- •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
Ex.8. Render into English. Собеседование
Я посмотрел на часы. До собеседования осталось пятнадцать минут, а я уже стою перед дверью офиса. Отлично! А всего-то надо было заранее выяснить, где будет проводиться интервью, как добраться до этого места и сколько это займет времени (естественно, при самом плохом стечении обстоятельств: отмена электричек, пробки на дорогах, неожиданный снегопад). Я застегнул пуговицу пиджака (для встречи с потенциальным работодателем я надел, конечно же, костюм), открыл заветную дверь и, немного осмотревшись, обратился к секретарю: мне назначено собеседование тогда-то и тогда-то.
Признаюсь, я немного волновался, но не подавал вида, ведь интервью - это не только конкретные ответы соискателя на поставленные вопросы. Здесь оценивается и внешний вид, и манера себя держать, и даже уверенность кандидата в своих силах. Надо произвести благоприятное впечатление на работодателя в первое же мгновение, например, надо правильно сесть. Я знаю наверняка: для установления контакта с любым человеком надо при разговоре не только смотреть ему в глаза, но и быть повернутым к собеседнику всем корпусом.
К интервью я готовился заранее, репетировал ответы на возможные вопросы, как настоящий драматический актер. Выверял по часам: не более 2-3 минут на каждый вопрос. Итак, меня попросили рассказать...
О себе. Пространное жизнеописание тут не подходит. Я коротко рассказал о своем образовании, описал опыт работы, попытался подчеркнуть свои сильные профессиональные стороны и, что особенно важно, ни разу не упомянул, что «все это написано в резюме».
О последнем месте работы. Здесь я стремился показать, что финансовый менеджмент (то дело, которым я занимаюсь) мне очень нравится. О компании, где раньше работал, я говорил только хорошее (естественно, прежнего начальника не критиковал). Я привел два примера своих (не самых крупных) ошибок, пояснив, что неприятности, возникшие по моей вине, были мною же и разрешены при минимальном ущербе для фирмы.
О зарплате. Я решил беседовать на эту тему лишь в том случае, если почувствую, что мной как кандидатом действительно заинтересовались. Но ответы на основные вопросы продумал еще дома. Сколько я сейчас получаю (среднее значение или интервал), граница оплаты, ниже которой я не намерен опускаться ни при каких условиях (немного завышенная), мое отношение к пониженному уровню заработной платы на испытательный срок (само собой разумеется, положительное).
И все бы хорошо, если бы не ловушки, расставляемые опытным интервьюером на каждом шагу.
Неконкретный вопрос. Не стоит поддаваться соблазну и пускаться в пространные рассуждения. Поэтому я сразу уточнил, что именно волнует представителя фирмы: «Правильно ли я понял, что для Вас представляет интерес информация о...» Тем самым я не только не попался в ловушку, вынудив интервьюера конкретизировать вопрос, но и продемонстрировал свою проницательность.
Ex.9. Read the text and answer the questions. Fit for hiring? it's mind over matter
A growing number of companies are no longer satisfied with traditional job interviews. Instead, they are requiring applicants for many white-collar jobs - from top executives down - to submit to a series of paper-and-pencil tests, role-playing exercises, simulated decision-making exercises and brainteasers. Others put candidates through a long series of interviews by psychologists or trained interviewers.
The tests are not about mathematics or grammar, nor about any of the basic technical skills for which many production, sales and clerical workers have long been tested. Rather, employers want to evaluate candidates on intangible qualities: Is she creative and entrepreneurial? Can he lead and coach? Is he flexible and capable of learning? Does she have passion and a sense of urgency? How will he function under pressure? Most important, will the potential recruit fit the corporate culture?
These tests, which can take from an hour to two days, are all part of a broader trend. 'Companies are getting much more careful about hiring,' said Paul R. Ray Jr., chairman of the Association of Executive Search Consultants.
Ten years ago, candidates could win a top job with the right look and the right answers to questions such as 'Why do you want this job?' Now, many have to face questions and exercises intended to learn how they get things done.
They may, for example, have to describe in great detail not one career accomplishment but many - so that patterns of behavior emerge. They may face questions such as 'Who is the best manager you ever worked for and why?' or 'What is your best friend like?' The answers, psychologists say, reveal much about a candidate's management style and about himself or herself.
The reason for the interrogations is clear: many hires work out badly. Human-resource specialists say evidence suggests that white-collar testing is growing in popularity. What has brought so many employers around to testing is a sense of the limitations in the usual job interview. With so little information on which to base a decision, 'most people hire people they like, rather than the most competent person,' said Orv Owens, a psychologist in Snohomish, Washington, who sizes up executive candidates. Research has shown, he said, that 'most decision makers make their hiring decisions' in the first five minutes of an interview and spend the rest of the time rationalizing their choice.'
Even companies that have not started extensive testing have toughened their hiring practices. Many now do background checks, for example, looking for signs of drug use, violence or sexual harassment. But the more comprehensive testing aims to measure skills in communication, analysis and organization, attention to detail and management style; personality traits and motivations that behavioral scientists say predict performance.
What’s a traditional interview?
Why are more and more employers dissatisfied with a traditional interview?
What do they require instead?
How do interviewers try to bring out the applicant’s traits of character?
How do hiring practices get toughened? Give examples.