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–If subsequent openings should materialize, I would appreciate your considering me as a candidate.

–I would appreciate if you could consider me a candidate for … .

–I would again appreciate your considering me as a candidate in case you should have an opening for someone with my qualifications.

18.Write your own letter acknowledging refusal of a job: 1) thank them for considering you, 2) express your regret, 3) express hope for future cooperation.

JOB OFFER

19.Suppose you were fortunate enough to receive a letter offering you the position. Study the model below. Identify its parts.

Model:

Dear Mr. Harvey:

I am happy to relay to you the decision reached by our hiring committee concerning your employment. I am authorized by the company to offer you the position of Management Consulting Assistant at a salary of $23,000 per year. You will find enclosed a brochure describing other benefits due or available to you as an employee of R & B, Inc.

Please consider this offer as a firm commitment from R & B, Inc. to work with you in your professional development. After reviewing the material enclosed, please contact me by telephone 555-2830 to respond to this offer.

On behalf of R & B, Inc. I hope your response is favorable.

Sincerely,

a)Accepting a Job

20.Suppose you intend to accept the job. Study the sample LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE and identify the functions each part of it performs.

21.Study the phrases commonly used in a letter of acceptance

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1)to thank and accept the job:

–I am pleased to accept the position of … that you offered me in your letter of … (date).

–I really appreciate the offer for a position of … you have made to me, which I gratefully accept.

–I am happy to accept the position as … at … with a starting salary of … .

–I happily accept your offer for … position.

–Thank you for offering me a job as … with your firm, which I accept with great pleasure.

–Thank you for the time you have given me explaining the scope of responsibilities for … position which I happily accept.

–It is with great pleasure that I accept your offer for the position of … made to me in your letter of … (date).

2)to speak of your future plans on the job:

–As you requested, I will phone Ms. N in your personnel office for instructions on reporting date*, physical exam, and employee orientation*.

–I will make an appointment for early next week with the Personnel Department to discuss travel policies, salary payment schedules, and insurance coverage.

–In the next few months I know that I will learn a great deal about … .

–There will be no problems with starting on April 22.

–I can easily be at work by April 22 as you have requested.

3)to close the letter:

–I look forward to a long and satisfying career with … .

–I look forward to working with … and particularly to the opportunity of … .

–I am eager to start working for … .

–I look forward to helping Ms. N in … .

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22.Look through the phrases above and fill out the spaces. Combine different phrases to make complete statements.

Model:

I am pleased to accept the position of research assistant that you offered me in your letter of April 22.

23.Using the phrases given above, write your own acceptance letter that may serve as the basis for your letters to different employers: 1) acknowledge the receipt of the offer,

2)thank the employer, 3) show an understanding of the terms offered, 4) ask for a written job offer, if necessary, 5) give the start date on the job.

b)Refusing to Accept a Job

24.In case you are going to refuse a job offered to you, write a letter refusing to accept the job. Below is a sample REFUSAL LETTER. Identify the functions performed by its parts.

Dear Mr. Miller:

I enjoyed my visit to the research department of your company and would like to thank you for offering me the opportunity to work with such a brilliant team of people who are dedicated to the company.

However, after serious thought, I have decided that the research opportunities offered me in another job are closer to the professional interests I developed during my study at the University. Therefore, I accept the other job and regret that I cannot accept yours.

I appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you and your associates have extended me.

Sincerely yours,

25.Study some phrases you may need in a letter of refusal. Note the way

1)to buffer the refusal:

–Although I was impressed by the challenge and efficiency of your company, I must decline the position of … .

–Although I really appreciate the research opportunities you offered me … .

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–I enjoyed meeting you and Mr. N at my recent interview for the position of … at … . Your plans for … are very exciting, and I know that I would have enjoyed my assignments greatly.

–I enjoyed my visit to … I would very much have liked to work for the people I met there.

2)to state the refusal:

–I regret I cannot accept your offer of the position of … as / because … .

–I regret being unable to accept your offer … .

–I must decline the position of … as/because … .

–… but, unfortunately, I have to refuse your offer of … as … .

