UNIT

1 Careers
‘Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.’
Steven Wright, US comedian

overview
VOCABULARY
Career moves
READING
Be aware of your
online image
LISTENING
Changing jobs
LANGUAGE REVIEW
Modals 1: ability,
requests and offers
SKILLS
Telephoning:
making contact
CASE STUDY
YouJuice

sTarTing uP A Discuss these questions.

1 How ambitious are you?
2 Do you have a career plan? Where do you want to be in 10 years’ time?
3 Which of the following would you prefer to do?
a) work for one company during your career
b) work for several different companies
c) work for yourself

B Look at these activities (1–7). In pairs, match each activity to its

corresponding area of work (a–g). Which of these areas do you work
in or would you like to work in? Why?
1 making/manufacturing things a) Sales and Marketing
2 being in charge of people b) Finance
and running the organisation
c) Management
3 selling products or services
d) Human Resources (HR)
4 dealing with clients/consumers
e) Production
5 working with figures
f) Research and Development (R&D)
6 dealing with employees and training
g) Customer Service
7 investigating and testing
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C 
What should you do to get ahead in your career? Choose the four most
important tips from this list. Compare your ideas in a group and try to
agree on a final choice.
1 Change companies often. 5 Be energetic and enthusiastic at all times.
2 Use charm with your superiors. 6 Be the last to leave work every day.
3 Attend all meetings. 7 Find an experienced person to give you help
and advice.
4 Go to your company’s social
functions. 8 Study for extra qualifications in your free time.

vocabulary A 
These phrases (1–6) all include the word career. Match each of them to
Career moves its correct meaning (a–f). Use a dictionary to help you.
1 career move a) chances to start/improve your career
2 career break b) ideas you have for your future career
3 career plan c) an action you take to progress in your career
4 career opportunities d) a
 period of time away from your job to, for
example, look after your children
5 career path
e) a series of levels or steps in your working life
6 career ladder
f) the direction your working life takes

B CD1.1–1.3 Listen to three people talking about their careers. Which person
is at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of their career?

C CD1.1–1.3 Listen again. Which of the phrases with career in Exercise A

does each person use? Which of the experiences do you think are common?

D 
Complete the sentences below with the verbs in the box. Use a dictionary to
help you.
climb decide have make offer take

1 Employees in large multinationals have excellent career opportunities if they are

willing to travel.
2 Some people a career break to do something adventurous like sailing
round the world or going trekking in India.
3 One way to a career move is to join a small but rapidly growing company.
4 Certain companies career opportunities to the long-term unemployed or
to people without formal qualifications.
5 Ambitious people often on a career plan while they are still at university.
6 In some industries, it can take a long time to the career ladder.

E L ook at these groups of words. Cross out the noun or noun phrase in each
group which doesn’t go with the verb in italics.

1 make a fortune / progress / a living / 4 do part-time work / a mistake /

a training course a nine-to-five job / your best
2 get progress / a promotion / a bonus / 5 take a pension / an opportunity /
fired (AmE) / the sack (BrE) time off / early retirement
3 earn commission / a part-time job / 6 work flexitime / anti-social hours /
money / 40,000 per year overtime / an office job

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F Complete each of these sentences with the appropriate form of a word

partnership from Exercise E.
1 In banking, you can with the big bonuses and retire at 35.
2 When you , you can arrange your own schedule, so this is very convenient
when you have children.
3 People who work in sales often have the opportunity to on top of a basic
salary.
4 Luke is ambitious and does not want to be a sales assistant all his life. In fact, he
See the DVD-ROM hopes to and become Assistant Manager very soon.
for the i-Glossary. 5 Many students when they are at university because it fits in with their studies.
6 Goran is 59, but he does not want to . In fact, he is taking on more work!

reaDing
Be aware of A Discuss these questions in pairs.
your online 1 What social-networking sites do you a) know, and b) use?
image 2 Why do you use them?

B Scan the article below quickly and answer these questions.

