Communication Skills for Business practice questions units 4-6

It is your goal to always deliver effective messaging and to adapt your messages to the audience whenever appropriate.

During the presentation, which is the best way to collect indirect feedback from your audience to help you adapt your message?

• Serve refreshments

• Watch your audience for body language.

• Schedule breaks to talk to the person who engaged you to speak.

• Contact your audience the day before to ask what they hope to learn.

Your supervisor is giving you a new assignment. She list four different projects that she needs done. You discuss each project with her to make sure you understand how she wants each completed.

What other clarification do you need?

• You should find out why you must do these projects instead of a coworker.

• Ask when you supervisor choose these projects and why.

• Ask why you supervisor dumped these projects on you at this time.

• Find out the order and dates your supervisor wants the projects done.

When you arrive to work, your team leader immediately calls you into her office. She sounds frustrated and tells you the following:

You frequently arrive late in the morning and I have to cover your calls until you arrive, which means I don't get my work done!

You want to make sure you understand why she is frustrated. How should you respond to clarify her message?

• Sometimes I have trouble waking up after gaming on my computer all night.

• I can really relate to what you're saying. I hate it when you're late, too!

• Do you really have that much work to do?

• So you're frustrated when I'm late because you have to cover my calls?

Answer explanation

The best way to clarify her message and demonstrate that you are listening t her is to paraphrase what your team leader said.

You are interviewing for a management position at a small electronics store. You've been asked to provide several documents.

For each item, select whether it is Legal or Illegal for the interviewer to request the document.

1. A copy of your voter registration card.

• Legal

• Illegal

You are interviewing for a management position at a small electronics store. You've been asked to provide several documents.

For each item, select whether it is Legal or Illegal for the interviewer to request the document.

2. Proof of U.S. citizenship or a copy of your work permit or visa

• Legal

• Illegal

You are interviewing for a management position at a small electronics store. You've been asked to provide several documents.

For each item, select whether it is Legal or Illegal for the interviewer to request the document.

3. Photocopy of a credit card.

• Legal

• Illegal

You are interviewing for a management position at a small electronics store. You've been asked to provide several documents.

For each item, select whether it is Legal or Illegal for the interviewer to request the document.

4. References from previous employers.

• Legal

• Illegal

Since you were a child, you have wanted a career as an animator and to work for a well-known studio that produces award winning family films. You are finishing your junior year of high school and are beginning to shop programs offed at several post-secondary schools.

What action can you take to help you acquire you dream job after you finish your schooling?

• Meet with a hiring manager at the wil studio where you want to work and ask what preparation the studio seeks in the ideal applicant.

• Meet with your high school career counselor and ask for assistance with selecting a post-secondary school.

• Attend a few classes and choose courses that are the most fun.

• Write to dozens of schools and pick one that offers financial assistance.

Answer explanation

If you already know what you want to do and where you want to work, go to that employer and tell them your intent. Ask them how they recommend you prepare so you can have a high probability of being hired by that specific company.

If you know what you want to do but are not sure yet where you want to be employed, your high school counselor can help you chose a school with a program that will prepare you generally for your chosen career.

You work in a warehouse to support yourself while acquiring a degree in Business Communication. You recently graduated and are in the process of interviewing for career positions in business. An interview is scheduled near the location where you live. The interview will occur two hours after you finish work. Instead of going home immediately after work, you decide to unwind with friends, eat some pizza, then go directly to your interview. You arrive just as the interview time begins looking a bit dirt and smelling like pizza.

What mistake was made?

• You should have scheduled the interview for a later time.

• You should have brought one of your friends to your interview.

• You should have arrived 2 hours early to the interview to show how much you want the position.

• You should have gone home to shower and change attire.

You have applied for a management position at a company located in a University town. You recently graduated from a rival University located in a town on the other side of the state. You are qualified for the position and perform well during the interview. Towards the end, you ask how many other applicants are being interviewed and when will a decision be made. The interviewer tells you there is only one other applicant; however, the other applicant graduated from the local University and the company prefers to hire only graduates from that school. You leave feeling you wasted your time and travel.

What mistake was made during the interview?

• The interviewer cannot discriminate against a qualified hire because of cultural bias.

• You should not have disclosed you graduated from a rival University.

• The interviewer should not have told you how many other candidates are being interviewed.

• You are not allowed to ask how many other candidates are being interviewed.