Vocabulary focus

Ex. 1. Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right.

career	good things you get in return for work (such as money or health insurance)
rewards	work someone pays you for
satisfied	something that you can do well; ability that you have learned and practiced
want ads	the kind of work a person does, usually after learning how and usually for a long time
hire	advertisements, usually in a newspaper, for jobs that are available
employment	perfect
out of work	to feel good or happy about something
skill	to give someone a job
manager	the person in charge of a group of workers
ideal	without a job
resume	a piece of paper with your work and education history

Ex. 2. Complete the sentences with the words from ex. 1.

1. I n 1930, jobs were hard to find. Almost 25 percent of all Americans were out of work .

2. He’s had many different jobs, but only one ____________. In other words, he’s worked in many different schools, but he’s always been a teacher.

3. Most companies ask for a(n) __________ so they can read about you before they talk to you in person.

4. She sells a lot of her paintings. She has a lot of _____________ as an artist and a businesswoman.

5. Let’s __________ Katlyn. She has the most experience. She will be a great teacher.

6. She started looking for a job by reading the __________.

7. I worked for weeks on this report. I couldn’t seem to get it just right. Yesterday I changed around a few things and added a new section. I think it’s good now. Finally, I’m ______________ with my work.

8. The ________ of her job just weren’t enough. She was happy with the work, but she wasn’t making enough money.

9. She was a computer programmer for ten years. Then she became a (n) _______. Suddenly, she had to lead all the people she used to work with.

10. I want to know about your past __________. Where did you work last?

11. Jayne thought Sue was the __________ worker. She was smart, fast, friendly, and very good at her job.

Comprehension

Ex. 1. Read each statement. Decide if it is true or false. Write T (true) or F (false) next to it. Compare your answers with a classmate’s.

1. “What Color Is Your Parachute?” is similar to other job-hunting manuals.

2. Bolles’s goal is to help people find jobs as quickly as possible.

3. According to “What Color Is Your Parachute?”, job hunters should think about their skills, the job setting, and the job rewards they want.

4. “What Color Is Your Parachute?” includes specific advice on finding jobs.

5. According to the reviewer, the book is too short.

Ex. 2. Write each job-hunting method listed below in the correct column in the chart.

answer newspaper want ads ask friends to help decide what kind of job is ideal think about job rewards do exercises

go to an employment agency decide what kind of place you want to work in send out lots of resumes think about your skills

What many People Do to Find a Job	What Bolles Says Will Help You Find a Job
answer newspaper want ads

Ex. 3. Read each situation. Decide whether, according to Bolles, the person is making a mistake or doing the right thing. Circle your answer. Then discuss your decisions with the class.

1. Owen was always a manager. He doesn’t want to be a manager. But he’s not looking for another job because he thinks that he doesn’t know how to do anything else. According to Bolles, Owen is _____.

   1. making a mistake

   2. doing the right thing

2. Amy studied to be a teacher. But now she’s not just looking for work as a teacher. Instead, she’s thinking about whether teaching is really the right career for her. According to Bolles, Amy is _____.

   1. making a mistake

   2. doing the right thing

3. Bill is in a job interview. He is asking the person who is interviewing him some questions about the company. According to Bolles, Bill is _____.

   1. making a mistake

   2. doing the right thing

4. Kathy has a choice between a job that pays very well and a job that seems very interesting. She decides that for her, money is the most important thing. So she chooses the job that pays well. According to Bolles, Kathy is _____.

   1. making a mistake

   2. doing the right thing

5. Peter sent his resume to many companies and he answered many want ads. So now he is waiting for someone to call him about a job. According to Bolles, Peter is _____.

   1. making a mistake

   2. doing the right thing

Ex. 4. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Give your opinions. Share your ideas with the class.

1. The next time you look for a job, which of Bolles’s ideas do you think you might use?

2. You are in an interview for a job with a very interesting company. What questions might you ask the interviewer about this company?

3. The title of the book is “What Color Is Your Parachute?” Why do you think the author chose this title?

T E X T 2