Applying for a Job — Before Your Interview
Here are some questions to think about. Your answers will help you choose the right job. Your answers will also help you answer the interviewer s questions.
Do you have the right skills?
If you want to be a salesperson, do you enjoy travelling, and are you good at meeting people? Are you aggressive?
If you want to be a secretary, are you interested in working in an office? Can you type and file quickly? Are you patient?
If you want to work in a store or restaurant, do you like helping people? Are you good at working with numbers? Are you friendly? What skills do you need for the job you would like to have?
Are you responsible? Do you work hard? Do you always do the best job you can? Do you help your co-workers?
Are you reliable? Do you start working on time? Do you come to work every day? If you begin working on something, do you finish it?
What are your strengths?
For example, do you work well with people? Are you good at math? Can you type fast? Do you learn quickly? Are you reliable? Can you work independently?
What are your weaknesses?
For example, perhaps your English is still not very good, but you're taking a class to improve it. Perhaps you are impatient because your co-workers do not work very fast, but you are learning to be more patient.
A. You and your partner want to hire a new salesperson for your company. The salesperson will sell school supplies to colleges and universities. Look at the chart and study the likes, dislikes and experience of the applicants. Discuss the applicants with your partner. Decide which applicant you want to hire. Read the example.
| NAMES | LIKES | DISLIKES | EXPERIENCE |
| Georgia Hall | responsibility working with people | clerical work working with numbers | worked in a school |
| Greg Otero | working independently responsibility | large companies travelling by plane | worked in a college bookstore |
| Susan White | travelling big companies | selling working at night | worked as a bookkeeper |
| Albert Wu | selling helping people | working alone travelling | was a salesman in a shoe store |
eg A: What do you think about hiring Greg Otero?
B: I think he could do the job. He enjoys working inde-
pendently, and he likes having responsibility. Also, he
used to work in a college bookstore. A: Yes, but he hates working for large companies, and he
isn't interested in travelling by plane.
A letter of Application
Paulo has read this advertisement in "Health and Fitness" magazine.
Keen on sport? Busy health club requires outgoing person for part-time work (including late hours). June to September. Good command of English. Must be adaptable. Please write to: The Manager, Sundance Health Club, Harbour Lane, Chichester, Sussex, PO1 2JE including a recent photograph.
This is Paulo's letter of application.
Ruade Gloria 10 3000 Coimbra Portugal 15th April 1995
The Manager, Sundance Health Club, Harbour Lane, Chichester, Sussex, PO1 2JE
Dear Sir/Madam,
I'm writing in reply to your advertisement in "Health and Fitness" magazine for general part-time work in your health club. I am a 20-year-old Portuguese student and I come from Coimbra in the north of Portugal. At present I am still studying at college but I am taking my final exams in May. I have studied English for six years but I want to spend some time in England in order to improve my spoken English.
I am interested in sport and fitness and at home I go to a sports centre three times a week. I am also a member of the college swimming team. I get on very well with people and I like making new friends. I don't mind doing any sort of work including cleaning, washing up and helping in the gym.
I am prepared to work any hours but ideally I would like to work in the afternoons and evenings only so that I can attend English classes in the mornings. I have friends who live in Chichester, so accommodation is not a problem. My term ends on 28th May, so I would be able to start on 1st June.
I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Paulo Freitas
A. Study and practise the text.
B. You want to go to Britain in the summer and would like to earn a little money while you are there. Read the following job advertisement.
Winsdor Leisure Centre
Stowell Road, Winsdor
wants part-time summer helpers
The employer: runs two leisure centres and employs about ten casual staff
Season: July to September
Work period: evenings, weekends and holidays
The work: setting up and taking down sports equipment; involvement in children's summer activity programme; working as lifeguards
Pay and conditions: £3.50 — £4.00 per hour
Qualifications: lifeguards must be strong swimmers, preferably trained in first aid. Life saving training will be given. Good knowledge of English is essential.
Age: 18
Application: to the manager at the above address
Now in pairs discuss the information you need to include in your letter of application for the job. Make notes under the following headings.
— you and your personal details
— knowledge of English
— current course of study or current job
— stability for job
— availability
— any questions
Write a letter to the manager of the Winsdor Leisure Centre applying for the job. Use Paulo s letter as a guide.
Your career history
A CV ("curriculum vitae" or "resume") is essential if you're applying for a new job or for promotion within your own company, or even to register as a delegate at a conference. Some information might be given in your CV, some in your letter of application — and perhaps some on a Supplementary Information sheet (giving information relevant to the particular job you're applying for). There are no fixed international rules about this: different countries have different practices.
Work in pairs. Decide where you in your country and in your line of business would normally give this information:
1. Your name, address and telephone number.
2. The title and reference number of the job.
3. Your date of birth.
4. Your marital status.
5. The name and address of present (or last) employer.
6. Your hobbies and leisure interests.
7. The sports you play.
8. Details of all the jobs you have had.
9. The languages you speak, read or write.
10. Details of the examinations you passed at school.
11. Details of the professional diplomas or degrees you have gained.
12. Details of training courses you have attended.
13. Details of your achievements and responsibilities in your working career.
14. Your suitability for the job advertised.
15. Your reasons for applying for this job.
16. When you are available for interview.
17. Details of your present (or last) job.
18. Your current (or last) salary.
19. The salary you would expect to receive.
20. The names and addresses of two or three referees.
in your CV or resume?
in your Letter of Application?
on a Supplementary Information sheet?
or on an Application Form?
Out of Work
In Britain a lot of people are out of work. Tracey Chapman is 18, and she left school a year ago. She lives in the North East, an area of high youth unemployment. She hasn't been able to find a job yet.
