Unit 6 - Employment - Job Hunting
Unit 6 - Employment - Job Hunting
(George Crane)
Career assessment
European Language Portfolio
Search techniques
Marketing
Sales
Interview strategies
FAQs
Non-verbal language
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Research and development
1 Career assessment
1.2.1 Group the items below into internal and external factors that can influence your
career and discuss their positive and/or negative aspects.
Advancement Competition Contacts
Education Field trends Geography
Labour market Personal characteristics Professional development
Skills Technical knowledge Work experience
1.2.2 The personal characteristics listed here can help you reveal your personality.
Choose five words that describe you best and five that do not apply in your case. Mark
the former with a tick and the latter with a cross; are they strengths or weaknesses?
1
You will find more information about the use of SWOT analyses in management in unit 4.
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1.2.6 Now examine your current situation and complete your personal analysis in the
table below. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can you capitalise on your
strengths and overcome your weaknesses? What are the external opportunities and
threats?
I Strengths Weaknesses
N
T Internal positive aspects Internal negative aspects
on which you may focus which you should minimise
E
R
N
A
L
Opportunities
E Threats
X Positive external conditions
T of which you can take advantage Negative external conditions
E which you should avoid
R
N
A
L
1.2.7 Imagine you are a career adviser and your task is to advise students what career
path they should follow based on the results of different psychometric tests and analyses.
You usually recommend them:
- The type of employment (e.g. full-time, part-time, freelancing, self-
employment)
- The type of organisation (e.g. partnership, private limited company, public
limited company, multinational corporation, the state, etc.)
- The industry (e.g. advertising, computers, electronics, information services,
insurance, manufacturing, retail, telecommunications, etc.)
- The line of work (e.g. Research and Development, Sales, Marketing, Finance,
Accounts, Human Resources, Logistics, Public Relations, Customer Service)
- The type of job (e.g. Administrator, Computer programmer, Financial
consultant, Insurance broker, Manager Assistant, Assistant Manager,
Receptionist, Sales representative, Secretary, etc.)
What advice would you give to someone whose personal profile and SWOT analysis
were similar to those completed above?
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2 European Language Portfolio
The European Language Portfolio is an instrument developed by the European
Association for Quality Language Services (EAQUALS) and the Association of
Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) in order to reflect language learning. It is based o n
the 6 language levels established by the Council of Europe in the Common European
Framework of Reference, and consists of 3 parts: a Language Passport, a Language
Biography and a Dossier. 2
2.1.1 Below are 4 jumbled language levels for Reading, Writing and Spoken Production
skills. First identify the skills, then rank the proficiency levels in each skill. What level do
you think you are? What can you do to move to a higher level by the end of this course?
1 2
I can write clear, detailed text on a wide I can use a series of phrases and
range of subjects related to my interests. sentences to describe in simple terms my
I can write an essay or report, passing on family and other people, living
information or giving reasons in support conditions, my educational background
of or against a particular point of view. I and my present or most recent job.
can write letters highlighting the
personal significance of experiences.
3 4
I can express myself in clear, well- I can understand texts that consist mainly
structured text, expressing points of view of high frequency everyday or job-
at some length. I can write about related language. I can understand the
complex subjects in a letter, an essay or a description of events, feelings and
report, underlining what I consider to be wishes in personal letters.
the salient issues. I can select a style
appropriate to the reader in mind.
5 6
I can present clear, detailed descriptions I can read very short, simple texts.
on a wide range of subjects related to my I can find specific, predictable
field of interest. I can explain a information in simple everyday material
viewpoint on a topical issue giving the such as advertisements, prospectuses,
advantages and disadvantages of various menus and timetables and I can
options. understand short simple personal letters.
2
The Dossier represents a collection of samples of work t
competence in the languages he/she is learning.
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7 8
I can understand long and complex I can write short, simple notes and
factual and literary texts, appreciating messages. I can write a very simple
distinctions of style. I can understand personal letter, for example thanking
specialised articles and longer technical someone for something.
instructions, even when they do not
relate to my field.
9 10
I can read articles and reports concerned I can present clear, detailed descriptions
with contemporary problems in which of complex subjects integrating sub-
the writers adopt particular attitudes or themes, developing particular points and
viewpoints. rounding off with an appropriate
I can understand contemporary literary conclusion.
prose.
