- •Unit I negotiating the job market Ex.1. Read the text and do the assignments that follow.
- •A) Translate the words and word combinations in bold type into Russian. B) Answer the questions.
- •Ex.2. Translate into Russian. University career services
- •Ex.3. Use an appropriate word or phrase from the box to complete each sentence. For example, though, whereas, in addition, similarly
- •Ex.4. Read the text and do the assignments that follow. Graduate employment
- •Ex.7. Fill in the words. Career (n) — career (a) — make / have a career
- •Ex.8. Fill in the words. Qualify (V) — qualification (n) — qualified(a) overqualified (a)-- underqualified (a) — unqualified (a)
- •Ex.9. Fill in the words. Employer — employee; interviewer — interviewee; examiner — examinee; trainer — trainee
- •Ex.10.Put one of the following words in each space in the sentences below.
- •Ex.11. Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence.
- •A) human b) personnel c) personal
- •Ex.13. Here is a list of words and expressions connected with work. Divide them into the following categories:
- •Ex.14. Fill in the gaps with the words from 1) and 2) to learn about unemployment benefit.
- •Qualify, get by, report, fire, look for
- •Besides, that’s why, secondly, so
- •Ex.15. Fill in the words. Commute, salary, prospects, promotion, retire, pension, ambitious, perks, increments, commission choosing the right job
- •Ex.16. Complete the following passage about the role of search firms in recruiting, using topical words.
- •Which of the job-titles would best describe the following?
- •Ex.18. Look at these job advertisements. Change them so that a man or a woman should feel equally free to apply.
- •Ex.19. Compare the meanings of the words in each group. Consult the dictionary if necessary. Use the words in sentences of your own.
- •Ex.20. Translate into English.
- •Talking points:
- •How would you go about looking for a job in Russia?Unit II job applications
- •Letters of application (covering letters)
- •Ex.1. Here is an example of a letter of application. Notice how it is laid out.
- •Ex.2. Read the following letter of application and replace the underlined sentences with more appropriate ones from ex.1.
- •Ex.3.Which of these endings to job application letters are most (least) effective? Why? Which encourage the reader to look favourably on the application?
- •Ex.4.What kind of letters do employers like to receive? Tick what you think correct.
- •Read this letter. Do you think the writer will get the job? Why? Note down what you think is right and what is wrong with j. Henderson’s letter.
- •Ex.5. Complete the extract from the letter of application below, using an expression from a) in the correct form and a preposition from b).
- •To believe, to collaborate, to result, to report, to benefit, to apply, to work, to be, responsible, to be involved, to succeed;
- •From, in (4), to, on, for (2), with.
- •Ex.6. Translate into English.
- •Curriculum vitae
- •Ex.7. Read the newspaper article about curriculum vitaes and answer questions 1-15 by choosing from the sections of the article (a-f).You may choose any of the sections more than once. Which section:
- •Story of your life
- •Ex.8. Give the layout of a standard cv by referring to the above article. Ex.9. Put the parts of the text in the right order. Begin with 1. Application forms
- •Ex.10. Fill in the words. Refer, referred, referring (V), reference (n)
- •Referee(s) x6, applicant(‘s) x5, employees, employers, report on, quote, job description, assessment, reference referees and the references they give
- •Ex.12. Open the brackets to use topical words and phrases.
- •Informal letter
- •Ex.15. Translate into English.
- •Ex.16. Fill in the blanks with topical words.
- •Ex.17.Render into English.
- •Ex.1. Read the text and answer the questions.
- •Interview technique What to wear
- •Arriving for interviews
- •Talking shop
- •Leaving the interview
- •Ex.2.Refer to the text and make a list of important dOs and don'Ts.
- •Be up to, bring out, call in, come up,get by, go on, look over, take on
- •Ex.4. Fill in the words.
- •Interview(V) — interview (n) — interviewer-- interviewee
- •Ex.5. Replace the words and expressions in italics with words which are similar in meaning, in the correct form.
- •Ex.6. Read and answer the questions. Job benefits
- •Ex.7.True or false? If false, correct it.
- •Job seekers ill-suited for interviews
- •Ex.8. Render into English. Собеседование
- •Ex.9. Read the text and answer the questions. Fit for hiring? it's mind over matter
- •Talking points
- •Ex.10.This is part of a report that a personnel manager wrote after interviewing a candidate for the position of Director of Software Development. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.
- •Interview assessment
- •Ex.11. Here is a list of phrases generally used in business interviews to help you role-play interviews for a job. Questions frequently asked by interviewers
- •Possible Questions and Statements by Someone Looking for a Job.
