oDesk Resume Writing Test Answers 2015
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1. A curriculum vitae (CV) is different from a resume in that __________________.
Answers:
• a resume is generally one to two pages long; a CV can range from two to thirty pages, depending on the candidate's field
• a resume includes a brief summary of the candidate's relevant work experience; a CV includes the candidate's entire academic and professional history whether it's relevant or not
• a resume is usually targeted at a specific position, so a candidate may have several versions; a CV covers all positions, so a candidate usually needs only one version
• All of the above
2. Sarah left her job as a teacher five years ago to stay home and take care of a sickly parent. During that time, she completed a degree in veterinary science and volunteered at the local animal shelter. Which type of resume would best serve Sarah now that she is returning to the workforce?
Answers:
• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination
3. To make a resume reader-friendly, the content of each section should generally be _______________.
Answers:
• written in paragraph form
• indented or formatted into columns
• presented in bulleted lists
• presented in a combination of paragraphs and bulleted lists
4. When deciding on the best font for a
resume, a candidate should ____________.
Answers:
• choose a
common, easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana
• use a fancy,
attention-grabbing font like Matisse or Curlz to show creativity
• never use more
than two different fonts
• use a font size
anywhere from 10 to 12 points
• a, c, and d
• b and d
5. When it comes to choosing the best paper
for a resume, the candidate should generally______________.
Answers:
• use light blue
paper
• use expensive
parchment paper
• use white or
off-white paper
• use handmade
paper
6. The use of the words "I,"
"me," and "mine" in a resume is_____________.
Answers:
• discouraged
because the resume should be user-centered
• recommended
because the resume should stress the accomplishments and personal experiences
of the candidate
• a matter of
personal choice
7. A resume can best be described as
________________.
Answers:
• a detailed
business card for entrepreneurs to receive funding from venture capitalists
• a marketing
tool that describes at length one's personal, educational, and professional
experiences and qualifications
• a selling tool
for job seekers that briefly outlines relevant skills and experiences for
potential employers
• a collection of
work that demonstrates one's skills to potential employers
8. When preparing the Experience section of a
resume, the candidate should ___________.
Answers:
• include every
job he or she has ever had
• exclude very
brief job assignments, or group several brief jobs together
• describe only
his or her most recent job
9. Which of the following statements regarding
resumes is FALSE?
Answers:
• Employers read
every resume thoroughly.
• When writing a
resume, a candidate should be mindful of the limited time prospective employers
have to read each resume.
• Resumes should
generally highlight only that experience that is relevant to the job in
question.
• Employers spend
an average of 15 to 30 seconds scanning a resume.
• a and c
10. An effective cover letter should NOT
________________.
Answers:
• convey a sense
of enthusiasm, enjoyment, and energy
• be written in a
professional but conversational style
• be printed on
different paper than the resume
• be tailored to
a specific job
• b and c
11. Chronological resumes are a good choice
for candidates who ________________.
Answers:
• can demonstrate
growth in a single profession
• have long
periods of unemployment
• have practical
experience and few job changes
• have changed
jobs frequently
• a and c
• a and d
12. A resume's content should highlight a
candidate's relevant skills associated with the targeted position.
Answers:
• True
• False
• Skills do not
need to be highlighted; the employer can discern the candidate's relevant
skills just by reading the resume.
13. Angela received an advanced degree from a
university in England. She is now applying for a position at a company based in
New York. How should she address this matter in the Education section of her
resume?
Answers:
• She should not
mention the degree because it is not recognized in the U.S.
• She should
include the degree received and indicate its U.S. equivalent.
• She should
include a paragraph explaining her academic background, number of years
studied, and coursework completed.
14. An employer reads a resume that includes
an objective that is vague or broad. What impression might he form regarding
the candidate?
Answers:
• The candidate
obviously has many talents and interests and would therefore be an asset to the
organization.
• The candidate
has not taken the time to clarify his own goals for his professional life.
• The candidate
would not take the job responsibilities seriously.
• The candidate
is versatile and could be easily placed in a variety of the company's
departments.
15. When it comes to choosing the best font
color for a resume, the candidate should generally_______________.
Answers:
• use only black
• use black for
the headings and blue for the content
• use a different
color for each section of the resume
• use black as
the base color and red to highlight important skills and information
16. Between Employment and Experience, which
is the better section heading for a resume?
