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1.  It’s commonly estimated that what percentage of jobs are filled by word of mouth??

a. Half

b. One-third

c. Over two-thirds

d. Under 10 percent

e. Alphabetical (all information listed in alphabetical order)

 

2. According to a poll of executives, how do hiring managers prefer a candidate’s resume to be organized?

a. Functional (organized around skills, experiences and accomplishments)

b. Chronological (organized by date of previous work experience)

c.  Combination (a combination of functional and chronological)

 

3. Which of the following is a breach of interview etiquette?

a. Admitting that you don’t know the answer to a question

b. Taking a seat before the interviewer has offered you one

c. Accepting a cup of coffee from the person interviewing you

d. Shaking the interviewer’s left hand

 

4. According to a recent survey, what percentage of executives consider the advice of their administrative assistants to be important when making hiring decisions?

a. Over 90 percent

b. One-third

c. Two-thirds

d. Half

 

5. How many interviews can most employees expect to got through before they are offered a job?

a. Four to five

b. Two or three

c. One or two

d. Five or six

 

6. Executives believe approximately what percentage of job seekers lie on their resumes?

a. Two-thirds

b. Half

c. Over 90 percent

d. One-third

 

7. An interviewer is somewhat less likely to higher the person he or she interviewed:

a. First

b. Last

c. Before lunch

d. Doesn’t matter

 

8. Executives were asked for the quality in job seekers – apart from ability – that impressed them most during an interview.  Three responses each received about 30 percent of the vote.  They were:

a. Sense of humor, enthusiasm, appearance

b. Appearance, verbal skills, honesty

c. Honesty,enthusiasm, verbal skills

d. Enthusiasm, appearance, honesty

 

9. Assuming all other candidates have resumes as impressive as yours, which of the following factors will likely give you an edge?

a. Knowing more about the firm than any other candidate so you can discuss how your skills meet their needs

b. Sending a very eloquent thank-you note to the interviewer

c. Maintaining a constant presence through regular calls and e-mails to the hiring manager

d. Having the lowest salary requirements

 

10. All but one of the following are responses actual job candidates gave when asked why they should be hired.  Which one is the fake?

a. “I’m the soul source of support for my puppy.”

b. “I have a nice smile.”

c. “I like the candy you stock in your vending machines.”

d. “I can be an asset to your company softball team.”

 

ANSWERS - 

1. It’s commonly estimated that what percentage of jobs are filled by word of mouth?

Correct answer: c, Over two-thirds

Its been estimated that between 70 and 80 percentjobs all jobsare filled by people who learned of them through word of mouth. This illustrates the importance of networking.

 

2. According to a poll of executives, how do hiring managers prefer a candidate’s resume to be organized?

Correct answer: b, Chronological (organized by date of previous work experience)

 

3. Which of the following is a breech interview etiquette?

Correct answer: b, Taking a seat before the interviewer has offered you one

It may seem old-fashioned, but the rules of etiquette mandate that you wait for the hiring manager to offer you a seat.  However, if no seat is offered, you should go ahead and take one after the person you’re meeting with is seated.

 

4. According to a recent survey, what percentage of executives consider the advice of their adminstrative assitants to be important when making hiring decisions?

Correct answer: a, Over 90 percent

An RHI poll showed that 91 percent of executives consider their assitants’ opinions important when making hiring decisions – up from 60 percent five years ago.  This means it’s essential to be professional and friendly with everyone you encounter when interviewing.

 

5. How many interviews can most employees expect to go through before they are offered a job?

Correct answer: b, Two or three

Research shows that 44 percent of job seekers can expect three interviews before a job offer is extended; 34 percent will participate in two interviews.

 

6. Executives believe approximately what percentage of job seekers lie on their resumes?

Correct answer: d, One-third

Executives surveyed said they believe 30 percent of job candidates lie or intentionally omit significant information on their resumes.  Don’t bend the truth when interacting with employers; honesty is always the best policy.

 

7. An interviewer is somewhat less likely to hire the person he she interviewd:

Correct answer: a, First

Research reveals that the candidate interviewed first is somewhat less likely to be hired than those interviewed later, probably because the interviewer either cannot recall that person in detail or they feel they should not hire the first person they meet.

 

8. Executives were asked for the quality in job seekers – apart from ability – that impressed them most during an interview.  Three responses each received about 30 percent of the vote.  They were:

Correct answer: c, Honesty, enthusiasm, verbal skills

Honesty received the most responses, garnering 32 percent of the vote.  Enthusiasm ranked second, receiving 29 percent, and verbal skills ranked third with 28 percent.

 

9. Assuming all the other candidates have resumes as impressive as yours, which of the following factors will likely give you an edge?

Correct answer: a, Knowing more about the firm than any other candidate so you can discuss how your skills meet theirr needs

You’ll stand out form the competition if you can make a onvincing argument as to why you and a particular company are a perfect match.  An eloquent thank-you and follow-up correspondence are good ideas as well, though.

 

10. All but one of the following are responses actual job candidates gave when asked why they should be hired.  WHich one is the fake?

Correct answer: c, “I like the candy you stock in your vending machiens.”

One last piece of job-hunting advice: Be prepared to give a ocmpelling repsonse when asked why you should be hired.  The best response will concisely, yet persuasively, describe how your skills match the company’s needs – not your penchant for Snickers bars.

 

 

A quiz, based on information contained in Job Hunting For Dummies