Test Bank Writing Job Application Letters Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Writing Job Application Letters

True / False Questions

1.	The purpose of a job application letter is to get an interview. True False

2.	Although job letters are frequently seen as evidence of your written communication skills, flaws in your letter are not seen as predictors of performance. True False

3.	Amy applied for a job at a construction company. To adapt her letter to the specific organization, she gathered information about the job and not the company. This is an effective technique for writing a job application letter. True False

4.	Before sending out an application letter, Fergie ensures that she checks the company website to learn the name and address of the specific individual in the company who will be receiving her letter. This is an effective technique to use while writing a job application letter. True False

5.	An advantage of calling an organization to find out the name and address of the recipient of your application letter is that you can find out what courtesy title the individual prefers and get current information. True False

6.	Knowing an organization's larger goals enables you to show how your specific work will help the company meet its goals. True False

7.	Job advertisements contain extensive information about job descriptions and have fuller job descriptions than web listings. True False

8.	Most job openings, particularly those higher up the ladder, are advertised extensively so that they reach the most qualified candidates. True False

9.	An interview that starts out as a referral interview can turn into an information interview. True False

10.	Referral interviews work only for job candidates who already know powerful people very well. True False

11.	A solicited letter is written by a job seeker who is trying to tap into the hidden job market. True False

12.	Application letters should be addressed to the company in general or the personnel office, not to a specific person by name. True False

13.

Tracy is writing a solicited application letter to a prospective employer. For the letter, she ensures that she does enough research to learn about the organization. Demonstrating her knowledge of the organization can show what distinguishes her from other applicants who respond to the job advertisement.

True False

14.	The first paragraph of a prospecting letter should catch the reader's interest since asking for a job in the first paragraph is usually dangerous. True False

15.	The last paragraph of a prospecting letter should focus on the applicant's skills and experience. True False

16.	While focusing on the length of your application letter, if you have excellent material that will not fit on one page, cut some of it to make it fit one page. True False

17.	While editing and proofreading your application letter, remember to show gratitude to the reader for reading your letter. True False

18.	A cover letter reads: "I am responding to the ad posted in yesterday's newspaper." This sentence is indicative of you-attitude in the letter. True False

19.	An application essay is similar to a cover letter, but does not contain information about your academic achievements. True False

20.	In your social networking profiles, include only professional interests without mentioning your personal interests. True False

Multiple Choice Questions

21.

Which of the following is true of job application letters?

A.	Their main purpose is to summarize details about an applicant's qualifications.

B.	They tell you exactly what a company requires from its applicants.

C.	They give you information about career openings in a company.

D.	They show your interest in a job, but do not convey any information about your personality.

E.	They play an important role in your personal branding.

22.

A job application letter is different from a resume in that:

A.	it presents personal information about the applicant.

B.	it uses short, parallel phrases and sentence fragments.

C.	it avoids the use of complete sentences.

D.	it explains controversial material, such as career changes, in a positive way.

E.	it presents vital facts in a concise manner without focusing on the applicant's personality.

23.

A company whose stock is publicly traded issues an annual report that usually has:

A.	information on its recruiting policies.

B.	information about its new products.

C.	information about career openings in the company.

D.	information on financial data specific to the company.

E.	information about the generic trends and patterns of the industry.

24.

Possible sources of information on training programs and career paths for new hires are:

A.	annual reports of specific organizations.

B.	employee handbooks of organizations.

C.	financial journals at local libraries.

D.	recruiting notebooks at campus placement offices.

E.	ledger accounts of specific organizations.

25.

Unadvertised jobs are called the _____ job market.

primary

hidden

C.	peripheral

core

inactive

26.

The hidden job market includes positions which are:

A.	currently held by existing employees who will retire within a few years.

B.	advertised on the web, but not in newspapers.

C.	unadvertised and, therefore, require networking with personal contacts.

D.	the results of having worked at a company as an intern.

E.	reserved for management experts in case the company faces severe losses.

27.

Which of the following is an organized method of networking for jobs?

A.	Information interviews

B.	Walk-in interviews

C.	Competency based interviews

D.	Role-play interviews

E.	Behavioral event interviews

28.

Which of the following is a feature of an information interview?

A.	It puts you face-to-face with a person who has hiring power.

B.	It helps you find out about current job opportunities in the field of work you are interested in.

C.	It helps you find out whether you would like or dislike a job.

D.	It helps you get general tips on job-hunting strategies.

E.	It helps you get general advice about résumé writing.

29.

Which of the following is true of information interviews?

A.	They give applicants information about the opportunities currently available in the areas they're interested in.

B.	They put applicants face-to-face with those who have the power to hire them.

C.	They are used to get information from applicants about their technical skills.

D.	They are used by employers to short-list applicants quickly.

E.	They give applicants information about the field they hope to enter in the future.

30.