Answers:
• Employment
because employers are only interested in the candidate's paying jobs.
• Experience
because candidates may have relevant volunteer, life, or other unpaid
experience.
• Candidates
should include two separate sections to ensure their experience is well
documented.
17. An effective cover letter should
_______________.
Answers:
• identify the
specific position the candidate is applying for
• use formal
language
• focus on the
employer and what the candidate can do for them
• demonstrate
that the candidate has researched the company
• a, c, and d
• a, b, and c
18. A resume should contain a brief list of
the candidate's weaknesses so that the employer has a clear and truthful
representation of the candidate's suitability for a specific position.
Answers:
• True
• False
19. As a high school student, Josephine worked
weekends and summers at a plant nursery. She is now about to graduate from
college with a B.S. in Horticulture. During her college years, she played a
significant role in two large on-campus projects related to her field of study,
and also worked as a paid intern at a local agricultural establishment. How
should she format the Experience and Education sections of her resume?
Answers:
• Because she is
a new graduate, she must put the Education section first regardless of her work
experience.
• Because she has
plenty of relevant experience to highlight, she can safely put the Experience
section first.
• Since the two
on-campus projects and the internship are related to her college career, she
should include them in the Education section; the Experience section should
only include her high school job at the nursery.
20. Although it is not advisable to include
charts and graphs in a traditional printed resume, they are an acceptable and
even expected element in an e-resume.
Answers:
• True
• False
21. To turn a print resume into an effective
electronic version, a candidate should ______________
Answers:
• Remove all
formatting and graphic elements such as lines, bullet points, and bolding
• Change the font
to a 10-point serif font like Calisto or Times New Roman
• Add keywords
that correspond to the job description and the candidate's experience
• Replace action
verbs with searchable nouns, such as "publicity specialist" instead
of "generated publicity"
• a, b and c
• a, c and d
22. The primary purpose of a resume is
________________.
Answers:
• to introduce
the candidate to the employer in case there is a job opening in the future
• to obtain an
immediate interview with the employer for a specific job
• to convince the
employer that he doesn't need to look at any other resumes
• to be "on
file" with as many companies as possible
23. In 1996 Christopher earned a B.A. in
English with a 3.7 GPA. In 2001 he received a second B.A. in English Education
with a 3.9 GPA. He then went on to complete his M.Ed. in Curriculum Development
with a 3.5 GPA. How should he list this information in the Education section of
his resume?
Answers:
• In reverse
chronological order, with his highest degree earned listed first
• In
chronological order, with his first degree earned listed first
• According to
his GPA, from highest to lowest
24. Which of the following statements about
the role of keywords in an e-resume is/are TRUE?
Answers:
• Keywords help
search engines find a candidate's resume.
• Using keywords
in an e-resume is unprofessional and should be avoided.
• The effective
use of keywords makes a good impression on prospective employers.
• Keywords help
narrow down the employer's search for the right candidate.
• c and d
• a and d
25. In a cover letter, it is an acceptable
practice for the candidate to name drop if he or she has a good connection at
the company.
Answers:
• True
• False
26. Which of the following can be included in the
Experience section of a resume?
Answers:
• Paid
employment, internships, volunteer work
• Work
experience, professional degrees earned
• Paid employment
only
• Work
experience, relevant academic coursework
27. One of the major benefits of a combination
resume is that __________________.
Answers:
• the candidate
can effectively target the specific skills required by an employer or job
announcement
• it allows more
flexibility and creativity in how the content is presented
• it is more
focused on an uninterrupted work history than on particular skills
28. Which of the following best represents an
effective, user-centered objective for a resume?
Answers:
• A challenging
position with growth potential that allows me to use and expand upon my skills
as an ecologist and my love of lizards.
• Ecologist with
10 years of experience in the preservation and development of natural habitats
for mammals and reptiles.
• A position as
an ecologist with The Gecko Relief Society.
• Help The Gecko
Relief Society achieve its mission of preserving the natural habitats of
reptiles by joining the field staff as an ecologist and lizard expert.
29. Which of the following is NOT one of the
three main types of resumes?
