1. Which of these words do you know?

Punctual, polite, hardworking, enthusiastic, kind, fair, reliable, responsible, optimistic, independent, intelligent, sociable, just, courageous, honest, enterprising, efficient, flexible, decisive, open-minded, competent, tolerant, broad-minded, patient, reasonable, with a sense of humor, ambitious, considerate, good at motivating people, good team leader, organized, friendly, approachable, natural, caring, cheerful.

Unit VII. selecting a candidate

Working on Vocabulary

Ex.1. Read the text and try to remember words and word-combinations underlined as many as possible.

Work and Industrial Relations

When you want a job you send in an application (form) or you apply for a job. You might also send a curriculum vitae (CV), i.e. a written summary of your education and work experience with dates, employers, names etc. You may be asked to go for an interview. You may get an offer, you may be turned down, i.e. rejected, or you may be put on the short list\be short listed, i.e. receive special consideration for the job together with two or three other candidates.

You may receive on-the-job training (US hands-on training), i.e. you are trained by the company’s staff during working time. You may work in the field, i.e. outside the company, not in an office, often traveling from place to place. Your job may include several fringe benefits, i.e. extra advantages such as a company car, luncheon vouchers etc. These extras are also called perks (short for ‘perquisites’). You may work nine to five (i.e. the usual office hours in Britain) or you may have flexitime, i.e. flexible working hours, starting and finishing work earlier or later according to personal choice.

If you are on the board you are a director of a company. A white-collar worker does an office job. A blue-collar worker is a manual worker, e.g. in a factory. Manual workers who work on the production line are the shop floor\shop-floor workers\on the shop floor. A shop steward is a person chosen by his fellow workers to represent then in their trade union. A closed shop is a place of work (factory, firm, workshop) or a trade or profession which is only open to members of a particular trade union.

A worker may work\do overtime, i.e. work longer than the usual hours for extra pay. He may be on double time, i.e. receive double the hourly payment for working at inconvenient times, e.g. Sundays, at night, public holidays etc. This is called working unsocial hours. If a worker is on piecework he receives payment for the number of pieces produced, not for the length of time he works. A worker may do shift-work\work shifts\be on shifts. A shift is usually an 8-hours working period. A worker may be on the day-shift\be on days or be on the night-shift\be on nights. When a worker finishes work, he knocks-off (informal). For example: “When is knocking-off time?”

Workers in a factory must clock on when they arrive and clock off\out when they leave, by punching a ticket in a machine which prints the time. These times are recorded by an automatic clocking-in machine.

If you want to have a personal wage\salary increase, you put in for a rise(GB)\ raise (US). A group of workers makes a wage-claim. If the employer does not want to increase wages there way be a pay dispute, eventually leading to a strike. Usually, however, the union officials and the management will enter into negotiations to discuss ways of resolving the conflict. Negotiation by the union on behalf of the workers is called collective bargaining.

There are various forms of worker protest. A trade union can order a work-to-rule. The workers are then on a work-to-rule, i.e. they follow strictly the rules which are laid down for the job, which leads to a considerable slowing down in the pace of work. Workers may go slow\be on a go-slow, i.e. they work very slowly and do not do overtime. If this happens in a public service, e.g. the postal system, deliveries will be delayed by several days. The workers may stage a sit-in\a sit-down strike in a factory etc., i.e. they stay in the factory and refuse to move until their demands are considered by the employers. If the workers strike\go on strike\come out (on strike) they refuse to work. They can strike for higher wages, better working conditions etc. A wild-cat strike is an unofficial strike which does not have the support of the union.

A worker who refuses to strike is a strike breaker, a blackleg (slang) or a scab (slang). (Note the verb: to blackleg). A picket is a group of striking workers who gather outside their place of work to prevent others going to work-often by force. They form a picket-line (verb: to picket). The hard core of the strikers is the central controlling group which is most extreme. When strikers refuse to handle goods, materials, a cargo etc. they black the cargo etc.

The workers may agree to go to arbitration, i.e. have their claims judged by an independent arbitrator appointed by the government. There may also be a lock-out. The employers lock the workers out and refuse to let them enter their place of work until they agree to accept the proposed conditions and pay.