"My dad just doesn't understand. He started working in a steel mill when he was 15. Things are different now, but he thinks I should start bringing home some money. Oh, I get my unemployment benefit, but that isn't much and I'm fed up with queuing for it every Thursday. I hate having to ask my mum and dad for
money. Oh, mum gives me a couple of pounds for tights now and then, but she can't stand seeing me at home all day. I've almost given up looking for a job. I buy the local paper every day but I'm really tired of looking through the "Situations Vacant" column. There are 50 applicants for every job. I was interested in being a dentist's receptionist because I like meeting people, but now I'd take any job at all. People ask me why I don't move to London, but I don't want to leave my family and friends. Anyway I'm scared of living on my own in a big city."
Tracey Chapman went to the Careers Advisory Service. She had to complete this questionnaire.
Questionnaire
1. Are you seeking
a) full-time employment?
b) part-time employment?
2. Which of these is most important for you?
money? job satisfaction?
people? an interesting job?
security?
3. Do you like Yes No
a) meeting people?
b) working alone?
c) working with other people?
d) working with your hands?
e) travelling?
4. What do you like doing in your free time?
George Morley is 54. Until last year he was a production manager in the textile industry. He had worked for the same company since he left school. He had a good job, a four-bedroomed house and a company car. When his company had to close because of economic difficulties, he became redundant.
"It's funny really... I don't feel old, but it isn't easy to start looking for a job at my age. I've had so many refusals. Now I'm frightened of applying for a job. All the interviewers are twenty years younger than me. You see, I'm interested in learning a new
skill, but nobody wants to train me. I can see their point of view. I'll have to retire in ten years. It's just... well, I'm tired of sitting around the house. I've worked hard for nearly forty years and now I'm terrified of having nothing to do. When I was still with Lancastrian Textiles I was bored with doing the same thing day after day, but now I'd really enjoy doing a job again... any job really. It's not the money... I got good redundancy pay, and the house is paid for... and I've given up smoking... no, it's not just money. I just need to feel... well, useful... that's all."
A. Play the cassette of the introduction about Tracey Chapman. Answer the questions.
1. What's her name? 2. How old is she? 3. She isn't a student, is she? 4. Where does she live? 5. Does she work? Why not? 6. Is she happy? Why not?
B. Play the cassette again. After each sentence with an -ingform pause to ask questions, for example •
Cassette: He thinks I should start bringing home some money. (Pause)
T: What does he think?
St: He thinks she should start bringing home some mo-
ney, etc.
Questions:
1. Where did he start working? 2. What does he think? 3. What's she fed up with? 4. What does she hate? 5. What can't her mother stand? 6. What has she almost given up? 7. What's she tired of? 8. What was she interested in? 9. What does she like? 10. What's she scared of?
C. Read the text. Speak about Tracey Chapman. Use the -ing forms.
D. Play the cassette of the introduction about George Morley. Answer the questions.
1. What's his name? 2. How old is he? 3. What was his job? 4. How long had he worked there? 5. Why did his company have to close? 6. What happened to him?
E. Play the cassette pausing as in "B ".
Questions:
1. What isn't easy? 2. What's he frightened of? 3. What's he interested in? 4. What's he tired of? 5. What's he terrified of? 6. What would he enjoy? 7. What's he given up?
F. Read the text. Speak about George Morley Use the -ing forms.
G. Focus attention on the "Questionnaire ".
Pair work. Students complete the questionnaire for a partner. Ask a few students about their partners' answers. H.Exercise 1
/ like meeting people. Make sentences about yourself with: love/enjoy/don't like/dislike/hate/can't stand. Exercise 2
I'm scared of living on my own. Make sentences about yourself with: afraid of/frightened of/terrified of. Exercise 3
I'm bored with doing the same thing. Make sentences about yourself with: fed up with/tired of/interested in.
Exercise 4
I gave up smoking.
Make sentences about yourself with:
start/begin/stop/give up.
Conversation Practice
Resume
Name: Present address
Telephone: Date of Birth: Place of birth:
Stephen Lo
2315 South Sierra Drive,
San Diego, California, CA 92126
(619)076 — 5581
9/17/70
Oakland, California
Education: 1 977 — 84 Millard Fillmore Elemen-
tary School, Oakland, Calif.
1984— 88 James Garfield High School,
Oakland, Calif.
1 988 — 92 College. U.C.L.A., Los Ange-
les, Calif.
Graduated with a B.S. in Business Admi-
nistration.
Employment history: Summer vacations: 1 987 — 1991. Camp counsellor.
Camp Redwoods, Mendocino County,
Calif.
Swimming instructor. 1 992 — present: Administrative Assistant, Soledad Com-
puters. Pacific Beach, San Diego. Foreign languages: Chinese — excellent, Spanish — fair, \
I have a California driver's licence.
A 'Job 'Intetview (Mrs D=Mrs Dukakis)
Mrs D: Come in. Mr Lo, isn't it? Please have a seat.
Mr Lo: Thank you.
Mrs D: Did you have a good trip?
Mr Lo: Yes, thanks. I came up from San Diego yesterday.
Mrs D: And did you find a nice hotel?
Mr Lo: No. I'm staying at my parents' place in Oakland.
Mrs D: Oh, that's right, you're from the Bay area, aren't you?
Mr Lo: Yes. I was born and raised in Oakland.
Mrs D: When did you leave?
Mr Lo: I went to college in L.A. That was in 1988.
Mrs D: So, where are you presently working?
Mr Lo: Soledad Computers in San Diego. Have you heard of them?
Mrs D: No, not really. How long have you been with them?