1 What percentage of employers research candidates online?
2 Which social-networking sites are mentioned?
3 Who do Peter Cullen and Farhan Yasin work for?

by Andy Bloxham

Jobseekers have been warned that their Facebook profile could damage their employment prospects,
after a study found that seven in 10 employers now research candidates online.
According to new figures released by Microsoft, checks on
Facebook and Twitter are now as important in the job-selection
5 process as a CV or interview.
The survey, which questioned human-resource managers at
the top 100 companies in the UK, the US, Germany and France,
found that 70 per cent admitted to rejecting a candidate because
of their online behaviour.
10 But HR bosses also said that a strong image online could LIKE us on Facebook
actually help job hunters to land their dream job. Peter Cullen, of
Microsoft, said: “Your online reputation is not something to
be scared of, it’s something to be proactively managed. These
days, it’s essential that web users cultivate the kind of online
15 reputation that they would want an employer to see.”
Facebook faux pas include drunken photographs, bad
language and messages complaining about work.
Farhan Yasin, of online recruitment network Careerbuilder.co.uk,
said: “Social networking is a great way to make connections with
20 job opportunities and promote your personal brand across the
Internet. People really need to make sure they are using this
resource to their advantage, by conveying a professional image.”
But Mr Yasin cautioned job seekers to be aware of their online
image even after landing the perfect job, after their own research
25 found that 28 per cent of employers had fired staff for content
found on their social-networking profile. He added, “A huge
number of employers have taken action against staff for writing
negative comments about the company or another employee on
their social-networking page.”

adapted from the Telegraph

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C Read the article again and choose the best headline (a, b or c).
a) Complaining about your job could lose you your job
b) Facebook profile ‘could damage job prospects’
c) Ambition is key to a successful career

D According to the article, how can social-networking sites make or break

your career?

E In pairs, write a short list of things you should not do on your social-
networking pages. You can include your own ideas.

F Should staff be allowed to use social-networking sites during the working

day? Discuss.

lisTening A CD1.4 Melissa Foux is the Finance Director of CSC Media Limited, a
Changing jobs television company. Listen to the first part of the interview and answer
these questions.
1 How does she describe her current company?
2 What was her previous job?
3 Why is it easy to move from sector to sector in the finance world?

B CD1.5 Listen to the second part and complete this extract.

1
When I was a student, although I was studying , I thought I would like to do
2 3
something afterwards, and I actually did a summer with one of the
4 5
big firms, which was an excellent way to get an of what the job would
6
be like. I started off as an auditor, and it was through that that I got my first
job.
Melissa Foux

C CD1.6 Melissa is asked if she has had any good advice during her career.
Listen to the third part and number these points in the order in which she
mentions them.
a) maintain clarity
b) be able to see the key point and the key decision you have to make
c) do not overcomplicate things

D CD1.7 Listen to the final part and decide which was the interviewer’s
question (a, b or c).
Watch the a) What is the most interesting question you have been asked at interview?
interview on b) What is the key difference between people who work in finance and those who
the DVD-ROM. work in research?
c) How would you advise people who are starting their careers?

E In groups, discuss these questions.

1 What do you hope to do in the future in your career?
2 Do you think there is an ideal career for you? What is it? Why?
3 What is the best advice you have been given during your career or your studies?

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language review Modal verbs are very common in English. Match these functions (a–c) to the examples (1–3).
Modals 1: a) making an offer b) describing ability c) making a request
ability, requests 1 Can you help me?
and offers Could you say that again, please?
2 Can I help you?
Would you like a cup of coffee?
3 I can speak Polish and Russian.
She could read and write before she was three.
Grammar reference page 141

A  earrange the words to make questions from a job interview. Then decide
R
whether each question is a) making a request, b) making an offer,
or c) asking about ability.
1 get / you / can / I / a drink / ?
Can I get you a drink? (b)
2 e-mail address / your / confirm / I / could / ?
3 can / you / spreadsheets / use / ?
4 speak / languages / any other / you / can / ?
5 about / tell / you / job / us / your present / more / could / ?
6 tell / your current salary / me / you / could / ?
7 would you / as soon as possible / your decision / let us know / ?
8 start / you / when / can / ?
9 like / tea / some more / you / would / ?

