Resume Writing MCQs (FREE Multiple Choice Questions)

1: What should you include in your contact information?

A. Your permanent address

B. All of these

C. Your email address

D. Your phone number

2: Which of the following is the best description of a managerial position?

A. Manage 8 staff, 300,000 budget. Reduced customer response time 20%.

B. Manage staff of eight and also budget of $300,000. Changed procedures to improve customer response time.

C. Manage multiple staff members. Coordinate their activities to ensure reliable office functionality.

D. Manage 8 employees and $300K budget. Revised customer response procedures to cut client response time by 20% while still providing high-quality service.

3: Which of the following sections is NOT optional on a resume?

A. Hobbies and Interests

B. Education

C. Languages

D. Professional Memberships

4: Which of the following fonts are widely accepted for use on a resume?

A. All of these

B. Times New Roman

C. Arial

D. Garamond

5: What should you include in your resume?

A. All the jobs you ever had

B. Jobs from well known companies

C. Your most recent jobs and ones that are most meaningful

D. Jobs that lasted longer than 6 months

6: When is it acceptable for a resume be several pages long?

A. If you have a couple years of work experience

B. If you recently graduated from college

C. If you are an executive, or have a PhD with several years of research experience

D. Always

7: When it is okay to bend the truth on a resume?

A. In the skills section, just to make yourself look more well-rounded

B. It is never okay

C. With the dates, to get rid of evidence that you were out of work for a while

D. With a job title, to help potential employers better understand the nature of the position

8: A Summary of Qualifications or Profile is a way to:

A. Include keywords from the job advertisement

B. All of these

C. Quickly let the potential employer see that you are qualified for the job

D. Summarize the ways in which you are a good fit for the position

9: What belongs in a Skills section of a resume?

A. Computer, language, and other skills that are relevant to the job for which the applicant is applying

B. Bullet points detailing what the applicant has learned from each position and degree

C. A list of the applicant's abilities and traits (i.e., goal oriented, detail-oriented)

D. The applicant's hobbies and extracurricular activities

10: What is a targeted resume?

A. A resume sent to a specific person

B. A resume customized for the position wanted

C. A resume with a complete work history

D. A resume full of buzzwords

11: Should you mention your age in your resume?

A. Yes, unless you are younger than 21

B. No

C. Yes, unless you are 50 or older

D. No, unless you are relatively young

12: Should you put your race or ethniciticy on a resume?

A. Yes, but only if you have met the recruiter in person

B. No, unless you are a minority

C. Never

D. No, unless you know the company would react favorably

13: Under the Work Experience heading, an applicant with 30 years of work experience should include:

A. All of the work experience that the applicant has had in his or her career

B. All of the work experience that the applicant has had since graduating college

C. All of the work experience that the applicant has had in the past 20 years

D. Recent work experience relevant to the job for which the applicant is applying

14: On your resume, how should you hide a gap in your employment history?

A. You should not hide the gap

B. Change exit and start dates for jobs around gap

C. Say you were going to school during that time

D. Say you were in the military and are not at liberty to reveal the details of your service.

15: Recruiters tend to concentrate the most on ____ page of your resume

A. Second

B. Third

C. First

D. Fourth

16: How many pages should a typical entry level non-government resume for a college student have?

A. 5 - 6 Pages

B. 7 - 8 Pages

C. 3 - 4 Pages

D. 1 - 2 Pages

17: What should be included in a cover letter?

A. The job title you are interested in applying for

B. A brief summary of your work experience and education

C. All of these

D. Dear [Insert Name]

18: Which of the following is the recommended font to use for a resume?

A. Times New Roman

B. Comic Sans

C. Courier New

D. Helvetia

19: Which of the following sections are optional on a resume

A. Contact Information

B. Work Experience

C. Education

D. Volunteer Experience

20: Your resume should...

A. Have all of the text be the same font

B. Emphasize the postive

C. All of these

D. Be truthful

21: An effective resume will ______________.

A. show every job you've had, no matter how old.

B. use the most complex vocabulary possible.

C. be sent only in response to an advertised position.

D. demonstrate how your skills match an employer's requirements.

22: The education section on a typical resume should include, if possible,

A. Any special awards or honors you receive

B. The university or college you attended

C. Your GPA (if it is high)

D. (All of these)

23: What is wrong with describing yourself as being "goal-oriented with a can-do attitude?"