Mr Lo: I've been working there since I graduated from college.
Mrs D: Why do you want to change jobs now?
Mr Lo: I'd like to do some travelling. I want to use my languages, and I want a better job.
Mrs D: Yes. I see here that you speak Chinese and Spanish.
That's OK.
Do you want to live closer to your parents? Mr Lo: That's not the reason why I want this job. But yes, I'd
like to live in this area again. Mrs D: Well, thank you, Mr Lo. We'll be in touch.
A. Questions
I. Where is Mr Lo presently working? 2. What is he doing in Oakland? 3. Where was Mr Lo born? 4. When and why did he leave Oakland? 5. Why does Mr Lo want to change his job? 6. What languages can he speak?
B. Speak about Mr Lo.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. You are applying for a job. Write a brief description —your interests, your character, any work experience you already have and your ambitions for the future.
Resume
Name: Address:
Crystal Rosemary Danziger
1031 Stormont Avenue,
Long Beach, California, CA 90806
(213)097 — 6544
12.13.67
Telephone number: Date of birth: Place of birth: Education (from High School on):
Previous Employment: Languages spoken: Driver's licence:
(Mrs Du=Mrs Dukakis; Mrs Da=Mrs Danziger)
2. Mrs Du: Come in Mrs Danziger. Please have a seat.
Mrs Da: Please call me Crystal. My, you have a nice office.
Mrs Du: Thank you. Did you have a good trip?
Mrs Da: It was OK. I got in on the early flight this morning.
Mrs Du: Ah, you're from Los Angeles, aren't you?
Mrs Da: I live in L.A. at the present time, but I'm originally
from New York. Of course, I'm not often in L.A. I've been to seven countries this year.
Mrs Du: Tell me about your present job.
Mrs Da: I'm a sales representative for a book publisher... Travel Books Incorporated. We sell guide books and maps. I travel around Latin America. You see from my resume that I speak Spanish and Portuguese. I majored in Spanish for my Bachelors degree and then...
Mrs Du: Where did you get your degree?
Mrs Da: I got it from the University of Chicago. Then, after that, I did my Masters at the University of New Mexico.
Mrs Du: How long have you been with Travel Books?
Mrs Da: Two years. Before that I was with the Disney company for a year in Florida, and before that I worked at a commercial stationery company in Dallas for six months.
Mrs Du: Have you ever sold computer software?
Mrs Da: No, but selling is selling. It's all the same to me.
Mrs Du: And do you speak any Asian languages?
Mrs Da: No, but I learn fast. I majored in languages. Now I want to ask you some questions about this job...
A. Crystal's resume is not completed. How much of her resume can you complete?
B. Speak about Crystal s career.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Situation: You have applied for a job. At the moment you're being interviewed.
(I = Interviewer; N = Nancy Mann)
3. I: Who do you work for at the moment, Mrs Mann? N: Um, I work for the BBC World Service. I: Ah, and how long have you worked for the BBC? N: I've been with the BBC for five years. Yes, exactly five
years.
I: And how long have you been their German Correspondent? N: For two years. I: And what did you do before the BBC?
N: I worked as an interpreter for the EU.
I: As you know, this job is based in Geneva. Have you ever lived abroad before?
N: Oh yes, yes I have.
I: And when did you live abroad?
N: Well, in fact I was born in Argentina and I lived there until I was eleven. Also, I lived and worked in Brussels for two years when I was working for the EU.
I: Mmm... That's interesting. Have you travelled much?
N: Oh yes, yes indeed. I've travelled all over western and eastern Europe, and I've also been to many parts of South America.
I: Mmm... And why did you go to these places?
N: Well, mostly for pleasure, but three years ago I went back
to Argentina to cover various political stories in Buenos
Aires for the BBC.
A. Study and practise the conversation.
B. Here are some more events from Nancy Mann's life. She was born in Argentina in 1959.
She went to boarding school in England from 1970 to 1977. She studied French and German when she was at Oxford University.
She hasn't spoken Spanish since she was in Buenos Aires three years ago.
She's worked in both eastern and western Europe at various
times in her life.
She worked in Brussels for two years from 1989 to 1991.
She's worked for the BBC for the last five years.
She hasn't worked abroad since her son was born four years
ago.
She married for the first time when she was twenty-one. She's been married three times. She married for the third time last year. Speak about Nancy Mann's life and career. C. Speak about your life and career.
(I=Interviewer; Miss J=Miss Jones) 4. I: Good morning, Miss...
Miss J: Miss Jones.
I: Miss Jones, yes, right. Hi. Urn... now, you'd like to
join our team, I gather. Miss J: Yes, I would.
I: That's very good. Er... I'd like to know a little bit
about you. Perhaps you could tell me a little bit about your education.
Miss J: Oh yes, right. Well, I left school at 18 and for the first two years I went to Gibsons, you might know them, they're an engineering firm. Um... and after that, I wanted to do a course, so I did a one-year full-time PA course and went back to Gibsons. I was PA to the Export Director. I stayed there for two years and... and then moved on to my present company. That's Europa Marketing... um... Mr Adair, the marketing director, offered me a job because Gibson had worked quite a lot with Europa Marketing. And I've been with them for three years now... um... first working with the Marketing Director and now I'm with the Sales Director.
I: That's all very interesting, Miss Jones. Um... I'd like
to know, what did you enjoy most at school? What was the course that you enjoyed most? Miss J: Ah... foreign languages I liked best. We did French
and German. Yes.
I: Mhm. Are you quite fluent in those now or...?
Miss J: Yes, a bit rusty now, but... urn... obviously the more travel I can do the more I can use my languages and I'd like to learn another language. I'd like to add Italian as well. I: Italian?