Which of the following is true of referral interviews?

A.	They include asking a person for a job.

B.	They are conducted by employers to find out what referrals applicants come with.

C.	They are attended only by applicants who come with references.

D.	They naturally lead to information interviews if they are successful.

E.	They are scheduled to learn about current job opportunities in an applicant's field of interest.

31.

In a referral interview, it is inappropriate to:

A.	follow up with a note of appreciation to those who met with you.

B.	ask a person to give you advice on your resume after reading it.

C.	ask the person who could create a job for you to hire you.

D.	go into the interview with the names of people you'd like to talk to.

E.	follow up with personal thank-you letters.

32.

Amanda has just completed a course in marketing and is searching for a job in the same field. Since she does not have a Master's degree, she is unsure of the kind of jobs she is eligible for. She manages to set up a referral interview with her neighbor's father, the HR head of a company. Which of the following questions would she most likely ask during this referral interview?

A.	How much do you get paid as the head of HR?

B.	Do you think it would be a good idea for me to talk to the head of marketing in your company?

C.	Could you please give me a job at your company as Marketing Manager?

D.	What courses or activities would you recommend as preparation for a marketing job?

E.	What do you think the future holds for this kind of work?

33.

Which of the following is a difference between a solicited letter and a prospecting letter?

A.	A solicited letter is similar to a problem-solving persuasive message; a prospecting letter is similar to a direct persuasive request.

B.	A solicited letter helps you apply to an advertised opening; a prospecting letter helps you tap into the hidden job market.

C.	A solicited letter seeks an interview; a prospecting letter does not.

D.	A solicited letter is addressed to a specific person; a prospecting letter is addressed to an organization.

E.	A solicited letter allows you to follow-up with a call; a prospecting letter requires that you wait to be contacted.

34.

On which of the following should your job application letter focus?

A.	Points that separate you from other applicants

B.	Controversial material about job changes or breaks in your career

C.	A chronological and detailed display of your qualifications

D.	Your personal life and how it motivates you to seek the job

E.	Questions about the organization you are applying to

35.

A _____ helps a job seeker tap into the hidden job market.

A.	letter of engagement

B.	follow-up letter

C.	prospecting letter

D.	letter of credit

E.	solicited letter

36.

Which of the following is a must for a prospecting letter?

A.	Immediately indicating that you are applying for the advertised position

B.	Focusing on the fact that you are graduating

C.	Addressing the letter to a specific individual rather than the company itself

D.	Providing details of when you can begin work

E.	Asking for a job in the first paragraph

37.

Sheeba is a recent college graduate. She is writing a solicited job application letter in response to an advertisement in a job portal. Which of the following should Sheeba do while organizing her letter?

A.	She should ask someone else to write her letter.

B.	She should describe her cultural preferences, since they are important in a healthy work environment.

C.	She should avoid asking for an interview, as this is obvious from her letter.

D.	She should include some personal stories that reveal more about her values.

E.	She should relate her achievements to the work she'd be doing in the new job.

38.

Which of the following should be included in the first paragraph of a prospecting job application letter?

A.	A complete discussion of the applicant's skills and qualifications

B.	A statement that announces that the applicant is applying for a particular advertised position

C.	A statement of the dates and times that the applicant is available for an interview

D.	A statement that will catch the reader's attention

E.	A statement of direct request for the job the applicant is applying to

39.

The best way for an applicant to demonstrate knowledge about a company in a job application letter is by:

A.	providing relevant evidence to support claims that the applicant can do the job.

B.	presenting information about the company, as though it will be news to the reader.

C.	highlighting the job responsibilities the applicant had in a previous job.

D.	making the job application letter general enough so that it can be sent to a number of different companies.

E.	repeating the knowledge learned from the company website and other sources.

40.

In an application letter as a new graduate, including specifics about what you've done will present you in a positive light, most likely because:

A.	it will show that you have researched the company before applying for the job.

B.	it will be a useful exaggeration of your strengths.

C.	it will show that you have comprehensive knowledge in your field.

D.	it will show that you remember the job responsibilities you had in your previous job.

E.	it will make your claims more believable and ground them in reality.

41.

To distinguish yourself from other job candidates just out of college, in your job application letter, you should:

A.	provide specifics about what you've done.

B.	stress the responsibilities you were given rather than the accomplishments you had.

C.	dedicate several paragraphs of the letter to developing supporting details.

D.	inflate some facts and use buzzwords to talk about personal connections to the organization.

E.	exaggerate your strengths and capabilities.

42.