A. It's just puffery

B. All of these

C. Does not differentiate you from other candidates

D. Does not say what goals are or what you can do

24: What should NOT be included in a cover letter

A. Your educational background

B. Your contact information

C. Your work experience

D. Questions about the position

25: What is a Functional resume?

A. A resume that focuses on your education and academic background

B. A resume that lists only your skills, certifications, and awards

C. A resume that lists your work experience in non chronological order

D. A resume that focuses on your skills and experience, emphazing your professional capabilities rather than your chronological work history.

26: Which of the following does NOT belong on your resume?

A. Statement of goal or objective

B. Volunteer activities

C. Reason for leaving previous employment

D. Foreign languages spoken

27: What is a cover letter?

A. If your resume is in a binder, the cover letter, would be the front of the binder

B. A cover letter is a letter of introduction attached to your resume

C. It is the first page of your resume where you list your contact information

D. A cover letter is a letter you send to a potential employee after they have been given a reasonable amount of time to examine your resume

28: Which are examples of words/phrases to consider removing from a resume?

A. Words like "energetic"

B. Words like "experienced" and "seasoned" when you have little experience in the field or outside of school

C. Phrases like "people person" because you are expected to be friendly and professional

D. All of these

29: What should be on the top of your resume

A. Your work experience

B. An introductory paragraph

C. Your contact details

D. A Goal statement

30: Which of these should you NOT include in your resume?

A. Age

B. All of these

C. Disabilities

D. Race

31: For whom is a functional resume format useful?

A. Contract employees

B. All of these

C. Job seekers with work history gaps

D. Career changers

32: Which does not belong on a scannable resume?

A. Plain formatting with no boxes or pictures

B. A consistent font style and size

C. Decorated text with shading, italics, or bold formatting

D. Left justification

33: Should a resume have ALL of your work experience?

A. Yes, all of it is equally important to an employer.

B. No, just the most recent or most relevant experience.

34: Which of the following should likely never appear on a resume?

A. All of these

B. Height and weight

C. Social Security Number

D. Marital status

35: Which of the following should NEVER be included on a resume?

A. Foreign languages spoken

B. Hobbies

C. Volunteer activities

D. Salary information

36: Your resume should not...

A. Use Pronouns (such as "I" or "Me")

B. Be written in the active voice

C. Be less than 3 pages

37: Your former employer, Resume Industries, has since changed their name to Perfect Resumes. What is the standard way to list them on your resume?

A. Resume Industries

B. Perfect Resumes

C. Perfect Resumes (formerly Resume Industries)

D. Resume Industries (now Perfect Resumes)

38: More than just listing your past jobs, your work experience section is primarily a means to ...

A. give personal details to build the reader's appreciation for your personality.

B. highlight the value you brought to your former employers through detailed accomplishment stories, including measurable results where possible.

C. provide a comprehensive list of the various duties you performed.

D. fill space to give the visual impression that your experience is significant.

39: What is an example of something you would NOT put under skills?

A. Abilities

B. Volunteer Work

C. Foreign Languages

D. Computer experience

40: What type of resume is most appropriate for academic positions?

A. Curriculum Vitae

B. Education-only resume

C. Functional resume

D. Chronological resume

41: When do you include an objective?

A. Only when it adds value, is required/requested, clarifies the purpose of your application or job you are applying to, or is otherwise appropriate.

B. Only if you have a cover letter to accompany the resume.

C. Never

D. Always, regardless of whether what you want to do for a career is obvious on your resume or not.

42: "Targeting" your resume involves what?

A. Being selective as to which companies you approach with your application submission.

B. Using coloured paper and eye-catching fonts in your resume, so as to stand out from the competition.

C. Editing the content and expressions used to "speak the language" of the employer for each role for which you apply, ensuring relevance for the reader.

D. Sending resumes to as many prospective employers as possible, so as to increase the likelihood that you'll be contacted for an interview.

43: What should be in bold type?