Miss J: Yes.
Г. Very good, very good, that might be very useful. Now...
er... tell me a little bit about the work you're doing at present.
Miss J: Um... well... er... Europa Marketing is a marketing and public relations company and they do consultancy work for companies operating in the UK and European markets. Er... our clients come from all over the world... um...we deal with some of them by post,
but most of them come to our offices at least once during a project. I assist the sales director by arranging these visits, setting up meetings and presentations and I... I deal with her correspondence. I've not been able to go with her on any of her trips abroad, but I... I've been to firms in this country, several times on my own... um... to make these arrangements.
I: It sounds as if you're very happy there, Miss Jones.
I'm curious why you'd like to leave them and join our company.
Miss J: Well... um... I know the reputation of Anglo-European and it has a very good reputation. And I feel that I would have more scope and opportunity in your company and that the work will be more challenging for me. I might be able to possibly travel and use my languages because at the moment most of my work is... is rather routine secretarial-type and I like the idea of more...um... challenges in my life really...
A. Questions
I. What is Miss Jones' educational background? 2. What firm is she working for at present? 3. What does she do? 4. Why does she want to change her job?
B. Speak about Miss Jones' career.
C. Roleplay the conversation between Miss Jones and the interviewer.
D. Interview your teacher or a person whom your teacher invites to class. Use the outline given below.
I. Professional life
A. Present teaching duties
B. Academic duties and activities outside of teaching
C. Past teaching experience
D. Educational background
II. Personal life
A. Basic biographical information (eg. place of birth, family background, places of residence)
B. Spare-time activities and interests
C. Travel experiences
That must be an exciting job
Peter: So you're a journalist. That must be an exciting job. Helen: It is, at times. It's certainly better than being a teacher! Peter: Oh, really? Helen: Yeah. I used to be a teacher, but I hated it! The worst
thing about teaching is correcting homework. That's
why I quit. Peter: I guess you travel a lot now and meet lots of interesting
people.
Helen: Yes, that's one of the best things about my job. Peter: Sounds great. I wish I had a job like that. Helen: Where do you work? Peter: In an office. It's kind of boring. I'm stuck inside all day,
and I have to work long hours. Helen: Oh? What do you do? Peter: I'm a vice president.
A. 1. What is Helen's job? 2. Does she like her job? 3. What did she use to do some time ago? 4. What didn't she like about teaching? 5. What does Peter do? 6. What does he say about his job?
B. Roleplay the conversation.
C. 1. Which do you think is more interesting, being a teacher or being a journalist? Why? 2. Have you or has a family member ever quit a job? Why? 3. Would you like to exchange jobs with your boss? Why or why not? 4. What are five well-paid jobs in your country?
What are you doing?
Carlos: Julia!
Julia: Hi, Carlos. It's so good to see you!
Carlos: It's great to see you! How are you?
Julia: I'm terrific.
Carlos: It's been a long time! What are you doing now?
Julia: I got a new job. I'm a model.
Carlos: That's wonderful!
Julia: Oh, it is, it's terrific. There's lots of variety. I... I meet
very interesting people. I travel a lot. And the best thing is working with all these wonderful people. And I get a fabulous salary...
Carlos: Oh, that's great!
Julia: However, I have to tell you it's very long hours, and I have to work weekends sometimes. How about you? What are you doing?
Carlos: Oh, well. I'm still at the restaurant, but I was promoted. I'm a manager now.
Julia: Wonderful! And do you like it?
Carlos: Oh, I like it. It's a lot more challenging in a lot of ways. The salary is much better... I'm much better paid... it's a lot more interesting. You know, the worst thing about being a waiter was that, you know, I wasn't getting any tips. The salary was not as good.
Julia: Mmm...
Carlos: Now I have more responsibility... it's just a lot better. But one thing I really don't like is I have to wear a suit and tie every day.
Julia: Oh, no!
Carlos: So, but, you know, it's a small price to pay for being a
manager.
Julia: Oh, that sounds terrific! Carlos: So I'm having a great time. Julia: Great! Well, it was great seeing you again. Carlos: Oh, it was great to see you! Good luck with everything! Julia: Thank you. Carlos: OK. Julia: Bye-bye! Carlos: Bye!
A. Questions
1. What is Julia's job? 2. Why does she like her job? 3. What doesn't she like about it? 4. What does Carlos do? 5. Why is his present job better than his last job? 6. What doesn't he like about his job?
B. Roleleplay the conversation.
C. What is your job? What do you like or dislike about it? Compare your present job with your last job.
D. Compare these jobs:
a teacher and a student a mechanic and an engineer a pilot and a flight attendant a nurse and a doctor
I'd rather Be on Commission
John: Have you thought about what you want to do after you
graduate, Rita? Rita: Oh, yeah. I think about it all the time. I've been looking
for some jobs in the newspaper, but I really need to
start interviewing soon. John: You know, I've heard there're some really good jobs
in the government. Those jobs are pretty secure and...
and you get excellent medical benefits. Rita: Yeah, but I'd rather not work for the government.
Those jobs seem so boring and the salaries are low.
I' d prefer to find an interesting company to work for—
where I could work on my own... John: Uh-huh...
Rita: You know, be creative and really use my skills. John: Well, what about something like saleswork? You could
be independent, creative... Rita: Well, yeah, I've thought of that... and I really like the
idea... I could meet lots of different people and... John: Sure!
