Chapter 14: Interviewing and Following Up

1. An important question to be asking yourself during a job interview is _______?

a. when will my start date be
b. where do I want to live
c. do I want to work for this organization
d. how quickly could I be promoted

2. A job interview provides an opportunity for you to expand on the information in your resume, convince
the employer of your potential, and _______.
a. find out who else is applying for the position
b. be shown the space and desk where you might be working
c. meet with all the company's employees.
d. learn more about the job and the company.

3. Which of the following statements about screening interviews is correct?

a. Screening interviews are conducted after hiring/placement interviews.
b. Screening interviews are always conducted face-to-face.
c. Most screening interviews are conducted during job fairs.
d. Companies use screening interviews to save time and money.

4. Which type of hiring/placement interview is the most common?

a. Sequential interview
b. Online interview
c. Panel interview
d. One-on-one interview

5. Panel interviews are typically conducted by people who will be your supervisors and colleagues. An
important advantage of the panel interview is _______.
a. allowing the company to measure the candidate's leadership and communication skills
b. saving company money on repeated interviews and related costs
c. determining the best candidate through multiple interviews
d. testing the reactions of a candidate during nerve-racking situations

6. Which of the following should you do during a panel interview?

a. Contact each panel member personally beforehand.
b. When answering a question, maintain eye contact only with the person who posed the
question.
c. Use your laptop to take notes during the interview.
d. Demonstrate active listening skills by leaning slightly forward and maintaining eye contact
will all panel members.
7. Global Connections Inc. is interviewing several candidates for a leadership position requiring strong
communication skills. What form of interview will help the interviewer assess the candidate’s
communication style and leadership skills?
a. A one-on-one interview conducted by the human resources director
b. A stress interview conducted by the head of the programming division
c. A computer screening interview to test applicants' programming skills
d. A group interview of several candidates at one time

8. Which of the following is a correct description of a sequential interview?

a. You must be totally committed to the job and the company to participate in a sequential
interview, which often takes weeks or even months to complete.
b. You can assume that later interviewers know what was said in a previous interview because
sequential interviews are designed to save time.
c. As sequential interviews progress, interviews become more in-depth, which means that you
need to know even more about the company.
d. As an applicant, you should never repeat yourself because each interviewer will brief the other
interviewers, making it unnecessary for you to answer the same questions.

9. What is a key benefit for the candidate of one-way video interviewing?

a. One-way video interviewing is less stressful than other types of interviews.
b. It lets the candidate be interviewed at their leisure without having to travel to distant
locations.
c. The candidate does not have to dress professionally for this type of interview.
d. This type of interview saves the candidate time.

10. What is a key advantage for the employer of two-way video interviewing?
a. It allows the candidate to see the employer.
b. It provides a forum that helps employers assess a candidate’s communication skills, body
language, and personality.
c. It allows the employer to record the interview.
d. It helps to make the interview shorter.

11. Which of the following telephone tips should you follow during your job search?
a. Create a unique, edgy voice mail message to demonstrate your individuality.
b. Prepare others who live with you to speak professionally and take complete messages.
c. Answer your cell phone any time it rings so that you don't miss the opportunity to speak with
a potential employer.
d. Hire a professional to record your voice mail message to ensure that proper articulation,
enunciation, and vocal intonations are used.

12. Krista receives an unexpected phone call from a potential employer. Which of the following should
she do?
a. Try to schedule an interview for a Friday afternoon.
b. Avoid taking notes during the call because it can take too much time.
 c. Assertively begin discussing her qualifications for the position.
d. If she feels caught off guard by the call, ask whether she may call back in a few minutes.

13. Which of the following is correct advice about conducting company research?
a. Cancel the interview if you learn information that tells you that you don't wish to work for the
company.
b. To make the interview feel more informative, ask questions to suggest that you don't know
much about the organization.
c. Avoid connecting on social media with people who work at the company.
d. Examine the company's ads and promotional materials.