Answers:
• Chronological
• Descriptive
• Combination
• Functional
30. During the past twenty years, Alison has
held a variety of positions in a variety of companies. She is now looking for a
new job and has several different job targets in mind. Alison should
_________________ .
Answers:
• write a generic
chronological resume without an objective statement, and do a mass mailing for
all of the positions she's interested in
• narrow her
objective and job target to focus on just one type of position and save the
other job options for another time
• write a different
resume and objective for each job target
• write a
functional resume in which she lists each of her job objectives
31. Which of the following are examples of
"soft skills" that should be addressed in a resume?
Answers:
• Communication
and interpersonal skills
• Communication
skills and knowledge of business etiquette
• Communication
and interpersonal skills and computer languages
• none of the
above
32. In general, the Honors and Activities
section of a resume is placed _____________.
Answers:
• right before
the Education section
• right after the
Objective section
• right before
the Experience section
• after both the
Experience and Education sections
• on a separate
page
33. In a cover letter, the candidate should
never relate examples of skills and accomplishments in the form of an anecdote
or story.
Answers:
• True
• False
34. The Contact Information section of a
resume usually contains ________________.
Answers:
• name, phone
number at current place of work, and e-mail address
• name, personal
phone and cell numbers, and Social Security number
• name and e-mail
address only
• name, address,
personal phone and cell numbers, and e-mail address
35. The foundation of most effective resumes
is generally built around _______________.
Answers:
• the
recommendations of previous employers and supervisors
• the duties
performed by the candidate at each place of employment
• the candidate's
past accomplishments and successes at each place of employment
• a and b
36. The best way to test the formatting of an
e-resume is to ______________.
Answers:
• send it to
multiple e-mail addresses and check the formatting using different browsers
• have the resume
proofread by a friend
• proofread the
resume yourself
37. When writing a resume, a candidate should
use ____________ to describe his work experience and accomplishments.
Answers:
• complete
sentences
• impressive
vocabulary words
• field-specific
jargon
• action verbs
38. Which of the following is an example of a
successful Problem-Action-Result (PAR) statement that a candidate might use in
the Experience section of a resume?
Answers:
•
Responsibilities included answering phones, typing correspondence, and filing.
• Streamlined
obsolete filing system by developing simple yet sophisticated coding system,
resulting in a 45% increase in administrative staff productivity.
• Implemented
company-wide filing system that saved significant time and money.
39. Which of the following statements about
portfolios is TRUE?
Answers:
• Unlike a
resume, a portfolio includes a photograph of the candidate.
• A portfolio
includes the candidate's resume as well as samples of his or her work, such as
illustrations or writing.
• A portfolio and
a resume are the same thing.
40. The closing paragraph of a cover letter
should include _______________.
Answers:
• a list of
skills the candidate will bring to the position
• a direct
request for an interview
• an explanation
as to why the candidate is applying for the position
41. A functional resume is a good option for job
candidates who __________________.
Answers:
• have limited
work experience in their field of interest
• have a lot of
work experience and have had many different jobs
• are changing
careers
• have employment
gaps
• All of the
above
42. Which of the following should NOT be
included in the Education section of a resume for a candidate with a college
degree and at least one year of work experience?
Answers:
• Mention of
relevant special projects or theses
• Type of degree
and date conferred
• High school information
• Minors or areas
of concentration
• a and d
43. Roger has worked for a single employer for
25 years. How should he present his work history in the Experience section of
his resume?
Answers:
• He should write
a brief explanation in the Experience section that highlights his longevity and
exemplary service to the company.
• He should
exclude that section from his resume.
• He should show
his progression at the company by listing the various positions held over the
years.
• He should write
a CV instead of a resume.
44. Which of the following statements
regarding objective statements is FALSE?
Answers:
• An objective
statement should be user-centered and focused on the employer's needs.
• An objective
statement should be brief and use active, punchy language.
• An objective
statement should not be too specific as it could limit the candidate's options.
• An objective
statement should be tailored to the specific, targeted position.
45. The candidate should use the middle
paragraphs, or the body, of the cover letter to _______________.
Answers:
• show why and
how he is a good match for the company
• explain in
detail the information contained in his resume
• demonstrate
that he has some knowledge about the company
• convince the
employer that they will benefit from hiring the candidate
• a, b, and d
• a, c, and d
46. Which of the following should NOT be
included on a resume?
Answers:
• Gender and
physical attributes
• Home address
• Marital status
• a and c
• None of the
above should be included on a resume.
47. Which of the following are
"transferable skills" that a candidate should address in a resume?