Rita: ... do some travelling and maybe get out of the office. John: Yeah, sounds like it's right up your alley! I wonder
how much money you can make in sales, though. Do
you have any idea what starting salaries are like? Rita: Mmm, I don't know... but, actually, I think I'd rather
be on commission... John: Oh? Rita: ... so that way I'd get paid according to how successful
lam.
John: Ah?
Rita: I could make much more money that way. I think I'd prefer that to getting a salary.
John: Well, Rita, I think you've got a great future in sales.
A. Questions
1. What will Rita have to do soon? 2. Why doesn't she want to work for the government? 3. What kind of work would she prefer?
B. Roleplay the conversation.
C. Gmup work. Can you think of (a) three jobs where you can get commissions, (b) three jobs that are challenging, and (c) three jobs that have a lot of responsibility? Choose three of these jobs and list three advantages and three disadvantages for each.
D. homemaker teacher taxi driver travelling salesperson construction worker police officer How interesting are the jobs above?
On the way to Seoul,
Franco: Hello, Bill.
Bill: Franco, hello.
TogetherWhat are you doing here?
Bill: I'm flying to Seoul, of course. Well, well, this is a surprise! How are you?
Franco: Fine. Fine. What are you working for? Are you still with BTB?
Bill: Oh no. I'm with Macdonald Harris. I'm one of their project managers.
Franco: Really? I'm sorry I don't know them.
Bill: We're part of Excel.
Franco: I see. So why are you going to Seoul?
Bill: I have to visit a possible supplier of components. I'm checking the quality and the specifications and then I'm flying to Taiwan. There's an assembly plant there using some of our equipment and they're having some trouble with it.
Franco: Where are you staying in Seoul?
Bill: At the Sheraton. For two nights.
Franco: So am I. Perhaps we get together, go out for a meal or something.
Bill: That sounds like a great idea. Anyway, how are you Franco? What are you doing in the Far East?
Franco: I'm visiting a friend.
Air hostess: Would passengers please return to their seats and fasten their seat belts?
Bill: Eh, Franco. I'd better get back to my seat. I'll catch you later.
A. I. Where are Bill and Franco flying? 2. What is Bill going to do in Seoul? 3. Why is he flying on to Taiwan? 4. Where are the two friends staying in Seoul? 5. What does Franco suggest?
B. Give a brief account of the conversation.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Write a report on a business trip.
E. Speak about the company you are working for.
What's your Background? Klaus and Anna are speaking about their careers.
Klaus: What did you do at university?
Anna: Economics.
Klaus: Where was that?
Anna: At the University of Uppsala.
Klaus: Did you enjoy your time there?
Anna: Oh, yes. It's a very good university.
Klaus: Yes, it has a high reputation. And after that. What did
you do then? Anna: I worked for my father. He has a small engineering
business. I'd worked for him during the vacation, you know, while I was studying. But we didn't get along very well so I got a job in a post office. Klaus: A post office! I can't imagine you in a post-office! Anna: No, I didn't like it very much. It was very boring. Anyway, I finally got a job in the International Exchange Department at Svensaka. Klaus: How long were you in that job? Anna: Oh, about two and a half years. Then I answered an internal advert for this job in the Purchasing Department.
Klaus: Do you like it?
Anna: Yes, I really enjoy it because you meet so many different
people and I often have to travel abroad. Anyway, how
about you? What's your background?
A. Study and practise the conversation.
B. Write a synopsis of Anna s career history.
C. Write a synopsis of your career history.
D. Situation: You and your classmate are speaking about your educational and business background.
"Do you enjoy Уоиr Work? (I=Interviewer)
I: What do you do?
Peter: I'm described as an area sales manager. I go round
visiting shops, maybe five or six per day when I'm travelling. The rest of the time I spend in the office, answering queries from customers about sales and planning the next trip. My trips usually last about two or three weeks and I go mostly to Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
I: What do you find rewarding about the work?
Peter: Well, the travel as much as anything else. Um... the job is fairly badly paid, but the fact that I get free trips to the foreign countries more or less of my choice for most of the year does in some measure recompense for that.
I: What do you find frustrating or annoying about it?
Peter: Well, I've already mentioned the pay. Um... obviously frustrating is also customers that leave one waiting, but on the whole the frustrations of the job are minimal.
A. Questions
1. What does Peter do? 2. What does he find rewarding about his work? 3. What does he find frustrating about it?
B. Find out more about your partner s career. Ask about his or her:
Present job — its rewards and frustrations.
Work experience — previous jobs (or educational courses, if your partner hasn't worked. But do find out about any temporary or part-time jobs your partner has done.)
Education and training.
Ambitions and prospects for the future.
When you have both finished, join another pair and tell them what you have discovered about each other.
I'ii, take you on a little tour
Margaret: Mr Bronson, you wanted to see me? Mr Bronson: Oh... Margaret, yeah, thanks for coming down. This is Michelle Duhamel... er... Margaret Brown. Margaret: Hello Michelle. Michelle: Pleased to meet you. Mr Bronson: You'll be working with her. Margaret: Ah.
Mr Bronson: Margaret, ah... what I'd like you to do is to show Michelle around the offices, just so that she can get an idea where everything is. Is that OK? Margaret: Of course. Er... yes, I'll take her on a little tour,
shall I?
Mr Bronson: Yeah, good idea. I'll see you later this afternoon, Michelle. Let's say... at 3 o'clock. OK? Bye bye now.
Margaret: All right, Michelle, let's go out into the corridor. Michelle: The trouble is I've noticed not all the doors have
got names on them, so it's all a bit confusing. Margaret: Well, I think the best thing is if we go back to Reception and then I'll take you round the offices on this floor.
Michelle: OK, that's a good idea... (Some minutes later)
Margaret: ...well here we are... er... back at the main entrance. So let's go through Reception into the main corridor. OK? Michelle: Hm, hm.