An employer may fire someone or give someone the sack \the push (informal), i.e. dismiss a worker from employment. An employer may lay workers off, i.e. dismiss them from work temporarily because there is not enough work for them. A worker is laid off. (Note the noun: a lay-off). Alternatively, a worker may be (put) on short time, i.e. work fewer days than usual. Thus a worker may be on\work a three-day week. If his work is no longer needed, e.g. because the factory has to close, a worker is made redundant. Redundant workers may sign on (informal), i.e. register as unemployed and receive money weekly from the state. The worker is then on the dole (informal) receiving dole money (informal). A worker will then sign off ass soon as he finds work.

Ex. 2. Explain the following:

to send in an application (form);a curriculum vitae; an interview; to be turned down; to be short-listed; on-the-job training (US hands-on training); to work in the field; fringe benefits; to have flexitime; to be on the board; a white-collar worker; a blue-collar worker; a shop floor; a shop steward; a closed shop; to do (work) overtime; to be on double time; to be on piecework; a shift; to clock on\off; to put in for a rise; a wage-claim; collective bargaining; a work-to-rule; to be on a go-slow; a sit-down strike; a wild-cat strike; a blackleg\a scab; a picket-line; the hard core; to black the cargo, materials etc.; an arbitrator; to be a lock-out; to give someone the sack; a lay-off; a redundant; dole money.

Ex.3. Choose the most suitable word given for each space in the text.

Have you ever asked yourself what you are working for? If you have ever had the time to (1) … this taboo question, or put it to others in moments of weakness or confidentiality, you (2) … well have heard some or all of the (3) … It’s the money of course some say with a smile, as if explaining something to a small child. Or it’s the satisfaction of (4) … well done, the sense of achievement behind the clinching of an important (5) … I worked as a bus conductor once, and I can’t say I (6) … the same as I staggered along the swaying gangway trying to (7) … out tickets without falling over into someone’s lap. It’s the company of other people perhaps, but if that is the (8) …, what about farmers? As it the conversation in the farmyard that keeps them captivated by the job? Work is power and a sense of status say those (9) … have either attained these elusive goals, or feel aggrieved that nobody has yet recognized their leadership (10) … Or we can blame it all on someone else, the family or the taxman. I suspect, and I say this under my (11) …, that most of us work rather as Mr. Micawber lived, hoping for something to (12) … up. We’ll win the pools, and tell the boss what we really think. We’ll scrape together the (13) … and open that little shop we always dreamed of, or go (14) … the world, or spend more time in the garden. One day we’ll get that (15) … we deserve, but until then at least we have something to do. And we are so busy doing it that we won’t have time to wonder why.

1) A) propose	B) meditate	C) consider	D) launch
2) A) might	B) can	C) will	D) should
3) A) below	B) rest	C) following	D) latter
4) A) a work	B) a job	C) a task	D) an effort
5) A) deal	B) position	C) job	D) engagement
6) A) enjoyed	B) wished	C) hoped	D) felt
7) A) make	B) turn	C) issue	D) give
8) A) one	B) case	C) question	D) former
9) A) people	B) must	C) who	D) to
10) A) qualities	B) status	C) property	D) requirements
11) A) oath	B) suspicion	C) breath	D) pressure
12) A) move	B) turn	C) ease	D) end
13) A) resources	B) opportunities	C) rest	D) money
14) A) round	B) over	C) into	D) to
15) A) ambition	B) station	C) vocation	D) promotion

Ex. 4. Choose the most appropriate word or words underlined.

