So, You Are Looking for a Job

WHAT MUST YOU BEGIN WITH?

There are several traditional ways of looking for a job.

A civilized and active means of looking for a job is studying the market of the offered vacancies to get an idea of necessary demands and size up your own chances.

The best way of doing this is to use the help of employment agencies or to independently study the ads of job opportunities being published.

Announcements of jobs opportunities can be read in different printed publications. But which of them is worth reacting to?

Don’t put much trust in ads in the yellow press. Solid companies place ads in prestigious expensive publications with a firm reputation.

Your main task is to understand whether the position being offered is consistent with the levels of your skills, education, and experience in work.

The structure of job opportunities ads is usually the same: the name of the vacant position, the list of the candidate’s professional duties, the demands made of the candidate, and the system of compensation and benefits. Ads are often published by employment agencies on behalf of their clients. The address of the office is usually not given – it is suggested that the resume should be sent to a P.O. box or else fax.

Having carefully studied the demands and duties being offered, an experienced reader may extract the information on the activities of the company and the prospects of its development.

The phrases often used about “successful work over many years in the Russian market”, “New missions being opened”, etc., really testify to the company’s dependability, serious prospects for its growth, and the durability of its stay in Russia.

First, one must pay attention to the position. To grasp what lurks behind the position’s English name, there is a need to visualize at least in general outline the personnel structure at Western companies. For instance one may be misled by the incorrect interpretation of the word “Assistant”. There is a need to understand that this word does not at all imply secretarial functions. A more exact meaning of this word is: mate, aid, apprentice manager, high-class specialist capable of independently tackling the tasks set to him.

Therefore using all possible means, try to learn as much as possible about this position to prepare yourself as best as possible for a meeting with the employer.

Carefully read the demands made of the given position. The demand to know a foreign language is very important. In most cases there is a need for free command of the language – Fluent English. Free command implies an ability freely to deal with a foreign manager, competently to compile documents and speak on the phone. This demand may prove to be the most important.

Quite often the ads don’t decipher other demands in detail. For example, the ability to type Russian/Latin. According to the international standards, an adequate level of typewriting is a speed of 60 words per minute. Therefore, when claiming the given position, you need to check your speed or bring it up to the required level. Besides, a secretary is usually required to be able to work on a personal computer. In general, if the ads meticulously enumerate the software products, systems, languages, etc., which the candidate must necessarily know, remember these demands have a strictly binding force.

Comprehension questions:

1. Where can a person find ads about getting employment?

2. What is the key trait of the stable solid companies?

3. Why is the knowledge of English so important for getting a well-paid job?

4. What else can be found as an additional requirement for employment?

5. What must you begin with?

Exercise 6. Make up dialogues discussing the following problems:

1. Your friend became redundant. You ask your mother, a personnel manager, to help him.

2. Tell your friend about your colleagues.

3. Advise your friend to change his job and say why.

4. Tell your mother how to write a resume.

5. You joined a new company. Tell about your department staff.

6. You’ve found a new job. Tell your friend how you managed to do it.

Exercise 7. Write a composition on one of the following topics.

1. How will you start looking for a job?

2. What services do employment agencies offer?

3. What information can be given in a want ad?

4. What job are you looking for? Give your reasons.

5. What questions are you usually asked at an interview?

Exercise 8. Open the brackets, using the necessary type of the Gerund

1. The matter is not worth (to speak of). 2. On (to introduce) they easily fell to (to talk). 3. Why do you avoid (to see) me? He tried to avoid (to see). 4. We insist on (to send) him there at once. He insists on (to send) there instead of me. 5. Do you mind (to examine) the first? 6. He showed no sign of (to know) them. 7. I was annoyed at (to interrupt) at every other moment. 8. The water requires (to filter). 9. Excuse me for (to give) you so much trouble. 10. You never mentioned (to speak) to them on the object. 11. He was proud of (to award) the prize. 12. I don’t remember (to ask) this question. 13. The boys were punished for (to break) the window. 14. The boy was afraid of (to punish) and hid himself. 15. The old man couldn’t stand (to make) fun of. 16. They accused me of (to mislead) them. 17. Letters were no use: he had no talent for (to express) himself on the paper. 18. She seemed sorry for (to be) rude with me. 19. The camera wanted (to adjust). 20. I don’t say I’m proud of (to cheat) him out of 300 dollars.

Exercise 9. Translate the sentences into English observing the rules of Gerund.

1. Когда я прибыл, он был занят стрижкой газона. 2. Доктор настаивает на том, чтобы он провел лето на юге. 3. Нет никакой возможности найти его адрес. 4. Он вошел в комнату, не постучав. 5. Вы не возражаете, если я буду курить здесь? 6. Я не могла не рассмеяться. 7. Его коллекцию марок стоит посмотреть. 8. Я не могу перевести это письмо, не посмотрев несколько слов в словаре. 9. Бесполезно звонить ему, он в это время никогда не бывает дома. 10. Простите, что я опять напоминаю вам об этом. 11. Шторм помешал пароходу прибыть в порт вовремя. 12. Нет никакой надежды скоро получить от них известие. 13. Он отрицал, что видел этого человека. 14. Я бросил делать зарядку по утрам. 15. Сон на открытом воздухе очень полезен. 16. Вы не будете против, если я открою дверь? 17. Я не видела смысла в том, чтобы продолжать этот разговор. 18. Мы поблагодарили его за то, что он пришел нас встретить. 19. Она не пропускает ни одной возможности поговорить по-английски. 20. Я люблю читать. Чтение – мое самое любимое занятие. 21. Машина очень грязная; ее необходимо вымыть. 22. Бессмысленно давать ему советы, он все равно не принимает их к сведению. 23. Он занят подготовкой к докладу. У него сейчас очень мало свободного времени. 24. Я вовсе не намеревался идти сегодня в кино. 25. Извините, что опоздал. 26. Я была против поездки туда с самого начала. 27. У нее не было надежды когда-нибудь поехать в Самарканд. 28. План нуждается в доработке. 29. Перед отъездом на юг не забудьте мне позвонить. 30. Я возражаю против того, чтобы вы завершили это исследование.