Which of the following serves as an organizing device for a prospecting job application letter?

A.	A summary sentence

B.	A personal story

C.	A quote of your acquaintance

A joke

A cliché

43.

Pablo is a fresh college graduate. He is eager to impress with his job application letter and wants it to stand out among all the other letters the employers receive. Which of the following could separate him from other applicants applying for the same position?

A.	His knowledge of the company

B.	A list of his job responsibilities, not accomplishments

C.	A generic description of himself

D.	An exaggerated discussion of his strengths

E.	His "complete" knowledge of the field he is applying to

44.

The closing sentence of an application letter reads, "I want an interview with you." Which of the following is most likely to be the best revision for this sentence?

A.	I anxiously await a phone call from you so that we can meet to discuss job opportunities.

B.	Please do not hesitate to contact me. I can't wait to hear from you.

C.	Thank you for your time. I am grateful to you.

D.	I look forward to talking to you about how my qualifications could meet the company's corporate needs.

E.	I assure you that you will not be disappointed if you hire me.

45.

When e-mailing an application letter along with a résumé, _____.

A.	use abbreviations or acronyms to indicate your familiarity with business terms

B.	mention your name in the subject line

C.	omit the salutation and closing details that are standard in a printed business letter

D.	type important sections in all capital letters

E.	put the job number or title for which you're applying in the last paragraph

46.

Which of the following is inappropriate when e-mailing a job application letter?

A.	Including your name as part of the subject line

B.	Putting your name at the end of the message

C.	Using double-spacing between paragraphs

D.	Using smiley faces or emoticons

E.	Repeating the job number or title in the first paragraph

47.

Typically, to make an application letter for a non-creative job appear professional, you should:

A.	provide some personal information, even if it's unrelated to the job.

B.	use a conservative writing style with few contractions.

C.	address the letter to a company or department rather than to a specific individual.

D.	use sentence fragments to break down long sentences.

E.	print on paper different from the one used for the résumé.

48.

Which of the following makes an application letter look unprofessional?

A.	Creating your letter in a word-processing program

B.	Addressing your letter to a specific person

C.	Printing on the same paper you used for your résumé

D.	Using a computer to print the envelope address

E.	Adding personal information and relatives' names

49.

A conservative writing style that creates a professional image includes _____.

clichés

B.	contractions

slang

D.	complete sentences

E.	sentence fragments

50.

When should you not use a conservative style for writing a job application letter?

A.	If you're applying for a job that has not been advertised

B.	If you're applying for a creative job in advertising

C.	If you're applying for a job that has been advertised only on websites

D.	If you're applying for a job in writing

E.	If you're applying for a job in editing or publishing

51.

In order to create a professional image, which of the following is recommended for job application letters?

A.	Use a smooth, concise writing style with technical jargon.

B.	Use words that sound legal like "utilize," "commence," and "transpire."

C.	Do not use the exact language as the job advertisement.

D.	Use stuffy words that are open to interpretation.

E.	Use words such as "plead" and "apologize" to come across as polite.

52.

Cynthia is a literature graduate who is applying for a job at a major publishing house. Which of the following statements contains appropriate jargon for her application letter?

A.	I will be able to commence work any time after April 4.

B.	This position will allow me to utilize my analytical abilities and experience.

C.	I am applying for the advertised post of literary agent in your company.

D.	Based on what transpires in the next few days, I will give you my decision soon.

E.	I have been active in campus activities and have enjoyed good relations with my classmates and professors.

53.

Which of the following statements from a job application letter has a negative connotation?

A.	I believe I have the skills and expertise necessary to perform the job.

B.	Mr. Hun can give you more information about my work in Global Sales Co.

C.	Through my own work experience, I have developed an understanding of clients and their needs.

D.	My coursework in sales management has helped me improve my professional skills.

E.	You can contact my references to verify the information I've shared with you.

54.

A sentence in a job application letter reads, "You can call my professor to verify whether the recommendation is valid." Which of the following is most likely to be the best revision for this sentence to ensure positive emphasis?

A.	My professor is willing to verify the written recommendation over telephone.

B.	Professor Jackson can provide more specific information about my coursework and qualifications.

C.	Professor Jackson would be happy to confirm your views if you check with him.

D.	You can verify the recommendation by calling Professor Jackson.

E.	Professor Jackson will help you verify the validity of the recommendation.

55.

Which of the following examples in a job application letter best demonstrates you-attitude?

A.	Your company has recently set up two new offices in Toulouse.

B.	A company of your standing could offer me the training and experience I need to excel in my career.

C.	My experience in sales has taught me to accurately predict customer demand.

D.	Running my own business taught me that you need to manage customer relationships.

E.	A proactive and creative individual like me is necessary for the success of your business.

56.