1. The bookmaker was discussing the binding \ odds\ printing with a client.

2. Jim is a real craftsman and works on a boat \ with his hands \ for a low salary.

3. I had to call a plumber because my room was blacked out /flooded/ cracked.

4. If you are selling your house, you’ll need an advocate\ a barrister\ a solicitor.

5. Peter is an undertaker and goes to funerals \ the stock exchange\ the factory.

6. If you are an accountant you have to be good at figures\numbers\ totals.

7. Sue is a lecturer at the local institute \secondary school\ university.

8. We were married by my uncle, who was the local father \official\ vicar.

9. If you’re passing the vet’s, could you collect my carpet\cat\ licence?

10. Helen doesn’t work for a company, she’s freelance \liberated\ unattached.

Ex. 5. Complete each sentence with one of the words given. Use each word once only.

agent competitor executive industrialist producer client dealer foreman laborer trainee

1. Nowadays you often find that the top … in a company is a woman.

2. If you have any problems with your work, talk to the …

3. “Happy Chips” is the number one … of potato crisps in the country.

4. I’m starting next week as a … chef in a large hotel.

5. Our company is the … for several large insurance companies.

6. David was not content until he had become a rich …

7. Our firm is quite a long way ahead of our nearest …

8. With mechanization it is difficult to find work as an unskilled …

9. I have been working as a used car … for the past six months.

10. A company should make every … feel important.

Ex. 6. Choose the most suitable word or phrase given.

1. We’re very busy this week. Can you work …? A) extra time B) supplementary time C) overtime D) double time

2. I succeeded in my job through sheer hard … A) work B) labour C) industry D) effort

3. Catherine works for a\an … engineering company. A) main B) forefront C) outgoing D) leading

4. I’m thinking of changing my job because there are few … of promotion. A) prospects B) opportunities C) chances D) sources

5. Bill has a real … for looking after handicapped children. A) career B) post C) inspiration D) vocation

6. Ruth is looking for a new … at the moment. A) vacancy B) appointment C) condition D) employment

7. I am well-qualified and have completed a … in graphic design. A) lesson B) curriculum C) course D) timetable

8. In our company I am afraid there is very little … to work hard. A) inspiration B) advantage C) gain D) motivation

9. The government is building a nuclear power … not far from here. A) works B) factory C) station D) industry

10. It’s not very interesting work, but at least it’s a … job. A) regular B) continuous C) firm D) steady

Ex. 7. Complete each sentence with a word or compound word formed from the word in capitals.

1. Jack built his own boat in a … WORK in his garden.

2. I don’t have a job, so I’m living on … EMPLOY benefit.

3. We can’t … with these low prices. COMPETITOR.

4. You won’t be paid much as a\an … SKILL worker.

5. Jim is very disorganized and not very … BUSINESS.

6. We would like details of your … on this form QUALIFY.

Ex. 8. Complete each sentence (a) to (j) with one of the endings (1) to (10).

1. Workers in the mining industry have decided to come out in …

2. Union representatives pointed …

3. The employers claim that working…

4. Mr. Johnson added that the decision…

5. It is claimed that government privatization plans mean that least…

6. The two sides have now reached …

7. The minister said that dispute …

8. The meeting agreed that a vote …

9. Nobody is yet certain whether or not…

10. The arbitration service recommended that …

1. … to go on strike had not been taken lightly.

2. …a thousand workers will become redundant.

3. … shift workers should receive an increase of 6%.

4. … out that industrial action was inevitable unless the management agreed.

5. … the train-driver’s go-slow will disrupt commuter services.

6. … agreement that there will be no more stoppages.

7. … was not between the unions and the government.

8. … sympathy with the train-drivers from tomorrow.

9. … should be taken on whether to stop picketing the factory.

10. … conditions have improved over the last two years.

Ex. 9. Match the descriptions (a) to (j) with the explanations (1) to (10).

1. Jane was headhunted by a multinational company.

2. Pam is at the end of her tether.

3. Mary’s assistant was given the sack.

4. Jean really has her nose to the grindstone.

5. Sue was given a golden handshake.

6. Helen took on a new secretary.

7. Ann is on the go all day.

8. Brenda was overlooked.

9. Judith has made good.

10. Pauline’s boss keeps her on her toes.

1. She is always busy.

2. She doesn’t have the chance to become complacent.

3. She is working hard.

4. She didn’t get promoted.

5. She was offered a better job.

6. She has become successful.

7. She was dismissed.

8. She received a cash bonus on leaving her job.

9. She has run out of patience.

10. She gave someone a job.