26. Unit 7: describing people’s character. Applying for a job.

1. Applying for a job. The Interview

You’ve got an interview for a job in a famous Shipping Company– good. So now for the hard work. To do well at an interview you need to put in some thought first. The employer wants to know if you are the person he wants, so you’ll be asked about yourself. Think about it now:

• What do I do well?

• What are my good points?

• Why would I like this job?

• What is my family like?

• Previous work?

• Sailing experience (if any)?

• You will want to ask questions too:

• The job itself?

• Training?

• Prospects?

• Conditions?

• Further education?

• Hours?

• $$$?

• Write your questions down and take them with you.

• Before the interview.

1. Find out what you can about the firm

2. Find out the interviewer’s name and telephone number.

3. Find out where the interview is.

4. Find out how long it will take to get there.

5. Make sure you know what the job involves.

6. Dress to look clean and tidy.

8. At the Interview.

1. Do arrive early. Phone if you are held up.

2. Do try to smile.

3. Do show interest in the job and ask questions.

4. Do be polite.

5. Don’t panic, even if faced by more than one person.

6. Don’t slouch around and look bored.

7. Don’t smoke or chew.

8. Don’t give one word answers or say you don’t care what you do.

10. Applying by letter.

1. Remember that first impressions are important.

2. Write clearly and neatly on good notepaper, unlined if possible.

3. Check for spelling mistakes. Use a dictionary if you are not sure of a word.

4. Describe yourself, your qualifications and your experience clearly.

5. Enclose your CV.

7. 2. You have to evaluate the job-hunting strategies and organize them in three groups accordingly: one group for good, one for bad and one for neutral strategies. After words, discuss the results with the whole class by asking, e.g. What people consider to be unwise strategies?

9. How to get that job

2. You phone your local crewing agency to see if they can offer you a job.

3. You have a very definite idea of how much money you want to earn.

4. As you sit down, you tell the interviewer you are really nervous.

5. You send unsolicited letters of application to companies you are interested in working for.

6. You see an interesting job advertisement in the newspaper while riding on a bus. You decide to get off and call immediately.

7. Before you start looking for a job, you decide what city or region you want to work in and exactly what kind of work you want to do.

8. Your interviewer has not prepared very interesting questions. You take the opportunity to direct the interview in your own way.

9. You make a list of questions you want to ask the interviewer.

10. You decide to wear your most comfortable clothes for the job interview although they are not very smart.

11. You meditate for half an hour before leaving for your job interview.

12. Before sending off your letter of application, you show it to a few friends for their comments.

13. You find out which newspaper carries ads for the kind of work you're looking for, and study the columns regularly.

14. You ask some friends to practice the interview situation with you before the big day.