Title: Career Exploration
Course: Question Banks

Q: Nina is ready for a career as a nurse when she has:
- A four-year degree in biology. (Incorrect. While this degree would be helpful in the medical field, it alone would not lead directly to a career in nursing.)
- A three-year tour in the military. (Incorrect. While this experience would be important for job and life skills, it would not lead directly to a career in nursing.)
- An AA and certificate of achievement from her community college. (Incorrect. While this may be a good first step, there is more that Nina would need to be ready for a career as a nurse.)
- The training and personal skills to be hired in an entry-level nursing job. (Correct! These would be the ingredients necessary for Nina to be ready for a career as a nurse.)
A: The training and personal skills to be hired in an entry-level nursing job.

Q: Ahkil is ready for his career as an interior designer once he has:
- A BA or BS from a four-year college. (Incorrect. A BA or BS may not be necessarily relevant for a career in interior design.)
- Has flipped five houses. (Incorrect. Hands-on experience would be a plus, but in and of itself, would probably not be enough to qualify.)
- Graduated high school. (Incorrect. A high school diploma would be a good first step, but more specific training and technical skills would be required.)
- The qualifications needed to obtain an entry-level design job. (Correct! To be qualified for a career in interior design, one would need formal design credentials and skills to be able to be hired in that field.)
A: The qualifications needed to obtain an entry-level design job.

Q: Janine is a high school senior interested in a career as a welder. An appropriate first step in her research would be to
- speak to her teachers and school officials about her grades and GPA, as well as her standardized test scores. (Incorrect. Grades and GPA are important, but more relevant information would be needed to initially pursue career readiness for a specific career.)
- inquire about bank loans so she can start her own welding and fabrication company and become a job creator in her community. (Incorrect. This is an admirable goal, but perhaps more of a long-range project, as Janine should first acquire job training, credentials, and experience in the job itself.)
- forego formal training and teach herself from widely available videos and other free sources of information. (Incorrect. Formal training for this career would be a must to get hired by a welding firm, though being a self-starter who is willing to learn independently can certainly supplement one’s program of study.)
- perform research to learn how viable the profession is in her geographical area, i.e., job openings, factories and fabrication companies, salary range, etc. (Correct! Getting an understanding of the local job market in a desired field would be a great idea for any career aspiration.)
A: perform research to learn how viable the profession is in her geographical area, i.e., job openings, factories and fabrication companies, salary range, etc.

Q: Which of the following is true of people who achieve a four-year college degree?
- They earn less money in their career than non-college graduates. (Incorrect. Actually, the reverse is true.)
- They are more likely to switch jobs more frequently than non-college graduates. (Incorrect. This is not true of college graduates versus non-college graduates.)
- They will make more personal friends than non-college graduates. (Incorrect. This is not true of college graduates versus non-college graduates.)
- They earn more money in their career than non-college graduates. (Correct! Studies have shown that college graduates earn 75% more than non-college graduates.)
A: They earn more money in their career than non-college graduates.

Q: Employers have said that when they hire, they place the greatest value on skills that cut across all majors. Which is an example of those types of skills?
- Direct technical skills pertaining to a job function. (Incorrect. Although this is very important, employers value soft skills which make people overall better employees.)
- Quantum mechanics and differential calculus. (Incorrect. Quantum theory and calculus do not cut across all fields of study.)
- Typing and dictation. (Incorrect. Typing and dictation do not cut across all fields of study.)
- “Soft skills” like teamwork, communication, critical thinking. (Correct! These soft skills are very important to employers and are a benefit of a college education.)
A: “Soft skills” like teamwork, communication, critical thinking.

Q: An example of a non-economic, general benefit of a college degree is
- lower interest loans (Incorrect. The conditions under which you borrow money to finance your education are part of a financial commitment and potential economic benefit.)
- higher salary. (Incorrect. Higher earnings for college graduates has been well documented, and this is clearly an economic benefit.)
- lower chances of unemployment (Incorrect. Studies show that college graduates are less likely to be unemployed than non-graduates, which would certainly have significant economic benefits.)
- widening your social network (Correct! Broadening your social network can diversify your social life and help you develop and advance among peers in your chosen career.)
A: widening your social network

Q: What are some key strategies to be used to select a college major?
- Considering everything, seeking inspiration, following best friends major. (Incorrect. College is a time to establish your independence and follow your own interests and goals.)
- Considering everything, going with what is easiest, identifying strengths and talents. (Incorrect. Going with what is easy is not a key strategy for selecting a college major.)
- Going with your gut, seeking inspiration, identifying strengths and talents. (Incorrect. Gut feelings should be considered, but make sure that you have followed other strategies as well.)
- Considering everything, seeking inspiration, identifying strengths and talents. (Correct! These are three of the best strategies for selecting a college major.)
A: Considering everything, seeking inspiration, identifying strengths and talents.

