Unit 2. Recruitment

Warming up

‘It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing (a famous US prison) or Harvard. We hire a man, not a history.’ Henry Ford, American car manufacturer.

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

• age; - family background;

• sex; - handwriting;

• appearance; - hobbies;

• astrological sign; - intelligence;

• contracts and connections; - personality;

• experience; - marital status;

• qualification; - references;

• sickness record; - blood group;

The selectors should take into consideration these three important qualities:

1. intelligence and ability

2. emotional stability

3. conscientiousness.

Do you agree? Explain your opinion.

TEXT 1

Before you read

1. Read the passage and explain the meaning of the words in bold then use them to complete the gaps in the sentences below.

Over the years of the development of different theories of management and different approaches to organization has affected the way we view motivation. One important 20^th century theory was put forward by Maslow , where he identified five important needs which he placed in a triangle: at the bottom of the triangle he put what he called ‘basic needs’: good pay and pleasant working conditions. Then, above the basic needs, he put ‘security needs’-safe working conditions and job security. His third need he called ‘social’ –the need to have friends at work and get on with the boss.

1. I’d like to ask his opinion but I find him difficult to ______ .

2. Your opinion will not ______ my decision.

3. Cut the sandwiches into ______ .

4. He is intelligent enough, but lacks _______ .

5. First of all we must ______ the problem areas.

Reading

1. A management magazine carried out a survey among British executives to find out what they would like to change about their working lives. Which do you think they would most like to change?

- earn more; - change jobs or relocate;

- retire; - work flexible hours;

- work from home; - reduce or avoid commuting;

- change the company structure; - be able to work fewer hours;

- reduce stress - have more staff;

2. Read the texts about two women and their attitude to work. Complete the chart for the texts.

	Trish Crofts	Martina Khan
1. What does she do?
2. How does she feel about working hard?
3. Is work getting easier or more difficult?
4. What kind of sacrifices has she made?

Text A

Twenty-six year old Trish Crofts, a media buyer with the advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather, is typical of the young professionals who feel that their work is depriving them from a real life. She starts work at 9 a. m. but often doesn’t leave her office until 8 p.m.

‘In my company when people leave they are not replaced and everybody is expected to work extra hard’, she said. Ms Crofits enjoys her work but feels stressed all the time. She said: ’My hair is already going grey.’ As her partner, Graham Dodridge, frequently doesn’t arrive home until late either, the couple often do not have their meal until after 10 p. m.

Ms Crofits would be prepared to accept a cut in pay if it would guarantee a genuine reduction in her workload, but she believes her promotion prospects would suffer.’You don’t have to sacrifice your personal life if you want career advancements.’ she said

Text B

Martina Khan, aged 23, set up an IT consultancy in Manchester two years ago, directly after she graduated. Her parents and brother are self-employed so she drew on their advice and experience .It was an immediate success as many large organisations choose to buy in freelance contractors rather than employ their own staff full-time. She has even taken on seven other IT specialists, some of whom are much older.

She has to work very long hours and weekends. However, now that the business is more established she has a bit more time than before. Her relationship with her boyfriend ended, but she admits she wanted the business to succeed more than the relationship .She is still young and says she has plenty of time to find a partner and have children .She has no regrets and even refuses to complain about not having a holiday for two years.

3. Discuss these questions with a partner.

1. How differently would Martina feel if she worked for someone else?’

2. How common are people like Trish and Martina in your country?

3. How easy is it for young professionals to have lives which are a healthy balance between work and personal life?

Follow-up

1. What makes a good job? Read the following statements and discuss your ideas with your partner. (To express your ideas clearly see Appendix 2)

-flexible working hours

-being part of a team

-an excellent salary

-good holidays

-promotional prospects

-staff facilities

-responsibility

-an inspirational boss

TEXT 2

Before you read

1. You are going to become a public relation specialist. What are the peculiarities of a PR manger from your point of view?

2. Make a list of functions a PR manager should carry out and qualities he/ she should possess

Reading

1. Put each sentence, (a-g) into the correct place to complete the text about PR managers.

1. They were giving water to people who were injured.

2. However, it took some years for the company to change this image.

3. He or she must defend a business when something goes wrong which may affect the company.

4. This is particularly true when tourism is destroyed in a country by a natural disaster.

5. So, if journalists and the media find out any interesting news about their private lives, it can also affect a company.

6. The way a company manufactures its products might attract criticism.

7. Problems with the people who work for you also often cause PR problems.

The role of the public relations manager.

The job of the public relations manager is a difficult one.

1 _______________________. So, if the press finds out the company is doing something unethical, for example, the PR manager will have to talk to journalists and convince customers that they have done nothing wrong. Here are the main things that the PR manager must look out for.

Acts of God.

These are the things which no human can stop. For example, when the weather causes a crisis because of hurricane or tornado, it may cause a PR disaster.

2 _______________.Many people remember the famous tsunami of 2005 which hit countries such as Thailand .PR managers were working day and night to save tourism.

Business operations

3 _________________. For example, if you had a factory which was putting chemicals or toxis into water and then the water was affecting the local area, you will need a highly –skilled PR manager. This person needs to make sure the general public doesn’t stop buying the company’s products.

Gossip and Rumours

Gossip and media rumours can really damage a company and affect the brand .Take the case of the international company which was accused of being evil. Some people said it was working with the ‘Devil’. The gossip started with a competitor and was untrue.4 _____________.

Staff

5 _______________. When New York’s Twin Towers fell down on 9/11, a member of staff at a Starbucks Coffee House was charging emergency rescue workers for bottled water.6 __________. This story was passed around on the Internet and was highly damaging.

Scandal

Many celebrities often endorse a company’s products.7 __________. Similarly, news about financial problems in the company will mean the PR department needs to get busy.