The chapters in this document are displayed in reversed order, with the last chapter appearing firs
This change ensures all chapters are included in the test bank.
Business Communication Today, 16e (Bovee/Thill)
Chapter 19 Applying and Interviewing for Employment Complete Chapters Included ✅
1) Which of the following takes place when you apply to a company that has not announced a
job opening that is a good fit for you?
A) Building interest
B) Prospecting
C) Closing
D) Interviewing
E) Screening
Answer: B
Explanation: The best approach for an application letter depends on whether you are applying
for an identified job opening or are prospecting—taking the initiative to write to companies even
though they haven't announced a job opening that is right for you.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Written and oral communication
2) Why is writing a prospecting letter more challenging than a solicited letter when sending a
résumé?
A) You have less research on the company.
B) You don't know what skills the company is most interested in.
C) You don't have a clear target as you have with a solicited letter.
D) It is hard to find the name of a person to send the letter to.
E) You have no common ground with the reader.
Answer: C
Explanation: Writing a prospecting letter is more challenging because you don't have the clear
target you have with a solicited letter, and the message is unexpected.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
1
Copyright © 2025
,3) Why is the opening paragraph of an application letter important?
A) It summarizes your career on your résumé.
B) It states your reason for writing and encourages the recipient to continue reading.
C) It displays a word cloud to showcase your skills.
D) It includes a keyword cluster to highlight your qualifications.
E) It functions as your résumé.
Answer: B
Explanation: The opening paragraph of your application letter must clearly convey the reason
you're writing and give the recipient a good reason to keep reading.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
4) Identify one of the functions of the final paragraph of an application letter.
A) To remind the reader why you are the right candidate for the position
B) To resell one critical skill that you possess
C) To ask for a specific action
D) To explain how you heard about the available position
E) To introduce the attached résumé
Answer: C
Explanation: The final paragraph of your application letter has two important functions: to ask
the reader for a specific action (usually an interview) and to facilitate a reply.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Written and oral communication
5) When does the approach you take for an application letter change based on your situation?
A) When you're pursuing other career opportunities
B) When your résumé in a chronological or a functional format
C) When the salary requirements of the job meet your expectations
D) When you're responding to a specific job opening or prospecting
E) When you meet most the required skills requested
Answer: D
Explanation: The best approach for an application letter depends on whether you're applying for
an identified job opening or whether you're prospecting by applying to a company even though it
hasn't announced a job opening.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
2
Copyright © 2025
,6) When responding to a posted job opening, what type of application letter should accompany
your résumé?
A) A message of inquiry
B) An unsolicited follow-up letter
C) A solicited application letter
D) A letter of intent
E) A direct format letter
Answer: C
Explanation: When you're responding to an identified job opening, send a solicited application
message along with your résumé.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
7) Why do prospecting application letters typically require additional effort?
A) They require more research than solicited letters.
B) They frustrate the personnel office staff.
C) They are rarely read by employers.
D) They must specify the job and salary requirements.
E) They need to be more detailed than solicited letters.
Answer: A
Explanation: Prospecting letters require a great deal of research to identify the qualities that a
company would probably seek for the position you hope to occupy. Search for news items that
involve the company, its customers, the profession, or the individual manager to whom you are
writing. Using this information in your application message helps you establish common ground
with your reader—and it shows that you are tuned in to what is going on in the industry.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
3
Copyright © 2025
, 8) Why is the AIDA approach well-suited for application letters?
A) Because application letters convey positivity
B) Because they communicate negative feedback effectively
C) Because they aim to persuade the recipient
D) Because they involve routine correspondence
E) Because they require direct communication
Answer: C
Explanation: Because application messages are persuasive communication, the AIDA approach
is ideal. Note that this use of the AIDA model employs the direct approach, not the indirect
approach used in most other persuasive messages. With an application message, you need to let
the reader know what you seek within the first sentence or two.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
9) How should you open a solicited application letter?
A) Mention the name of a person that your reader knows and regards highly.
B) Use a question to demonstrate your understanding of the needs of the organization.
C) Describe your understanding of the job's requirements and show how well your qualifications
fit them.
D) Identify where you discovered the job opening and describe what you have to offer.
E) Describe your life-long desire to work at that organization.
Answer: D
Explanation: When you're opening a solicited application letter, identify where you found out
about the job and describe what you have to offer.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
4
Copyright © 2025
This change ensures all chapters are included in the test bank.