Answers:
• Skills that the
candidate can teach to other employees
• Skills the
candidate learned through various life experiences (including sports, homemaking,
hobbies, and volunteer work) that can be applied to a particular job
• Skills that the
candidate can learn from other employees
• Innate skills
like writing or an aptitude for mathematics
48. In what order should the Experience
section of a resume list pertinent information?
Answers:
• company,
location, job title, dates of employment, responsibilities, specific
accomplishments
• company, dates
of employment, job title, location, specific accomplishments, responsibilities
• company, dates
of employment, job title, responsibilities, location, specific accomplishments
49. Which of the following resume elements
helps create a great first impression on a prospective employer?
Answers:
• A powerful,
well-written statement of accomplishment that is not just a list of jobs and
duties performed.
• A list of the
applicant's strongest skills and qualifications placed in the top half of the
resume.
• A list of
skills and qualifications relevant to the position.
• b and c
• All of the
above
50. The main goal of a cover letter is to
__________________.
Answers:
• demonstrate the
candidate's superiority over other candidates
• help the
candidate obtain an interview with the employer
• demonstrate
that the candidate is qualified for the position
• summarize the
candidate's past work experience
51. Which of the following elements should NOT
be included in a resume?
Answers:
• Photographs and
illustrations, unless requested by the employer
• Reasons for
leaving the previous job
• Names and
contact information for references
• The heading
"Resume" at the top of the page
• Objective
• a and c
• b, c, and d
• a, b, c, and d
52. Which of the following might be a drawback
of a chronological resume?
Answers:
• Employers can
easily spot and check gaps in employment history.
• For candidates
with long work histories, a chronological resume can become long and
cumbersome.
• Relevant
experience is listed in the lesser-noticed areas of the resume.
• a and b
53. Employers like chronological resumes
because _________________.
Answers:
• they are
shorter than functional resumes
• gaps in a
candidate's employment history are easily recognizable
• they highlight
the skills and accomplishments of the candidate
• a and c
54. Elements that should appear on ALL
resumes, regardless of the field or targeted position, include ____________.
Answers:
• objective, work
experience, skills, and honors and activities
• contact
information, work experience, and education
• work
experience, education, and list of references
• contact
information, objective, work experience, and salary history
55. In the opening paragraph of a cover
letter, the candidate should _______________.
Answers:
• mention how he
or she heard about the position
• state relevant
work experience and credentials
• request an
interview
• include the
phrase "Enclosed please find my resume"
• a and d
• a and c
56. Which of the following formatting
decisions can cause a resume to lose its impact?
Answers:
• Consistency in
use of numbers, italics, bullets, and underlining
• Uneven margins
• Even areas of
white space
• Consistency of
design elements
57. Which of the following statements about
sentence structure and usage for bulleted points in a resume is TRUE?
Answers:
• Each bullet
point should be written in the present tense.
• Each bullet
point should follow parallel structure.
• Bullet points
should be written with a variety of sentence structures and lengths.
• Bullet points
should make significant use of passive voice.
58. Which of the following can be included in
the Honors and Activities section of a resume?
Answers:
• Academic awards
and scholarships
• Membership in
national or international organizations
• Leadership
positions at campus, national, or international levels
• Community
service positions
• All of the
above
59. Which of the following statements about
references is FALSE?
Answers:
• It is
considered unprofessional to list references on a resume.
• Although not
necessary, writing "References are available upon request" at the end
of the resume is still an acceptable practice.
• Names and
contact information of references should always be included on a resume.
60. Frank is applying for a job for which he
has no specific, formal training. To address the issue, Frank should
___________.
Answers:
•
"rework" the Experience and Education sections of his resume so that
it looks like he has the necessary skills and training
• include a list
of related experience and skills on a separate page
• include a
Summary of Skills list at the top of the resume to highlight relevant
job-related skills
• enroll in a
related four-year degree program and list that program in the Education section
of his resume
• send an
exploratory e-mail to the company to see if they will accept a resume from a
candidate who does not fit the job description
• c and e
61. The majority of the Experience section of
a resume is generally written in the _____________.
Answers:
• past tense
• present tense
• future tense
62. When writing a resume, which of the
following phrases should be avoided because it is trite or overused?
Answers:
• Excellent oral
and written skills
• Exceptional
organizational abilities
• Goal-oriented
individual
• Honest and
sincere worker
• All of the
above should be avoided.
• All of the
above are acceptable phrases to use on a resume.
