Deck 19: Applying and Interviewing for Employment

Question 1

Because application letters are ________ messages, the AIDA approach is ideally suited for them.

A) negative
B) persuasive
C) routine
D) positive

Answer 1

B

Question 2

If you are asked back for a final job interview, you should expect the interviewer to focus on

A) selling you on the advantages of joining the organization.
B) checking your references.
C) your previous job experience.
D) your educational background.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Your goal in the initial screening interview is to

A) clinch the deal.
B) distinguish yourself from other candidates.
C) explain your greatest strengths in depth.
D) show the interviewer that your personality fits well with the job.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Unsolicited application letters to prospective employers

A) are never read.
B) require more research than solicited letters.
C) irritate the personnel office staff.
D) are none of the above.

Question 5

The best salutation for an application letter is

A) one that addresses a specific individual by first name only.
B) "To Whom It May Concern."
C) one that addresses a specific individual by name.
D) "Dear Hiring Manager."

Question 6

In the final paragraph of your application letter you should

A) cover your bases by saying something like, "If I've left anything important out, I'm sorry."
B) say something philosophical.
C) show the reader you mean business and demand an interview.
D) request an interview and provide contact information.

Question 7

You'll impress prospective employers with your application letter if you

A) use a personal, "chummy" tone.
B) use a flashy, eye-catching layout that demonstrates how you might be able to upgrade the company's correspondence.
C) show that you know something about the company and its place in the market.
D) do all of the above.

Question 8

Which of the following would be the best opening sentence for a solicited application letter?

A) "I'm sure you get these letters all the time, but I hope you'll read mine carefully."
B) "I need a job, and I am very hard worker, so in my opinion you can't go wrong in hiring me for any number of different positions."
C) "Based on my extensive training in forensic accounting, I think I may be of help to your rapidly expanding forensic department."
D) "I am clearly the best person for the job you've advertised."

Question 9

Preparing for a video interview is generally

A) not necessary.
B) virtually impossible to do effectively.
C) the same as preparing for a face-to-face interview.
D) similar to preparing for a face-to-face interview, but requires familiarizing yourself with the equipment and process.

Question 10

Employers use preliminary screening interviews to

A) filter out applicants who are unqualified or otherwise not a good fit for the organization.
B) find out as much as possible about each job candidate just in case the person they are interested in turns them down.
C) offer jobs to the best candidates.
D) give employment tests.

Question 11

During a screening interview, your best approach is to

A) expand on your answers as much as possible so that the interviewer knows you are at ease.
B) keep your answers short, providing a few key details to distinguish you from other candidates.
C) keep as low a profile as you can; this is not the time to try to differentiate yourself from other candidates.
D) ask as many questions as possible.

Question 12

Which type of interview would be likely to include a question such as, "You seem wholly unqualified for this job, and your answers so far have been terrible. Why should we continue with this?"

A) Structured
B) Screening
C) Stress
D) Situational

Question 13

Most employers interview an applicant ________ before deciding to make a job offer.

A) via email
B) anonymously
C) once
D) multiple times

Question 14

If your application letter and résumé fail to bring a response within a week or so after the position close date,

A) cross this particular job possibility off your list.
B) follow up by email or telephone.
C) call the highest-ranking employee at the company and complain that you are being mistreated.
D) send another copy of your application letter and résumé.

Question 15

In general, employers are looking for two things: proof that a candidate can handle the responsibilities of the position and

A) excellent references.
B) evidence that the person will fit in with the organization.
C) high employment test scores.
D) long-term commitment to the organization.

Question 16

In the middle section of a job application letter, you should

A) give your entire work history, in case the employer doesn't read your résumé.
B) present your strongest selling points in terms of their potential benefit to the organization.
C) mention any ways in which you do not meet the job qualifications but point out that you are willing to learn.
D) do all of the above.

Question 17

The approach you take for an application letter depends on

A) how badly you want the job.
B) how long you have been on the job market.
C) whether or not your résumé is up to date.
D) whether it is a solicited letter or an unsolicited letter.

Question 18

Interviews in which job candidates are asked how they would respond to various hypothetical situations on the job are known as ________ interviews.