Business Communication Today, 16e (Bovee/Thill)
Chapter 19 Applying and Interviewing for Employment Complete Chapters Included ✅
1) Which of the following takes place when you apply to a company that has not announced a
job opening that is a good fit for you?
A) Building interest
B) Prospecting
C) Closing
D) Interviewing
E) Screening
Answer: B
Explanation: The best approach for an application letter depends on whether you are applying
for an identified job opening or are prospecting—taking the initiative to write to companies even
though they haven't announced a job opening that is right for you.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Written and oral communication
2) Why is writing a prospecting letter more challenging than a solicited letter when sending a
résumé?
A) You have less research on the company.
B) You don't know what skills the company is most interested in.
C) You don't have a clear target as you have with a solicited letter.
D) It is hard to find the name of a person to send the letter to.
E) You have no common ground with the reader.
Answer: C
Explanation: Writing a prospecting letter is more challenging because you don't have the clear
target you have with a solicited letter, and the message is unexpected.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
1
Copyright © 2025
,3) Why is the opening paragraph of an application letter important?
A) It summarizes your career on your résumé.
B) It states your reason for writing and encourages the recipient to continue reading.
C) It displays a word cloud to showcase your skills.
D) It includes a keyword cluster to highlight your qualifications.
E) It functions as your résumé.
Answer: B
Explanation: The opening paragraph of your application letter must clearly convey the reason
you're writing and give the recipient a good reason to keep reading.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
4) Identify one of the functions of the final paragraph of an application letter.
A) To remind the reader why you are the right candidate for the position
B) To resell one critical skill that you possess
C) To ask for a specific action
D) To explain how you heard about the available position
E) To introduce the attached résumé
Answer: C
Explanation: The final paragraph of your application letter has two important functions: to ask
the reader for a specific action (usually an interview) and to facilitate a reply.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Written and oral communication
5) When does the approach you take for an application letter change based on your situation?
A) When you're pursuing other career opportunities
B) When your résumé in a chronological or a functional format
C) When the salary requirements of the job meet your expectations
D) When you're responding to a specific job opening or prospecting
E) When you meet most the required skills requested
Answer: D
Explanation: The best approach for an application letter depends on whether you're applying for
an identified job opening or whether you're prospecting by applying to a company even though it
hasn't announced a job opening.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
2
Copyright © 2025
,6) When responding to a posted job opening, what type of application letter should accompany
your résumé?
A) A message of inquiry
B) An unsolicited follow-up letter
C) A solicited application letter
D) A letter of intent
E) A direct format letter
Answer: C
Explanation: When you're responding to an identified job opening, send a solicited application
message along with your résumé.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
7) Why do prospecting application letters typically require additional effort?
A) They require more research than solicited letters.
B) They frustrate the personnel office staff.
C) They are rarely read by employers.
D) They must specify the job and salary requirements.
E) They need to be more detailed than solicited letters.
Answer: A
Explanation: Prospecting letters require a great deal of research to identify the qualities that a
company would probably seek for the position you hope to occupy. Search for news items that
involve the company, its customers, the profession, or the individual manager to whom you are
writing. Using this information in your application message helps you establish common ground
with your reader—and it shows that you are tuned in to what is going on in the industry.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
3
Copyright © 2025
, 8) Why is the AIDA approach well-suited for application letters?
A) Because application letters convey positivity
B) Because they communicate negative feedback effectively
C) Because they aim to persuade the recipient
D) Because they involve routine correspondence
E) Because they require direct communication
Answer: C
Explanation: Because application messages are persuasive communication, the AIDA approach
is ideal. Note that this use of the AIDA model employs the direct approach, not the indirect
approach used in most other persuasive messages. With an application message, you need to let
the reader know what you seek within the first sentence or two.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Critical Thinking
AACSB: Written and oral communication
9) How should you open a solicited application letter?
A) Mention the name of a person that your reader knows and regards highly.
B) Use a question to demonstrate your understanding of the needs of the organization.
C) Describe your understanding of the job's requirements and show how well your qualifications
fit them.
D) Identify where you discovered the job opening and describe what you have to offer.
E) Describe your life-long desire to work at that organization.
Answer: D
Explanation: When you're opening a solicited application letter, identify where you found out
about the job and describe what you have to offer.
Diff: 2
LO: 19.1: Explain the purposes of application letters, and describe how to apply the AIDA
organizational approach to them.
Classification: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
4
Copyright © 2025