Q: An effective way to choose a college major is to
- find out which major requires the least number of credits (Incorrect. Easier isn’t always better, as your major can set the tone for your career and the rest of your life.)
- pick something you know is a sure thing for you (Incorrect. Studies show that 60% of students will change their major, so don’t be too rigid in your initial planning.)
- ignore inspiration and focus on financial prospects (Incorrect. Inspiration can be an important factor in your motivation, and feeling motivated will help you push through periods of difficult work.)
- take a range of classes and discover your interests (Correct! Pursuing your interests, and finding new ones, is a good strategy to select a major.)
A: take a range of classes and discover your interests

Q: You are a high school counselor helping juniors and seniors select colleges and majors. One of your charges, Selena, is in a panic because she has no idea about what her college major should be. What would be your advice?
- Go back to the library and hit the books. (Incorrect. While continued research may be a good idea, perhaps inspiration will come from other sources.)
- Take a year off until you decide. (Incorrect. This is not necessary as roughly half of college freshman are undecided.)
- Perhaps you should seek another counselor. (Incorrect. This could help, but is not necessary as you don’t have to have a major right away.)
- Don’t worry about it. (Correct! Many college students do not have a declared major at first.)
A: Don’t worry about it.

Q: Which of the following is one of the four key reasons that college graduates with particular majors cite for choosing a career?
- higher earning potential (Incorrect. College graduates are not necessarily only in it for the money.)
- guaranteed job consistency (Incorrect. Research shows that within a decade of employment, most workers are no longer doing a job that is directly connected to their major.)
- avoiding graduate school (Incorrect. Many humanities and social sciences majors who go on to graduate school will earn higher peak salaries than STEM graduates.)
- greater personal satisfaction (Correct! This is one of the four reasons cited by college graduates for choosing their job or career.)
A: greater personal satisfaction

Q: Freya isn’t sure exactly what career she wants after she graduates, but she knows she enjoys learning languages and likes helping people. She especially wants to work with people from other countries such as immigrants or refugees. She is considering working as a translator or some kind of aid worker. Which of the following options best lists the majors Freya should consider?
- Biology, chemistry, physics. (Incorrect. These majors would be more suitable for a career in science and technology.)
- Computer science, programming, electrical engineering. (Incorrect. These majors would be more suitable for a career in IT.)
- Marketing, accounting, finance. (Incorrect. These majors would be more suitable for a career in business.)
- Linguistics, sociology, social work. (Correct! These majors would suit Freya’s interest in helping people from other countries.)
A: Linguistics, sociology, social work.

Q: As a college counselor, what advice would you give a student who has changed majors several times and is unsure about what career path to follow?
- Students need to stick with one major throughout their time in college. (Incorrect. 50–70 percent of college students change their major at least once during their time in college.)
- Students should focus on a science or math major to ensure good-paying jobs. (Incorrect. Even though humanities and social sciences students may earn less money right after college, they may earn more by the time they reach their peak salary than students who had STEM majors.)
- Students should try to learn specific job skills in their time in college. (Incorrect. Many or most jobs that exist today will be very different five years from now.)
- College majors do not necessarily correlate with careers. What classes or activities have interested you most? (Correct! Within ten years of graduation, most people work in careers that aren’t directly related to their majors.)
A: College majors do not necessarily correlate with careers. What classes or activities have interested you most?

Q: Which of the following is the best description of a job?
- A job is an occupation that a person undertakes for many years. (Incorrect. This would describe a career.)
- A job usually pays an annual salary. (Incorrect. A job usually pays an hourly wage.)
- A job provides significant personal growth. (Incorrect. Careers are thought to be more fulfilling than jobs.)
- A job is primarily a paycheck for performing work. (Correct! A job is something a person does to earn a living.)
A: A job is primarily a paycheck for performing work.

