Jane and Xavier are talking about Xavier’s new job as a logistician. Read the dialogue and enact it.

Xavier:	I get paid every month.
Jane:	I see. You get a salary, not wages.
X.:	I usually have to work late. I don’t get paid for it, but I get a percentage for every deal I make.
J.:	So you don’t get overtime, but you do get commission. That’s good.
X.:	The company pays for medical treatment too, and the company restaurant is fantastic.
J.:	Wow! The company perks sound very nice.
X.:	And they’ve given me a company car to go and visit clients.
J.:	So you don’t have to buy a car, then.
X.:	What’s more, the company pays in money for us to get when we don’t work any more.
J.:	Yes, it’s important to get a good pension.
X.:	The total benefits package is brilliant.
J.:	Yes, all that extra stuff is really worth having.

Becoming a manager. Complete the dialogue between the Managing Director (MD) and the Personnel Manager (PM). Choose from the words in the box. The first has been done for you.

sales MBA how to take decisions accounting for managers communications distribution specialised management-training courses results

new technology cost and price decisions manage promotion and marketing learn about management structures read the balance sheet computer systems

MD:	John, we must think about (1) specialisedmanagement-trainingcourses for our junior managers.
PM:	Yes, our promising younger people need to (2)__________ __________ __________ __________ .
MD:	They need to know (3)__________ __________ __________ __________ , and the (4)__________ of these decisions.
PM:	And, of course, (5)__________ __________ __________ is essential. And they must know how to (6)__________ __________ __________ __________ .
MD:	Without it, they will never (7)__________ successfully, and they won’t know anything about stock control, costing, pricing _____ you name it.
PM:	Yes, (8)__________ __________ __________ __________ depend on knowing this.
MD:	Of course, that’s not the only thing they need to know. (9)__________ __________ means that they need to know about things like (10)__________ __________ .
PM:	What else?
MD:	(11)__________, for example.
PM:	Yes, and I think that the (12)__________ __________ __________ departments need managers with this background, as well as the (13)__________ department.
MD:	Even the (14)__________ managers could benefit, too.
PD:	Perhaps we should only appoint managers with a Harvard (15)_______ !

Here you are given some phrases and questions which you are to answer. Add your own questions and think of the answers is pairs. Enact a dialogue with your partner.

–	I’ve seen your advertisement in a newspaper.
–	You are headhunting a logistician.
–	Do you have any experience of working in this sphere of business? Do you have any letters of recommendation?
–	What are your skills?
–	Does your work involve traveling a lot? Are you more a team-worker or prefer to make decisions on your own?
–	What is your marital status?
–	Do you like meeting people?
–	Do you speak any foreign languages?
–	Leave your telephone number with the secretary and we’ll give you a call as soon as possible.
–	Have a nice day.

Jobs Quiz.

Is your job the right job for you? Find out by doing this quiz. Work in pairs. Tick the statements your partner agrees with.

1.	I’d love to do a parachute jump.
2.	I don’t like telling other people what to do.
3.	I prefer spending time on my own rather than in a crowd.
4.	I find it easy to set myself objectives.
5.	I have difficulty making decisions.
6.	I find it difficult getting to know new people.
7.	I’d love to travel abroad.
8.	Friends sometimes complain that I order them around.
9.	I like to have the advice and support of people more experienced than myself.
10.	I don’t like volunteering opinions in case they are unpopular.
11.	I like to try to find new solutions to old problems.
12.	I would prefer to be team captain than team member.
13.	I get embarrassed easily.
14.	I don’t mind where I go with my friends as long as they are happy.
15.	I like the latest fashions.
16.	I like to be fully responsible for anything that I do.

Now add up your ticks and check your scores. Three or four ticks in any category indicate personality characteristics you should take account of when choosing a job.

A
B
C
D

Personality types

A Characteristics   The entrepreneur     Your are the adventurous type. You enjoy new challenges and taking risks. You could find success in stock market dealing rooms or anywhere you can put your flashes of genius to good use.

B Characteristics   The team worker     You work well with others but dislike having responsibility for other people, preferring to implement other people’s plans rather than your own. You would probably do well in the armed forces or the Civil Service.

C Characteristics   The backroom worker   You are a little shy, and find it difficult to mix with new people. You would do well in any behind-the-scenes job where you don’t have to come face to face with strangers every day, such as a researcher or librarian.

D Characteristics   The leader     You are confident in your abilities and you prefer to be in charge rather than to take orders. You enjoy having lots of people around you and would do well in a managerial post or any job which involves selling.