Q&A Hero

Q: Discuss the organization and content of a thank-you letter for an interview.

Q: Discuss the advantages of working in teams, and identify and discuss tools to improve communication with team members.

Q: Define business casual.

Q: Describe how conflict within a team can improve the performance of the team.

Q: When interviewing, you should avoid asking questions about what topics?

Q: When a collaborator is located off site, the most productive way of working with that person would be to require attendance at regularly scheduled meetings with the rest of the team.

Q: How should you dress when participating in a video interview?

Q: A team is a group of two or more people with a shared mission and responsibility for a goal.

Q: Why are video interviews becoming increasingly popular?

Q: Whether the interaction takes place online or in person, creating and fostering positive relationships with colleagues, customers, and others can make or break your career.

Q: What is the purpose of a stress interview?

Q: Interpersonal communication skills will impact all areas except which? A. Productive meetings B. Active listening C. Writing skills D. Nonverbal communication E. Business etiquette

Q: Describe the STAR format for answering behavioral interview questions.

Q: The two most common reasons cited for unsuccessful teamwork are a lack of trust and what? A. Groupthink B. Hidden agendas C. Incompatible technology D. Poor communication E. Time

Q: What type of interview is based on the theory that past behavior predicts future performance?

Q: Which of the following is considered the most important factor in determining how well a team will perform? A. A shared sense of purpose B. The right mix of creative talent C. Full engagement of team members D. Strong communication skills E. Clear objectives

Q: Define a good organizational fit.

Q: Which of the following is generally true when referring to groups? A. Group meetings are costly in terms of time and coordination B. Team members will work harder to support the goals of a group than individual projects C. Group members are more accepting of contrary opinions D. Groups are often ineffective E. Groups have limited access to research data and other essential information

Q: List at least four questions you can ask an interviewer.

Q: Activities that support incompatible goals to those of the group are referred to as what? A. Groupthink B. Participative management C. Multitasking D. Hidden agendas E. Increased diversity of views

Q: What is the importance of researching an organization before the interview?

Q: When faced with potentially unpopular choices, having a team develop potential solutions and implementation methods can result in what? A. Increased information B. Increased acceptance C. Higher performance levels D. Lower costs E. Hidden agendas

Q: What are characteristics of an appropriate closing paragraph for an application letter?

Q: To maintain harmony in a group, some team members may withhold unpopular opinions. This is known as what? A. Collaboration B. Non performance C. Groupthink D. Hidden agendas E. Participative management

Q: What factors should you consider when writing the body of an application letter?

Q: Which of the following is a disadvantage of working in a team? A. Limited knowledge B. Diversity of views C. Limited acceptance of a solution D. Lower performance levels E. Cost

Q: What should you keep in mind when composing the opening for an application letter?

Q: Which of the following is a benefit of a successful team? A. Diversity of views B. Groupthink C. Multiple agendas D. Low cost E. Limited peer pressure

Q: Define the difference between solicited cover letters and unsolicited cover letters.

Q: Participative management allows employees at any level of the organization to do what? A. Solve long-term problems B. Allow long-term problem solving teams to flourish C. Allow effective virtual teams D. Increase effectiveness of new member orientation E. Create job security

Q: What are the characteristics of the direct organizational plan in a solicited cover letter?

Q: Approximately what percentage of the U.S. workforce has positions that require collaboration as a core job responsibility? A. 20 percent B. 30 percent C. 40 percent D. 50 percent E. 60 percent

Q: What organizational plan should you use when writing a solicited cover letter?

Q: Collaboration is best described as what? A. Active listening B. Groupthink C. Clearly agreed upon agendas D. Working together on complex challenges E. Dependent on strong nonverbal communication skills

Q: What should be included in the salutation of your cover letter?

Q: Which of the following is not an aspect of interpersonal communication? A. Productive meetings B. Active listening C. Clearly identifiable agendas D. Nonverbal communication E. Business etiquette

Q: What should you include in your contact information?

Q: Discuss how personal appearance in the workplace conveys a sense of business etiquette.

Q: List five of the top ten "pet peeves" that recruiters listed as issues when reading rsums.

Q: Discuss how business etiquette affects the potential for success in teamwork, productive meetings, listening and nonverbal communication.

Q: If you don't feel comfortable making hand gestures during a presentation, grip the lectern lightly.

Q: Because business meetings that are conducted over meals are less formal, and often after regular work hours, it is appropriate to offer personal information over drinks.

Q: As a speaker, you can emphasize important points with periodic pauses.

Q: To convey a sense of etiquette during a meeting, it is more polite to text and email than it is to answer a mobile phone.

Q: When rehearsing a presentation, practice keeping both your volume and the rate at which you speak steady.

Q: Personal appearance is considered to be an element of professional business etiquette.

Q: Plan to rehearse important presentations in private at least three times so you can identify and correct any problems before you face an audience.

Q: From a customer's standpoint, product and client knowledge is more important than etiquette.

Q: More than half of your credibility as a presenter is based on body language, which is why you should videotape yourself rehearsing and check your posture, expressions, and gestures.

Q: Which of the following is least dependent of mutual respect and consideration among participants? A. Teamwork B. Meetings C. Listening D. Productivity E. Technology

Q: Including video in a presentation is a good way to engage the audience, illustrate a point, and make an emotional appeal.