Which of the following statements is true of you-attitude in a job application letter?

A.	It must show the employer what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.

B.	It must highlight your capabilities and hint at what the employer must do to hire you.

C.	It must include less "me" and "my" statements by replacing them with "I."

D.	It must avoid beginning sentences with prepositional phrases or introductory clauses.

E.	It must tell readers information they already know as though they do not know it.

57.

Which of the following sentences best illustrates you-attitude?

A.	Your company is planning to acquire Alcove Co., which is into consulting and IT services for healthcare.

B.	Working in the same field for so many years has taught me that you should never compromise on quality.

C.	A well reputed company like yours will give me the skills I need to advance my career.

D.	My coursework in project management has helped me hone my professional skills.

E.	My expertise and experience is vital to the success of your organization.

58.

Which of the following is recommended in terms of paragraph length for a job application letter?

A.	Long paragraphs in the body should cover at least two topics each.

B.	All paragraphs should be similar in length to show paragraph unity.

C.	If a paragraph covers two or more subjects, it should be divided into two or more paragraphs.

D.	The last paragraph should be long since it provides a complete summary.

E.	Your first and last paragraphs should be kept fairly long but not more than eight typed lines.

59.

Identify the correct statement about the length of a typical job application letter?

A.	A short letter is extremely persuasive.

B.	A short letter suggests interest and enthusiasm for a job.

C.	A sentence has to be made short by eliminating content.

D.	A letter should consist of at least three paragraphs.

E.	A letter over a page is seen as extremely lengthy and wordy.

60.

Which of the following statements is true of following up after you send a job application letter?

A.	You can follow up twice after one week to ask if e-mail materials were received.

B.	You can follow up with the employer once if you hear nothing after two or three weeks.

C.	If your job letter was solicited, it is fine to follow up two or three times.

D.	If your job letter was prospecting, you must wait till the employer gets in touch with you.

E.	You can follow up once after two or three days to ask if e-mail materials were received.

61.

A(n) _____ is an extended cover letter, but one written in an essay format rather than letter format, that details your strengths for the job and shows why you should be chosen instead of other applicants.

resume

B.	summary essay

C.	application essay

D.	critique essay

E.	essay letter

62.

Application essays:

A.	should use language that would be appropriate for several different positions within the same company.

B.	should end with a summary paragraph.

C.	should begin with a paragraph that catches the reader's attention.

D.	are formal documents that should not use the first person.

E.	use topic sentences at the ends of paragraphs.

63.

Which of the following should be omitted in an application essay?

A.	A unifying theme

B.	Thesaurus diction

C.	First person use

D.	Vivid details in the body of the essay

E.	Topic sentences at the beginnings of your paragraphs

64.

Aisha has her professional details updated on various popular sites for software professionals where recruiters can find her. Since she has had little luck recently, she wants to create a virtual cover letter to supplement the information already there. Which of the following should she include in her virtual cover letter?

A.	She should use key words and tie them into her experiences.

B.	She should use a profile picture that shows her personality in the best way.

C.	She should create a personal website that tells a story about her life.

D.	She should not mention any personal interests in her profile.

E.	She should not use other electronic resources.

65.

An example of a virtual cover letter is:

A.	an applicant's personal website on an online platform.

B.	an applicant's Linked-In profile.

C.	a hard copy of an applicant's portfolio of work samples.

D.	a mail enclosure accompanying a résumé.

E.	an applicant's personal statement enclosed in an email.

Short Answer Questions

66.	Describe the role of a job application letter in the employment-search process.

67.	What do you need to know to best adapt your application letter to a specific organization?

68.	List four guidelines that will help you choose points to include in a job application letter.

69.	List the four steps of organizing a solicited job letter?

70.	How can you demonstrate your knowledge of a company in a job letter?

71.	What should the last paragraph of a job application letter contain?

72.

Jeremy is writing a job application letter in response to a newspaper advertisement for a business development executive. Jeremy has experience in this field because he ran his own small company for some years. In the application letter, Jeremy writes "Running my own business taught me that you need to learn to maximize every opportunity that comes your way." To ensure that his letter demonstrates you-attitude, how would you rephrase this sentence?

73.	Benito is writing a job application letter for his most preferred job. He is unsure about the length of the letter and does not know whether he should include more information. What would you recommend to ensure that Benito's letter is of optimal length?

74.	What are the benefits of writing an application essay along with your application letter? Explain what you can do in an application essay that is different than in the letter.

75.	George is creating a personal website to help employers find out more about him and contact him for available jobs. What should George do to create an effective personal website?

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Created Date:

Aug 21, 2025

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Chapter 13 Writing Job Application Letters

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