9. Read, translate and reproduce the dialogues. Make up your own dialogue on the topic.

Interviewing

You: Good morning, sir.

Supervisor: Good morning. Come in. Mr. Klimenko, isn't it? Please take a seat. Please fill in the application form...Tell me, how long were you in your last job with Alpha?

You: Five years. I am only leaving because the firm is moving to Sevastopol, but I think a change will do me good.

Supervisor: What do you know about our company? Have you got any questions for me?

You: I know that this is a very promising company. What will my responsibilities and obligations be during the first year?

Supervisor: Well, first of all to be responsible for our contacts with English partners.

You: Yes, I see.

Supervisor: So tell me what are your three main strengths?

You: I think they are: reliability, loyalty, and energy.

Supervisor: OK. Do you work well under pressure?

You: Yes. I am accustomed to working under pressure.

Supervisor: All right. Now, Mr. Klimenko, I am quite prepared to offer you a job with us. You have excellent references from your previous job. You'll start on $450 and if you do well we'll review it after three months. The hours are from nine to five thirty, with an hour for lunch and a fortnight's holiday. Does that suit you? Any questions?

You: All right. When do you want me to start, sir?

Supervisor: In a week, if possible.

You: I am afraid I can't start working till the 10th October.

Supervisor: No problem. We'll be seeing you on the 10th then

You: Yes, certainly. Thank you very much. Goodbye.

Supervisor: Goodbye.

A job vacancy

Oleg was watching TV when the telephone rang.

It was his American friend Dick Jones.

Dick: Oleg, I hope I’m not calling too late.

Oleg: No, Dick, I was watching television. How are you?

D.: I’m fine. I’m calling you at such a late hour because there is a good news for you. An hour ago I spoke to a friend of mine. He’s on the Board of Directors at “A&B Instrument Company”. They have an immediate opening for a software programmer. They are looking for a specialist in this field. I told my friend about you. He wants to know if you can come tomorrow for an interview. You shouldn’t miss this opportunity.

O.: Dick, you’re absolutely right. I agree with you completely. I real-

ize that I should see the interviewer; but what about my job at the gas

station?

D.: Oh, come on. Don’t tell them where you are going. Just tell your

supervisor you have some personal business to attend to. Promise him

to make up the time.

O.: That makes sense, Dick. But I’m a bit afraid because of my poor

English.

D.: Stop worrying about it. All you have to do is to explain your pre-

vious experience. You can do it perfectly well. You’ve to show your

experience but not English stylistic subtleties. Even a few grammatical errors won’t harm you. I’m sure you’ll feel at ease with the interviewer.

O.: I hope so. I’ve made up my mind and I’m going to see the inter-

viewer.

D.: Okay. Would you write down the address?

O.: All right. I’m listening.

D.: 620 Broadway, 25th floor. Ask for the personnel department.

Don’t leave home without your resume. Good luck.

O.: Thank you, Dick.

Conversation between two friends

Alex works as a clerk at a department store, but he is unhappy with his situation. In fact, he is really depressed. He has just come home from his job when Alex drops by to visit him.

Ryan: Hey, Alex. You look really exhausted. What's wrong?

Alex: I've been slaving away at my nickel-and-dime job just to keep my head above water. I mean some people think I'm a workaholic, Well, everyone, but I have to put in a lot of overtime just to make ends meet.

Ryan: Well, why don't you ask your boss for a raise?

Alex: Huh? The last guy that did that got the ax, an' he was in line for a promotion to supervisor.

Ryan: Well, you just can't keep working your fingers to the bone for peanuts. Hey. Look. I have connections with a guy who works for a computer company, an' he owes me a favor, and he might be able to pull a few strings an' line you up for an interview.

Alex: What? You mean like to last job you helped me get, an' then the company went belly up after only a week? I mean fat chance. I'm not going to try selling electronic toilet paper dispensers again.

Ryan: No, that was different.

Alex: Ah, man. Hey, thanks, but I'm still looking, and I'm not going to get my hopes up just because a few other job searches haven't panned out. I'm going to look at my options.

Ryan: Well, whatever you do, the only way you're going to get ahead is by getting your face out there, an' you're sure to get a better job than you have now.

Alex: Well, I know. Exactly, if I can just get my foot in the door, then I can show my stuff, but I'm not . . . . absolutely not going to kiss up to ANYONE to get ahead.

Ryan: Gotcha. Hey, I'll give my friend a call, an' see if he can set up an interview.

Key Vocabulary:

slave away: work very hard

nickel-and-dime: not worth much

keep your head above water: just barely able to survive in times of money difficulties

workaholic: a person who works a lot

put in overtime: work extra hours

make ends meet: make just enough money to pay for expenses

get the ax: be fired from a job

be in line for: have the expectation of receiving something

work your fingers to the bone: work very hard

(for) peanuts: very little money

pull a few strings: influence or control others to one's advantage

line up: make arrangements

go belly up: fail, go bankrupt

fat chance: something that is unlikely to happen

get someone's hopes up: feel like your hopes and dreams will come true

get your foot in the door: get a chance to work for or be involved in a business or organization

show your stuff: demonstrate what you can do

kiss up to: try to please someone to get them to do something

gotcha: okay, I got it