Q: Which of the following is not an aspect of workplace etiquette? A. Behaviors B. Position C. Habits D. Nonverbal communication E. Technology

Q: When presenting, use a conversational style and many contractions, but speak slightly slower than in normal conversation.

Q: When determining appropriate dress for the workplace, what should the underlying goal of the style of dress be? A. Earning a reputation for your skills, not for what you wear B. Appearing casual and approachable C. Conforming to others D. Changing the attitude of those who are not as stylish E. Impressing customers and managers with your awareness of trends in the industry

Q: For more traditional presentations, avoid slide after slide of bulleted text.

Q: When using the phone, what should be relied on to convey confidence and professionalism? A. The ability to multitask while on the phone B. The ability to send links to the audience to support information conveyed while conversing C. The ability to use tone of voice to convey meaning D. The ability to block out distractions E. The ability to keep calls short and to the point

Q: When your handouts contain complex data or extensive information that the audience should read as background before your presentation, distribute them as people enter the room prior to your speech.

Q: In which of the following areas is proper etiquette is less essential? A. Online B. With mobile devices C. In social settings D. In the workplace E. In after work activities not related to the job

Q: If you plan to refer to handouts, you should distribute them immediately before beginning the presentation.

Q: Voice recognition systems have created new issues for the workplace, including what? A. The expectation that employees will not be late as they have access to directions B. The creation of distraction and annoyance for others C. The expectation that dictated information will be accurate when transferred to text D. The expectation that receivers will be able to respond immediately to any inquiry E. The assumption that everyone else has access to the same technology

Q: If you aim to convince listeners that global warming is a reality, your purpose is to persuade.

Q: Which of the following is true about mobile devices in the workplace? A. If using a personally owned device, the employer cannot dictate use. B. If an employer provides a mobile device to an employee, the employee can use it for personal use as well as business use. C. Employers have the right to dictate mobile device usage policies. D. Most employers understand that employees can multitask and simultaneously take care of personal as well as professional issues with a mobile device. E. Most employees understand that taking care of personal issues on a mobile device can be disruptive to the work area, and should practice proper etiquette by stepping into a hallway or other non-work area to conduct personal business.

Q: Which of the following is the most respectful use of mobile technology while at work? A. Making personal calls during work hours on your personal cell phone B. Remembering that your phone habits may not be acceptable to others in the workplace C. Texting a response to a phone message during a meeting D. Leaving a meeting to take a call E. When with others, texting a caller to indicate you are not available to talk

Q: For most business presentations, you should let the audience know up front what you expect of them.

Q: The purpose of your oral presentation may be to inform, to persuade, to recommend, or to motivate.

Q: Which of the following indicates poor etiquette on the part of the sender? A. Multitasking while using IM or other tools B. Clearly indicating opinion so it doesn't appear as fact C. Asking if this is a good time for an IM chat D. Starting a new message for a new topic E. Not using "reply all" when responding to communications

Q: When you plan an oral presentation, your first step is to analyze your audience.

Q: Because of the prevalence of instant messaging and emails, which of the following should be considered when writing a text or email for work? A. Coworkers will understand jargon and acronyms. B. Emoticons will enhance the meaning of your message. C. Messages must be answered immediately. D. Spelling, punctuation and capitalization are important for professionalism. E. Spelling, punctuation and capitalization rules have changed and do not affect how others view your level of professionalism.

Q: For direct-plan presentations, you should make sure your main point is right up front.

Q: When communicating with someone using electronic media, and you wish to ask a nonrelated question or introduce a nonrelated issue, what is the best way to introduce the topic? A. Through a new message B. In a new paragraph in the original message C. By highlighting the new topic in color D. By changing the subject line of the email E. By using a clear opening line to indicate change

Q: List a few ways to handle audience questions

Q: When upset with someone or something at the workplace, the best place to vent your frustrations is where? A. In an anonymous email B. On your Twitter feed C. On the corporate blog D. At home E. At after work social setting

Q: List several different types of presentation software.

Q: When conducting a meeting over a meal, which of the following would be the most appropriate topics of conversation? A. Politics B. Wine knowledge C. Family D. Religion E. Use of technology

Q: Why should you hold the question-and-answer session at the end of a presentation?

Q: When conducting a business meeting over a meal, when is the best time to begin the meeting? A. When waiting for drinks B. Before ordering food C. When waiting for food D. During the course of the meal E. After the entrée plates have been removed

Q: What can you do to minimize or eliminate the anxiety that occurs before or during a presentation?

Q: When leaving a voice mail, what information is least important for the recipient of the voice mail? A. Reason for calling B. Your name C. Your phone number D. Your email address E. Best time to reach you

Q: What speaker control tips should you follow when practicing for a presentation?

Q: In terms of phone use, good etiquette suggests which of the following as being most important? A. Speaking softly so others in the work space are not disturbed B. Don't waste time identifying yourself–it is no longer necessary with caller I.D. C. Allow calls to go to voicemail whenever possible to keep a record of calls D. Identify yourself when answering the phone before asking how you can be of help E. Using voice mail instead of other means for messaging