A job interview

The Employer's office. There is a knock at the door.

Employer: Come in! Janet Nicholson, isn't it?

Janet: Yes, that's right.

Employer: Do sit down, Janet. Now – you're 22, and you've just finished the University and you've got good diploma. You are interested in economics, especially accounting and English. Why have you chosen accounting?

Janet: I thought I'd like to learn something more about activity of business and how transactions effect on the firm's financial condition.

Employer: Now you want to work with us as an accountant. Please, tell me a bit more about yourself.

Janet: Well, I wanted to go into journalism really, but it seems very difficult to get in.

Employer: Do you think you'd like working in an office?

Janet: I did three weeks during our practice last summer.

Employer: Do you think you would like routine work?

Janet: Yes I think.

Employer: Good. Isn't there anything you'd like to ask me?

Janet: You said "good salary" in the advertisement but you didn't actually say how much.

Employer: We were thinking of $150 for the first three months. And then if everything is satisfactory we'd raise it to $250 after that. I want to give you a written test now. Go to the room at the end of the corridor. If you pass that, I'll let you know.

Janet: Thank you. Goodbye.

Read the text. Give examples of highly skilled, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled jobs. What are people who do these jobs skilled at? What are you skilled at?

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education should teach people how to think, not prepare them for a particular job. But the trouble with graduates, people who have just left university, is that their paper qualifications are good, however they don't have work experience. They don't know how business works. That's why a company can organize special training courses for such beginners in order to train them for a particular job.

For some jobs it is necessary to have a skill. A skill is the ability to do something well, especially because you have learned how to do it and practiced it. Jobs, and the people who do them, can be described as highly skilled (e.g. car designer), skilled (e.g. car production manager), semi- skilled (e.g. taxi driver) and unskilled (e.g. car cleaner). You can say that someone is skilled at customer care, or skilled in communicating, or good with people.

If you want to find a prestigious job, it isn't enough to be skilled at something. It is necessary to have some more qualities. Usually companies look for people who are:

♦ self-motivated – good at working on their own;

♦ systematic and organized – can work in a planned, orderly way;

♦ computer-literate – good with computers;

♦ numerate – good with numbers;

♦ motivated – very keen to do well in their jobs;

♦ team players – people who work well with other people.

Imagine that you are looking for a job. You should come to an

interview. Be ready to answer the most typical questions.

1. Can you say a few words about yourself?

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

3. We have a lot of applicants for this job. Why should we appoint you?

4. What is your most valuable experience?

5. How can you describe your personality?

6. Which is more important to you: status or money?

7. Why do want to get this job?

8. How long do you think you stay with us if we appoint you?

9. What are you most proud of having done in your life?

10. What was the worst problem you have had in your life and you have solved it?

11. What is your best quality?

12. What are your long-range goals?

13. What do you do in your spare time?

Answer the following questions:

1. What does curriculum vitae (CV) (BrE) or resume (AmE) mean?

2. Why is it necessary to have the curriculum vitae?

3. Have you got an up-to-date CV?

4. What is important to remember when writing your CV?

5. How long should the ideal CV be?

Read the text. Do you agree/disagree with the advice in the text? Explain your opinion. What else can you advise?

HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE curriculum vitae

♦ Make sure your skills, interests and work experience match the job exactly.

♦ Put your education and career in reverse order (the most resent first).

♦ Don't leave unexplained gaps in your career.

♦ Don't lie, or you may be caught out in the interview. Go back through your jobs and assignments to identify tasks, responsibilities and particularly accomplishments.

♦ Use positive language to talk about your achievements and skills.

♦ Give names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of at least two people who can give a reference, i.e. say that you were a good employee or student.

♦ Print onto one side of a single sheet of good-quality A4 paper.

Compare the job advertisement and the curriculum vitae. Does the

curriculum vitae follow the advice in the previous text? How could it be improved? Would Steve Morgan be a good applicant for this position? Why do you think so?

THE curriculum vitae		the job advertisement
Steve Morgan Profile ♦ An innovative and highly experienced Development Researcher with proven managerial skills. Personal Details ♦ Male ♦ Date of birth: 30.05.74 Training and Qualifications ♦ 1984-1992 Stoke School ♦ 1992-1995 University of Exeter, BA in Sociology ♦ 1995-1997 London media School, Diploma in Film Studies Experience ♦ 2001-present Development Researcher/Programmer ♦ 1998-1999 Producer for the World Show ♦ 1997-1998 Researcher/producer, Sport TV Achievements ♦ Has successfully researched and developed several TV programmes for Open University education. Professional Qualities ♦ Skilful at developing and motivating teams to achieve their objectives. ♦ Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team. ♦ Excellent communication skills. ♦ Good professional skills. Other skills and interests ♦ Speaks French and Spanish fluently, other interests include skiing. Reference Mr. J.D. Wilkins Sport TV PO Box 38 London		Programme Development Researcher Due to expansion in the Worldwide Channel for Students, opportunities have arisen for a number of senior positions. We are looking for an experienced Programme Development Researcher to develop and implement our new programme schedule for Language Students. If you are a creative and motivated researcher with a proven background in Programme Development, contact Jean for further details.

Read the examples of curriculum vitae. Correct them if necessary.