Study different job advertisements.

a) Write your own one advertising a vacancy of

 executive secretary, managing the final year of a major academic project in a leading business school;

 marketing services assistant;

 sales manager;

 sports goods wholesaler;

 crisis management consultant.

b) Write a covering letter for a job application.

The key objective of a covering letter is to inform the prospective employer of your interest in and suitability for the job. In the letter, you will need to make yourself look professional, build goodwill and offer a glimpse of your personality.

Raise the Issue

➢ What is your burning ambition which you hope to achieve?

➢ Do you have at least one unfulfilled ambition?

Fill in the following expressions in the dialogue below. You might need them to speak about your plans.

 rising stars  the world’s your oyster[13]

 burning ambition  going up in the world

 up and coming  hungry for success

 the sky’s limit  high flier

1. I’ve always had one ………………. – And what’s that? –To climb Mount Everest.

2. What’s the pay like in your company? – Well, if you work hard and you’re good at selling, ………………… .

3. He used to sleep on the floor of a friend’s flat and now he owns a chain of hotels. – That’s what I call ……………… .

4. Barbara’s only young but I think she is going to do well here. – You’re right. She’s definitely one of the ……………. .

5. You play football well, don’t you? Has your team won anything this season? – No but next year will be better. We’ve got some ………………… young players who are ……………… .

6. Brian’s going to be difficult to replace. I don’t know whether we want someone young with lots of fresh ideas or someone a bit older with lots of experience. – Well, for what it’s worth. I don’t think we want a young ………………. Who leaves in a year’s time. We want someone who is still going to be around in 5 years’ time.

7. What made you choose to do computing at university? – Well, once you’ve got your degree, you can get a job almost anywhere you want. - …………….. .

A. Words in Context

1. Tick the word closest in meaning to that of the each boldfaced word. Use the context of the sentences to help you figure out each word’s meaning.

adroit (adj)Trina is anadroitsales representative; she can convince anyone on the phone, and she can get her foot in any door.

Adroit means a. impulsive b. expert c. unselective

antithesis (n)Pauline’s idea of future is theantithesisof mine: I aspire for vibrant eventful career in show business whereas she dreams about accountancy.

Antithesis means a. the reverse b. superior c. imitation

confer (v)The University conferred an honorary doctorate on her.

Confer means a. take b. give c. read

contrite (adj)Judges are often more lenient with offenders who truly regret their crimes. A criminal who seems genuinelycontritemay get a shorter sentence.

Contrite means a. angry b. confused c. sorry

decorum (n)Because of Thomas’s sense ofdecorum,he felt outraged when he learned that a new hire violated rules of decent behaviour.

Decorum means a. difficulty b. beauty c. proper conduct

fabricate (v)When she handed in her term paper late, Diane fabricateda story that her computer had crashed. The truth is that she doesn’t even work on a computer.

Fabricate means a. avoid b. prove c. invent

incongruous (adj)It wasn’t reallyincongruousfor a former general to join the peace movement. He had seen the horrors of war.

Incongruous means a. contradictory b. unnecessary c. secret

inflate (v)He makes his living selling soft drinks to summer tourists; heinflatesthe prices and charges 25$ for a Cola, which is certainly daylight robbery.

Inflate means a. increase b. low c. keep the same

mediocre (adj)He is neither good nor bad, just amediocreplayer; so he will find it hard to keep his place on the team.

Mediocre means a. so-so b. bad c. good

pinnacle (n)Many people say that the plays of William Shakespeare represent thepinnacleof English drama.

Pinnacle means a. topmost point b. starting point c. end

plight (n)Everyone is greatly concerned about theplightof the hostages. We are not even certain they are still alive.

Plight means a. leadership b. unfortunate situation c. idea

tenacious (adj)My aunt’stenaciousdetermination to prosper may have become the main contributing factor for her winning career.

Tenacious means a. weak b. slow c. grasping strongly

tenuous (adj)Del was opposed to the Equal Rights Amendment, but his position seemed tenuous.He couldn’t support it with any facts, and his logic was very weak.

Tenuous means a. shaky b. easy c. established