Deck 13: Preparing Resumes and Application Messages

Question 1

Anna is preparing for a job search. She has identified a number of job listings after a thorough research and analysis of her career and has prepared a targeted résumé and an application message. To extend the impact, she has supplemented her résumé with a video recording. Which of the following should be Anna's next step to get a job?

A)Completing a self-assessment
B)Interviewing with companies
C) Preparing a cover letter
D) Preparing a job profile

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following suggestions should you follow when using the Internet or online databases to search for specific job openings?

A)Input job titles rather than words and phrases that describe your skills.
B)Do not limit yourself to one search engine or online job site.
C) Start with a specific subject and geographic region and then broaden your search.
D) Do not use specific phrases such as "entry-level job" or "job in advertising."

Answer 2

B

Question 3

To avoid a tone of egotism in a résumé, _____.

A)do not use action verbs that seem overly persuasive
B)do not use too many adjectives or adverbs that seem overly strong
C) use writer-focused statements
D) use self-judgmental terms and generalizations

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The research phase of a job search involves:

A)sending application letters to prospective employers.
B)preparing a standard cover message.
C) gathering relevant information for decision making.
D) rehearsing answers to standard interview questions.

Question 5

Which of the following is a nontraditional source of locating a job?

A)A career services center
B)An employment agency
C) A professional organization
D) An electronic employment resource

Question 6

Which of the following is the first step in the process of applying for a job?

A)Identifying a job listing by using traditional and electronic sources
B)Preparing a targeted résumé and an application message in required formats
C) Supplementing a résumé with a portfolio (print or electronic) or video recording
D) Conducting research and analysis of self, career, and job

Question 7

Which of the following is true of a functional résumé?

A)It is the traditional organizational format for résumés.
B)It is effective for applicants who have progressed up a clearly defined career path.
C) It requires a complete analysis of self, career, and the job sought.
D) It emphasizes dates and job titles.

Question 8

While applying for a job, what is the next step after preparing a targeted résumé and an application message?

A)Preparing a company or job profile
B)Preparing a cover letter
C) Considering if the résumé needs to be supplemented with a portfolio
D) Conducting research and an analysis of your career

Question 9

In a chronological résumé, which of the following headings normally appears in the portion that presents qualification?

A)Honors and Activities
B)Public Relations
C) Experience
D) Administration

Question 10

The chronological résumé is a less effective format for applicants who:

A)have a consistent career history with no gaps.
B)have progressed up a clearly defined career ladder.
C) are seeking jobs different from the job currently held.
D) are well qualified and have a lot of experience.

Question 11

James is the lead software analyst at Infonet Corp., a multinational information technology company. Prior to joining Infonet, he had worked as a software analyst for four years in another organization. In Infonet, he has progressed from being an executive software analyst to being the lead software analyst in five years. Now, James wants to apply for the position of the head of department of digital systems at Alpha Corp. Based on his career graph, which of the following types of résumé would be the most effective for James's profile?

A)A chronological résumé
B)A functional résumé
C) A skill-based résumé
D) An ability-based résumé

Question 12

In a résumé, a good job or career objective must:

A)be specific enough to be meaningful yet general enough to apply to a variety of jobs.
B)have detailed information about your qualifications.
C) contain elaborate statements about how an organization can benefit you.
D) include personal information so that an employer can know you well.

Question 13

A functional résumé could be best for you when:

A)your work history is consistent and has no gaps.
B)you have little or no transferable skills.
C) your education or experience is scant.
D) you have progressed up a clearly defined career ladder.

Question 14

A(n) _____ is a quick version of a résumé designed in a format suitable for broadcasting on smartphones.

A)inline résumé
B)functional résumé
C) scannable résumé
D) beamable résumé

Question 15

_____ specialize in placing a candidate in a position on a temporary basis until he or she finds a full-time job.

A)Professional organizations
B)Career services centers
C) Employment contractors
D) Career counsellors

Question 16

Unlike a functional résumé, a chronological résumé:

A)follows the traditional organizational format that emphasizes dates and job titles.
B)works best for applicants who have gaps in their work histories or are just entering the job market.
C) is effective for applicants who have little or no experience.
D) highlights the tasks that an applicant can perform well.

Question 17

The "Qualifications" section of a résumé _____.

A)provides a list of references that complement your employment credentials
B)should have a statement about how your skills will contribute to an organization
C) varies depending on the information identified in the analysis of self, career, and job
D) should precede the career or job objective section of the résumé

Question 18

While applying for a job, after you conduct research, complete a self-assessment of your qualifications, and identify a job listing, you should:

A)prepare a targeted résumé and an application message.
B)supplement your résumé with a portfolio or video recording.
C) interview with companies.
D) post a video résumé on YouTube.

Question 19

The _____ of a résumé lists names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of people who can provide information about a candidate, which adds credibility to the résumé.