A. All dates

B. Your name and section headings

C. Bold type should not be used.

D. Job titles

44: For the typical resume list your prior job experience...

A. In reverse chronological order

B. In chronological order

C. Alphabetically

D. By importance

45: What's wrong with this resume sentence: "Acheived promotion to district manager."

A. Does not give date of promotion

B. Does not say who gave promotion

C. Lacks adjectives

D. Spelling error

46: What should all your sentences start with?

A. Positive adjectives

B. Personal pronoun

C. Action verbs

47: Where might you mention a professional membership on a resume?

A. In Experience

B. At the beginning

C. In Education

D. Near the end

48: What is a functional resume?

A. A basic template that an applicant can use to help them draft and organize a coherent resume

B. A resume that focuses on positions the applicant has held and is organized chronologically

C. A resume that focuses on positions the applicant has held and is organized in reverse chronological order

D. A resume that is organized by the applicant's relevant skills and experiences rather than chronologically

49: What is the difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV)?

A. In the United States, a curriculum vitae is primarily used for applications to academic, education, scientific, and research positions.

B. Curriculum Vitae is more widely used in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

C. A resume tends to be shorter and a more concise summary of your education, work experience, and skills while a curriculum vitae is often longer and a more detailed synopsis.

D. All of these

50: Which of the following most closely follows current best practices for resume writing in terms of style, tense, and content?

A. Supervising the Sales Division, during which time employee productivity was increased by 50%

B. Served as supervisor for 80 employees in the Sales Division and increased productivity.

C. I supervised 80 employees in the Sales Division and increased productivity by 50%

D. Supervised 80 Sales Division employees and increased productivity by 50%

51: Which of these is not a type of resume?

A. Serviceable Resume

B. Functional resume

C. Hybrid Resume

D. Reverse chronological resume

52: Which of these is NOT a potential strength of a reverse chronological resume?

A. It is a traditional format that hiring professionals are accustomed to.

B. It shows your age along with your experience

C. It highlights a clear career path.

D. It shows continuity in your employment history.

53: What's most wrong with this resume sentence: "I generated $200,000 in sales last year for my company"?

A. Doesn't identify the year

B. Uses first-person pronoun

C. Too specific

D. Doesn't tell what was sold

54: What's wrong with this resume sentence: "Responsible for assisting with numerus projects."

A. Spelling error.

B. Unclear what "assisting with" means.

C. Describes your responsibilities, not your accomplishments.

D. All of these

55: Which of the following should a recent college graduate include on their resume if they don't have much work experience?

A. List of all courses taken with a description of their relevance to the position

B. Internships, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities

C. Internships, volunteer work, and a list of all courses taken

D. Internships and volunteer work, only

56: An applicant's high school education should:

A. Always be included under the Education heading if the applicant's high school achievements were exemplary

B. Always be included under the Education heading

C. Be included under the Education heading if the applicant did not go to college

D. Never be included under the Education heading

57: Will an employer look for short-term employment on a resume as a negative?

A. No.

B. Yes.

58: Which resume format is most popular with employers?

A. Competency-based

B. Functional

C. Reverse chronological

D. Portfolio-based

59: What kind of paper should you print a resume on?

A. Paper choice does not matter.

B. Heavy stock, white or cream

C. Use a bright color to get noticed

D. White printer paper

60: What is the standard order for educational achievements on a resume?

A. Chronological order with the most recent degree last, including degrees that the applicant has not yet completed

B. Chronological order with the most recent degree first, excluding degrees that the applicant has not yet completed

C. Chronological order with the most recent degree last, excluding degrees that the applicant has not yet completed.

D. Chronological order with the most recent degree first, including degrees that the applicant has not yet completed

61: Why is adding "references available upon request" to your resume incorrect?

A. It is more appropriate in a cover letter.

B. Employers already know this.

C. You should list references in your resume.

62: What is the P-A-R method for writing job descriptions?

A. Problem-Action-Result

B. Pinpoint - Accomplishment - Recap

C. Present - Assess - Record

D. Problem - Analysis - Report

63: What is the primary component of a functional resume?

A. Description of job skills

B. Statement of objective

C. Educational background

D. List of work experience

64: A statement of goals or objectives is most useful for whom?

