Choosing a Job

One of the most difficult decisions is choosing what to do for a (1). For example, do you want to follow a definite (2), and (3) a low (4) at the beginning, but have good (5) in a company that trains its (6)? Or are you more interested in taking any kind of work, because you need a/an (7)? You may have to (8) the fact that a good (9) can be difficult to find. In that case, why not take a (10) one? You will gain some useful (11). Remember that even if you have the right (12) , you may have to (13) lots of application forms before you are asked to (14) an interview. But don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to (15) exactly. You’ll enjoy finding out!

1) A) salary B) living C) employee D) work

2) A) company B) training C) business D) career

3) A) earn B) gain C) win D) take

4) A) money B) profit C) cheque D) salary

5) A) promotions B) prospects C) futures D) hopes

6) A) employers B) crew C) staff D) persons

7) A) money B) cash C) account D) income

8) A) face up to B) go over C) come up with D) call off

9) A) work B) labour C) job D) seat

10) A) temporary B) overtime C) profitable D) short

11) A) experiences B) experienced C) experience D) experiencing

12) A) qualifications B) exams C) letters D) degrees

13) A) fall through B) get on C) turn down D) fill in

14) A) be B) attend C) make D) advertise

15) A) work B) job C) do D) employ

Recruitment and selection

1. Read the text below and explain the meaning of the words and phrases in bold.

The process of finding people for particular jobs is recruitment or, especially in American English, 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.

2. Read the following texts and find the equivalents for the Russian phrases: 1) заявление о приеме на работу, 2) объявления о рабочих вакансиях, 3) биографические данные, 4) сопроводительное письмо.

1. Fred is a van driver, but he was fed up with long trips. He looked in the situations vacant pages of his local newspaper, where a local supermarket was advertising for van drivers for a new delivery service. He applied for the job by completing an application form and sending it in.

2. Harry is a building engineer. He saw a job in the appointments pages of one of the national papers. He made an application, sending in his CV (curriculum vitae - the ‘story’ of his working life) and a covering letter explaining why he wanted the job and why he was the right person for it.

NB: Situation, post and position are formal words often used in job advertisements and applications.

BrE: CV; AmE: résumé or resume;

BrE: covering letter; AmE: cover letter

3. Read the text about the selection procedures and speak on the stages of the process. Pay attention to the words in bold.

Dagmar Schmidt is the head of recruitment at a German telecommunications company. She talks about the selection process, the methods that the company uses to recruit people:

‘We advertise in national newspapers. We look at the backgrounds of applicants: their experience of different jobs and their educational qualifications. We don’t ask for handwritten letters of application as people usually apply by e-mail; handwriting analysis belongs to the 19th century.

We invite the most interesting candidates to a group discussion. Then we have individual interviews with each candidate. We also ask the candidates to do written psychometric tests to assess their intelligence and personality.

After this, we shortlist three or four candidates. We check their references by writing to their referees: previous employers or teachers that candidates have named in their applications. If the references are OK, we ask the candidates to come back for more interviews. Finally, we offer the job to someone, and if they turn it down we have to think again. If they accept it, we hire them. We only appoint someone if we find the right person.’

4. Look at this advertisement and say what attractions and drawbacks of this job might be?

a. Read the letter of application for a job and then discuss the questions that follow.

Dear Mrs Blake,

I am writing to apply for the position of Sales Manager in your Boston office, as advertised in the Herald newspaper on 6th May.

As outlined in my curriculum vitae, I graduated from the University of Brighton with a BSc in Business Studies and Economics in 1996.

Following my graduation from university, I moved to New York. where I trained as a Sales Consultant for the Seabrook Company for three years. On my return to England. I continued to work as a sales consultant until 2001, when I obtained my current position.

At present I am employed as Assistant Sales Manager at Deerfield Enterprises, where I am responsible for the organisation of staff and stock, as well as the allocation of the budget within the sales department. My duties also include planning new sales strategies, and I am generally noted for my organisational and business skills, as well as my initiative.

I believe that I would be an ideal candidate for the position you have outlined, as I have had extensive training with a well-known American firm. The time which I spent living in New York also ensured that I obtained a valuable insight into American culture and business practices. I also have several professional contacts in America, which could prove to be extremely useful in my future career. Finally. I am willing and able to relocate at short notice, which I understand to be a requirement of the position.

Please find enclosed my curriculum vitae and two references from previous employers, as requested. I would be happy to supply you with further information should it be required. I thank you for considering my application and am willing to attend an interview at any time.

Yours sincerely,

David Huntley

In which paragraph(s) has the writer:

• given details of the job he is applying for?

• mentioned academic qualifications?

• written about work experience?

• described personal qualities / suitability?

b. Read the letter again and replace the underlined information with details – real or imaginary – about yourself (the job you would like to do, your work experience, personal qualities, etc).

5. Read the information below which may prove to be useful.

In different countries, different conventions apply to the process of job application and interviews. In most parts of the world, it’s common to submit a typed or laser-printed CV (curriculum vitae – British English) or resume (American English). This contains all the unchanging information about you: your education, background and work experience. This usually accompanies a letter of application, which in some countries is expected to be handwritten, not word-processed. A supplementary information sheet containing information relevant to this particular job may also be required, though this is not used in some countries.

Many companies expect all your personal information to be entered on a standard application form. Unfortunately, no two application forms are alike, and filling in each one may present unexpected difficulties. Some personnel departments believe that the CV and application letter give a better impression of a candidate than a form.

6. Study the CV of Mary B. Scott and draft your own.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: MARY BRENDA SCOTT

Address: 44 London Road, Winchester S016 7HJ

Telephone: [phone] (home)

01703 778777(work)

e-mail: [e-mail]

Date of birth: 30 August 1979

Marital status: single

EDUCATION

Churchill Comprehensive School, Basingstoke 1990–1995

Winchester Technical College 1995–1997

QUALIFICATIONS

GCSE Maths, English, French, Geography, History,

Spanish, Chemistry 1995

BTEC National Secretarial practice, Office Practice 1997

EXPERIENCE

Office assistant Totton Engineering, Totton 1997—1998

Secretary to Sales Director Totton Engineering,

Totton 1998—1999

Personal Assistant to Export Manager Millbank Foods, Southampton 1999 to date

My work with Millbank Foods has involved responsibility for giving instructions to junior staff and dealing with clients and suppliers in person and on the telephone. I have accompanied the Export Manager to Food Trade fairs in Germany, France and the USA.

OTHER INFORMATION

I speak and write French and Spanish quite well (intermediate level). I am now taking an evening course in German conversation.

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

I play club basketball regularly and I sing and play the guitar with a local country and western band.

REFERENCES

Mr S.J. Grant, Personnel Manager, Millbank Foods, 34 – 42 South Dock Drive, Southampton S08 9QT

Mr John Robinson, Sales Director, Totton Engineering, Cadnam Street, Totton S023 4GT

Miss P.L. MacPherson, Head Teacher, Churchill Comprehensive School, Independence Way, Basingstoke RG20 9UJ