A)qualifications section
B)references section
C) work experience section
D) personal information section

Question 20

Which of the following is true of career services centers?

A)Some centers assist students in preparing electronic portfolios to supplement their résumés.
B)They specialize in providing temporary employees to companies.
C) They help unemployed individuals avail state aid.
D) Most centers maintain a manual database and require printed résumés from students.

Question 21

In the context of general writing guidelines, you can distinguish your application message from the competition by:

A)apologizing for a shortcoming and admitting failure.
B)substituting fresh, original expressions that reflect contemporary language.
C) using strong adjectives and generalizations to sound better.
D) using first-person pronouns and writer-focused statements.

Question 22

_____ can be included in a professional portfolio.

A)Certificates of completion
B)Income statements
C) Income tax statements
D) Public reports of current organization

Question 23

Which of the following statements is true of an unsolicited application message?

A)It has a lesser need for attention-getters than a solicited message.
B)It decreases a person's chances of locating potential openings.
C) The process of sending an unsolicited application message could be time consuming.
D) The opening paragraph in an unsolicited application message is likely to be very specific.

Question 24

Mark, a history professor, is applying for a job at a university. He needs to write an application letter to persuade the dean of the university to extend an interview invite to him. He, therefore, adds the following statement in his application message: "I hope you will go through my application and consider me a good candidate for the position of the head of the department of history." However, Mark's application gets rejected. The most likely reason for the rejection of Mark's application is:

A)the customized nature of the message.
B)the use of contemporary language.
C) the use of subjunctive words that indicate lack of confidence.
D) the use of second-person pronouns and receiver-focused statements.

Question 25

Which of the following suggestions should you follow while making an employment video?

A)Add a "home movie" quality to the video.
B)Avoid using a single, monotonous stationary shot.
C) Wear clothing with bright colors and close patterns.
D) Avoid long "talking head" segments.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is true of application messages?

A)They are designed to convince employers that qualifications are adequate.
B)They differ from sales messages in that they are not persuasive.
C) They are informative and thus written deductively.
D) They are sent to prospective employers only when requested.

Question 27

Reports, proposals, or written documents prepared for classes or on the job are some possible items to include in a(n) _____.

A)inline résumé
B)cover letter
C) beamer
D) professional portfolio

Question 28

Lucy is applying for a job at a marketing firm. She has already prepared her résumé. In order to get the employers to go through her application and get herself an interview, her application message should include the line:

A)"When a date and time can be arranged, I would like to talk with you."
B)"Should you decide to hire me, I will do my best to prove my worth to your company."
C) "I will call you on Monday to set an appointment time that works for both of us."
D) "May I have an appointment with you on March 10?"

Question 29

Which of the following is true of employment videos?

A)They discourage potential employers from stereotyping.
B)They eliminate potential illegal employment discrimination.
C) They encourage potential employers to focus on an applicant's physical characteristics.
D) They are more commonly used in career fields for which analytical performance is a key element.

Question 30

Unlike solicited application messages, unsolicited application messages:

A)have greater need for attention-getters.
B)decrease a person's chances of locating potential openings.
C) are written when an employer's specific needs are known.
D) use a central selling feature as a theme.

Question 31

A(n) _____ is defined as a collection of artifacts that demonstrate a job applicant's communication, people, and technical skills.

A)inline résumé
B)beamer
C) electronic résumé
D) professional portfolio

Question 32

To prepare an electronic résumé that can be scanned accurately, you should:

A)not use large font, such as 10- or 14-point font.
B)not fold or staple your résumé.
C) use italics, underlining, and open bullets.
D) use graphic lines and boxes.

Question 33

Which of the following is true of electronic applicant-tracking systems?

A)They can automatically prepare letters of rejection and interview offers.
B)They make it difficult to sort scanned résumés stored in electronic databases.
C) They can easily read print résumés and sort them, with a resulting ranking of applicants.
D) They decrease efficiency of processing the volume of résumés received in a competitive market.

Question 34

Which of the following is a guideline to prepare an electronic résumé that can be scanned accurately?

A)Do not use large font, such as 10- or 14-point font.
B)Use popular, decorative typefaces.
C) Minimize the white space between the sections of the résumé.
D) Do not include italics, underlining, open bullets, or graphic lines and boxes.

Question 35

Which of the following writing techniques will help distinguish your application message from the competition?

A)Using first-person pronouns and writer-focused statements
B)Communicating knowledge of the company and job requirements
C) Using strong adjectives and generalizations to sound better
D) Apologizing for a shortcoming and admitting failure

Question 36

Which of the following can be included in a professional portfolio?