A. Those seeking a higher position at another company

B. Those seeking a higher position at own company

C. Career changers

D. Those needing to explain a gap in employment history

65: What information should always be included for jobs listed under Work Experience?

A. Position name, company address, company address, dates of employment

B. Position name, company name, company location, dates of employment

C. Position name, supervisor name, company name, company address, dates of employment

D. Position name, company name, dates of employment

66: The current convention for including references on resumes is:

A. They should not be included. Instead, applicants should always use the phrase References Available Upon Request.

B. They should always be included at the end of a resume so that potential employers can easily contact prior employers

C. They should always be included on a separate page so that potential employers can easily contact prior employers

D. They should be included on a separate page only if specifically requested by a job advertisement

67: The opening summary of your resume should include ...

A. All of the above.

B. A personal branding statement, a list of your hard and soft skills, and an impact statement.

C. A bulleted list of your past roles.

D. A list of selected companies and roles in which you are interested.

E. An objective statement, describing the ideal job you are seeking.

68: True or false: Descriptions of past jobs should be in the passive voice.

A. True

B. False

69: Which of these is NOT a potential drawback of a functional resume?

A. Does not highlight clear career path

B. May not clearly identify which skills were acquired at which job

C. De-emphasizes work history not relevant to job sought

D. Different from what HR departments usually see

70: A curriculum vitae (CV) is different from a resume in that __________________.

A. a resume is generally one to two pages long; a CV can range from two to thirty pages, depending on the candidate's field

B. 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

C. 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

D. All of the above

71: 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?

A. Chronological

B. Functional

C. Combination

72: The use of the words "I," "me," and "mine" in a resume is_____________.

A. discouraged because the resume should be user-centered

B. recommended because the resume should stress the accomplishments and personal experiences of the candidate

C. a matter of personal choice

73: 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?

A. In reverse chronological order, with his highest degree earned listed first

B. In chronological order, with his first degree earned listed first

C. According to his GPA, from highest to lowest

74: To make a resume reader-friendly, the content of each section should generally be _______________.

A. written in paragraph form

B. indented or formatted into column

C. presented in bulleted lists

D. presented in a combination of paragraphs and bulleted lists

75: Which of the following statements about the role of keywords in an e-resume is/are TRUE?

A. Keywords help search engines find a candidate's resume.

B. Using keywords in an e-resume is unprofessional and should be avoided.

C. The effective use of keywords makes a good impression on prospective employers.

D. Keywords help narrow down the employer's search for the right candidate.

E. c and d

F. a and d

76: 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.

A. True

B. False

77: Which of the following can be included in the Experience section of a resume?

A. Paid employment, internships, volunteer work

B. Work experience, professional degrees earned

C. Paid employment only

D. Work experience, relevant academic coursework

78: A resume can best be described as ________________.

A. a detailed business card for entrepreneurs to receive funding from venture capitalists

B. a marketing tool that describes at length one's personal, educational, and professional experiences and qualifications

C. a selling tool for job seekers that briefly outlines relevant skills and experiences for potential employers

D. a collection of work that demonstrates one's skills to potential employers

79: One of the major benefits of a combination resume is that __________________.

A. the candidate can effectively target the specific skills required by an employer or job announcement

B. it allows more flexibility and creativity in how the content is presented

C. it is more focused on an uninterrupted work history than on particular skills

80: Which of the following best represents an effective, user-centered objective for a resume?

A. A challenging position with growth potential that allows me to use and expand upon my skills as an ecologist and my love of lizards.

B. Ecologist with 10 years of experience in the preservation and development of natural habitats for mammals and reptiles.

C. A position as an ecologist with The Gecko Relief Society.

D. 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.

81: Which of the following is NOT one of the three main types of resumes?

A. Chronological

B. Descriptive

C. Combination

D. Functional

82: When preparing the Experience section of a resume, the candidate should ___________.

A. include every job he or she has ever had

B. exclude very brief job assignments, or group several brief jobs together

C. describe only his or her most recent job

83: 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 _________________ .

