Vocabulary

1. Read the information below. Complete your sentences with the words in bold.

The process of finding people for particular jobs is recruitment, or hiring. Someone who has been recruited is a recruit, or in American English, a hire. The company employs or hires them, they join the company. A company may recruit employees directly or use outside recruiters, recruitment agencies or employment agencies. Outside specialists called headhunters may be called on to headhunt people for very important jobs, persuading them to leave the organizations they already work for. This process is called headhunting. Managers found in this way are headhunted. Executives may be persuaded to move company by the promise of a golden hello: a large sum of money or some other financial enticement offered by the company they move to.

2. A) Match the verbs 1 to 6 to the nouns a) to f) to make word partnerships.

1. to train a) a vacancy / post

2. to shortlist b) an interview panel

3. to advertise c) the candidates

4. to assemble d) references

5. to make e) new staff

6. to check f) a job offer

Now decide on a possible order for the events above from the employer’s point of view.

b) Read the talk of consultant about the recruitment process to check your answers.

Well, what usually happens is that an employer will advertise a vacancy or new post – sometimes both inside and outside the company. Then, after they have received all the applications, they shortlist the candidates, choosing those who appear to meet their criteria. Next, they will assemble an interview panel and call the candidates to an interview. Some employers choose to check references at this stage to avoid delays later, while others wait until after the interview when they have chosen one of the candidates. Provided the panel are happy, the employer will make a job offer and the successful candidate starts work. Often they attend induction sessions or are given a mentor who helps to train new staff.

3. Complete the text using words or phrases from the box.

curriculum vitae (CV) / resume probationary period interview

application form psychometric test covering letter

These days many applicants submit their ..…..¹ speculatively to companies they would like to work for. In other words, they do not apply for an advertised job but hope the employer will be interested enough to keep their CV on file and contact them when they have a vacancy. When replying to an advertisement, candidates often fill in a / an …….² and write a / an …….³. The employer will then invite the best candidates to attend a / an …….⁴. Sometimes candidates will take a / an …….⁵ before the interview to assess their mental ability and reasoning skills. These days it is normal for successful candidates to have to work a / an ……⁶ in a company. This is usually three or six months; after that they are offered a permanent post.