B Match the questions in Exercise A (1–9) to these interviewee’s answers (a–i).

a) It’s €60,000 a year.
b) Not very well, but I’m doing a course next week.
c) I can let you know next week.
d) Thank you. A cup of tea, please.
e) The address is correct, but I’ve got a new mobile number.
f) I’d love some. Thank you.
g) Well, I’m currently supervising an HR project.
h) Yes, I can speak Korean and Japanese.
i) My notice period is two months.

C Work in pairs. Student A is an interviewer and Student B is an interviewee.

Student A: Follow the instructions below.
Student B: Answer the questions truthfully.
Then switch roles.
Student A
• Offer tea or coffee. • Ask Student B:
• Find out Student B’s ability to: 1 to tell you about themselves;
1 speak any languages; 2 for the best number to contact them
2 use Excel, PowerPoint or Publisher; on tomorrow;
3 drive. 3 to repeat the number;
4 if they would like to work abroad;
5 if there are any hours they wouldn’t
be able to work.
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skills A  hat kinds of phone calls do you make in English? What useful telephone
W
Telephoning: expressions do you know?
making contact
B CD1.8–1.10 Listen to three phone calls and answer these questions.
1  What is the purpose of each call? 2  Do the callers know each other?

C CD1.8 Listen to the first call again. Complete the expressions on the right
so they have the same meaning as the ones on the left.
1 Can I talk to ...? I’d like to speak to …
2 Just a moment ... Thank you. .
3 I’ll connect you. I’ll .
4 Am I speaking to Corina Molenaar? Hello. Corina Molenaar?
5 Yes, it’s me. .
6 The reason I’m calling is … Yes, I’m your advert …
7 Can I have your name and address? 
your name and address, please?

D CD1.9 Listen to the second call again and complete this extract.

A: Hello. Could I speak 1 to Giovanna, please?

2 3 4
B: she’s not here at the moment. Can I a ?
5 6 7
A: Yes, please. Johan from Intec. you her I won’t
8 9 10
be able to the training course on Saturday? She can me
11
if there’s a problem. I’m 0191 498 0051.

E CD1.10 Listen to the third call again. Choose the phrases the speakers use.
Matt: Hello, Matt speaking.
Karl: Hi, Matt. Karl here.
1
Matt: Oh, hello, Karl. How are things / you ?
2
Karl: Fine, thanks. Listen, just a quick word / question .
Matt: Yeah, go ahead.
3
Karl: Do you think you could give me / let me have the other number for Workplace
4
Solutions? I can’t get through to them. Their phone’s always busy / engaged .
5
Matt: I’ve got it here / right in front of me . It’s 020 9756 4237.
6
Karl: Sorry, I didn’t hear / catch the last part. Did you say 4227?
Matt: No, it’s 4237.
Karl: OK. Thanks. Bye.
7
Matt: No problem / Don’t mention it . Bye.

F Study the Useful language box below. Then role-play the phone calls.
Student A: Turn to page 132.  Student B: Turn to page 136.

useful language
MAKING CALLS RECEIVING CALLS
Could I speak to Carmela Cantani, please? Who’s calling, please?
Yes, this is Erika Mueller from KMV. Could you tell me what it’s about?
Is this the sales/finance/marketing department? I’ll put you through.
I’m calling about ... Can you hold?
Could you transfer me to the IT department, please? He seems to be with someone right now. Can I get him to call you?
Could you tell him/her that I called? I’m afraid there’s no answer. Can I take a message?
Could you ask him/her to call me back? I’m sorry, there’s no answer. I can transfer you to his/her voice mail.
Can I leave a message, please?
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 1 An international drinks
company needs a dynamic
YOUJUICE new director to build its
Latin American sales
Case study