Q: Which of the following is the best description of a career?
- A career is something a person does to make a living. (Incorrect. This would best describe a job, not a career.)
- A career usually pays an hourly wage. (Incorrect. This would best describe a job, not a career.)
- A career usually requires no special skills, training, or degree. (Incorrect. This would best describe a job, not a career.)
- A career is a series of jobs that are undertaken for a significant period of time that sees growth in personal and professional skills. (Correct! This is the best description of a career as it refers to commitment and rewards.)
A: A career is a series of jobs that are undertaken for a significant period of time that sees growth in personal and professional skills.

Q: Bert works as a cashier in a bookstore for an hourly wage. He likes his work, but he doesn’t want to be doing the same thing five years from now. On the other hand, Ernie works in a different bookstore. He started as a cashier and was promoted to a manager. Ernie has been working on a marketing degree and five years from now hopes to land a position in marketing in the company headquarters. Which of the following statements best fits this scenario?
- Bert has a career and Ernie has a job. (Incorrect. Actually the reverse is true. Bert has a job.)
- Both Bert and Ernie have careers. (Incorrect. Bert’s bookstore job is clearly temporary while Ernie’s job is a stepping stone to a career.)
- Both Bert and Ernie have jobs. (Incorrect. Ernie has risen to a manager job but is investing time and money in a degree that will qualify him for a career in marketing.)
- Bert has a job and Ernie has a career. (Correct! Ernie is clearly in this for the long run with his sights set on a career in marketing.)
A: Bert has a job and Ernie has a career.

Q: Choosing a career is a multi-step process. The steps involve:
- Your interests, the knowledge and skills needed, career deliverables, and your availability. (Incorrect. Availability is not a consideration in the process.)
- Your interests, the knowledge and skills needed, your high school GPA, and career choice. (Incorrect. Your high school GPA will definitely affect your college acceptance, but long-term your career path is just getting started.)
- Your interests, the state of the economy, career deliverables, and career choice. (Incorrect. The state of the economy is not a factor in the process of choosing your career.)
- Your interests, the knowledge and skills needed, career deliverables, and career choice. (Correct! These are the essentials of the career choice process.)
A: Your interests, the knowledge and skills needed, career deliverables, and career choice.

Q: Which of the following could be most helpful in choosing a career?
- Your friend’s opinion, your parent’s careers, TV documentary about a career. (Incorrect. These might be helpful, but definitely not the most helpful in choosing a career.)
- An internet article, a social media poll, a magazine article. (Incorrect. These might be helpful, but definitely not the most helpful in choosing a career.)
- An Indeed quiz, an aptitude test, a college survey. (Incorrect. These might be helpful, but definitely not the most helpful in choosing a career.)
- Childhood interests, personality traits, current skills. (Correct! These could be important and helpful factors in choosing a career.)
A: Childhood interests, personality traits, current skills.

Q: If you are unsure of your interests, what is another way for you to think about your future career?
- Think about how much money you intend to earn. (Incorrect. Salary requirements are a consideration, but should not be the driving force behind your career search.)
- Think about what your friends are doing. (Incorrect. Every individual is different and you must find what is important to you.)
- Think about talking to a headhunter. (Incorrect. Headhunters can be helpful once you have decided on the career field you choose.)
- Think about what you do not want to do. (Correct! It could be helpful to narrow down the alternatives.)
A: Think about what you do not want to do.

Q: Sasha is taking advantage of her company’s professional development offerings in order to learn new skills. She is hoping to get promoted in the next year. What career development stage is represented in Sasha’s scenario?
- Reinventing (Incorrect. The reinventing stage is characterized by transition: either into retirement, or a change in career. While Sasha is learning new skills and hoping for a promotion, she is not going through a career change.)
- Establishing (The establishing stage is characterized by selecting or entering a career field as well as stable job opportunities. Since Sasha has already entered her career field and is hoping to get promoted within the same company, she is not in the establishing stage.)
- Growing (Incorrect. The growing stage often takes place before enters a given career field. It is characterized by identifying the career potential is related to being able to accomplish tasks and goals.)
- Maintaining (Correct! Although the maintaining stage is also associated with stagnation, it also includes taking stock of one’s career, setting goals, and upward patterns. Sasha is learning new skills and taking stock of where she wants her career to go, which describes the Maintaining stage.)
A: Maintaining