14. Rebecca has an interview with a large company in a nearby city. Before the interview, she should
learn about the company’s mission and goals, the company’s customers and competitors, and the
_______.
a. company dress code policy
b. cost of parking
c. management structure and names of leaders
d. company’s retirement and vacation benefits

15. Effective interview-preparation techniques include practicing answers to possible questions, preparing
to explain problem areas on your résumé, deciding on professional attire, and _______.
a. informing your current employer of your plans
b. preparing success stories
c. writing a resignation letter
d. purchasing a gift for the interviewer

16. Braden is preparing several success stories prior to his job interview for a sales representative
position. Which of the following scenarios would help to illustrate Braden’s skills relative to sales?
a. A story about a lemonade stand that Braden ran when he was a child
b. A story about working as part of a team in college to prepare a classroom presentation about a
company's history
c. A story about volunteering for a local food bank over the holidays
d. A story about developing a new sales technique that increased his customer sales by 30
percent over a six-month period

17. Because many companies now use social networking sites to screen job candidates, you should
remove any photos, content, and links that could make you look unprofessional, remove any negative
reviews you may have written on sites such as Amazon, and _______.
a. make your personal social networking pages available to anyone who wishes to view them
b. make your personal social networking pages private
c. make sure that you have a lot of connections on social media to show that you are popular and
well-liked
d. discuss your current job and your search frequently on social media so that friends and family
will know
18. Which of the following is correct advice when traveling to and arriving at your interview?
a. Limit grooming time because the more time you have, the more nervous you will get.
b. If something unexpected happens causing you to be late, immediately call the interviewer to
explain what is happening.
c. If you smoke on the way to the interview, brush your teeth or chew some gum when you
arrive and liberally apply perfume or cologne.
d. Arrive at the interview 15 to 20 minutes early and greet the receptionist promptly on arrival.

19. When you enter the office for an interview, _______.

a. greet the interviewer confidently, and wait for him or her to initiate a handshake
b. avoid direct eye contact so that you do not make others feel uncomfortable
c. introduce yourself to the receptionist, and wait to be invited to sit
d. immediately open your briefcase to sort through your contents to locate copies of your résumé

20. To help reduce your fears about interviews, get as much interview practice as you can, take deep
breaths while waiting for the interview to begin, and _______.
a. let the interviewer have complete charge of the entire interview.
b. avoid rehearsing frequently asked questions because you will sound too rehearsed and
unnatural
c. rehearse answers to the most frequently asked interview questions.
d. be more spontaneous by going into the interview without any expectations

21. You can send positive nonverbal messages during your interview by dressing professionally,
controlling your body movements, making eye contact, and _______.
a. arriving on time
b. using gender-neutral language
c. presenting success stories to respond to behavioral questions
d. preparing thoroughly

22. Which of the following is appropriate nonverbal behavior to display during an interview?
a. Sit erect, leaning forward slightly to show interest and confidence.
b. Change positions often and gesture as frequently as possible to convey high energy.
c. Lean forward, resting your arms on the desk or table before you, to indicate control.
d. Relax back into your chair, slouching slightly, to demonstrate self-assurance.

23. Which of the following is correct advice when answering interview questions?
a. Focus your answers on your strengths but reveal a weakness or two to show that you are not
perfect.
b. Use the interviewer's name and title each time you answer a question to show respect.
c. To be concise, answer questions with a simple yes or no whenever possible.
d. Aim answers at the key characteristics needed, such as expertise, motivation, and a pleasant
personality.
24. Although you can't expect to be perfect in an employment interview, you can improve your interview
responses by _______.
a. showing some passion by bringing up a controversial topic and taking a clear stand
b. speaking forcefully but using some slang such as like and ya know to sound relaxed and
friendly
c. elaborating on your answers and criticizing the person or object causing the problems at a
previous job
d. occasionally refocusing and clarifying vague questions by asking Do you mean?

25. If an interviewer says Tell me about yourself, what is the correct way to respond?
a. Present your brief biography as a chronology, beginning with when and where you were born.
b. Briefly discuss educational, professional, or business-related strengths.
c. To start the interview positively, provide a few humorous personal anecdotes.
d. Tell several success stories, making sure to fill at least ten minutes of interview time.

26. If an interviewer asks Why do you want to work for us? you should show what you know about the
interviewer's company, explain why you want to become a part of the organization, and _______.
a. briefly summarize problems at your current job that require you to change employers
b. discuss the skills you have to offer that will benefit the company
c. explain that as a recent graduate you want to work for any company needing a person with
your skills and background
d. tell the truth about your reasons for seeking this job; for example, you are unemployed, you
need more pay or better benefits, or you just graduated

27. How should you respond if an interviewer asks, Why should we hire you when other applicants have
better credentials?
a. Admit that you are less qualified, but stress you can be paid less than more experienced
applicants.
b. Describe how you are correcting one of your most significant weaknesses to display your
strong work ethic and determination.
c. Confidently explain your strengths such as your openness to new ideas and knowledge of the
latest methods and equipment.
d. Since it is clear that you will not get this job offer, do not answer this question.

