Advertising communicates the firm’s employment needs to the public

Question

Advertising communicates the firm's employment needs to the public through media such as newspapers, radio, television, and industry publications. The internet is the newest and fastest growing external recruitment method. Regardless of the advertising method utilized in determining the content of an advertising message, a firm must decide on the corporate image it wants to project. Obviously, the firm should give prospective employees an accurate picture of the job and the organization.

The firm's previous experience with various media should suggest the most effective approach for specific types of jobs. A common form of advertising that provides broad coverage at a relatively low cost is newspaper advertisement. Such advertisements generate a vast number of candidates most of whom aren’t qualified, and these inquiries are costly to process. This situation increases the likelihood of poor selection decisions. At the same time, the firm should attempt to appeal to the self-interest of prospective employees, emphasizing the job’s unique qualities. The ad must tell potential employees why they should be interested in that particular job and organization. The message should also indicate how an applicant is to respond—apply in person, apply by telephone or submit a resume by fax or e-mail.

Although few individuals base their decisions to change jobs on advertising, an ad creates awareness, generates interest and encourages a prospect to seek more information about the firm and the job opportunities that it provides. Examination of the Sunday edition of any major newspaper reveals the extensive use of newspaper advertising in recruiting.

Advertising in Professional and Trade Journals: Certain media attract an audience that is more homogeneous in terms of employment skills, education, and orientation. Advertisements placed in such publications as the Wall Street Journal relates primarily to managerial, professional and technical positions. The readers of these publications are generally individuals qualified for many of the positions advertised. Focusing on a specific labour market minimises the likelihood of receiving marginally qualified or even totally unqualified applicants.

Virtually every professional group publishes a journal that is widely read by its members. Advertising for a marketing executive position in Marketing Forum, for example, would hit the target market because marketing professionals are virtually the exclusive readers. Trade journals are also widely utilized. However, using journals does present problems. For example, they lack scheduling ﬂexibility; their publishing deadlines maybe weeks prior to the issue. Because frms cannot always anticipate staffing far in advance, journals have obvious limitations for recruitment.    1 
 1. What is the central idea of the passage?

(A) That jobs are primarily advertised through newspapers and employment journals.
(B) The various aspects of the job that should be kept in mind both as the advertiser and as the respondent to the advertisement.
(C) That there is a difference between trade journals and newspapers regarding employment opportunities.
(D) That job advertisements occupy an important place in newspapers and employment journals of companies.
(E) That using a variety of advertising platforms like newspapers and journals to communicate employment opportunities can determine a better outcome.

2 
 2. Although newspaper ads are a reliable source of job recruitments, there are risks involved. This is because:

(A) these days, there are other sources for finding job vacancies as well.
(B) the self-interest of the employees is not catered to in a proper manner.
(C) at times, the image of the company that is recruiting new candidates is not projected well.
(D) though the ads are low cost, the coverage is broader so the chances of making a good selection is rare.
(E) there are enhanced chances of poor selection as the vast majority that applies are unsuitable for the vacant seat.

3 
 3. What is the tone of the author in the passage?

(A) Critical
(B) Laudatory
(C) Analytical
(D) Argumentative
(E) Cynical

4 
 4. According to the passage, the author most likely agrees with all of the following statements EXCEPT:

(A) the use of journals for recruitments has its own limitations.
(B) media offers a wide variety of recruitment services these days.
(C) newspaper ads are no longer in demand for job recruitments.
(D) newspaper ads often generate a large number of unsuitable candidates.
(E) advertising is rarely the basis for an employee’s decision to change jobs.