Q: Emir is in his second year of undergraduate study and has just taken on an internship for a sustainable material design firm. He is hoping to get more insight into both the sustainable material industry as well as the industrial design field. Which career development stage is represented in Emre’s scenario?
- Growing (Incorrect. By narrowing down areas of interest as well as exploring particular careers, Emre is past the growing stage, which is marked by being able to do certain tasks and accomplish certain goals.)
- Establishing (Incorrect. Since Emir is not yet close to graduating with his undergraduate degree and he has not yet decided on his career field, he is not looking to explore a stable job opportunity yet. Therefore, he is not at the establishing stage.)
- Reinventing (Incorrect. The reinventing stage is characterized by transition: either into retirement, or a change in career. Emir has not yet established a career that he would need to reinvent.)
- Exploring (Correct! Emre has identified specific interests and wants to learn more about them. He is trying out a job via internship to gather data points about potential careers to guide him further.)
A: Exploring

Q: Janae is about to graduate and is starting to consider her career path, needs to put together a resume, and begin looking at current job listings. Which of the following resources will be most targeted and up to date to meet Jenae’s needs?
- Books on Career Development (Incorrect. While books on career development offer in-depth knowledge, the fact that they go through publishing means that they are not always the most up to date in a quickly changing job market.)
- Internet sites for career planning (Incorrect. While internet sites are extensive, definitive, and frequently updated, there is a wide audience for these sites. Therefore, they may not be as tailored to X experience and location as other resources.)
- LinkedIn (Incorrect. LinkedIn is a valuable social media platform for job searches, networking, and can provide learning opportunities. However, there is a wide audience for LinkedIn. Therefore, it may not be as tailored to x experience and location as other resources.)
- Campus Career development center (Correct! The campus career development center offers invaluable personal career development assistance as well as local and alumni job listings and networking opportunities.)
A: Campus Career development center

Q: Hard skills can be described as:
- Subjective skills that pertain to the way you relate to people, or the way you think, or the ways in which you behave. (Incorrect. This is a description of soft skills.)
- Skills that are difficult to master. (Incorrect. Hark skills may not be “hard” to learn necessarily.)
- Transferable skills. (Incorrect. Soft skills are also known as transferable skills.)
- Concrete or objective abilities that you can easily quantify. (Correct! These skills tend to be job-specific and necessary in order to meet job requirements.)
A: Concrete or objective abilities that you can easily quantify.

Q: Jason is interviewing for a business analyst position with a large firm. Jason has a degree and several certificates in finance, but his new employers hire him because they think he is a good team player and communicates well with others. Jason was hired because of his:
- Hard skills. (Incorrect. Collaboration and communication are known as soft skills.)
- Job training. (Incorrect. Collaboration and communication are known as soft skills.)
- Certifications. (Incorrect.Collaboration and communication are known as soft skills.)
- Soft skills. (Correct! Employers today are looking for employees that not only have experience and hard skills, but also have communication, critical-thinking, and collaboration skills.)
A: Soft skills.

Q: The following are hard skills necessary to be hired as a software developer:
- Math aptitude, problem-solving, development languages, communication skills. (Incorrect. Communication skills are known as a soft skill.)
- Math aptitude, problem-solving, teamwork skills, attention to detail. (Incorrect. Collaborating with teammates is known as a soft skill.)
- Math aptitude, interpersonal skills, development languages, attention to detail. (Incorrect. Interpersonal skills are known as soft skills.)
- Math aptitude, problem-solving, development languages, attention to detail. (Correct! These skills would be needed, and relate directly, to be a successful software developer.)
A: Math aptitude, problem-solving, development languages, attention to detail.

Q: Which of the following are transferable skills?
- Operating a forklift. (Incorrect. This is a hard skill.)
- Identifying specific organisms under a microscope. (Incorrect. This is a hard skill.)
- Having intimate knowledge of federal tax codes. (Incorrect. This is definitely a hard skill.)
- Accepting constructive criticism. (Correct! Employers want employees who can accept and profit from constructive criticism, and this skill will stay with a person from job to job.)
A: Accepting constructive criticism.