28. When the interviewer asks you questions about the future, you should provide answers that _______.
a. show ambition and interest in succeeding with the company
b. are vague because no one can predict the future
c. indicate that you want the interviewer's job
d. focus on your needs

29. Which of these is an effective response to the question, What do you think is your greatest weakness?
a. One of my long-term goals is to learn more about accounting, so I signed up for a course.
b. To tell the truth, I become frustrated with lazy coworkers who don't pull their own weight.
 c. My typing speed isn't as fast as I would like, but this position doesn't require me to use the
computer.
d. I've worked hard to eliminate every weakness, and I am confident you will find me the perfect
employee for this position.

30. Which of the following is an effective answer to the question, What type of people do you have no
patience for?
a. I hate working with people who talk too much––it exhausts me.
b. I get along with everyone.
c. I consider myself a strong team player and usually can get along with anyone, but I get easily
irritated by people who don’t accept responsibility.
d. I don’t like working with people who are different from me.

31. Which of the following is an example of a situational question?

a. If you were aware that a coworker submitted false data, what would you do?
b. What is your ideal work environment?
c. What do you predict for the future of our industry?
d. Tell me about a time when you dealt with confidential information.

32. Which of the following is an example of a behavioral interview question?

a. Who in your life has most inspired you and why?
b. An irate customer is demanding her money back. How would you handle the situation?
c. Tell me about a time when you solved a difficult problem.
d. What is your greatest strength?

33. When the interviewer says Describe a time when you worked successfully as a member of a team,
your correct response will be to _______.
a. reply that you have been a member of so many successful teams that no particular instance
stands out
b. say that you not only enjoy teamwork, especially problem-solving groups, but also work well
independently
c. tell a success story about a specific group project, your contributions, and the results
d. list the names of all work teams on which you participated and stress that all were successful

34. In which part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions should you focus
on yourself (rather than a group or team)?
a. Situation
b. Task
c. Action
d. Results

35. What is the correct way to handle an illegal or inappropriate question during an interview?
a. If you find the question harmless and you want the job, go ahead and answer it.
b. Confront the interviewer about the illegal nature of the question.
 c. Storm out of the room in anger; after all, you wouldn't work for a company with such low
ethics.
d. Refuse to answer the question because it is your legal right to do so.

36. Which of the following is a legal interview question?

a. Are you married?
b. Are you a U.S. citizen?
c. Do you have any disabilities?
d. Are you authorized to work in the United States?

37. If an interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of an interview, which of the following is
an inappropriate response?
a. May I have a tour of the facilities?
b. When do you expect to make a decision?
c. No, I have no questions right now; you have shared all the information I need.
d. What are the major challenges for a person in this position?

38. How should you close an interview?

a. Briefly review your strengths, thank the interviewer, and ask what action will follow.
b. Be confident and say, This job sounds great! When do I start work?
c. Ask about salary and benefits.
d. Invite the interviewer to lunch.

39. Will has just driven home following an interview. What is the first thing he should do?
a. Take notes about the interview.
b. Contact his current employer to explain that he may be leaving.
c. Call the interviewer to thank him or her.
d. Begin compiling a list of references.

40. Which of the following statements about interview thank-you messages is correct?
a. Thank-you messages are not important to employers.
b. To avoid appearing as overzealous, an applicant should wait at least two to three days before
sending a thank-you note.
c. Separate thank-you messages should be sent to each interviewer.
d. To personalize a thank-you message, an interviewee should begin each sentence in the thank-
you message with the personal pronoun I.

