Chapter 17: Employment Communications

How do the most effective networkers view networking?

as relational

Lachelle, a business management major, hears about an upcoming networking event for students interested in marketing. Which statement about this situation is true?

Lachelle should attend the event to practice meeting and holding conversations with other people in this type of setting.

Which statement about campus speeches and other professional development events is true?

To benefit from these networking opportunities, you should show interest in the trainers, speakers, and other attendees.

What should your personal brand include? (Choose every correct answer.)

professional positioning; emotional appeal; professional value proposition

Preparing for the job application process

is similar to preparing for other forms of business communication.

Which statement best describes networking?

Networking involves actively pursuing professional relationships to reach shared career, company, and professional development goals.

The first step in creating a résumé is to

evaluate your career ambitions and qualifications.

Which statement about job fairs and career networking events is true?

Your school's career office will have information on job fairs and networking events on campus.

Successfully searching for a job

commonly takes months.

What two things are likely to happen when you attend campus speeches and professional development events?

you will meet new people; you will learn a lot

Résumés typically include which of the following major sections?

name block; education; experience

Which statements about building a distinctive personal brand are true? (Choose every correct answer.)

professionals with distinctive personal brands are more likely to be promoted; your personal brand should inlcude a statement of your strengths that is no more than five words long; a personal brand should be evaluated periodically and revised if needed.

True or false: Like other types of business communication, preparing for the job application process requires you to analyze your audience.

true

Which of the following are true of a good résumé? (Choose every correct answer.)

It must help employers rapidly understand how the candidate will deliver value to them.

It should catch the attention of hiring managers with a good design.

It should present the candidate's main credentials within 15 to 30 seconds.

When drafting a cover letter, you should

clarify your short-term professional goals.; identify the skills you have developed; sort out attributes that define you as a professional.

What are rules for describing your accomplishments and experiences on a resume? (Choose every correct answer.)

Use strategically selected action verbs; Avoid verbs that undersell your attributes and abilities.

What are ways of getting helpful information for a job search? (Choose every correct answer.)

becoming involved with professional organizations in your field; talking to experts at a university career center; searching websites that feature job listings

In a résumé, quantifying accomplishments

clarifies your accomplishments and gives them specificity; can show the significance of your work; should be done whenever possible.

A good résumé should

highlight your relevant abilities and attributes

Which of the following are true about listing accomplishments and contributions on résumés?

The most important contributions should be placed first.

Hiring managers often read only the first couple of pieces of supporting evidence.

The order in which accomplishments are listed shows how they are prioritized.

Hiring managers typically

skim through a résumé on the first pass.

When using action verbs on a résumé, it is important to remember that

different action verbs are better suited to different career fields.

Which of the following should be included on a résumé or cover letter?

abilities that can help an employer

When citing your accomplishments in a résumé, you should

describe how your contributions impacted the bottom line

Buzzwords and jargon on résumés

should be avoided because they fail to highlight your abilities and attributes.

On a résumé, your most important contributions should

be listed first

The last step in the résumé process is

choosing a layout.

When including personal details in your résumé or cover letter, you should

avoid revealing anything that is not strictly relevant;

tell a story of how your key abilities and attributes will help the company.;

include only interests that accentuate your abilities and attributes.

Which of the following statements are true of chronological résumés?

They present information grouped by work and education over time; They are the most common and preferred format for young professionals; They are the most preferred layout for hiring managers.

Which of the following are reasons why clichés should be avoided on résumés? (Choose every correct answer.)

They may show you have unrealistic views about your own abilities; They may make you appear to be naïve or unsophisticated; They do not focus on your specific accomplishments.

Which statement about making connections on LinkedIn is true?

Connect strategically with professionals and peers who share your professional interests.

Which of the following statements about reference lists is true?

They will need to be provided as part of most job applications.

Which of the following are best practices for creating your résumé?

Plan and fine-tune the message before selecting a layout.

Use a layout with white space to avoid a cluttered look.

Make sure that the content is balanced across the page.

Tips for effectively developing a reference list include

developing relationships with potential references over time.

Which of the following statements are true of functional résumés?