A. write a generic chronological resume without an objective statement, and do a mass mailing for all of the positions she's interested in

B. narrow her objective and job target to focus on just one type of position and save the other job options for another time

C. write a different resume and objective for each job target

D. write a functional resume in which she lists each of her job objectives

84: Which of the following are examples of "soft skills" that should be addressed in a resume?

A. Communication and interpersonal skills

B. Communication skills and knowledge of business etiquette

C. Communication and interpersonal skills and computer languages

D. none of the above

85: In general, the Honors and Activities section of a resume is placed _____________.

A. right before the Education section

B. right after the Objective section

C. right before the Experience section

D. after both the Experience and Education sections

E. on a separate page

86: Which of the following statements regarding resumes is FALSE?

A. Employers read every resume thoroughly.

B. When writing a resume, a candidate should be mindful of limited time prospective employers have to read each resume.

C. Resumes should generally highlight only that experience that is relevant to the job in question.

D. Employers spend an average of 15 to 30 seconds scanning a resume.

E. a and c

87: An effective cover letter should NOT ________________.

A. convey a sense of enthusiasm, enjoyment, and energy

B. be written in a professional but conversational style

C. be printed on different paper than the resume

D. be tailored to a specific job

E. b and c

88: Chronological resumes are a good choice for candidates who ________________.

A. can demonstrate growth in a single profession

B. have long periods of unemployment

C. have practical experience and few job changes

D. have changed jobs frequently

E. a and c

F. a and d

89: In a cover letter, the candidate should never relate examples of skills and accomplishments in the form of an anecdote or story.

A. True

B. False

90: A resume's content should highlight a candidate's relevant skills associated with the targeted position.

A. True

B. False

C. Skills do not need to be highlighted; the employer can discern the candidate's relevant skills just by reading the resume.

91: 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?

A. She should not mention the degree because it is not recognized in the U.S.

B. She should include the degree received and indicate its U.S. equivalent.

C. She should include a paragraph explaining her academic background, number of years studied, and coursework completed.

92: An employer reads a resume that includes an objective that is vague or broad. What impression might he form regarding the candidate?

A. The candidate obviously has many talents and interests and would therefore be an asset to the organization.

B. The candidate has not taken the time to clarify his own goals for his professional life.

C. The candidate would not take the job responsibilities seriously.

D. The candidate is versatile and could be easily placed in a variety of the company's departments.

93: The Contact Information section of a resume usually contains ________________.

A. name, phone number at current place of work, and e-mail address

B. name, personal phone and cell numbers, and Social Security number

C. name and e-mail address only

D. name, address, personal phone and cell numbers, and e-mail address

94: The foundation of most effective resumes is generally built around _______________.

A. the recommendations of previous employers and supervisors

B. the duties performed by the candidate at each place of employment

C. the candidate's past accomplishments and successes at each place of employment

D. a and b

95: When it comes to choosing the best font color for a resume, the candidate should generally_______________. Answers:

A. use only black

B. use black for the headings and blue for the content

C. use a different color for each section of the resume

D. use black as the base color and red to highlight important skills and information

96: When deciding on the best font for a resume, a candidate should ____________.

A. choose a common, easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana

B. use a fancy, attention-grabbing font like Matisse or Curlz to show creativity

C. never use more than two different fonts

D. use a font size anywhere from 10 to 12 points

E. a, c, and d

F. b and d

97: Between Employment and Experience, which is the better section heading for a resume?

A. Employment because employers are only interested in the candidate's paying jobs.

B. Experience because candidates may have relevant volunteer, life, or other unpaid experience.

C. Candidates should include two separate sections to ensure their experience is well documented.

98: The best way to test the formatting of an e-resume is to ______________.

A. send it to multiple e-mail addresses and check the formatting using different browsers

B. have the resume proofread by a friend

C. proofread the resume yourself

99: When writing a resume, a candidate should use ____________ to describe his work experience and accomplishments.

A. complete sentences

B. impressive vocabulary words

C. field-specific jargon

D. action verbs

100: 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?

A. Responsibilities included answering phones, typing correspondence, and filing.

B. Streamlined obsolete filing system by developing simple yet sophisticated coding system, resulting in a 45% increase in administrative staff productivity.

C. Implemented company-wide filing system that saved significant time and money.