RC Butler 2021  -  Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.   
Passage # 276 Date: 13-Jul-2021
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kantapong · Accepted Answer

Passage Summary:
P1: advertising firm employment
P2: most effective way to advertising depends on specific job + newspaper
P3: awareness
P4: specific labor market & journal
P5: journal limitation

Q1 Central idea
(A) That jobs are primarily advertised through newspapers and employment journals. (not supported)
(B) The various aspects of the job that should be kept in mind both as the advertiser and as the respondent to the advertisement. (out of scope)
(C) That there is a difference between trade journals and newspapers regarding employment opportunities. (YES - media depends on type of job)
(D) That job advertisements occupy an important place in newspapers and employment journals of companies. (not supported)
(E) That using a variety of advertising platforms like newspapers and journals to communicate employment opportunities can determine a better outcome. (not supported)
I choose C

Q2 Risk of newspaper: a lot of unqualified candidates -> chance of recruiting wrong person
(A) these days, there are other sources for finding job vacancies as well. (out of scope)
(B) the self-interest of the employees is not catered to in a proper manner. (out of scope)
(C) at times, the image of the company that is recruiting new candidates is not projected well. (unsupported)
(D) though the ads are low cost, the coverage is broader so the chances of making a good selection is rare. (KEEP)
(E) there are enhanced chances of poor selection as the vast majority that applies are unsuitable for the vacant seat. (KEEP)
Looking at choice D, the passage states that newspapers ads are low cost for ads with wide coverage, not low cost ads. I choose E

Q3 Tone
(A) Critical (negative - eliminated)
(B) Laudatory (praise - eliminated)
(C) Analytical
(D) Argumentative
(E) Cynical (negative - eliminated)
Between C and D, I choose C because argumentative means the author is trying to propose argument, but the author is just trying to say this type of adv is suitable for what kind of jobs.

Q4 AGREE EXCEPT
(A) the use of journals for recruitments has its own limitations. (agree)
(B) media offers a wide variety of recruitment services these days. (agree)
(C) newspaper ads are no longer in demand for job recruitments. (disagree)
(D) newspaper ads often generate a large number of unsuitable candidates. (agree)
(E) advertising is rarely the basis for an employee’s decision to change jobs. (agree)
I choose C

JanhaviMaddhesiya · Answer

ques 1 can anyone explain how ans is E i chose D.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. What is the central idea of the passage?

Difficulty Level:   650-700

Explanation

(A)  This is incorrect as the passage doesn’t focus on primary channels of advertising jobs but mentions just two channels.

(B)  This is negated as the passage doesn’t mention the various aspects of jobs but the kind of people who can be reached by a particular channel.

(C)  This is mentioned but it is not the main idea of the passage.

(D)  This is misleading as the passage talks of ‘extensive use of newspaper advertising in recruiting’ but not of the importance of job advertisements in newspapers.

(E)  The passage talks of different media used to advertise a frm’s employment needs. It talks of pros and cons of advertising for jobs in newspapers and trade journals with the focus that a frm should select a medium for job advertising based on the kind of vacancies that need to be advertised.

The correct answer is E.

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

agreed but where does it state that ' using various media purposes  BETTER OUTCOME  '? emphsis on BETTER OUTCOME using VARIOUS channels

Sajjad1994 · Answer

This is a primary purpose question and answer to which may not be necessarily be explicitly stated within the passage.

While the passage does discuss the use of various advertising media such as newspapers, trade journals, and the internet for recruitment purposes, it doesn't explicitly state that using various channels will lead to a "better outcome." The emphasis on a "better outcome" is not directly stated in the passage.

The passage highlights different aspects of recruitment advertising, such as Effectiveness of Different Media, Corporate Image and Job Appeal, Methods of Response, and Awareness and Interest Generation.

The closest idea that aligns with the concept of using various advertising platforms for a potentially better outcome can be inferred from the passage's emphasis on selecting the most effective approach for specific types of jobs based on the firm's previous experience with different media. This suggests that tailoring the advertising strategy to the nature of the job and the characteristics of the target audience can lead to more favorable results.

While the passage does discuss the benefits of targeting specific audiences and using different media, the specific phrase  "better outcome " is not explicitly used. Therefore, the passage does not clearly and directly state that using various advertising platforms will determine a  "better outcome."

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Oh then it makes sense yes. Thanks a lot

Advertising communicates the firm’s employment needs to the public

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Advertising communicates the firm’s employment needs to the public

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