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Interview for a job

These three girls have just been interviewed for a job, but only one will be chosen by the interviewers.

During the interview they were asked a lot of questions, and then they were told to type out some business letters. They were also asked to send some messages by telex and telefax, and use a computer.

Here are some notes the interviewers made while the applicants were answering their questions:

Sheila Simpson. Age 26. Married. Two children. Had two years’ experience of work as a secretary with Byrd & Co. Ltd. Gave up the job when her second child was born. Doesn’t mind if we make inquiries about her at her former place of work. Is fluent in French and German.

Alice Campbell. Age 28. Divorced. No children. Has a job as shop assistant in a department store, but isn’t satisfied with it for two reasons:

a) finds it unpleasant to deal with some of the customers;

b) lives a long way from the store.

Lucy Davies. Age 19. Unmarried. No working experience. Was taught to type and operate a computer at school. An excellent figure and a lovely face! Could be a fashion model, but prefers a secretarial job as a start for her business career. Doesn’t mind answering personal questions.

Which of them would you give the job to?

Functions of an executive

Dialogue

Anna is having lunch with her sister Barbara. Anna has just accepted a position as an Administrative Assistant. Her boss is an executive with a firm that manufactures heavy machinery used in construction.

Barbara: You’ve got a new job, Anna. My congratulations.

Anna: Thanks, Barbara.

Barbara: Tell me a few words about your boss. What does he do?

Anna: Well, he is one of the vise presidents of the company, so he’s rather important. He is an executive.

Barbara: Do you know the difference between an executive, a manager and an administrator?

Anna: I am afraid I can hardly tell you the difference. I think these words are interchangeable and they really aren’t different in many companies.

Barbara: What about your company?

Anna: In our company the top officers are called administrators. The next highest group – the vice presidents, the heads of major departments and branch plant managers – are executives like my boss.

Barbara: Is that all?

Anna: The group below consists of managers, they are general managers and foremen.

Barbara: So I see that an organization has a number of positions and some people have more authority than others.

Anna: You are right.

Barbara: But it would be interesting to know more about the functions of an executive like your boss.

Anna: I’d say he makes a lot of important decisions. He sets objectives, coordinates work, delegates authority, makes hiring, firing, evaluating and just general leading.

Barbara: It seems to be important.

Anna: It is important. It’s evident that making careful decisions in the basis of good management.

Barbara: But do, you work under much pressure?

Anna: Barbara, you know I am quite used to working under pressure from my last job. I am also accustomed to lots of paper work and red tape.

Barbara: Good for you.

Anna: And what’s more important I feel that I can learn a lot because my boss is very competent.

Barbara: Good, I think we’d be in a hurry not to get late for the work.

Active Vocabulary

an executive	руководитель, администратор
manager	управляющий, администратор
an administrator	администратор, управляющий
vice president	вице-президент
head of department	руководитель отдела
foreman	мастер, руководитель
position	должность
to set objectives	ставить цели
to delegate authority	распределять обязанности
to work under pressure	работать по принуждению
red-tape	зд. Бюрократическая, канцелярская работа
to be competent	быть компетентным