaks. D) start the presentation on time. E) keep each slide on screen for a longer period of time.