Q: The following are considered transferable skills:
- Adaptable, willing to learn, self-motivated, Class A driver. (Incorrect. Class A driver is a hard skill.)
- Adaptable, willing to learn, construction, team player. (Incorrect. Construction is a hard skill.)
- Brain surgery, willing to learn, self-motivated, team player. (Incorrect. Brain surgery is a job-specific skill that would not be transferred to another job.)
- Adaptable, willing to learn, self-motivated, team player. (Correct! These skills are essential and can be applied to almost any and every career.)
A: Adaptable, willing to learn, self-motivated, team player.

Q: The following are great ways to acquire career skills outside of the classroom:
- Personal projects, part-time work, volunteering, network. (Incorrect. Networking is a great way to stay in touch, make new contacts, and learn of new job opportunities, but not a way to acquire career skills (it IS a career skill actually).)
- Personal projects, part-time work, reality TV shows, joining a friend. (Incorrect. Reality TV shows are not recommended to acquire career skills.)
- Personal projects, owning pets, volunteering, joining a friend. (Incorrect. Owning pets will lead to personal growth, but not help with the acquisition of career skills.)
- Personal projects, part-time work, volunteering, joining a friend. (Correct! These are all recommended ways to acquire career skills outside the classroom.)
A: Personal projects, part-time work, volunteering, joining a friend.

Q: Which of the following would be most helpful in being “reachable” and “findable”?
- Attending a conference. (Incorrect. Conferences are a great vehicle to network, but they only last a few days.)
- Improving writing skills. (Incorrect. Writing skills are a very important career skill, but not necessarily the best way to be findable.)
- Searching the internet. (Incorrect. Internet searches are great for research, but will not help people find or reach you.)
- Updating social media profiles. (Correct! Keeping LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram profiles current is a great way to stay reachable and findable.)
A: Updating social media profiles.

Q: Martha is studying economics and political science. She is considering a career in environmental law or in the finance industry. She wants to acquire skills that will help her to be more marketable and successful in her future career. Which option will help Martha acquire the necessary skills for her career goals?
- Conduct an informational interview (Incorrect. An informational interview is helpful to gain insight into a particular career but it does not offer valuable skills.)
- Watch documentaries about the history of the finance industry in the US (Incorrect. While Martha may learn from more in-depth examples than are given perhaps in her economics classes, she is not acquiring a new skill.)
- Take an honors political science class. (Incorrect. Since Martha is already studying political science, she would do better to take a class in a different area of study to learn a new skill.)
- Join the speech and debate team at her college (Correct! Not only will Martha gain valuable networking opportunities through making connections with other speech and debate teammates and coaches in various colleges, but she will learn and practice the new skills of public speaking and critical thinking.)
A: Join the speech and debate team at her college

Q: The following are types of information routinely shared in the process of networking:
- Proprietary company information. (Incorrect. Proprietary company information would be confidential and only shared with fellow employees.)
- Personal financial information. (Incorrect. It is never a good idea to share personal financial information such as bank accounts, stock applications, etc.)
- Expected upcoming IPO. (Incorrect. This would be considered a violation of insider trading rules.)
- Business cards, résumés, cover letters, job-seeking strategies, leads about open jobs. (Correct! This is exactly the type of information shared while networking.)
A: Business cards, résumés, cover letters, job-seeking strategies, leads about open jobs.

Q: What is proven to be the most effective way of finding a job?
- Job sites. (Incorrect. Job sites are OK, but you are subject to pre-screening by a computer and probably will not even get an interview.)
- Sending tons of resumes. (Incorrect. Sending tons of resumes is great, but you are subject to pre-screening by a computer and probably will not even get an interview.)
- Answering classified ads. (Incorrect. Answering classified ads is OK, but you are subject to pre-screening by a computer and probably will not even get an interview.)
- Networking. (Correct! Time and time again it has been shown that networking is the most effective way to find an opening, get interviews, and land a position.)
A: Networking.