A) situational
B) stress
C) screening
D) structured

Question 19

When it comes to drug and alcohol tests,

A) by law only government agencies can require them.
B) a majority of companies require them of all applicants.
C) the Supreme Court has declared them unconstitutional.
D) only a few companies now require them.

Question 20

In the second stage of interviews, your best approach is to

A) relate your training and experience to the organization's needs.
B) stick to brief yes and no answers to the interview questions.
C) inquire about salary and benefits.
D) do all the above.

Question 21

When a job interviewer indicates the interview is coming to a close, you should

A) try to prolong the interview, since the more the interviewer interacts with you, the better impression you'll make.
B) find out what will happen next.
C) press for an immediate decision on whether or not you got the job.
D) leave as quickly as possible.

Question 22

If your interviewer asks you a potentially unlawful question,

A) you are required by law to end the interview and report it to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
B) you should ignore it unless it happens more than once.
C) you may choose to answer or not to answer.
D) it is often a sign that the interview is going well.

Question 23

Unsolicited application letters are those sent in response to want ads for job openings.

Question 24

The opening paragraph of an application letter states the reason for writing and gives the recipient a reason to keep reading.

Question 25

The employer should not ask you questions about

A) your ethnicity.
B) your marital status.
C) your religion.
D) any of the above.

Question 26

An application letter can follow the AIDA format for persuasive messages.

Question 27

For most interviews, asking your own questions is

A) risky and a bad idea unless you are certain the interview is going well.
B) usually viewed as a sign of arrogance-after all, the employer is in charge.
C) just as important as answering the employer's questions effectively.
D) necessary only if you are interviewing for a management position.

Question 28

Many interviewers begin making a decision about the applicant

A) during the question-and-answer stage.
B) during the final minutes of the interview.
C) within the first 20 seconds of the interview.
D) after the candidate has left.

Question 29

The difference between solicited and unsolicited application letters is similar to the difference between solicited and unsolicited proposals.

Question 30

If you are a smoker and must go to a job interview

A) ask the interviewer politely if you can smoke.
B) refrain from smoking before the interview.
C) smoke only if the interviewer smokes.
D) smoke just prior to the interview to calm yourself.

Question 31

The longest phase of a job interview is usually

A) the close.
B) the warm-up.
C) the question-and-answer stage.
D) none; all are about the same length.

Question 32

When choosing the clothing you will wear for an interview, the best policy is to

A) dress as comfortably as possible.
B) dress conservatively.
C) wear only bright colors.
D) pick something that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Question 33

A recent survey of hiring professionals revealed that

A) candidates who warn the interviewer ahead of time that they might have to answer a call during the interview have a better chance of getting the job than those who do not.
B) candidates who answer mobile phone calls during interviews are more likely to get the job because they are perceived as busy and important.
C) most employers understand that candidates may need to answer their mobile phones during the interview, and that doing so has no effect on the outcome.
D) answering mobile phone calls or texting in the middle of an interview is the most common mistake candidates make during their interviews.

Question 34

When the interviewer makes an offer to you

A) say yes immediately no matter how much she offers.
B) thank the interviewer and inform her that you will take some time to make your decision.
C) hold out for more money, no matter how much she offers.
D) you need to decide whether or not to accept the offer immediately.

Question 35

You are more likely to have a successful interview if you

A) speak as quickly as possible throughout.
B) begin speaking immediately after the employer finishes asking the question, even if you haven't formed an answer in your mind yet.
C) pause for a moment before answering each question.
D) do none of the above.

Question 36

When going to a job interview for a graphic artist job, you may choose

A) not to bring copies of your résumé; you can assume the interviewer already has one.
B) to take along samples of your work.
C) not to be more than five or ten minutes late.
D) do all of the above.

Question 37

Within two days after an employment interview, you should

A) write a follow-up letter (using the format for persuasive messages) and include another copy of your résumé.
B) have a friend call to see whether you got the job.
C) send the interviewer a short note of thanks.
D) assume that you didn't get the job if you haven't heard anything.

Question 38

If the interviewer makes you a job offer and you begin to discuss salary you should

A) pick a salary number that is 20 percent higher than the industry standard.
B) say that your salary requirements are negotiable.
C) be sure to raise the topic before the interviewer.
D) do all of the above.

