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Jobs and careers

^In different countries, different conventions apply to the process of job application and incerviews^In most parts of the world, it's common ro submit a typed or laser-printed CV (curriculum vitae - British English) or resume (American EnglishJ.^This contains all the unchanging information about you. your education, background and work experience. This-usually accompanies a letter of application, which in some countries is expected to be handwritten, noc'word-processed. A supplementary information sheet containing information relevant ro this particular job may also be required, though this is nor used iri some countries.

Many companies expect all your personal information to be entered on a standard application form. - Unfortunately, no two application forms are alike, and filling in each one may present unexpected difficulties. Some personnel departments believe that the CV and application letter give a better impression of a candidate than a form.

There are different kinds of interviews: traditional one-ro-one interviews, panel interviews where one or more

candidates are interviewed by a panel of interviewers and even 'deep-end' interviews where applicants have to demonstrate how they can cope in actual business situations. ^The atmosphere of an interview may vary from the informal co the formal and interviewers may take a friendly, neutral or even hostile approach. Different interviewers use different techniques and the only rules rhar applicants should be aware of may be 'Expect the unexpected' and 'Be yourself^.

J Progress interviews are interviews where employees have a, chance ro review the work they are doing and co set objectives for the fururePSuch interviews usually take place after a new employee has been working with a company for several months, and after that they may take place once or twice a year.

/^-In different countries, and in different trades and o different grades, the salary that goes with a job may be only parr of the package: exrra benefits like a company car or cheap housing loans, bonuses paid in a 'thirteenth month1, company pension schemes, free canteen meals, long holidays or flexible working hours may all contribute ro the attractiveness of a job.