Jobs and Problems

Everyone sees life through their job. To the doctor, the world is a hospital. To truck drivers, it’s a road system.

A. Gray, a Scottish writer

Exercise 1. Look at these jobs. Who do you think should get the highest salary for the job? Put the jobs in order, the highest salary first.

1. a lawyer

2. a nurse

3. a football star

4. an accountant

5. a fashion model

6. a postal worker

7. a firefighter

8. a teacher

9. an advertising executive

Are the real salaries in the same order in our country?

Exercise 2. What do you like or not like in your job?

• a lot of telephone calls

• writing lots of reports

• working with the same people

• working with a lot of different people

• working on your own

• sharing an office

• using English at work

• working flexible hours (including weekends)

• casual dress

• uniforms

Which is more important to you, a high salary or a job you enjoy?

Exercise 3.

A. Complete the first part of this advertisement with the verbs from the box. Use the words in brackets to help you.

improve lead increase set up train develop

KARADA MODE PLC

European Manager €50K + car Are you the person we are looking for?

The Role We are looking for a talented person for this position. In this exciting job you will need to: … a team of 25 (to be in charge of) … a new branch in Amsterdam (to start) … new staff (to teach) … sales in all markets (to make more) … new products (to create) … communication between our head office and local branches (to make better)

B. Complete the second part of the advertisement with the verbs from the box.

to deal with organize plan manage

The Person In your present job you: … a large department in the clothing industry (to control) … budgets (to think about the future) … sales conferences and trade exhibitions (to arrange) … customers, suppliers and their problems (to take action)

What skills and abilities do you need in your present jobs?

In my present job I lead a team of three.

Exercise 4. Read the sample of a covering letter.

2 April, 2006

Dear Mr. Smith

I’m a first-year student in the M.B.A. program at the Warton Business School in Philadelphia.

I’ve heard from my friend Bill Eastmann that you might wish to have an American student with your airline this summer as an intern. I am very interested in the possibility of such an internship during this summer.

My professional experience has given me an in-depth knowledge of the air transportation industry. In particular, I’ve worked for American Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Kurth & Co, Inc., an aviation consulting firm where I was Manager of Airline Analysis. My responsibility included the study of schedules, fares, equipment selection, and financial results. I prepared numerous studies for both jet and turboprop routes including passenger and pure cargo service for proposed transatlantic and transpacific services.

I wish to place this experience at the disposal of your airline. I believe that my knowledge of the deregulated air transportation industry in the United States could be quite beneficial for your business.

I have enclosed a copy of my resume. If my background and experience are of interest to you, please phone me at 215 456 3478. I would be interested in meeting with you to discuss further possibilities of such a position, and your requirements.

Sincerely,

Mark Diamond