It's one thing to know how to write a good resume, but once you've developed a solid resume, do you know how best to use it? Take our challenge and test your knowledge of resume strategy!

Your name:
Your email address:
Re-enter your email address:

Directions: Please choose the best answer to the following questions related to job-search resume strategy.

1. The purpose of a resume is:
   To get an interview
   Structure the interview process
   Remind the interviewer of you after you're gone
   All of the above

 

2. A resume should:
   serve as a sales tool, designed to market the job-seeker to each prospective employer
   omit no detail in telling a comprehensive story of your career
   focus on past job duties and responsibilities
   include as much personal information as possible to "humanize" the job-seeker

 

3. The way that most career experts recommend you e-mail your resume to employers is:
   Send your resume as an e-mail attachment only
   Send your resume as an e-mail attachment, with a text version of your cover letter and resume also pasted into the body of the e-mail
   According to the employer's instructions.
   Send a brief e-mail referring the employer to a Web-page where your resume can be either viewed or downloaded

 

4. What is the current resume page-number preference among employers?
   Readability is not as important an issue as page length, so reducing the type size to fit all the information on one page is better than having a two-page resume
   Two pages or fewer. A two-page resume is fine if you have relevant material to fill two pages, but don't go to more than two pages without an extremely good reason.
   Keeping your resume to one page is an ironclad rule
   Employers expect the best candidates to have lengthy resumes of three to four pages.

 

5. A complete job-search package includes an excellent resume and a dynamic cover letter.
   True
   False

 

6. An outstanding resume is a virtual guarantee that you will get the job.
   True
   False

 

7. Should you use the same resume for every job you apply for?
   No, because a "general" resume that is not focused on a specific job's requirements is seen as not competitive
   Yes. It's way too much trouble to change your resume for every job
   Yes. If it's a great resume, it should work for any job
   Yes. If you tailor your resume to a specific job, the employer will thinking you're trying to "suck up"

 

8. What different versions of your resume should you consider, depending on your situation?
   A formatted "print" resume for mailing, faxing, and presenting at the interview
   A text-based version of your resume for electronic submissions
   A Web-based version of your resume to be published on a Web page
   All of the above

 

9. A chrono-functional resume should be considered:
   By career-changers
   By job-seekers with diverse job histories that don't point in an obvious career direction
   By job-seekers with gaps in their job histories
   Only in extreme situations and when a chronological resume is not producing results.

 

10. To give your resume a pleasing appearance, consider the following:
    Adequate white space, bullets, type in a readable size, judicious use of type varieties (such as bold and italics), and an occasional rule line
    Extensive use of columns and tables
    Adding your photo to the resume
    Extensive use of underlining and all caps for emphasis

 

11. Which of the following should you include on your resume:
    Reasons for leaving previous job(s)
    Salary information
    The title "Resume"
    None of the above

 

12. The most effective way to produce a resume is to use a template in Microsoft Word.
    True
    False

 

13. In a survey of hiring managers, these resume characteristics were rated at or near the top of employer preferences:
    Resume has a readable appearance
    Resume uses bullets rather than paragraph form
    Resume presents a clear job history
    All of the above

 

14. Of employers who prefer to receive resumes via e-mail attachment, what is the preferred word-processing format:
    Google Docs
    Portable Document Format (PDF)
    Microsoft Word
    HTML

 

15. Which of the following are aspects of branding your resume:
    The distinctive appearance of your resume
    A consistent message woven throughout your resume
    A branding statement that defines who you are, your promise of value, and why you should be sought out.
    All of the above

 

16. When should you have your resume with you?
    Only when you go to job interviews
    Only when you know you'll be in a networking situation
    Only when you want to show it off to your friends
    At all times

 

17. Once you distribute your resume to prospective employers, your strategy should be which of the following?
    Clear your calendar while waiting for an onslaught of job interviews
    Sit back and wait for the courteous employers to respond to your resume
    Plan a detailed follow-up schedule with each employer
    Get angry that a vast majority of employers are too busy or rude to respond

 

18. To make your resume stand out, it's a good idea to have it printed on paper in bright, attention-getting colors.
    True
    False

 

19. Whenever possible, job-seekers should pre-register for career fairs -- or at least obtain the list of recruiting companies -- so that they can bring different versions of their resumes for different employers and different positions.
    True
    False

 

20. If you have an e-mail address such as Nasty_Chick@domainname.com, it's best to change it or use an alternate, more professional e-mail address on your resume.
    True
    False