Question 39

When responding to questions during a job interview, you should

A) stick to neutral topics such as the weather.
B) limit yourself to yes or no answers only.
C) look for opportunities to frame your answers as brief stories rather than simple declarative answers.
D) not be afraid to ask, "Could we move on?" if the employer asks a question you don't like.

Question 40

An unsolicited job application letter should begin with a statement designed to get the reader's attention.

Question 41

In a behavioral interview, you are asked to describe how you would handle various hypothetical situations on the job.

Question 42

You should prepare for a video interview in much the same way you would prepare for an in-person interview.

Question 43

Most interviewers will make allowances for applicants to be a few minutes late for their appointment.

Question 44

It's a good idea to take extra copies of your résumé with you to an interview.

Question 45

Preliminary screening interviews are often conducted via telephone or Skype.

Question 46

A screening interview is usually used to gauge a job candidate's personality and personal qualities.

Question 47

When applying for jobs, you should assume that every interested employer will conduct a general online search on you.

Question 48

Of the three stages of a job interview, the close is the most important.

Question 49

One challenge in a screening interview is to keep your answers short while distinguishing yourself from other candidates.

Question 50

In the final paragraph of your application letter, you should forcefully demand an interview.

Question 51

In application letters it is acceptable to mention that you will follow up with a phone call in a few days.

Question 52

During a stress interview, you might be asked pointed questions designed to anger or unsettle you.

Question 53

Part of your preparation for job interviews is an evaluation of your vocal tone and speaking habits.

Question 54

Job applicants should not ask questions during an interview; they are there to answer questions, not to ask them.

Question 55

The appropriate clothing for most job interviews is something conservative, such as a dark blue suit.

Question 56

Staging mock interviews can help you identify undesirable nonverbal behaviors and speech mannerisms.

Question 57

An open-ended interview tends to be formal and highly structured.

Question 58

Many employers interview an applicant multiple times before deciding whether to offer a person a job.

Question 59

Part of preparing for a job interview involves anticipating the questions that will be asked and rehearsing answers to each one.

Question 60

In the middle part of an application letter, you should spell out your "selling points" and other potential benefits to your employer.

Question 61

A job interviewer will expect you to raise the issue of salary.

Question 62

You've just finished a job interview that didn't seem promising. Since you know there's no chance of getting the job, you should not bother to send a thank-you message to the interviewer.

Question 63

At the close of an interview, you should impress the interviewer with your assertiveness by pressing for an immediate decision.

Question 64

In ________ interviews, candidates are asked to describe real situations in the past and explain how they responded.

Question 65

Inquiries about an applicant's religious affiliation, national origin, marital status, and so on are considered to be potentially ________ interview questions.

Question 66

In ________ interviews, the interviewer controls the situation by asking a series of prepared questions in a predetermined order.

Question 67

During the question-and-answer phase of an interview, try to keep your answers short; usually just a yes or no will do.

Question 68

In ________ interviews, candidates are asked how they would handle hypothetical work problems.

Question 69

Once an interviewer states the salary for a job offer, you should never try to negotiate it.

Question 70

________ interviews, such as those on college campuses, are a means of eliminating unqualified applicants and identifying promising candidates.

Question 71

Body language is particularly important during the warm-up phase of a job interview.

Question 72

Following a job interview, you should send a(n) ________-________ message even if you feel you have little chance of landing the job.

Question 73

In ________ interviews, candidates are asked pointed questions designed to upset or unsettle them.

Question 74

In ________ interviews, several candidates are interviewed simultaneously.

Question 75

It is potentially illegal for an interviewer to ask about your religious affiliation or marital status.

Question 76

________ language is especially crucial during the warm-up stage of an employment interview.

Question 77

If you are asked a potentially unlawful question during a job interview, you are legally obligated to refuse to answer.

Question 78

In ________-________ interviews, the interviewer poses broad questions and encourages the applicant to talk freely.

Question 79

If you get off to a bad start in a job interview, you can usually turn things around with an impressive close.

Question 80

Because a job interview is a serious situation, you should not smile when you initially greet the interviewer.