11 12
I can connect phrases in a simple way in I can write simple connected text on
order to describe experiences and events, topics which are familiar or of personal
my dreams, hopes and ambitions. I can interest. I can write personal letters
briefly give reasons and explanations for describing experiences and impressions.
opinions and plans. I can narrate a story
or relate the plot of a book or film and
describe my reactions.
You can find more information about levels and skills and/or download
the Language Portfolio on www.eaquals.org or www.alte.org
2.2.1 Here are some excerpts from the Language Quality section of the checklists for the
4 levels presented above. Fill in the gaps in the sentences with an appropriate verb from
the box. Some verbs may be used more than once.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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5. I c
6.
7.
8.
9. nable accuracy.
10.
11. -flowing, well-structured speech.
12.
3 Search techniques
3.1.2 Look at the following ways of finding a job and discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of each. Can you think of other ways? Which is the best strategy for you?
acquaintances
career days
classifieds
cold calling
employment agencies
Internet
job fairs
networking
postings
3.2.1 Look at the statements and at the extracts from 5 job advertisements A-E below.
Which advertisement does each statement refer to? Some letters may be used more than
once.
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A
Head of Marketing and Public Relations
We require an outstanding individual to head the Marketing and PR Office of the External
Relations Division. You will provide a coherent and focused marketing and PR base; motivate
and manage the marketing and promotion team, play a significant role in developing our
marketing and promotion strategy and undertake -
work. You will be a qualified and experienced professional with expertise in media liaison and a
proven track record of delivery.
B
PR Specialist
Working for a firm that has experienced impressive growth in the past year, with huge European
expansion plans will provide a lot to write home about! In a firm with high calibre and
academically bright individuals there is a great opportunity to make a real difference. You will be
given lots of scope and plenty of support in a very friendly and informal environment. You will
experience, a high intellect and the usual pre-requisites of being an influential PR professional
will be essential.
C
Internet Web Designer
We need a skilled web designer to develop our presence on the world wide web. We already
receive thousands of hits to the site every week but now we want to turn our site into one of the
liveliest, most interactive sites in the country, with particular emphasis on our recruitment pages.
advice to internal web editors. Do you have the skills we are looking for ? You will need a firm
background knowledge in design and be skilled in the latest technology. The ability to
communicate with different sections of society would be desirable.
D
Internet Co-ordinator
Now that our website is up and running, we need a talented, experienced web editor to manage it
keeping it sharp, relevant and up to the tough standards we have set ourselves. It would be
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3.2.2 Job advertisements often use adjectives to specify what kind of person is needed.
Underline the adjectives in the examples above.
3.2.4 Find other adjectives that end in ate or begin with self-.
3.2.5 Job adverts also use abbreviations extensively. What do the abbreviations mean in
the two examples below? Look them up in the dictionary!
Looking for qualified PA to charming MD. 50 wpm + prev exp ess. Exc bens and perks.
We want fresh grads for our admin dept. We offer c £25 K pa + LVs.
3.2.7 Design an advertisement for the job you would like to have paying special attention
to its requirements and benefits. Also bear in mind that you will later attend an interview
for this specific job.
Marketing
4 Maximise your CV
4.1 Arrange the following tips for writing a CV under the headings DOs and .
Bring arguments for your choice.
A. give contact information
B. use headings and bullets
C. attach photo
D. mention your bad points, failures or lack of experience
E. include dates
F. use decorative devices or lots of different fonts
G. check your typing, spelling and punctuation
H. use verbs rather than nouns to illustrate your accomplishments
I. include irrelevant information
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J. be funny or too informal
K. list hobbies
L. emphasise your good points and embellish them where possible
M. include references (Br.E) / testimonials (Am.E)
N. be honest
4.2.Apply the tips from above to this CV and identify what the writer has done wrong.
Jana Boboc
Str. Lunga nr.16 Bucarest
TELEFONE 653 9772
mobile 0726 543883
e-mail: [email protected]
Date of Birth 10.5.86, F, single
Education - Mihai Viteazul Highskool
BAC average 7,02
Academy of Economcial science year 1!
EMPLOYMENT
Worked in a shop
Did some babysiting
Worked as a waitress
Skills
X Excelent typing Skills,
X french and english,
X Comunication skills ,Dynamic ,Hardworker ,Teamplayer ,interpersonal skils
Hobbys
References: Mister Nicu Boboc, Str. Lunga nr.16 Bucuresti, tel. 653 9772
4.2.1 There are 12 spelling mistakes in this CV. Can you identify them all? What about
typing and punctuation?
