- •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
Talking points:
The best way to get a job is to go to a private agency and have them find a good opening for you.
The best way to find a job is to knock on companies' doors and to trust your luck.
What’s taken into consideration when choosing a job?
The best jobs are those that pay the most.
The best jobs are those that pay less but have lots of perks and benefits.
It's better to work for a private company because they always pay more, even though it can always go out of business.
It's better to work for the government because your job is better guaranteed.
How would you go about looking for a job in Russia?Unit II job applications
Some of the most important letters any person has to write are letters of application for a job. Only a generation ago, the majority of the workforce began work as teenagers or young adults and continued with the same company until they retired some 45 years or so later. These people may never have drafted a curriculum vitae (CV) or a written application for a job.
However the job market has changed a great deal in recent years. Young adults find that they can not wait ten years for promotion within their starting company, and so need to look for new challenges elsewhere.
People in their forties and fifties are increasingly thrown on to the job market through redundancy. The whole spectrum of the workforce is now highly mobile and so finding a job has never been a more competitive business.
This means that the people dealing with job applications are often snowed under, and they will never be able to interview everyone who applies. They will have a few criteria by which to choose a small number of people, and those are the people:
- who have submitted a faultless CV and covering letter,
- who have some idea what the job and the company are about,
- and can present themselves in the best possible light.
So there are 3 documents that need to be dealt with: CVs; letters of application; and application forms.
Letters of application (covering letters)
The letter of application often provides the first direct contact between a candidate and an employer. If this letter is not well written and presented, it will make a poor impression. The letter of application normally contains four paragraphs in which you should:
confirm that you wish to apply and say where you learned about the job
say why you are interested in the position and relate your interests to those of the company
show that you can contribute to the job by highlighting your most relevant skills and experience
indicate your willingness to attend an interview (and possibly say when you would be free to attend)
Ex.1. Here is an example of a letter of application. Notice how it is laid out.
59 River Street Cardiff, CFI 1JW.
12th February 1987
The Editor, The Swansea Gazette, 27 New Hall Road, Swansea, 3ST 1DR.
Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to apply for the post of trainee reporter which was advertised in yesterday’s edition of the Swansea Gazette. I am seventeen years old will be leaving school at the end of this year. I have six O levels and I am studying English and Economics at A level. I have been employed in the production of my school’s news letter for the last two years and I have a keen interest in local affairs. I am also a member of the football and athletic teams. I enclose the names and addresses of two referees who can testify to my conduct and character. I could come for an interview at any time which is convenient to you.
Yours faithfully, Mark Morrison Mark Morrison |
1) Your address. Include your postcode.
2) One blank line in between.
The date - this is the preferred order, but the month may come first. It is better not to put the month as a number, e.g.12.2.88 - as this can be confusing. American usage would be 2.12.88.
3) The name and address of the person to whom you are writing. Include the postcode.
4) One blank line.
Salutation (most forms of salutation start with Dear ...,) Other possibilities are:
Dear Sirs, (you know there are several people)
Gentlemen! (several men - US usage)
Dear Madam, .......................
Dear Sir, ..........
5) Introduction.
With reference to your advertisement in ... for ...
I am writing in reply to your advertisement...
I am applying for the position of ... as advertised in ...
I wish to apply for the post of...
6) Explain why you are applying.
Here the applicant is informing the editor how his qualifications match those required. He could have used some kind of formula to introduce his explanation, such as:
I feel that my qualifications match your requirements . . .
My qualifications are as follows ...
I feel I would be suitable for this post because ...
I wish to gain experience of...
Having already worked as ... for (time) I wish to extend my
experience/feel I could be useful to you ...
7) Give further details.
The details given here may have been asked for in the advertisement. An employer may want to know if a candidate has held any positions of responsibility. Or the applicant may feel they are of interest to the employer. But you should not spend too much time on such details.
Please find enclosed /I enclose ...
...the names and addresses of ... referees ...
…my curriculum vitae/CV (personal data sheet - US usage)
8) Make some reference to hearing from the employer.
I could come for an interview at any time which would suit you
I am available for interview ...
I should be glad to attend an interview ...
I look forward to hearing from you ...
9) The close.
This is usually Yours faithfully, where the salutation is Dear Sir, etc.
Yours sincerely, is used with a salutation such as Dear Mr Brown, /Dear Mrs Jones,
Yours respectfully,/truly, should be avoided in modem British usage.
10) The signature.
Sign in your usual 'formal' way – e.g. as on your identity card or on cheques. It is advisable to print your name afterwards as people's signatures are often illegible.
Note that a letter of application should always look neat. Well-typed letters look good, but some employers specify handwritten letters.