3)to give reasons:

–I have accepted an offer from … that will unable me to work full-time to complete my degree requirements in … .

–But because I have decided to continue my education part-time at … , I have accepted a position with … .

–Not having to commute every day to … will give me more time for my studies and … .

4)to express gratitude:

–Thank you for your interest and courtesy.

–Thank you for your kind offer and for the time you and your staff spent explaining your plans to me.

–I thank you for the opportunity of … / to … .

26.Look through the phrases suggested above and fill out the spaces.

Model:

I regret being unable to accept your offer of the position of research assistant as I have already accepted a position with R & B, Inc.

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27.Using the phrases above, write your own letter refusing to accept a job. Follow the model letter.

c)Information Letter

28.After accepting a job, you may need to write a letter informing your friends and business associates that you are no longer on the job market. Study the letter below and identify the functions of its parts. Follow the model to write your own letter of this type.

Dear Mr. Martin:

Thank you for your support during my recent job search. I am happy to inform you that I have accepted the position of a research assistant with R & B, Inc. My employers is a quality-oriented company that allows them to be a leading player in their market. I am really enjoying being part of this enthusiastic team. I am involved in developing some of their major projects.

One of the things I’ve learned in my job search is the importance of staying in touch with my network contacts and friends. Therefore, I’d like to give you my new telephone number in hope that at some time in your career I will have the opportunity to repay your friendship and consideration.

I’d like to thank you again for your support, interest, and encouragement. I look forward to staying in touch with you and if I can ever be of any assistance, do not hesitate to call me.

Thank you for your help,

Text 2

29.Answer the question before you read the text: Have you ever written a letter of recommendation for someone? Do you think it is a sincere statement of a person’s strengths and deficiencies?

30.Read the text. Do you agree that a weak letter of recommendation may be damaging for an applicant?

MISCELLANEOUS

When making hiring decisions, especially at a higher level, companies tend to seek outside opinion. Sometimes it is more important who the reference* is than what s/he says about you. Anyone known to and trusted by the employer makes a better reference than a total

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stranger. The people you ask for reference may be: former bosses and supervisors, former co-workers, college administrators and advisors, college professors, personal acquaintances.

In asking for a reference*, you should keep the following points in mind: 1) A weak letter of recommendation is more damaging than no letter at all. Writing a watery letter will do more harm than good. 2) Do not ask bluntly: “Would you please write a reference letter for me?” as it leaves the person little chance to refuse in case s/he does not know you well enough or is unimpressed by your work. Instead, by asking “Do you feel you know me well enough to write me a strong recommendation?” you give the person an opportunity to decline gracefully or to promise you a letter. If the potential referee shows any sign of hesitation or reluctance, you can withdraw the invitation at that point. 3) If your job search is proving to be lengthy, check periodically to make sure they are still willing to serve as references. 4) As writing letters is time-consuming, do not expect your references to write individual letters to each of your prospective employers. Ask for one letter only, with no salutation. Your reference keeps a copy, while you keep the original for your personal dossier so that you reproduce it when necessary. 5) When asking for a letter of recommendation, do not leave matters to chance. The best way to act is to draft a statement for your reference person to sign or revise. Providing your references with a written draft simplifies their task as very few busy people like to write.

You can expect a background checker from your prospective work (usually an h.r. specialist) to contact all of your recent places of work and ask some questions to verify your employment history, such as your title and dates of employment, your manager’s name and title. You can contact your references in advance and explain them 1) who may be calling, 2) why, and 3) what should be left unsaid. Provide them with a copy of your resume. The people you give as references may be asked about some of the following: your technical knowledge, your speed and thoroughness, your attendance and punctuality, your ability to get along with people or work in a team, your communication skills, any deficiencies or suggestions for improvement. Some organizations have a policy of confirming the job title and dates of employment, but refusing to answer any other questions. If you are still working and looking for a job, tell your prospective employer not to contact your present employer for references, because you may be fired if they find out you are looking. In any case, demand that your references should not be contacted until you are seriously considered for the position as they are likely to be annoyed by such activity.

