Writing skills

1. Read the info about the CV.

A résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a summary of your career history, the skills and experience you have gained during the course of it. It presents briefly what the person has achieved in education, job experience, special honours, publi­cations, and includes professional activities (such as conferences attended), personal information, and perhaps even special interests or hobbies. A CV may be short - no more than two pages, but preferably one. A CV begins with personal details (name, date of birth, marital status, contact information). Sometimes after that career objectives are written and time of availability is noted (i.e., when the applicant can start the new job). Next, the person may describe his/her education and work (or professional experience.). In this section everything is usually written in reverse chronological order: the last educational institution you attended or the last place you were employed are indicated first, while your first educational institution or your first place of employment are listed last. The information about education should include degrees held, honours received, and qualifications gained. Em­ployment information should describe responsibilities and make clear what professional skills you have, including specific responsibilities. The employment information may be followed by information on other skills, such as computer skills or fluency in a foreign language. The next item is information about your interests and hobbies.

A good resume should:

1. attract attention

2. create a positive impression

3. present your skills and qualities clearly

The purpose of the resume is to tell the employer why you should be hired. The resume, as a standard summary of informa­tion, may be photocopied and sent off to many em­ployers, changing sections of the content according to the different needs of the organizations contacted.

Resume writing tips

As you write your resume, keep in mind the following:

1. Use concise language.

2. Minimize or omit everything which is irrelevant.

3. Еhe most relevant information should be placed near the top of your resume.

4. No typographical and grammatical errors.

5. Critiqued by an experienced person.

6. Print your resume on white paper.

2. Answer the following questions:

a) What is a CV?

b) What should its maximum length be?

c) What parts does a CV include?

d) In what chronological order are entries in the education and professional experience parts of a CV written?

e) What should be included in those entries?

f) What may be included in the additional skills section?

3. These are headings and categories commonly used in CVs.

marital status referees

employment history permanent address

educational history hobbies and interests

title personal details

skills surname

qualifications date of birth

1) Which one means:

a) basic facts about you?

b) schools and colleges?

c) where you live most of the time?

d) what you do in your free time?

e) family name?

f) if you are married or single?

g) details about your working life?

h) Mr, Mrs, Ms, or Dr?

i) people who can tell us about your qualities and character?

j) proof that you can do something or have successfully completed a course?

k) practical abilities?

l) when you were born?

2) Which information is not usually asked for in your country? Should you give any information that is not mentioned here?

4. 1) The company is looking for a new secretary. Here are the CVs of two applicants. Read them carefully.

2) If you were the Chief Executive Officer of this company which of the two applicants would you choose to invite for a job interview and why? Discuss it (a whole- group discussion) taking into account that both applicants have some advantages and disadvantages.

5. Be ready to speak on the topic.

Unit 4

Topic: Business trip

1. Read and memorize the following words and word-combinations:

to produce	показати,пред’явити
to be interested to know	поцікавитися
to be obliged	бути забов’язаним
no doubt	безперечно
purpose	мета
polite	ввічливий
customs officer	митний офіцер
to check	перевіряти
a bottle	пляшка
a box	коробка, ящик
to be liable to duty	підлягати оподаткуванню
duty free	не підлягати оподаткуванню
to go through the customs	пройти митний огляд
to come to an end	наблизитися до кінця
to be tired of	втомлюватися від чого-небудь
I am looking forward to	Я тішуся, я передчуваю
to wait for	чекати чого-небудь
to joke	жартувати
a double room	кімната на двох
a single room	кімната на одного
an outside room	кімната з вікнами на вулицю
an inside room	кімната з вікнами на подвір’я
quiet	тихий
bath	ванна
to take / engage a room	зняти кімнату / номер
to prepare	підготувати
to send	надсилати
to pay	платити
the charge includes	у вартість увіходить
receptionist	адміністратор (у готелі)
to book accommodation	замовляти кімнату в готелі
to attend	відвідувати
to disturb	турбувати
noise	шум, гамір
to pay in advance	платити наперед
to put down	записати
ticket office	квиткова каса
a single / one-way ticket	квиток в один кінець
a return ticket	зворотній квиток
a return ticket / a round trip ticket	квиток туди й назад
a through train	прямий поїзд
to change	пересідати
carriage/coach	вагон
compartment	купе
facing the engine	по ходу поїзда (обличчям до мотора)
with one’s back to the engine	спиною до мотора
compartment car	купейний вагон
car with reserved seats	плацкартний вагон
upper berth (bunk)	верхня полка
lower berth (bunk)	нижня полка
to miss the train	пропустити поїзд
to catch the train	успіти на поїзд
stuffy	задушливий
speed	швидкість
to reach the place of destination	дістатися місця призначення
to check visas	перевірити візи
to fill in	заповнити (бланк, тощо)
to take off	злітати, відправлятися
to land	приземлятися
boarding card	посадочний талон
deck	палуба
liner	пасажирський пароплав