4.2.2 Discuss any other mistakes that have not been included on the list.
4.3 Match the rather blunt CV points with their embellished equivalents.
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5. Worked as a waitress E. Acquired organisational skills and insights into marketing
7. Stacked shelves at Metro G. Gained experience in minding and working with children
4.4 You can make the potential employer take notice of your accomplishments and skills
by using key action verbs. Group the verbs below into the corresponding set of skills.
administer, analyse, assemble, calculate, catalogue, chair, collect, compute, coordinate, debug,
design, direct, draft, edit, estimate, file, forecast, gather, handle, head, initiate, interact,
investigate, lead, measure, mediate, model, monitor, negotiate, operate, plan, programme,
promote, schedule, search, supervise, survey, systematise, update, upgrade
Communication/People Skills
Creative Skills
Financial/Data Skills
Management/Leadership Skills
Organisational Skills
Research Skills
Technical Skills
4.5 Re-
good points. You can use the samples at the end of the book for guidance.
4.6 Write your own CV for the job advertisement you have created. Exchange it with a
colleague so th
Assess them in terms of layout, content, and accuracy.
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5 Polish your covering letter
If your CV can escape the dustbin and arouse interest in 30 seconds, you need to be even
more convincing in the covering letter.
5.1 Covering letters are usually also requested in case of scholarships. Apply the tips
from above to five letters of application written in response to the following
advertisement that appeared in Ziarul local on 5 April 2005. Do you think they are very
poor, poor, fairly good, good, or very good? Why? Underline all the mistakes you notice.
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A
Dear Ms. Lucy March,
I noticed with interest your advertisement and I like to apply for a scholarship because
is a grate opportunity to improve my spoken English, to met interesting persons and to
socialyse with local families.
I would like to emphasize my strenghts in communication and my English abilities:
fluency in spoken English, listening skills and intermediate wrotten English. Beeing a friendly
person and willing to learn as much as possible, I think I am fit for this summer course.
I would be delighted to practice English with native speakers, to develop my
knowledge on grammar and vocabulary and also know new people within a social
programme.
I submit a reference from my English teacher, as requested.
I appreciate your interest for the foreign students and I will wait for your answer.
Yours sincerly,
Aglaia Albastreanu
B
Dear Mrs. March,
C
Miss Lucy March,
Economic Studies Bucharest the Cibernetic, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty. I read in
Ziarul local
English for more than ten years and I could sayed that I know very good this language. I leave
in Romania, a country in the East-Central Europe.
peakers.
E
Dear March
I write this letter with the intention to attend at the summer school.
I have been study English for several years and a think that I am a good english
speaker, but I see this school as an oportunity to aplicate my knoledges and to exercise my
english skills. Also I want this scholarship because I am a very comunicative person and this
would help me to enjoy with the activities which are planed in the school planing.
Best regards
Elvis Elefantescu
5.2 Write your own letter in response to the same advertisement, with your own words,
and in your own style. Use the checklist presented above for guidance.
5.3 Complete the gaps in the following covering letter with a suitable preposition.
As outlined (6)
(7) (8 (9)
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Science and Statistics. (10) able practical
experience (11)
a significant contribution (12)
(13) -sponsored market research projects.
Yours sincerely
5.5 Write a covering letter to accompany your CV in application for the job
advertisement you created earlier. You can find more information about the layout and
the formal elements of a letter in the Additional material section at the end of the book.
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Sales
6 Interview strategies
One of the greatest job applications of all time took place in the year 1299 when the
painter Giotto di Bondone was looking for work with Pope Boniface VIII. Asked by a
papal clerk to produce samples of his work, Giotto took up a paintbrush, dipped it in
paint, and drew a perfect circle freehand. He got the job!
6.1
should follow and blunders you should avoid in order to achieve success in a job
interview. Discuss your views.
A. Find where the exact location of the interview is the day before.
B. Prepare and practice.
C. Memorise your answers.
D. Dress conservatively.
E. Have a small whisky or a cup of coffee before you go to calm your nerves.
F. Arrive 30 minutes early.
G. Greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy.
H. Bring extra CVs.
I. Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting.
J. Smoke if the interviewer offers you a cigarette.
K. Speak softly.
L. Admit you are nervous.
M. Show enthusiasm about the position and the company.
N. Confess your problems and weaknesses.
O.
P. Show what you can do for the company.
Q.