Q: Armand is a college junior and interested in a possible career in sales. How should he begin to move forward towards this career?
- Print business cards. (Incorrect. Business cards sound old-fashioned, but they are a great way for people to recall your name after interviews, trade shows, conferences, etc.)
- Attend a trade conference. (Incorrect. Trade conferences are a good way to establish new contacts, but it is important to know what you may wish to ask a new contact before you meet them.)
- Consult with your parents and their friends. (Incorrect. Parents and friends can be a great source of information, but knowing what you want to learn will help direct their thoughts and advice.)
- Develop a networking plan. (Correct! Networking effectively involves goal-setting and steps to achieve those goals. This should be done first.)
A: Develop a networking plan.

Q: What are some common professional networking activities that can be performed while still in college?
- Get to know your professors, check with your alumni office, get involved in the yearbook.. (Incorrect. Yearbook is a fine extracurricular activity, but not really geared towards professional networking.)
- Get to know your professors, participate in intramural sports, discuss leads with your classmates. (Incorrect. Intramural sports are good extracurricular activities, but not really geared towards professional networking.)
- Take only classes with math or science, check with your alumni office, discuss leads with your classmates. (Incorrect. Taking only math or science classes may be good for a career in the engineering field, but remember employees are looking for communication skills and outside experience.)
- Get to know your professors, check with your alumni office, discuss leads with your classmates. (Correct! These are excellent networking activities you can do while still in school.)
A: Get to know your professors, check with your alumni office, discuss leads with your classmates.

Q: What are some professional organizations you can join while working for networking opportunities?
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Marketing Association, International Association Council of Engineering Professionals. (Incorrect. The International Association Council of Engineering Professionals is a fake organization.)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Society of Auto Mechanics, American Society of Civil Engineers. (Incorrect. The American Society of Auto Mechanics is a fake organization.)
- International Association of Paralegals, American Marketing Association, American Society of Civil Engineers. (Incorrect. The International Association of Paralegals is a fake organization.)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Marketing Association, American Society of Civil Engineers. (Correct! These are three examples of professional organizations that would lend themselves to networking opportunities for those who have careers in those fields.)
A: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Marketing Association, American Society of Civil Engineers.

Q: Amin works as an advertising art director. He got his current position when a headhunter spotted the artwork he posted on his popular art blog and Instagram account. Which method did Amin use to develop his professional network?
- He joined professional organizations. (Incorrect. There were no professional organizations involved in this networking example.)
- He asked family members and friends, coworkers, and acquaintances for referrals. (Incorrect. There were no family or friends involved in this networking example.)
- He took part in volunteering. (Incorrect. There was no volunteer work involved in this networking example.)
- He participated in online social media. (Correct! Instagram and blogs are great social media platforms with which to network with professionals.)
A: He participated in online social media.

Q: Which of the following should be included on a résumé?
- Salary requirements. (Incorrect. A resume is not the place to list or discuss salary requirements.)
- Family situation. (Incorrect. A resume is not the place to list or discuss your family situation.)
- Critique of former employer. (Incorrect. Critique of former employer(s) should not be included in your resume (or even during an interview).)
- Work experience. (Correct! This is probably the most important content in a resume.)
A: Work experience.

Q: When preparing to apply for a job, what should you do BEFORE composing your resume?
- Learn the names and bios of the company’s board members. (Incorrect. Although this could be useful at some point in the interview process, it is probably overkill for resume preparation.)
- Search Facebook and Instagram for information about your hiring authority. (Incorrect. Stalking your hiring authorities' personal social network activities would be considered an inappropriate intrusion. Stick with professional social media like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc.)
- Contact the Better Business Bureau to collect information about past customer complaints so you can confront your interviewers. (Incorrect. Resumes, cover letters, and interviews need to start on a positive note.)
- Analyze your interests in the job, goals for the job, and qualifications for the position. (Correct! You need to customize your resume for each job you pursue. Analyzing these points will help you position yourself appropriately for the specific job for which you are applying.)
A: Analyze your interests in the job, goals for the job, and qualifications for the position.

Q: What are some good action verbs or phrases that should be included in your resume?
- Directed, worked, streamlined. (Incorrect. “Worked” is not a good action verb that would impress a potential employer.)
- Joined, collaborated, streamlined. (Incorrect. “Joined” is not a good action verb that would impress a potential employer.)
- Directed, collaborated, followed. (Incorrect.”Followed” is not a good action verb that would impress a potential employer.)
- Directed, collaborated, streamlined. (Correct! These are all good action verbs to be used in your resume.)
A: Directed, collaborated, streamlined.