A)Pay stubs
B)Income tax statements
C) Brochures describing workshops attended
D) Public reports of current organization

Question 37

An inline résumé is becoming the preferred résumé choice for employers because:

A)it is designed in a format suitable for broadcasting on smartphones.
B)daily email overload prevents employers from opening attachments.
C) it is posted on the applicant's personal website.
D) multimedia elements in a résumé can be distracting to employers.

Question 38

Which of the following is a similarity between a sales message and an application message?

A)Both are solely informative messages.
B)Both are written deductively.
C) Both are always solicited.
D) Both use a central selling feature as a theme.

Question 39

Which of the following should you do to distinguish your application message from the competition?

A)Tailor the message to the employer's need.
B)Use first-person pronouns and writer-focused statements.
C) Use strong adjectives and generalizations to sound better.
D) Apologize for a shortcoming and admit failure.

Question 40

While preparing an electronic résumé that can be scanned accurately, _____.

A)use a nontraditional résumé format
B)include italics, underlining, and open bullets
C) use popular, nondecorative typefaces
D) keep white space to a minimum

Question 41

An applicant should never make a request to the receiver to extend an invitation for an interview in the application letter.

Question 42

Errors in keyboarding, spelling, and punctuation in a résumé could be taken as evidence of lack of respect for the employer.

Question 43

An employment video might lead to undesired stereotyping and discrimination.

Question 44

Why is developing a network often considered the most valuable source of information about jobs?

Question 45

The key difference between a sales message and an application message for jobs is that the application message uses a central selling feature as a theme.

Question 46

Portfolios are used only by writers, artists, and photographers to showcase their work.

Question 47

Instead of self-marketing, standard verbiage connects your experiences to your future with a specific company and reflects your personality and values.

Question 48

When using the Internet or online databases to search for specific job openings, you should input job titles rather than words and phrases that describe your skills.

Question 49

LinkedIn is the least preferred networking website for business professionals.

Question 50

While incorporating a central selling feature in an application message, two to four paragraphs are normally sufficient for supporting evidence.

Question 51

Performance appraisals should not be included in a portfolio.

Question 52

In the context of general writing guidelines for application messages, discussion of salary is not meaningful until after a mutually successful interview.

Question 53

To distinguish your application message from the competition, apologize for your shortcomings and admit failure.

Question 54

While preparing an application message for email submission, career experts recommend formatting it as a business letter.

Question 55

Most employers prefer to receive résumés in standard format through electronic media.

Question 56

Victor, a professional with six years' experience, wants to apply for the position of a senior manager at a retail factory. He prepares a résumé and writes the following statements to describe his accomplishments:
a) I was a receptionist at a doctor's private practice for one year. My work included taking appointments, filing records, answering phones, and running errands.
b) I was a receptionist cum sales person at a hardware store and was responsible for customer services. I eventually became an assistant manager at the hardware store. My responsibilities included maintaining inventory and supervising five employees.
c) I was a manager at a retail chain store for three years where I supervised ten employees and was responsible for the daily management of the store.
Which type of résumé would best highlight Victor's qualifications and why? Rewrite the qualifications section of Victor's résumé accordingly.

Question 57

After finalizing your résumé, you should avoid asking other people to check it for you as it can compromise your privacy.

Question 58

The central selling feature of an application message should be introduced only in the last paragraph.

Question 59

An applicant's print résumé is considered his or her primary marketing document.

Question 60

In a functional résumé, points of primary interest to employers-transferable skills-appear in major headings.

Question 61

Jobs go to those who show that the skills and abilities they possess meet the needs of a company. Adequate details and support provide concrete evidence of skills. Revise the following statements to provide evidence of qualifications through concrete, specific details that show, not just tell, the audience about the skills. Invent additional details as needed.
a. I have good problem-solving skills.
b. I am a leader who cares about those I lead and can train and manage those I supervise.
c. I have good organizational and leadership skills.

Question 62

Differentiate between a chronological résumé and a functional résumé.

Question 63

Describe the three versions of résumés that should be prepared to accommodate employers' preferences for the presentation and delivery of résumés.

Question 64

Identify some of the frequent errors you must avoid while encouraging action in a persuasive message.

Question 65

Discuss some of the writing techniques that will help distinguish your application message from the competition.

Question 66

Discuss the similarities and differences between solicited and unsolicited application messages.

Question 67

Discuss the purposes of an electronic applicant-tracking system.

Question 68

Write a short note on how to provide evidence of qualifications in an application message.

Question 69

Sarah Abraham, a software engineer, had left her job when she was pregnant. She had taken up freelancing and wrote articles for IT magazines. She is now reentering the corporate world after a gap of six years. She does not have much experience in the software technology field except her two-year stint at her first job. However, she feels that she is well qualified for the position of a software analyst. Which type of résumé would best suit Sarah's profile? Briefly explain the features of this résumé.

Question 70

How can an applicant encourage action in a persuasive message?

Question 71

What are video résumés? Discuss some guidelines for creating a visually enhanced résumé.