Text 1 Employment Letters

As graduation nears, students start thinking about getting in touch with perspective employers. Colleges and universities help by setting up a placement office (also called an office of career planning or an office of student services). A placement office tests and counsels students, lists part-time and summer jobs, coordinates visits by company recruiters. It is also likely to suggest ways to use employment letters, resumes, and job interviews to advantage. When writing letters in your job search, follow these guidelines:

design your letters to be work-centred and employ-centred, not self-centred;

never give responsibility for your job search to anyone else;

always address your letters to a specific person, with his or her correct title and business address;

use high-quality stationery and envelopes;

keep each letter to one page, take out extra words, and avoid rehashing material from your resume;

make your letters easy to read and attractive;

be honest; always be able to back up your claims with evidence and specific examples from your experience.

Overall, you are trying to communicate that you are a responsible person with a positive attitude who knows how to operate in a professional environment.

Several types of letters are important in the job-search process. One is the networking letter. It is designed to get information interviews – not job interviews – where you can meet people who can give you specific information about your intended career.

Information interviewing, or “networking,” is a good way to do research on the job market, to refine your career goals and to uncover information about the prospects in an industry or a region.

6. Ответьте на вопросы:

1) When do students start thinking about their future jobs?

2) What is a placement office?

3) What are the main guidelines to follow when writing employment letters?

4) What does the word “networking” mean?

5) Is a networking letter designed to get information or job interviews?

6) What are the main goals of information interviewing?

7. Дайте развернутое определение понятиям на русском или английском языке:

a placement office –

a prospective employer –

an employment letter –

a company recruiter –

networking –

8. Согласитесь или не согласитесь со следующими утверждениями:

1) As graduation nears, students start thinking about getting a job.

2) When writing letters in a job search, rely on your own experience.

3) A networking letter is designed to get a job interview.

4) Information interviewing is a good way to do research on the job market.

9. Перечислите на английском языке основные положения, которыми нужно руководствоваться при написании письма к работодателю. С какого вида письма предпочтительно начать поиск работы?

Part 2

1. Прочтите и запомните значения следующих слов и словосочетаний:

summary n	краткое изложение; резюме
favourable impression	благоприятное впечатление
concise a	краткий; сжатый
possible a	возможный
send v	посылать, отправлять
include v	включать
accomplishments n, pl	образованность; достоинства
statement n	изложение, формулировка; заявление
in terms of	с точки зрения; в выражении
job title	название должности
catch attention	привлечь внимание
point n	пункт; преимущество, достоинство
attend v	посещать; присутствовать
consider v	рассматривать; учитывать; считать(ся)
arrange v	располагать; устраивать
recent a	недавний, последний; новый, свежий
occur v	случаться, происходить
present v	представлять, показывать, преподносить
recreational a	развлекательный
activity n	деятельность; активность
membership n	членство
publication n	публикация; издание
invention n	изобретение
section n	раздел; часть

2. Переведите следующие слова, обращая внимание на суффиксы, характерные для разных частей речи:

personal, employer, best, formal, certificate, specialization, chronologically, knowledge, organization.

3. Подберите слова близкие по значению:

1) demonstrate v	a) goal n
2) employee n	b) look for v
3) get v	c) organize v
4) objective n	d) worker n
5) accomplishments n, pl	e) prize n
6) seek v	f) receive v
7) award n	g) at the beginning of
8) early in	h) show v
9) arrange v	i) strengths n, pl

4. Соотнесите английские фразы из левой колонки с их русскими эквивалентами в правой:

1) a prospective employee	a) четкая формулировка
2) detailed enough	b) в порядке
3) a single format	c) предполагаемый служащий (работник)
4) a clear statement	d) самое большое достоинство
5) early in the resume	e) полученные аттестаты (свидетельства)
6) the strongest point	f) единый формат (единая форма)
7) certificates received	g) достаточно подробный
8) in the order	h) определенные умения (навыки)
9) certain skills	i) в начале резюме

5. Прочтите текст и постарайтесь понять его содержание: