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 ".