DECA: Business Administration Core | sample 2

The key to complying with laws and regulations is to focus on those that

• are the easiest to learn

• bring serious consequences

• only affect your career

• apply to you

Answer explanation

Apply to you. It would be impossible to learn and remember every local, state, federal, and international law. There are just too many of them—and they are constantly changing and being challenged in courts. However, being unaware of a law is not an excuse for breaking it, so it is important to focus on the laws and regulations that apply to you.

You should not solely focus on the laws and regulations that bring serious consequences, that only affect your career, or that are the easiest to learn, because you might miss some laws that affect you

When navigated properly, your company’s chain of command can

• guide you toward better financial health

• reveal to you your hidden talents

• be your personal map for career success

• help you discern your true purpose in life

Answer explanation

Be your personal map for career success. When followed properly, the chain of command can be your personal map for career success—a step-by-step guide for navigating the complicated landscape of the business world.

Your company's chain of command cannot, however, help you discern your true purpose in life, guide you toward better financial health, or reveal to you your hidden talents.

Where are a company's protocols, policies, and procedures most likely to be found?

• Posted in the company cafeteria

• On the company's public website

• They usually aren't written down

• In a company handbook

Answer explanation

In a company handbook. Many organizations provide all employees with an employee handbook, manual, or training guide which contains all company policies and procedures. A company's internal guidelines aren't likely to be posted on the company's public website.

They may be posted in the company cafeteria for quick reference, but it is more likely that they would be contained in a company handbook or manual.

Almost all companies have guidelines that are written down.

Sally is interested in working with animals. In her free time, Sally goes to the local animal shelter to help feed, walk, and care for stray dogs and cats. Sally is gaining experience in her field of interest by

• job shadowing a veterinarian

• participating in an internship

• doing volunteer work

• organizing a charitable event

Answer explanation

Doing volunteer work. One way to obtain work experience is by volunteering. Volunteer work involves donating time without pay to complete tasks or projects, such as feeding, walking, and caring for stray dogs and cats at an animal shelter. Internships involve training in which schools and businesses cooperate to provide on-the-job practice for learners. Job shadowing involves observing an individual perform their daily job activities in the workplace.

There is not enough information provided to determine if organizing a charitable event for the animal shelter is an aspect of Sally's volunteer work, if Sally observes the veterinarians who work at the animal shelter, or if Sally's school arranged an internship.

To develop a professional-looking resume, the writer should

• create interest by using colorful text

• include a photograph of themselves

• begin by describing their work history

• proofread the document for spelling errors

Answer explanation

Proofread the document for spelling errors. Professional-looking resumes are uncluttered, concise, and error-free. A business that receives a resume with spelling and grammatical errors is likely to view the applicant as a person who is not concerned with detail and accuracy. Attention to detail and accuracy are usually qualities that businesses look for in job applicants.

Therefore, before printing and submitting a resume, the writer should carefully read the document to identify spelling and grammatical errors. It is also a good idea for the writer to have other people look at the resume to ensure that they didn't overlook any errors. Experts recommend beginning your resume with your name, contact information, and professional goal(s).

There is some debate about whether to include a photograph of yourself in your resume; however, most experts do not recommend including one. Using colorful text may be distractingto the reader.

Which of the following is an example of an appropriate attitude for a job applicant to demonstrate during a job interview:

• I have skills that this company could use

• I can do any job that I'm asked to do

• I think this company would be lucky to get me

• I know all about this company and its products

Answer explanation

I have skills that this company could use. Recognizing and appreciating your skills gives you self-confidence and helps you present yourself well in a job interview.

All of the other alternatives represent an overconfident or cocky attitude that is likely to make a negative impression on the interviewer.

Technological advancements have made it possible for some entrepreneurs to

• reduce the need for maintaining financial records

• operate their businesses entirely from their computers

• run their businesses with fewer computer skills

• eliminate the need to pay income and Social Security taxes

Answer explanation

Operate their businesses entirely from their computers. Technological advancements and the internet have made starting a business much more accessible for would-be entrepreneurs. In fact, many of these businesses have no brick-and-mortar storefront at all—they're run entirely on the internet! More people own home-based businesses than ever before, and any business with an Internet presence can reach a large, often international, audience.

Technological advancements do not reduce the need to maintain financial records, eliminate the need to pay taxes, or allow entrepreneurs to run their businesses with fewer computer skills.

Kayla is an introvert who enjoys working alone. She also prefers structure and routine in her day. Which of the following careers would best suit Kayla's personality:

• Accountant

• Elementary school teacher

• Marketing specialist

• Public defense attorney

Answer explanation

Accountant. Accountants spend much of their days independently, performing calculations, analyzing and organizing data, and maintaining records. Accounting is a good career choice for many introverts who are good with numbers, appreciate structure and routine, and prefer to work alone.

Elementary schoolteachers, marketing specialists, and public defense attorneys are all required to spend a significant amount of time with other people—and rarely have structure or routine in their workdays. These careers likely would not suit Kayla's personality.

Which of the following is an example of job shadowing:

• Tom asks an advertising manager about various professional organizations in marketing

• Kayla follows the public relations director of a local company to learn about their career

• Delia talks with an event coordinator about the ways in which she can donate her time to a local charity

• Brian sets up a time to meet with a sales representative to find out about their job duties

Answer explanation

Kayla follows the public relations director of a local company to learn about their career. Job shadowing involves following an employee while they are working to gain insight about a specific occupation or career. Job shadowing allows Kayla to watch a public relations professional's day-to-day work activities. The experience may help Kayla decide if she would like to work in the public relations profession.

Tom is asking the advertising manager about professional organizations, which are groups that provide businesspeople with professional development and networking opportunities.

Delia wants to do volunteer work, and Brian is setting up an exploratory interview, which is a meeting to gather information about a specific topic.

Which of the following individuals is most likely to meet their employer's expectations for proper employee behavior:

• Charlene, who oversleeps and is late to work once or twice a month

• Penelope, who asked a successful veteran coworker to serve as her mentor

• Dave, who has a tendency to take credit for his team's work

• Tim, who waits a week or more before replying to his manager's emails

Answer explanation

Penelope, who asked a successful veteran coworker to serve as her mentor. Employers expect their employees to exhibit certain characteristics and behaviors. For example, they expect their employees to possess good listening skills, work well with team members, be respectful, respond to requests for information promptly, and have a positive attitude.

Employees are more likely to meet their employer's expectations if they look to others in the workplace for guidance and advice.

A reliable, successful veteran coworker can serve as a mentor to a new employee, sharing their wisdom and suggestions for being an effective employee and meeting the employer's expectations for proper behavior.

Charlene, Dave, and Tim do not meet common employer expectations for employees.