Margaret: Right opposite us is the Post Room, you see? Michelle: Yes.
Margaret: Then if we go up the corridor... we come to Mr Gru-ber's office.
Michelle: Aha.
Margaret: He's the General Manager. His secretary is Mrs Santini. And we just passed the Personnel Manager's office on the right, that's where we started from.
Michelle: What was all that noise coming from the room between Reception and the Personnel Manager's secretary's office?
Margaret: Aha, yes. That's the Photocopying Room. And that room on the right is the Accounts Manager's office. And the other door on the right is Bookkeeping. On the left is our Typing Pool — as you can hear.
Michelle: Er... what's through the glass doors at the end?
Margaret: Ah, that's the Canteen.
Michelle: Er... just one more thing...um...where's the ladies?
Margaret: Oh, I'm sorry, yes of course. The toilets are right opposite the Photocopying Room.
Michelle: Aha, fine.
Margaret: OK, here's the lift. Shall we go up to our floor?
A. Study and practise the conversation.
B. Talk about your place of work. This may include actually showing someone physically around the office or premises. Furthermore, people in business may often be called upon to describe to outsiders or friends what their company does; they may even be expected to talk about what their company has done in the past and about the contemporary developments of a firm.
Listening
Alecture of uncleTheo
• My uncle Theo is a grey-haired man whose thoughts were always on learning and nothing else. Once he applied for a post in Camford University. It was a very good post and there were hundreds of candidates who applied for it, and about fifteen, including Theo,
were asked to come to Camford. There is only one hotel in Camford, and this was so full that they had to put the candidates two in a room. The man who shared the room with Theo was a fellow called Adams with a loud voice and a laugh that you could hear all over the hotel. But he was a clever fellow all the same.
Well, the Dean and the committee interviewed all the candidates and as a result of this interview, the number was reduced to two, Uncle Theo and Adams. The committee could not decide which of the two to take, so they decided to make their final choice after each candidate gave a public lecture in the college lecture-room. The lecture was to be given in three days' time.
For three days Uncle Theo never left his room. He worked day and night at that lecture almost without eating or sleeping. Adams didn't seem to do any preparations at all. He asked Theo how he was getting on with his lecture and then told him how he had spent the evening.
The day of the lecture came. And then Theo discovered, to his horror, that the typewritten copy of his speech had disappeared. The Dean said he would call on the candidates in alphabetical order, Adams first. Theo watched Adams calmly take his stolen speech out of his pocket and read it to the professors who gathered to hear it. He read it well. Now it was Theo's turn. But what could he do? He could only repeat the lecture, word for word in a low, dull voice. The Dean and the committee went out to decide who the successful candidate was, but everyone was sure what their decision would be. Then they came back. "Gentlemen," the Dean said, "the candidate we have chosen is—Mr Theo." The audience were completely taken by surprise and the Dean continued. "I think I ought to tell you how we arrived at that decision. We were greatly impressed by the lecture of Mr Adams. But you will remember, Mr Adams read his lecture to us. When Mr Theo's turn came, he repeated that speech, word for word, from memory, though of course, he had never seen a line of it before. Now a fine memory is absolutely necessary for this post. That is why we decided that Mr Theo was exactly the man we wanted."
A. Questions
1. What post did Uncle Theo once apply for? 2. Were there many candidates for that post? 3. Who were the most successful candidates? 4. How did the committee decide to make their final
choice? 5. Who did Theo share his room with? 6. How did they prepare for the lecture? 7. What happened on the day of the lecture? 8. Why did the committee choose Uncle Theo for that post?
A Dog
(after M. Twain)
A few days ago I met General Miles at my friend's house. General Miles was a very nice man and we became friends quickly.
"Did you live in Washington in 1887?" asked me the general. "Yes, I did', I answered. "Why didn't we meet then?" said the general. "General", I said, "you forget that you were already a great general then, and I was a poor young writer whom nobody knew and whose books nobody read."
"You do not remember me," I thought, "but we met once in Washington at that time."
I remember it very well. I was poor at that time. Once I needed three dollars. I don't remember why I needed those 3 dollars but I remember well that I needed the money by the evening. I did not know where to go and how to get those 3 dollars. For an hour I was walking along the streets of Washington and was very tired. At last I came to a big hotel. "I shall go and have a rest," I thought.
I went into the hall of the hotel and sat down on a sofa. I was sitting when a beautiful dog ran into the hall. The dog was very nice and I began to play with it.
I was playing with the dog when a man came into the hall. He wore a beautiful uniform and I thought: "That is General Miles." I knew him by the pictures in the newspapers.
"Oh, what a beautiful dog! Is it yours?" I did not have time to answer when he said, "Do you want to sell it?" When I heard those words I thought about the 3 dollars which I wanted to get.
"Well, ...I... I think..."
"That is good," said the general, "how much do you want for it?"
"3 dollars," I answered at once.
"Three dollars?" he asked, "but that is very little. I can give you 5 dollars for it."
"Oh, no, I want only 3 dollars." "Well, it is your dog. If you want 3 dollars for it, I shall be glad to buy your dog."
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General Miles paid me 3 dollars, took the dog and went to his room.
A few minutes later an old man came into the hall. He looked round the hall. I saw he was looking for something. "Are you looking for a dog, sir?" I asked. "Oh, yes! Did you see it?" said the man. "I saw a man who took it. I'll be glad to help you to find it but it will take some of my time..." "I am ready to pay for your time," cried the man. "How much do you want for it?" "3 dollars," I answered. "Three dollars?" said the man. "But it is a very good dog. I can pay you 10 dollars." "No, sir, I want only 3 dollars," I said. Then I went to General Miles' room. I gave back his money saying that the dog wasn't mine and I must return it to its master. The general was very angry.