41. After writing a follow-up letter to thank your interviewer, your next step should be _______.
a. alerting your references that they may be contacted by the employer
b. sending a small gift to the receptionist to show your sincere appreciation
c. calling the organization's human resources department to learn more about your competitors
for the open position
d. waiting at least one month for a call of acceptance or rejection
42. To make sure that your references can provide a recommendation, be sure to provide them with the
name of the company, the position title and expected job requirements, and _______.
a. links to the hiring manager’s LinkedIn profile
b. the expected salary level
c. links to a copy of your résumé
d. text of what you would like in the recommendation

43. Theresa decides to follow up with an employer a few days after her interview. Which communication
channel is safest for her to use if she does not want to appear too intrusive?
a. Phone
b. E-mail
c. Twitter
d. Office visit

44. Recommended guidelines for completing application forms include which of the following?
a. Disregard questions that do not apply to you by leaving them blank.
b. Read the entire form before beginning to complete it.
c. Do not specify a position or job title to make yourself appear flexible.
d. Leave any questions about salary blank because they might limit what you will be paid.

45. When explaining on an application form the reasons for leaving a previous position, use phrases such
as Relocation, Seasonal, or _______.
a. Fired
b. Pregnant
c. Quit
d. To continue education

46. The purposes of sending an application or résumé follow-up message to an employer include jogging
the memory of the hiring manager, showing your serious interest in the position, and _______.
a. emphasizing your qualifications or adding new information
b. sending a personal note to the receptionist, who often helps make the final decision
c. sharing your photograph to match your qualifications to your face
d. setting a deadline for the employer to offer you the position

47. When you apply for a position but are rejected, employment experts recommend that you _______.
a. send a rejection letter saying you believe the employer has made a hiring decision error in not
choosing you
b. phone the employer's personnel office to determine the reason why you were not selected
c. send a rejection follow-up message indicating you are disappointed but will contact the
company again in a month in case a job opens up
d. do not apply at that company again for at least 12 months
48. Acceptable reasons for following up with an employer in writing, excluding the follow-up thank you
message, include not receiving a response to your resume or application, learning that you haven’t been
offered the position, and _______.
a. wanting to know how you did in the interview
b. scheduling an appointment with the hiring manager
c. receiving an offer for the position
d. providing additional information that you forgot to discuss in the interview

49. If you must turn down a job offer, employment experts suggest you should send the employer a letter
_______.
a. declining the offer, providing a thorough explanation of the reasons for declining, and
expanding on your qualifications for a new position
b. thanking the employer for the offer and briefly declining the position
c. specifying personal reasons for your decision
d. declining the position and offering assistance finding your replacement

50. When writing a resignation letter to your employer, you should offer thanks and end with a forward-
looking statement, assistance in preparing for your departure, and _______.
a. one week’s advance notice of your resignation
b. identify weaknesses in the company and offer suggestions for improvement
c. at least two-weeks’ notice of your departure, especially if you have a high or responsible
position within the company
d. give a complete list of all the reasons why you decided to leave the company

51. From an interview, an employer can learn what drives and motivates you.
a. True
b. False

52. As a job candidate, the purposes of an interview are to convince the employer of your potential, learn
more about the job and the company, and expand on the information on your résumé.
a. True
b. False

53. Hiring/placement interviews are typically conducted before screening interviews.

a. True
b. False

54. Many screening interviews occur by telephone or video.

a. True
b. False

55. The most common format for hiring/placement interviews is the sequential interview.
a. True
b. False
56. If a company is conducting a panel interview, a job candidate should establish eye contact with only
the person who asked the question.
a. True
b. False

57. A sequential interview is usually shorter than a one-on-one interview.

a. True
b. False

58. Because online interviews are typically conducted using webcams and videoconferencing software,
applicants do not need to worry about their appearance, nonverbal behaviors, or eye contact.
a. True
b. False

59. Most employers contact job applicants by e-mail to set up interviews.

a. True
b. False

60. During your job search, you should treat any call from an employer like an interview.
a. True
b. False

61. One of the most important steps in effective interviewing is researching the target company.
a. True
b. False

62. Reviewing a company's advertising and promotional materials can be an effective way to learn about
a target company.
a. True
b. False

63. You should share updates about your job search on social media sites so that as many professionals as
possible know that you are in market.
a. True
b. False

64. On the day of your interview, you should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled
appointment.
a. True
b. False

65. Because the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted us towards touchless greetings, when meeting the
interviewer in person, what should you do?
a. Wear gloves and extend a hand in greeting.
 b. Give a friendly wave and say that you are pleased to meet them.
c. Do a fist bump with the interviewer.
d. Do nothing.