Q: Creating a resume is like:
- Online dating. (Incorrect. Unlike online dating, your resume MUST be 100% honest and truthful. It is not written from the point of view of what you are looking for.)
- Telling your life story. (Incorrect. Your resume only contains the information about you that is pertinent to the position you are seeking. It should be short, crisp, and to the point unlike the story of your life.)
- Writing a magazine article. (Incorrect. Explanation…)
- Branding. (Correct! Branding involves emphasizing what makes you special and different in the job market. You must write it from the point of view of what the employer is looking for.)
A: Branding.

Q: Which of the following entries is the most effectively worded for inclusion on a résumé to express collaboration skills?
- Worked effectively in teams. (Incorrect. No action verbs and no detail about the team and what was accomplished.)
- Joined in a team effort to develop new employee guidelines. (Incorrect. “Joined” is a weak verb and no details are given about the team.)
- Helped to develop guidelines for new employees. (Incorrect. No action verbs or details about team collaboration.)
- Collaborated with a four-member cross-functional team to develop guidelines for new employees. (Correct! This is effectively worded as it includes action verbs and details of the team collaboration.)
A: Collaborated with a four-member cross-functional team to develop guidelines for new employees.

Q: Cover letters are:
- Optional when submitting your full resume. (Incorrect. They are absolutely essential. Many employers will not accept resumes without cover letters.)
- A great way to go into detail about your job history. (Incorrect. A cover letter only highlights the relevant segments of your job history.)
- A re-statement of what is contained in your resume. (Incorrect. A cover letter only highlights the relevant segments of your job history.)
- Customized for every job opportunity. (Correct! You must tailor your cover letter to highlight how your skills and experience apply to each and every job opportunity.)
A: Customized for every job opportunity.

Q: What is a good way to get an employer’s attention in a cover letter?
- Use colored paper. (Incorrect. This may get attention, but it may not always be positive.)
- Ignore typos and grammar to show you are not too picky. (Incorrect. Any typos or grammatical errors will likely cause your letter to be tossed immediately.)
- Explain why you left your last position. (Incorrect. This would be one of the last things you would want to include in your cover letter or resume.)
- Address the reader by name. (Correct! Although it may be difficult to learn the name of the hiring authority, it is most helpful to address your letter to a person rather than “Hiring Manager” or “Human Resources Department”.)
A: Address the reader by name.

Q: What should be reflected in your cover letters?
- What you did wrong in your last job. (Incorrect. You can count on this as an interview question and it is best handled verbally in the later stages of the hiring process.)
- Your opinions and attitudes regarding current events. (Incorrect. Best to stay away from topics that are not pertinent to the job position.)
- Your salary requirements. (Incorrect. This should be saved for later in the interview process.)
- Your real interest and enthusiasm for the position and company. (Correct! Prospective employers like to hear that candidates are excited and motivated to join their firm.)
A: Your real interest and enthusiasm for the position and company.

Q: Which of the following should you do to prepare for an interview?
- Purchase some new flip-flops. (Incorrect. Appropriate dress would probably not include flip-flops.)
- Prepare a presentation about how your last job was lacking. (Incorrect. Be prepared to answer questions about your last job, but do not lead with it.)
- Send thank you notes to the interviewers. (Incorrect. Thank you notes are a great follow-up after the interview.)
- Practice answering common questions. (Correct! Practice is a very important preparation for a job interview. Think of the points you need to make to impress your potential employer.)
A: Practice answering common questions.

Q: What should you bring to a job interview?
- Bank statement and social security card. (Incorrect. This personal information may be needed AFTER you are offered the job.)
- A friend or family member. (Incorrect. This would not be appropriate for a job interview.)
- Company collateral from your last job. (Incorrect. This would be unnecessary for your interview with a new company.)
- Copies of resume and cover letter. (Correct! Protocol dictates that you bring extra copies of these for your interviewers as part of your preparation.)
A: Copies of resume and cover letter.