2. Text A. Business trip.

Business trips are just part of doing business. Employees of different countries usually go on business trips. Companies can arrange such trips both in and outside the country. And there are as many reasons to go on a business trip as there are places to go: to sign contracts, to discuss terms of delivery, payment or shipment, to have tests, to consult, to improve one’s professional skills, to provide support. Representatives of the different companies usually make preliminary arrangements in order to meet. A business trip can be a long term or a short term one. In any case, it must be carefully planned.  After the trip, an employee usually gives a full financial accounting of the trip to his boss. Sightseeing, cultural events and just plain relaxing are a regular part of every business trip.  And no businessman would dare forget to buy gifts for relatives, friends and colleagues while on a business trip to a new location.  These trips are important because they contribute to the expansion of a company’s business relationships and help that company succeed in the competitive world market.  

Modern people can travel by air, by rail, by sea or by road. All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and preferences.

Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too.

Travelling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advantages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars which make even the longest journey enjoyable. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes. That is why many people prefer them to all other means.

Travelling by sea is very popular. Large ships and small river boats can visit foreign countries and different places of interest within their own country.

Travelling by car is also very convenient. You needn't reserve tour tickets. You needn't carry heavy suitcases. You can stop wherever you wish, and spend at any place as much time as you like.

Travelling abroad people go to the custom for an examination of their luggage. As a rule personal belongings may be brought in duty-free. In some cases the custom inspector may ask you to open your bag for inspection.

Business today is international, and business people often have to travel. On a business trip people might meet colleagues and business partners from different countries. They can have cultural difficulties, because different cultures do things differently! Management styles also differ from country to country. It’s often useful when doing business in a foreign land to get some advice on questions of international business.

3. Answer the following questions to the text.

   1. What are the reasons to go on a business trip?

   2. Is it important to make arrangements before the trip?

   3. What kind of arrangements should you do before the business trip>

   4. What types of business trips can you name?

   5. What does an employee do after the business trip?

   6. Why is it interesting to have a business trip? What can the travellers do except business affairs?

   7. How can modern people travel?

   8. What is the fastest and the most convenient way of travelling?

   9. What are advantages and disadvantages of travelling by train?

   10. What type of travelling is very popular?

   11. Is travelling by car very convenient?

   12. What is it useful to do when doing business in a foreign land?

4. Complete the sentences according to the text.

   1. Employees of different countries usually go on …

   2. And there are as many reasons to go on a business trip as there are places to go …

   3. A business trip can be a long term or …

   4. After the trip, an employee usually gives …

   5. These trips are important because they contribute to … and help ...

   6. Modern people can travel by …

   7. Travelling by train is …

   8. On a business trip people might …

   9. It’s often useful when doing business in a foreign land to …

5. Make a general question to the following sentences.

   1. Business trips are just part of doing business.

   2. And there are as many reasons to go on a business trip as there are places to go.

   3. The business trips are important.

   4. Travelling by sea is very popular.

   5. Travelling by car is also very convenient.

   6. Business today is international, and business people often have to travel.

6. Translate the following phrases into your native language.

   1. I'd like an aisle seat, please.

   2. I'd like to sit next to my colleague.

   3. I only have one bag to check in.

   4. I'd like to book a hire car for three days.

   5. Do I need an international driving licence?

   6. How would you like to pay?

   7. Do you take credit cards?

   8. Are you paying by cheque / credit / debit card?

   9. A single to Munich, please. Do I need to reserve a seat?

   10. Is the seat reservation included in the price of the ticket?

   11. Do you have a double room for two nights?

   12. A non-smoking room please, with a bath and a balcony.

   13. We need your credit card number to hold the reservation.

   14. I'm calling from room 21. The TV doesn't work.

   15. The bed hasn't been made. I'd like to change my room.

   16. I don't have any cash on me. That's OK. You can pay by credit card.