R. Complain about the weather.
S.
T. Ask no questions.
U. Demonstrate you have done research about the company and the industry.
V.
W. Inquire about salary and other benefits.
X.
Y. Ask about the next step in the recruitment process.
Z. Write thank you letters within 24 hours to the person who interviewed you.
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7 FAQs
There are two main styles of interviewing used by companies today separately or in
combination:
traditional
behavioural
The traditional job interview uses general questions to see if the job seeker has the skills
and abilities to perform the job, possesses the enthusiasm and work ethic that the
employer expects, and is a team player that will fit into the organisation. The behavioural
job interview is based on the theory that past performance is the best indicator of future
behaviour, and uses questions that ask the job seeker to describe a specific past
experience. The answer should cover in enough detail: (1) the situation, (2) the task, (3)
the action taken, and (4) the results, including the lesson learnt from this case. 3
7.1 Decide if the questions below are traditional (T) or behavioural (B), and provide
effective answers to them. Compare several answers with the whole class and choose the
best ones.
7.2 Prepare more questions to add to the list. Ask some colleagues to answer them, and
decide who would make a better candidate.
7.3 Toward the end of most job interviews, the interviewer will give you the opportunity
to ask questions. You must ask at least one question (where the answer is not obvious or
3
This is often referred to as the STAR technique.
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any interest in the job or the company. Here are some direct questions you might ask.
Turn them into indirect questions in order to sound more polite.
Remember!
Indirect questions are formed with modals such as could, would, etc and
word order follows the regular affirmative pattern:
(Question word +) Subject + Verb + etc.
You use if/whether when there is no question word in the direct question.
8 Non-verbal language
8.1 Impressions are critical in job hunting. Statistics show that generally people form up
to 90% of their opinion on someone in the first four minutes and 60% to 80% of their
impression is non-verbal. So you must make the most of your body language in a job
interview. Read the tips for success below and provide suitable headings.
0
Walk into the room at a consistent medium pace. People who rush are considered to lack
confidence, while walking slowly means that you have plenty of time and possibly are
not really interested in the job.
1
Grip hands neither too hard, nor too weakly. A limp hand gives the impression of
disinterest or weakness, and a touch with only the tips of the fingers shows lack of ability
to engage. On the other hand, a full-arm shake is too aggressive and insincere, and if you
keep your palm face down, the interviewer will feel dominated.
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2
Smile at the interviewer(s), and they will almost always smile back. This causes a
positive effect for both sides: the encounter will last longer, run more smoothly, and
produce a more positive outcome.
3
Sit on the whole chair with your back upright. People who sit on the edge, crouch or hold
the seat with their hands are deemed shy and uncertain, whereas those who cover the full
chair spreading both arms and legs will overtly express their superiority.
4
Sit with your elbows on the arms of the chair or pointing out. If you keep them tight to
your side, you will disclose your nervousness, and folding your arms suggests you are
protecting yourself and putting up a barrier. Those who cross their arms have been
proved to listen more negatively and process less information.
5
Adopt simple gestures and communicate calmly without too many hand movements.
Excessive gestures suggest you are nervous and lack confidence. Repetitive gestures to
arrange your hair or your tie will also give you away as a superficial person, not entirely
paying 100% attention to what is going on.
6 .
Look the interviewer(s) in the eye most of the time. If you avoid eye contact, you will
seem shifty, untruthful, or disinterested. If, on the other hand, you offer too much eye
contact, you will wear the interviewer out.
8.2 Is your personality reflected in any of these instances of behaviour? What other
elements of body language do you think should be avoided in a job interview?
8.3 Are you ready for the interview? Use the CV and the covering letter you have
prepared, as well as the tips presented so far, to apply for the vacant job announced in the
advertisement you created earlier. Make sure you are well prepared, and in control of
your body language. Good luck!
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1. Match the words from the two columns to make collocations about work.
1. corporate A. assurance 1
2. fringe B. benefits 2
3. in-house C. description 3
4. job D. expenses 4
5. life E. hours 5
6. low-interest F. insurance 6
7. maternity G. job 7
8. medical H. ladder 8
9. pension I. leave 9
10. promotion J. loan 10
11. sick K. pay 11
12. travel L. period
12
13. trial M. prospects
13
14. working N. scheme
14
15. white-collar O. training
15
FURTHER STUDY
www.quintcareers.com
www.ejobs.ro
www.totaljobs.com
www.monster.com
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