When I brought the dog back, its master was very happy and he paid me three dollars with joy. I was happy too because I had the money and I felt I had earned it.
A. Questions
1. Who did the writer meet at his friend's house? 2. What did the general ask him? 3. Had Mark Twain met the general before? 4. Where and when did they first meet? 5. How did Mark Twain earn the money he needed?
Reading
industry and the Workforce
By the end of the 1980s Britain's working population — the workforce was around 22 million (38 per cent of the total population). Those in employment include full-time, part-time and self-employed people.
People are employed in three sectors: primary, manufacturing and service. The primary sector is concerned with raw materials such as cereals and minerals. Processing these materials is the field of the manufacturing sector. The service sector provides services of various kinds such as transport or distribution, but does not manufacture goods. Employment is also often divided into sections according to types of work and social class. These categories include professional, manual and non-manual. A doctor, for example, would be classified as a professional in the
service sector, while a steelworker would be a manual worker (skilled or unskilled) in the manufacturing sector. The old distinction between white-collar (non-manual) and blue-collar (manual) has become less clear: fewer people now make cars or work in coal mines; more work for banks and hotels.
In 1951 96 per cent of the people in work in Britain had full-time jobs and the majority of these (70 per cent) were held by men. By 1988 25 per cent of jobs were part time and 45 per cent of workers were women: so one basic trend in employment in the 1980s was a general rise in the number of part-time jobs for women, particularly in service industries. The number of people who were self-employed also rose considerably, increasing by over half a million between 1983 and 1987. This was due to changing work patterns and to the high levels of unemployment of the 1980s.
As well as regional and occupational variations there are big differences in pay between men and women (whose average wage is around two-thirds of the male average wage) even when the same job is involved. Certain higly-paid occupations such as surgery are still almost exclusively confined to men.
A. Questions
1. How many people in Britain had jobs at the end of the 1980s? Which categories of work are mentioned? 2. In which industrial areas did the number of workers (a) decline and (b) increase? 3. What examples of jobs are given in the text and how are they classified? 4. Are there any differences between the average earnings of men and women in Britain?
B. Discussion
1. Explain the following: a white-collar worker, a surgeon, the workforce, self-employed.
2. Which sector of industry would the following people be involved in: a nurse, a shipbuilder, a waitress, a building-site foreman, a secretary, a farmer, a teacher, a factory worker, a bank manager?
Patterns of Unemployment
During the 1980s high unemployment was a political and social problem which refused to go away, although the number of people
without jobs began to fall from the mid-1980s onwards. One result was high government spending on unemployment and social security payments. For those without jobs the effects on health, family and prosperity were often serious.
When the Conservative government came to power in Britain in 1979 the number of people without work totalled approximately 3 per cent of the workforce. By 1986 this figure had increased to nearly 10 per cent with unemployment in some areas (Northern Ireland for example) being as high as 20 per cent. By 1988 the position had improved and government figures stated that the total number of people out of work and claiming benefit had dropped to around 7 per cent of the workforce, the lowest figure for eight years. Regional differences remained, with the South East having the lowest figures and the North of England and Northern Ireland still having much higher rates than the national average.
During the 1980s the government introduced a large number of different schemes to retrain older people and to give school-leavers and young people a better chance of getting a job. But despite these schemes, as in a number of other countries, the unemployment figures remained high and continued to be one of the major political issues of the 1980s.
A. Questions
1. How did unemployment change between 1979 and 1988
according to government figures?
2. What effects did unemployment have on:
a) government spending?
b) individuals?
3. Where was unemployment lower than the national average?
Where was it higher?
B. Discussion
1. Compare the rate of unemployment in Britain with other coun-
tries.
2. Which areas of your country have suffered most from unemployment? What sort of industries have had the most problems? What new industries have appeared?
At Work
For many people with jobs, there was an improvement in pay and working conditions. The amount of holidays increased (for example over three-quarters of all manual employees had between four and five weeks' paid holiday per year) and the average working week, excluding overtime, fell to under 40 hours. Negotiations took place in a number of industries to reduce the retirement age from the traditional 65 for men and 60 for women.
For many, working conditions improved and under the "enterprise economy" some people did very well. Others, especially women and part-time workers in the service industries were not so lucky.
Britain had reputation during the 1970s for frequent strikes and bad industrial relations, although some other industrialised countries in fact had worse records. There was a dramatic decrease in the number of strikes m Britain during the 1980s but industrial relations continued to be an area of dispute. The Conservative government passed laws limiting the powers of the trade unions, which helped to reduce the numbers of people in unions. Some industrial action still occurred: miners, teachers, seamen and health workers were all involved in arguments overpay and conditions during the 1980s.
A. Questions
1. For most workers in Britain what has happened to:
a) the working week?
b) paid holidays?
c) the standard of living?
2. Who benefited least from the "enterprise economy"?
3. What sort of jobs are the best paid and the worst paid in
Britain?
B. Discussion
1. What sort of jobs pay the most and the least in your country?
2. Is Britain's reputation as a country with lots of strikes still justified? What happens in your country when there is an industrial dispute? Are there any laws against strikes?
Jennifer's Career
This is Jennifer Bradbury. In this unit she describes some of her earliest memories and other things that happened to her when she was young.
