Discussion

1. In your opinion, which of factors below are important for getting a job? Choose the seven most important. Is there anything missing from the list?

age sex appearance astrological sign hobbies

contacts and connections experience family background handwriting intelligence

material status personality qualifications references sickness record blood group

2. Think about jobs you’ve had and interviews you’ve attended. Ask each other about your worst:

1) boss

2) job

3) colleague

4) interview

Part I

Job interview. Dialogue

I. Read and translate the dialogue:

Clare: Tell me about your present job.

Josh: I work for an organisation called OSS - Overseas Students' Service. I'm an accommodation officer. I help overseas students to find somewhere to live when they arrive in Britain.

Clare: I see. And how long have you been with this organisation?

Josh: Er .. . for just over a year. Since last May.

Clare: It sounds an interesting job. Why do you want to leave?

Josh: Oh, I just want a change. I'd like to travel a bit.

Clare: What languages do you speak? Josh: French, German, Spanish, oh, and Punjabi and a little Hindi.

Clare: That's good. Now, have you got a driving license?

Josh: Yes, I've had one for three years.

Clare: And what sort of job are you looking for?

Josh: I'd like a job as a tour guide.

II. In pairs, make conversations using the prompts below.

a: Where do you Jive?

в: In (Milan).

a: How long have you lived there?

в: I've lived there for (five) years/since (1999).

1 Where do you live? Where do you work/study? Have you got a car/moped/bike/pet? Have you got a boy/girlfriend? husband/wife? Have you got a driving license?

2 live there? be where? have it? know him/her? be married? have it?

Part II

1. Read the two case studies on the opposite page and answer these questions.

1. What job did the men do?

2. Why were their employers upset?

3. Who appologised? Who accepted the change?

4. Who intends to sue his employer? Why?

Case 1

JOHN HUMPHRIES, aged 62, is a lorry driver who is proud of being well-dressed for work. However, his employer told him that he must not come to work in a collar and tie to drive his 17-tonne lorry. If he did so, he faced the sack. When working, Mr. Humphries, an ex-Royal Airforce man, wore dark blue trousers, a light blue shirt, and a red and grey striped tie. He felt he looked smart and impressed the customers. 'If you present yourself properly, you look good and get respect,' he said.

Mr. Humphries' employers were not impressed when he refused to give up his collar and tie. They wanted him to conform to the company's new image of casual clothing such as T-shirts or sweat shirts. They even threatened to dismiss him if he didn't accept their new dress code. Union officials advised him to accept the change and follow the company's policy. He agreed.

YOSHIAKI NISHIURA, a 25-year-old lorry driver from western Japan, was sacked because he dyed his hair brown. (This is a popular fashion with a growing number of young Japanese.) Although he apologised and dyed it black again, he was still fired. His employer, Mr. Yamago, believed that behaviour like Mr. Nishiura's undermined company discipline and corrupted morale. He blamed it on American influence. 'We need drivers to maintain a professional appearance to make a good impression,' he said. A Japanese journalist said, 'Japanese firms expect all employees to look the same and think the same. When you enter a company, you sign away your human rights’.

Mr. Nishiura is going to sue his employer for unfair dismissal.