- •Application form
- •The interview
- •Hard times
- •Happier times
- •Ex.15. Put the words in the blanks. What do the phrases in italics mean? Can you think of other contexts where they might be used? Work, job, trade, earn
- •Ex.16. Write a composition on this topic.
- •Additional reading
- •University arranges jobs for students
- •Focus words
- •Increment
- •Vocation
Curriculum vitae
Curriculum vitae ("the road of life") = CV = resume (USA) =brief personal history.
CVs are required for all except the most junior jobs, and are a basis for assessment and comparison of applicants for a job. CVs provide information about an applicant, set out in a way easy to read.
CVs can vary slightly in the layout, but all give the same basic information.
Ex.7. Read the newspaper article about curriculum vitaes and answer questions 1-15 by choosing from the sections of the article (a-f).You may choose any of the sections more than once. Which section:
…emphasises that your CV must make the reader sit up and pay attention?
…mentions the usefulness of a CV during the interview?
...says that self-promotion is absolutely vital?
…emphasises the importance of telling the truth?
... advises referring to yourself as 'he' or 'she' rather than I?
...suggests you need a different CV for each job you apply for?
…describes two different types of CV?
...advises paying attention to the vocabulary you use?
…suggests that what you did at school may not be important?
...warns of the consequences of a badly-written CV?
…emphasises linking your most important abilities to the requirements of the job?
…states that what you put last is of great importance?
…mentions typographical features that you can put in your CV?
…suggests that a CV should not be hand-written?
…emphasises the importance of your most recent work?
Story of your life
A
YOUR curriculum vitae is your most critical selling document. If you get it right it will land you the interviews you want; get it wrong and your hard-earned work experience could be consigned to the waste bin.
As it is the only thing that you can fully control in the job selection process, it is vital that your CV should put across everything you want to say about yourself in the most impressive way. It must highlight your value to the potential employer, as well as leave the interviewer with a clear reminder of what you could do for them. Not only that, if it gets you on the short list, it will help provide a structure for the interview and encourage your interviewer to focus on your achievements.
B
YOUR aim is to make it as easy as possible for your potential employer to select you, so ensure that your skills, abilities and experience literally shout out from the page. Keep it brief but full of substance, so that they can see at a glance that you would be capable of the job.
Most critical is that you write for the reader. Identify what it is that your potential employer is looking for, so that your CV focuses on their needs. Ideally, you should tailor your CV for each job. Keep sentences short; they are easier to read and have greater impact. Examine each word that you have used to describe yourself to see if a more powerful one could be used. Avoid jargon.
Write your CV in the third person, rather than the first, so that you can give yourself proper credit without appearing brash.
C
KEEP your CV up to date. The interviewer is more interested in what you are doing now and the pertinence of your current skills and experience than in what you were doing ten years ago. Headhunters nowadays advise that your career and corresponding achievements are highlighted up front. So after your name and address and contact number at the top, go straight into details about your employment history, followed by your education and qualifications, finishing with your personal details.
Always put your most recent job first and then work back in chronological order. As people read from left to right, put the most important things on the left side of the page, so state the title of the job you had first, then for whom you did it and finally when you did it. Give a brief description of the scale and scope of the company you worked for. You cannot assume your reader will have heard of it. Under each particular job you mention, your own achievements are more important than your responsibilities. Quantify and qualify what you actually did in your role, using hard facts to demonstrate the tangible benefits you brought.
D
IF you have been in a career for a long time, you do not need to include your early education and qualifications. Write the information in reverse order and put the qualifications you achieved, then where you achieved them, followed by the date. Include any appropriate training courses you have been on.
Apart from your name, address and contact numbers, which should go at the top of your CV, all other personal details, including your date of birth, marital status and interests should be left to the end.
Interests are an important part of your CV. They can really bring you alive, say something about you as a person, and differentiate you from the rest. Make sure what you put down adds value.
E
HAVING worked on the content, make sure the layout does not let you down. It must look professional and be clear and easy to read. Use headings to help the reader to scan the document and bullet points to focus on key information. Print it on quality paper to ensure a quality impression.
F
IDEALLY, you should customise your CV for each job you are going for, but this may not be practical if you are going for dozens of jobs at a time. What differs fundamentally about the CV you produce is whether it is built around your present job or aimed at a change in your career. CVs appropriate for a change in career will need to pull out relevant transferable skills and this can be done by having a skills and experience section ahead of the career summary. These four to five key skills will match what is on the job specification.
At the end of the day, your CV is all about packaging. If you can't sell yourself, how will you be able to promote the company you are working for? And you must feel comfortable with what you have written, and confident you can back it up.