Chapter 19 — Quiz
Try the whole quiz before checking the key.
Multiple choice
1. On a US or UK résumé, you should generally: - A) include a photo, age, and marital status - B) NOT include a photo or personal details (anti-discrimination norms) - C) include your religion - D) include a family history
2. In Germany and France, résumés/CVs often: - A) never include a photo - B) include a professional photo and more personal details - C) are forbidden - D) are only verbal
3. Most jobs are filled through: - A) cold online applications - B) networks and referrals - C) newspaper ads - D) luck alone
4. The STAR method stands for: - A) Speak, Talk, Argue, Repeat - B) Situation, Task, Action, Result - C) Skills, Training, Awards, References - D) Start, Try, Achieve, Rest
5. Behavioral interview questions ("tell me about a time when…") want: - A) general claims about yourself - B) specific past stories (answered with STAR) - C) your opinions on politics - D) your salary history
6. When asked "Do you have any questions for us?", you should: - A) say "no, you covered it" - B) always say yes (ask prepared, thoughtful questions) - C) ask only about pay - D) stay silent
7. Negotiating a job offer's salary is: - A) rude and disqualifying - B) expected and respected (don't lowball yourself) - C) illegal - D) only for executives
8. "At-will employment" (US) means: - A) you have strong job security - B) you (or the employer) can end employment anytime for almost any reason - C) you work only when you want - D) you can't be fired
9. Interviewers are evaluating, beyond technical skill: - A) nothing else - B) communication, cultural fit, confidence, initiative - C) only your degree - D) your handwriting
10. A genuine flaw of Western hiring (Honesty Box) is: - A) it's perfectly fair - B) "culture fit" can mask bias; it favors confident self-promoters; ghosting is common - C) it eliminates all bias - D) it never rejects anyone
11. (new) In a "tell me about a failure" answer, the most important part is: - A) proving you've never failed - B) the lesson you learned and the change you made - C) blaming someone else - D) a catastrophic story
12. (new) Not negotiating a US offer is a compounding mistake because: - A) it isn't, it's one-time - B) future raises and offers often build on the lower base - C) it's illegal - D) it has no effect
True / False
13. A modest, quiet interview style is the safest way to impress Western interviewers. (True / False)
14. Sending a thank-you email after a US interview is expected. (True / False)
15. "We'll be in touch" reliably means you got the job. (True / False)
16. A rejection is an objective verdict on your true worth. (True / False)
17. (new) The same résumé rules apply identically across the whole West (photo, details). (True / False)
Short answer
18. Explain the STAR method and why "I" (not just "we") matters in the Action step.
19. You're asked your salary expectations early. Give a good response.
20. Name one genuine flaw of Western hiring (the Honesty Box) and how to protect yourself.
21. (new) Why is not negotiating a salary a "compounding" loss, not just a one-time one?
---
Answer Key
- B. 2. B. 3. B. 4. B. 5. B. 6. B. 7. B. 8. B. 9. B. 10. B. 11. B (the lesson). 12. B (future pay builds on the base).
- False — modesty reads as weak; confident, results-focused presentation wins. 14. True. 15. False — it's neutral; follow up. 16. False — the process is noisy/biased; don't take it as a verdict. 17. False — US/UK omit photos; Germany/France often include them.
- Model: Situation, Task, Action, Result — a structure for behavioral answers. "I" matters in Action because interviewers want your individual contribution (individualism); "we" alone hides what you did.
- Model: "I'd like to understand the role better first — what range is budgeted for this position?" (deflect early; or give a researched range).
- Model: "Culture fit" can hide bias / it favors confident self-promoters / ghosting is common — protect yourself by networking (routes around cold-application bias), persisting, and not taking rejections as verdicts on your worth.
- Model: Future raises, bonuses, and even next-job offers are often calculated from your current base, so a lower starting salary lowers everything that builds on it — for years.