The last weeks in a position play a crucial part in shaping your employer’s and co-workers’ opinion of you. Never quit without notice* (though you may be discharged without notice). Leave your current employer in a friendliest possible way, because you may wish to return to that company later, or you may have to use it as a reference, or you may encounter your former co-workers elsewhere later in your career. Request an appointment with your direct supervisor. State at once that you have decided to leave, and negotiate exit terms, if necessary (e.g. agreeing to stay for three more weeks on the job instead of the customary two weeks, etc.). Express appreciation for the job you are leaving and submit a brief formal, but cordial, letter of resignation for their files. The letter should 1) state that you resign, 2) give your last day on the job, and 3) add a statement of appreciation, which is a common courtesy. Note that you should

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never put the reasons for leaving in the resignation letter. Hand delivering a paper letter is traditional, although e-mailing it is also acceptable.

It is common to question employees about their reasons for leaving (a process known as the “exit interview”). There are two purposes for an exit interview: 1) to debrief you if you have any proprietary information that should not be shared outside, and 2) to ascertain if there is any problem which was not known previously. Unless there has been a complete communication breakdown, you have probably spoken in the past about your reasons to be dissatisfied with the former job and to seek another one. You should not repeat them. In general, anything negative that you say at this point may be noted in your file and come to harm you later. If you have any specific suggestions for improvement, make them. Be very positive and enthusiastic about your new job (e.g. if you say you doubt you will last long in your new job, it might be made known to your new employers). Describe it as an opportunity you could not refuse, but be careful about putting down your old job in comparison.

When you tell your current employer that you are leaving, you can normally expect a counter-offer, or a buy-back, to be made to you. The purpose of a counter-offer is to avoid inconvenience of an unfilled position while the company is searching for your replacement. Since you have already burned your bridges, you will be replaced as soon as it is convenient for the company. Often, an offer is made to satisfy your request for pay rise that was previously denied. The company has judged that you were not worth this pay for a long-term position, but is willing to pay it to keep you around for a few more months. The conventional wisdom says not to accept the counter-offer and to stick to your decision to move on.

EXERCISES

31. Do you agree or disagree with the strategies? What is wrong about these statements?

SNo one would take trouble checking my references if they are satisfied with my qualifications.

SChuck Norris is a great guy, I wonder if he could serve as one of my references.

SI’d rather ask my Professor bluntly: “Would you write a letter of recommendation for me?” See if he’s got the guts to refuse.

SWhether a strong letter of recommendation or a weak one, no one would bother reading it.

SI doubt they would go as far as to check my employment history because my references spoke highly of my performance on the job.

SIt is mean to ask people about someone they knew years ago and might have totally forgotten by now.

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SI’m planning to quit my present job without notice because I hate the hassle they’ll sure make about it.

SI’m looking forward to the moment when I leave the job ‘cause I’m gonna tell them what I’ve got on my mind.

SI’ll get a promotion every time I scare them with my intention to leave.

SI won’t stick to my decision to leave if they offer me something worth considering.

32.In the text, find sentences with words or phrases that mean the following (use the key if necessary):

1)A weak reference; 2) refuse politely; 3) unwillingness; 4) check; 5) be friendly with someone; 6) defects; 7) irritate, bother; 8) leave; 9) meet unexpectedly; 10) discuss with a view to reaching an agreement; 11) present to others for consideration; 12) distribute; 13) belonging to an owner; 14) find out with certainty; 15) a failure; 16) minimize the role of smth./smb.; 17) persist in smth.

Key: deficiencies; submit; stick to; annoy; a watery reference; verify; proprietary; deliver; put down smth. / smb.; a breakdown; negotiate; ascertain; encounter; quit; get along with someone; reluctance; decline gracefully.

33.You know from Unit 2 that the Present Perfect Simple is normally used to give new information. But when more details are given, you should change to a Past tense (Simple or Progressive). Study the model. Which part announces the news? gives more information?

Model:

It’s been a terrible day in the office, honey. My secretary took a day off, I couldn’t even have a cup of tea, all the computers were hanging up, and the boss got actually mad.