I think my first memories start when I was about three or perhaps four years old. I remember falling from a tree and breaking my arm. I think I was playing in the garden of the big, old house we lived in. It was in a suburb of London. I can also remember starting school when I was five. There was a little boy called Thomas in the same class. He used to pull my hair when the teacher wasn't looking. One day I hit him over the head with a book and he began to cry. The teacher was very very angry with me. I remember him saying, "Little girls don't do things like that!" But Thomas never pulled my hair again.
Q What are some of Jennifer's earliest memories?
Even though I didn't have any brothers or sisters, I had a happy childhood. I don't remember feeling lonely or anything like that. I had a lot of friends. But I had to leave them all when I was eight. My father worked for a big international company and they sent him to Chicago, in the United States. Naturally my mother and I went with him. At first I didn't like Chicago at all.
The winters were terribly cold and the children at school there laughed at my "funny accent". But after a while I got used to my new life and began to enjoy it very much.
Q Why did Jennifer have to leave her friends? 3
We stayed in Chicago for six years. Then the company sent my father back to London and I had to get used to living in England all over again. I also had to think about what I wanted to do later. I remember a teacher asking us once what our ambitions were. I was sixteen at the time. Most of the other girls in the class said they wanted to get married as soon as possible or to get jobs as secretaries. I don't remember exactly what I said. But one thing
was clear to me even then. I didn't intend to be a housewife or a mother. And I certainly didn't want to spend the rest of my life behind a typewriter, either. I wanted some kind of career, but I didn't really know what it was.
At the age of eighteen I left school and took a job for the summer in a Tourist Information office. It was hardly a career. But something happened there which changed my life.
Q In what way was Jennifer different from most of the other girls in her class?
When Jennifer was eighteen, she took a job for the summer in a Tourist Information office. Something very important happened to her there.
It was the first time I had ever worked, so I was glad to have the experience. The job consisted mostly of dealing with letters, phone calls and tourists who came into the office. There was a young man called Howard who worked there, too. He was about a year older than I was. I think he was rather shy. I often saw him looking at me. When I looked back at him, he used to go red in the face. One day he asked me if I liked musicals. When I said I did, he told me he had two tickets for one and that he hoped I would go with him. I think I said I wanted to study that evening or something. But then he looked very sad and I felt sorry for him. Finally I said I would go with him after all.
Q Do you think Howard liked Jennifer very much? Give reasons for your answer.
After that, I went out with Howard several times. He was very kind and generous, and in a way I was rather fond of him, but that was all. Unfortunately, his feelings for me were much deeper than that. One evening he suddenly told me he loved me and that he hoped we would get married. At first I was so surprised that I just didn't know what to say. I didn't want to hurt him, so I finally told him that marriage was out of the question for me until I finished university. Later I realised that this was a mistake and that I should have told him the truth.
Q What was "the truth"?
Howard obviously hadn't understood what I was trying to say. He seemed to think we were almost engaged. Then, one day, a well-dressed American came into the office and asked for a list of good hotels. We started talking and he told me he was a professional photographer. He also said that he was looking for new faces. When he mentioned his name, I realised I had heard it before. He was Adam Sutherland and his photographs were used in all sorts of advertisements and in some very famous magazines. He said I had a fine face and that he would like to take a few pictures of me. Then he invited me to lunch later in the week.
Q Who was this "well-dressed" American and why did he invite Jennifer to lunch?
After he left, I saw Howard looking at me. He had been there all the time and had heard everything. "You're not really meeting that fellow for lunch, are you?" he asked. I could see that he was very jealous. I told him I wasn't sure. But I was really very eager to see Sutherland again. In fact, I could hardly wait! Somehow I knew it was a wonderful opportunity and I just couldn't afford to miss it.
Q What do you think this "wonderful opportunity" was?
Jennifer Bradbury is now a successful businesswoman in her thirties. She was recently interviewed for a magazine article about her earlier career as a model.
Five years ago, Jennifer Bradbury was a famous model at the top of her profession. Her face was used to sell everything, from beauty soap to fast sports cars. Ten years before that she had been "discovered" by the fashion photographer, Adam Sutherland. She was working in a Tourist Information office in London at the time. One day, Sutherland came in and saw her. He immediately realised she had exactly the kind of face he was looking for. A few days later he photographed her in a rose garden and called
the series of pictures English Roses. They were a great hit when they were later published in an American magazine. Other photographers saw the pictures and wanted to use Jennifer as well. "I was amazed at how much I could earn and started modelling full-time," she says.
Q How and why did Jennifer become a model?
But Jennifer soon discovered that a model's life is not all wine and roses. Often, after a late party or a hard day's work, she had to get out of bed feeling, as she puts it, "like death warmed up". But she still had to look as fresh and beautiful as a morning flower. However, she admits there were some advantages, too. "Itravelled a lot. and saw all sorts of places I would never have seen otherwise. I worked in Rome, Frankfurt, New York, Paris and even Tokyo. But there wasn't much time for sightseeing. And after a while I got tired of looking into a camera and smiling all the time!"
Q What did she like about being a model? What did she dislike?
About five years ago Jennifer gave up her career for a number of reasons. "First of all," as she says, "I wanted to finish while I was still at the top, and after the age of thirty there is a lot less work for a model. Secondly, I just wasn't enjoying the work very much any more." A third reason was undoubtedly her bad experience with her agent, Murray King. Almost all models work through an agent. The agent finds work for them and the money they earn is usually paid to the agent first. "I had always trusted Murray. I realise now that was foolish of me. I didn't know that he was a big gambler and that he owed a lot of people a great deal of money. One day he disappeared. His body was later found in the river. When he disappeared, he still hadn't paid me over r2,000. After that, I decided I had had enough of being a model and that it was time to do something else."
Q Who was Murray King? What happened to him?