They draw special attention to your key skills; They are used both by people with little experience and by professionals with extensive experience.

What are guidelines you should follow when creating a list of references?

Ask people for permission before using them as references; Seek advice from your references about how to handle the job application process.

Which of the following are benefits of using LinkedIn in your job search?

It provides further support for your résumé; It provides additional background information to job interviewers; It helps connect you with hiring managers who are looking for people with your abilities and attributes.

True or false: References may be one of the most important factors in hiring decisions.

true

Which of the following should you keep in mind as you construct a reference list? (Choose every correct answer.)

You should provide a brief description of your relationship to each reference; You should check the job announcement to see how many references are required.

A good reference would be a

professor you have had for several classes relating to your field.

Which of the following are true concerning cover letters?

They should be uniquely tailored to each specific position; They describe your interest in a position; They describe your qualifications for a position.

True or false: You should identify the position you are applying for in your cover letter.

true

When compiling a reference list, you should

use your current supervisor as a reference if that person encourages you to move on and seek opportunity.

not use your current supervisor as a reference if you think your supervisor will be unhappy to find you are looking for work elsewhere.

Getting the tone right in a cover letter

means avoiding overly complex language.

requires confidence without coming across as arrogant.

is one of the hardest tasks in the process.

Which of the following are reasons why you should thank your references?

It is the professional and polite thing to do.

They may want to know how your job search went.

You may need them to act as references again in the future.

A cover letter should

demonstrate that you have researched the position.

Which of the following should you keep in mind as you construct your reference list? (Choose every correct answer.)

It should be formatted in a manner compatible with your résumé.

It should provide current contact information.

An unsolicited cover letter

requires several modifications from a standard solicited cover letter.

opens immediately with a proposition about how you can add value to a company.

often summarizes abilities and attributes with a bulleted list.

The primary purpose of a cover letter is to

show how you meet the employer's needs.

In her cover letter, Cassie wrote, "I am interested in a position in the New York City office." Though Cassie was highly qualified, she did not hear back from the company. Based on this information, what is the most likely reason for this?

She did not clearly specify the position she was applying for.

You can review résumés and cover letters by

asking a professor to look them over for you.

getting the opinions of people in the career center.

rereading them to make sure they accurately highlight your abilities and attributes.

The tone of a cover letter

should be enthusiastic.

Tips for writing an effective cover letter include

carefully reading the job announcement to help you prioritize your selling points.

making sure to demonstrate that you are responsive to the needs of the company.

using the Internet to research the company and the type of job.

Which of the following statements are true of the job interview?

It is the most consequential part of the job application process.

You are competing against the best applicants for the job.

You can be more successful with some preparation.

Writing an unsolicited cover letter

may require more research about the company than a solicited cover letter.

When interviewing for a job, which of the following most reduces your chances of getting hired?

Dressing too provocatively

You should respond to interview questions

strategically.

concisely.

confidently.

Once you have written your cover letter, you should

review it carefully before sending it along

Which of the following should you do when invited to a job interview via an online platform? (Choose every correct answer.)

Ask a friend or colleague to do practice interviews with you.

Test your equipment.

Which of the following statements are true about following up after a job interview?

Most HR professionals recommend following up after the interview in some way.

A thank-you note should be sent within a few hours to one day after an interview.

A thank-you note should be brief and genuine.

In the job interview process,

adequate preparation can help applicants receive job offers.

If you plan to leave your current position, you should

show appreciation for the professional opportunities the position has given you.

When going to a job interview, you should

maintain a certain level of formality in your behavior.

avoid wearing too many accessories.

dress on the conservative side.

During an interview, being strategic means

that you find ways to bring up your selling points.

Doing trial runs when preparing for an online job interview is recommended for which of the following reasons? (Choose every correct answer.)

You will learn how to act professionally and feel natural;

You will know if your equipment is working adequately.

After a job interview,

most hiring managers expect a follow-up of some type relatively soon.

Some good ideas to keep in mind when leaving a job include

informing your supervisor immediately and in person; writing an appreciative letter of resignation, if required; leaving on good terms so you may receive positive references in the future.