Background A new appointment

YouJuice Inc., based in Monterrey, Mexico, There are three candidates for the position of
sells ready-to-drink juices all over the world. Sales and Marketing Director. They all work for
It was originally a Mexican company, but it is YouJuice in either Mexico or one of the foreign
now owned by a large US corporation. YouJuice subsidiaries. The new director will be based in
is currently looking for a Sales and Marketing São Paulo, Brazil. Here is an extract from the job
Director for its sales facilities in Brazil, Argentina description for the position.
and Colombia.
Recently, sales results have been poor. Overall,
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
sales revenue was 35% below target. The
• increasing sales and developing marketing
reasons are: strategies
• Sales staff are not highly motivated, and staff • coordinating the work of the sales teams so that
they are more motivated and effective
turnover is high. • carrying out market research to improve customer
• The Sales Managers say that the low numbers.
sales are due to strong competition in this The successful candidate will be:
• a strong personality with leadership qualities
segment of the market.
• energetic, dynamic, and enthusiastic.
• The previous director had no clear strategy He/She will have:
for developing sales. • a good academic background and relevant work
experience
• Not enough market research has been done, • organizational and interpersonal skills
and the customer database does not produce • numeracy skills and analytical ability
reliable results. • good linguistic ability.
The position will involve frequent travel in the
three countries.

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Profiles of the candidates

Read the essential information about each candidate. Then listen to the interview extracts.

CD1.11, 1.12 Juana Ramos CD1.13, 1.14 Chantal Lefevre CD1.15, 1.16 Jeff
Sanderson
Juana Ramos Chantal Jeff Sanderson
Mexican, aged 30 Lefevre American, aged 54
Married, two Swiss, aged 41 Single
children (seven and Divorced, one child Education
nine years old) (five years old) • University degree
Education Education in Sociology
• University degree • University degree • Master’s in
in Economics in Business Business
• Studying for a Administration Administration
Master’s degree in Marketing (distance • Diploma in Marketing (MBA) from
learning) Harvard Business School
Experience
Experience • Two years’ market research, then over Experience
• Has worked for YouJuice since leaving 15 years’ sales and marketing in various Joined YouJuice 20 years ago. Has always
university. companies, including one year in Spain worked in sales. In the last five years, Sales
• Worked in market research for one year, and six years in Portugal. Manager (France and Italy).
then in sales. • Joined YouJuice three years ago as sales Achievements
• Has a good knowledge of computing; representative in Switzerland. Very hard- Has increased sales by 8% in the five-year
numerate. working. Has done an excellent job and period
Achievements earned large bonuses each year. Languages
Top sales representative in the last five years Achievements Fluent English and Portuguese; Spanish:
Languages A good sales record in all her previous good reading skills, needs to improve his
Fluent Spanish and Italian; good standard positions oral ability
of English; intermediate Portuguese Languages Interviewer’s comments
Interviewer’s comments Fluent Portuguese; intermediate Spanish; A serious person. Respected by his staff.
A strong, charismatic personality. Very excellent English Has a strong sense of responsibility. ‘I am
competitive. Not afraid to speak her mind, Interviewer’s comments a company man.’ Not very creative. Believes
even if it upsets colleagues. A good sense A quiet, modest person, but very eager to new ideas should come from staff. Some
of humor. Wants to advance in her career progress in her career. Answered questions staff say he’s a workaholic and difficult
as quickly as possible. Intelligence test (IQ): directly and honestly. A sociable person. to get to know. Very interested in South
very high. Is she diplomatic? Interpersonal She’s chief organizer of her local tennis club. American cultures. Intelligence test (IQ):
skills? Believes that the new director should involve above average. Why does he really want
staff in all decisions. Intelligence test (IQ): the job? Energetic enough?
average. Leadership qualities? Decisive?

Watch the Case

1 Work in groups. You are members of the interviewing team. Discuss
Task

study commentary
the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Decide who to
on the DVD-ROM.
select for the vacant position. Note down the reasons for your choice.
2 Meet as one group. Discuss your choices. Decide who should fill the
vacant position.

Writing
Complete this e-mail from the head of the interviewing team to Claudia López,
Regional Director of YouJuice. Write about at least three strengths of the candidate
you have chosen. Explain how these strengths relate to the job description.

To: Regional Director

From: Head, interviewing team
Subject: Appointment of Sales and Marketing Director (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)

Dear Claudia
We recently interviewed three candidates for this position.
We have decided to appoint …
I will briefly describe the candidate’s strengths and explain the reasons for our decision.

Writing file page 126

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