34.Complete the tenses correctly. First announce a piece of news and then give more details.

SGeneral Electronics (strike) a new advertising deal. They (start) marketing their new product in April. No financial terms (be disclosed).

SPolice (find) the criminals who (escape) a high security prison in Chicago. The prisoners (shoot) the guard and (walk) out through the main gate.

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SNancy Pollack, of Australia, (set) a new record for the marathon. She (run) a distance of over 50 miles in around six hours. During one two-hour stretch she (average) 10 miles per hour.

SResearchers at the Institute of Human Virology in Baltimore (announce) plans to begin human tests of an oral AIDS vaccine. The first trials (determine) whether the vaccine (be) safe, and (can) give way to further studies measuring its effectiveness.

SSierra Leonean rebels (free) 204 of some 500 UN peacekeepers they (seize) in early May. The reason behind the release (not be) made clear.

REFERENCES

35. Study the letter ASKING FOR A REFERENCE. Identify the functions of its parts.

Dear Mr. John Allen:

After spending nearly five years with R & B, Inc., I will be moving up to a new assignment. I really enjoyed my work with this company, but I decided to follow a career in electronics.

As my former boss, I’d like to enlist your assistance in my search for a new career. Right now I begin marketing myself for a new job. Do you remember me and my work well enough to write an enthusiastic letter of recommendation for me? If so, would you kindly serve as one of my references?

I’d like to share with you a brief outline I developed for my job with R & B. Inc. It parallels what I’m saying in my written materials and interviews. Please review it as I want to ensure that the appraisal is one with which you are in agreement. At the same time negative comments should normally be avoided.

To save your time, please omit the salutation from your letter. As most prospective employers prefer to speak personally to the reference, I would like to request that you be willing to speak to them in person.

I’ll keep you informed when I have used you as a reference so that you know who might call and won’t be caught blind*. I have enclosed my resume to update you on my recent activities.

Thank you for your help and support.

Sincerely yours,

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36.Write a letter to your former business associate or boss asking for a letter-of- recommendation: 1) stress how much a strong letter of support means to you; 2) find out if the person is willing to write such a letter. As a help to your references, tell them

3)what kind of job you are applying for and 4) keep them up to date about your educational and occupational achievements.

37.A well-written REFERENCE LETTER should cover the following key issues: 1) job

title and dates of employment; 2) relationship of the writer; 3) key promotions; 4) duties and responsibilities; 5) work style; 6) major strengths; 7) special training; 8) contributions; 9) results and achievements; 10) reason for leaving the job. Here is a sample letter of reference. Look it through finding out what concerns each part of it addresses.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I am delighted to write in support of Mr. Dawson in his search for employment.

I have known Mr. Dawson professionally for about a decade when he and I served for the Environment Protection Department of C & D, Inc. Mr. Dawson was employed as Assistant Manager reporting to me from October 1992 through February 1997. In November 1998 he was promoted to the General Business Manager position and supervised accounting, data processing, and personnel.

He successfully designed and implemented accounting, administrative and data processing systems and made a significant contribution to the management of the division. After promotion he continued to be a major productive professional. In less than two years Mr. Dawson has succeeded remarkably well on two major projects: 1) development of environmental cost analysis system, and 2) consolidation of accounting and administrative services, which resulted in reduced cost and improved service. In addition, he played a significant role in implementing environmental control plans. His responsibilities in this new area spanned almost all the aspects of the environmental management area, including both financial and administrative issues.

His work for C & D, Inc. has always been diligent and enthusiastic. Not only did he willingly and effectively execute the responsibilities of his position, but many times performed duties beyond what was required of him. I was pleased to see him take on such a big share of the work in our program, because he did things with an energy we have not had in this position before. In short, he performed above our expectations.

There has never been a question about quality in his case. I can speak for his technical and organizational skills with a great deal of confidence. I have always found Mr. Dawson a reliable professional, bringing extraordinary insight into novel projects. He has been one of the people who always had new ideas to advance and pursue.

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