Q: When preparing for a job interview, it is a good idea to have this with you:
- Hard copies of social media posts. (Incorrect. Inappropriate social media posts have sunk many a job applicant.)
- A briefcase. (Incorrect. It is best to have a notebook for note-taking, but a briefcase is not necessary.)
- A to go cup of coffee. (Incorrect. It may not be a good optic to bring a cup of coffee into an interview.)
- Success stories. (Correct! Success stories are a great way to bring your experience and qualifications to life.)
A: Success stories.

Q: The objective of the screening interview conducted by the hiring company is:
- Select the candidate to hire. (Incorrect. Screening interviews to not result in a hiring decision.)
- Expose the candidate to the people who they will probably work with and work for. (Incorrect. This describes the panel interview, which is a useful way to get new co-workers to buy in on the hire for a smooth transition.)
- Interview several candidates at the same time so as to save time. (Incorrect. This is known as a group interview or “cattle call”)
- Weed out those candidates who do not meet minimum requirements and decide who goes further in the process. (Correct! Screening interviews tend to be brief with the goal being to advance to the next interview.)
A: Weed out those candidates who do not meet minimum requirements and decide who goes further in the process.

Q: What is a pro tip when faced with a panel interview?
- Be especially thorough on the details of your resume and cover letter as this will probably be the source of most questions in that session. (Incorrect.This would be better advice for a screening interview.)
- Stay focused on the interviewer and be sure to treat the other candidates with respect. (Incorrect. This would be better advice for a group interview.)
- Expect to be asked questions like “Why would you be good for this job?” and “Tell me about yourself.” (Incorrect. This would be better advice to prepare for a one-on-one interview.)
- Get the names and titles of the panel so you can contact them directly to thank them after the interview. (Correct! This may not always be easy to do, but even if you get only a few of the participants' contact information, you would have the opportunity to re-state some key points.)
A: Get the names and titles of the panel so you can contact them directly to thank them after the interview.

Q: Juan received a call back after submitting his resume and cover letter to apply for an entry-level job with a large corporation located in another city. What type of interview should he be preparing for?
- One-on-one interview.. (Incorrect. Juan would probably need to get through some initial interviews prior to getting the one-on-one session.)
- Serial interview. (Incorrect. Juan would probably need to get through some initial interviews prior to getting a serial interview.)
- Group interview. (Incorrect. Juan would probably need to get through some initial interviews prior to getting a group interview.)
- Screening interview. (Correct! An entry-level position in a large corporation would likely attract many candidates. Juan should expect a screening interview to start the process.)
A: Screening interview.

Q: “How did you handle a time when you did something wrong?” “How did you handle giving someone difficult feedback?” “What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?” These are all examples of:
- Common interview questions. (Incorrect. These questions go beyond the common interview questions by drawing out the candidate.)
- Situational interview questions. (Incorrect. Situational interview questions are designed to gauge what a candidate would do if confronted with certain circumstances.)
- Salary questions. (Incorrect. Salary questions usually come later in the process and are related to compensation and benefits.)
- Behavioral interview questions. (Correct! Behavioral interview questions often begin with “Tell me about a time…” and require storytelling for a good response.)
A: Behavioral interview questions.

Q: Questions like “Describe the most rewarding experience of your career so far?” and “What was your typical workday like?” are examples of:
- Questions about gauging your interest in the position. (Incorrect. “Why are you interested in our company?” would be more of a question to gauge the candidates interest.)
- Questions about the future. (Incorrect. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” would be more of a question about the future.)
- Questions to get acquainted. (Incorrect. “Tell me about yourself?” would be more of a get acquainted question.)
- Questions about your experience and accomplishments. (Correct! These questions are geared to judge your confidence in your abilities.)
A: Questions about your experience and accomplishments.

Q: “A co-worker has informed you in confidence that she thinks another associate is stealing. How would you handle that?” is an example of a:
- Behavioral question. (Incorrect. “Tell me about a time you had to meet an unreasonable deadline” would be an example of a behavioral question.)
- Question to get acquainted. (Incorrect. “What do you like to do in your spare time?” would be an example of a get- acquainted question.)
- Question about your experience and accomplishments. (Incorrect. “How have your education and experience prepared you for this opportunity?” would be an example of a question about your experience and accomplishments.)
- Situational question. (Correct! Situational interview questions are designed to gauge what a candidate would do if confronted with certain circumstances.)
A: Situational question.