66. One of the best ways to overcome fear is to know what happens in a typical interview.
a. True
b. False

67. When answering interview questions, interject many verbal pauses to give yourself time to formulate
appropriate answers.
a. True
b. False

68. To avoid coming across as tentative in an interview, always answer a question even if you don't
understand it.
a. True
b. False

69. When answering interview questions, always aim your responses at the key characteristics
interviewers seek.
a. True
b. False

70. To demonstrate your humility, openly share at least one personal weakness with the interviewer.
a. True
b. False

71. When responding to the question Tell me about yourself, focus on personal information such as your
hometown, family, and hobbies.
a. True
b. False

72. Effective storytelling is key to responding effectively to behavioral interview questions.

a. True
b. False

73. As a job applicant, you should never answer an illegal or inappropriate interview question.
a. True
b. False

74. You should use an interview as an opportunity to ensure that the position and organization are right
for you.
a. True
b. False
75. The first thing you should do after an interview is compose a thank-you/follow-up message.
a. True
b. False

76. Summarizing your relevant qualifications is an effective way to end an interview positively.
a. True
b. False

77. An effective way to begin a thank-you message is Thank you for taking the time to interview me.
a. True
b. False

78. If you've been interviewed by more than one person, send one thank-you note to the person who
appeared to be in charge.
a. True
b. False

79. Always ask permission before submitting someone's name as a reference.

a. True
b. False

80. You should alert your references only after a second or third interview for a position.
a. True
b. False

81. If you don't hear from the interviewer within five days, the best follow-up is a phone call to the
interviewer to inquire about the decision and to indicate your extreme desire for the job.
a. True
b. False

82. An interview follow-up message should be driven by I phrases to allow you to stress your
qualifications and continued interest.
a. True
b. False

83. When completing a job application form, always leave any items blank that do not apply.
a. True
b. False

84. When filling out an application form, you should look over all of the questions before starting to
complete them.
a. True
b. False
85. You should avoid specifying the position you are seeking on an application form so that you will
seem more flexible.
a. True
b. False

86. If your résumé or application generates no response within a reasonable time, you should consider
sending a short follow-up e-mail or letter to emphasize your qualifications or to add new information.
a. True
b. False

87. If you are rejected for a position that you remain interested in, you should avoid corresponding with
that company again.
a. True
b. False

88. Even though you will likely receive and accept your job offer via telephone, you should send the
employer a letter or e-mail to document your acceptance of the job.
a. True
b. False

89. Notice of your resignation from a position delivered to your supervisor in person is considered
sufficient; you do not need to document it in writing.
a. True
b. False

90. A resignation letter typically includes a two-week notice. However, if you hold a management
position, you should provide your employer a longer notice.
a. True
b. False

91. What type of interview do many companies use to save time and money by eliminating less qualified
candidates before scheduling face-to-face interviews?
a. Screening interview
b. Hiring/placement interview
c. Group interview
d. Panel interview

92. A company interviewing several candidates for the same position at the same time is known as what
type of interview?
a. Screening interview
b. Hiring/placement interview
c. Group interview
d. Panel interview
93. When the most promising candidates are selected from screening interviews, what is the next type of
interview they will likely have?
a. Screening interview
b. Hiring/placement interview
c. Group interview
d. Panel interview

94. To feel confident and to sell your qualifications, what type of stories should you prepare and practice
in order to provide specific examples of your educational and work-related experience that showcase your
qualifications and achievements?
a. Motivational stories
b. Narrative stories
c. Personal stories
d. Success stories

95. Which of the following is an example of a positive nonverbal message that would be beneficial to
communicate during an interview?
a. Sitting erect
b. Keeping a very serious expression
c. Keeping your cell phone on in case you get an important message
d. Leaning on the desk

96. Your interviewer says to you Describe a time when... or Tell me about a time when... These phrases
are openings for what type of question?
a. Situational
b. Behavioral
c. Warm-up
d. Challenging

97. Which part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions describes what you
did and how, including the skills or resources that you used?
a. Situation
b. Task
c. Action
d. Result

98. Which part of the STAR technique for answering behavioral interview questions should describe the
problem––what needed to be done and why?
a. Situation
b. Task
c. Action
d. Result
99. What type of message is written to thank the employer for the job offer and to formally refuse the
position?
a. Rejection
b. Thank you
c. Resignation
d. Acceptance

100. What type of letter is written to confirm the exact date you will terminate your employment when it
is a position you have held for an extended period?
a. Rejection
b. Thank you
c. Resignation
d. Acceptance