Unit 14: English for Job seeking

Aims and Objectives

In this unit you will learn and practise vocabulary related to job seeking.

You will practise the following skills and functions:

talking about ability
talking about availability

The grammar focus of this unit is:

PAST CONDITIONAL

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Listening Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Tommy	Hi Freddy, How did you get on at the interview?
Freddy	Oh, great. But I decided I wasn't interested in the job.
Tommy	Really? Why ever not? I thought it was the kind of job you always wanted.
Freddy	Yes, well, it was OK in some ways, the salary and pension scheme were good but I would have had to start work at eight. Then they wanted me to travel so I would have been away from home a lot. As there was only an hour for lunch I wouldn't have been able to eat at home. They would have expected me to put in extra hours too, but it wouldn't have been considered overtime. And they expected me to relocate.
Tommy	What did they say when you refused the job offer?
Freddy	Oh, nothing. They didn't actually offer me the job. I wouldn't have taken it even if they had offered it to me.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

How did Freddy get on at the interview?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Did Freddy like the job?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How long would he have had for lunch?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Would he have travelled?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Did the company offer him the job?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Frank	Hi, Peter. I haven't seen you for months! You look pleased with yourself!

Peter	Yes. I'm off to Egypt next week. To the Mediterranean coast.

Frank	Egypt? For a holiday? Lucky so-and-so!

Peter	No, I'm going to be working there for about six months. A big liquid gas project.

Frank	What? With the same company you were with the last time I saw you? I thought you were fed up with them.

Peter	I was. I was just a trainee there, my salary wasn't very good, and I would have left anyway. But I saw an ad looking for an engineer, applied for the job, and got it!

Frank	That sounds easy. Didn't you have to go for an interview and all that?

Peter	Of course I did. Three in fact. It's a big multinational and the selection was pretty tough. There were over fifty applicants.

Frank	Great! How much will you be earning?

Peter	Well, after tax and social security, and with the perks for living abroad, my net salary will be double what it was. And I get a chauffeur-driven car too.

Frank	Good Lord! Do they need anybody else?

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Where is Peter going next week?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Where did he see the advertisement?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Which is correct?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How many interviews did he have?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How much will he earn in his new job?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

A good curriculum vitae is your first step to a job interview, but remember - a CV is not a job application. The aim of a CV is to present you in the best possible light. Your CV is probably the first impression a possible employer has of you, so it must be effective.

Here are some things to remember when you write your CV:

Use good quality white paper. Never print on both sides.
Use positive language when you speak about past work experience and skills.
Find out as much as possible about the job and company and make sure your skills, interests and experience match the job profile.
Put your education and career in reverse order, placing the most recent first.
Give an explanation for any gaps in your career.
Describe your responsibilities and tasks in previous jobs. Be careful not to lie or exaggerate. You may get caught out in the interview.
Give names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of at least two referees. Don't forget to tell them you are using them for a reference.
Send a cover letter, less than one page long and don't simply repeat your CV.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

What is a CV?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What sort of paper would you use for your CV?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Why is it a good idea to find out as much as possible about the job?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Why is it important to explain any gaps in your career?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What is a reference for?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

If you have a disability, you must, like anybody else, prepare properly before an interview. Find out everything you can about the company. Re-read your application and try to anticipate the questions they will ask. Prepare some questions to ask them. Be positive about yourself and your abilities. You will need to convince the interviewer that you have the qualifications and motivation to do the job well, and that you will fit in with the company's organisational structure and the rest of the staff. Present yourself as a person with skills who happens to have a disability. Make your interviewer feel at ease about your disability. Remember, you want them to see that your disability can be accommodated. Explain how you can accomplish all the tasks related to the job, and explain, if necessary,. which cost-effective assistive technology you may need. You should dress smartly and leave home in plenty of time on the day of the interview. Be courteous to all the company employees. During the interview always look attentive. Never lie to anyone in an interview. Your body language, tone of voice or the words you use will probably give you away.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

What must you do to prepare for an interview?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How should you prepare for the interview?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What must you convince the interviewer of?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How should you present yourself?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Why should you leave home in plenty of time?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

General Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

In this exercise, use `HAD' first and then `WOULD HAVE'.

Exercise 2: Transformation

In this exercise, use "WOULD HAVE" first and then "HAD".

Exercise 3: Transformation

In this exercise, use "HADN'T" first and then "WOULD HAVE".

Exercise 4: Transformation

In this exercise, use "WOULD HAVE" first and then "HADN'T".

Exercise 5: Transformation

Use "HADN'T" first and then "WOULDN'T HAVE".

Exercise 6: Transformation

In this exercise, use "WOULDN'T HAVE" first and then "HADN'T".

Exercise 7: Selections

Chose the correct answer.

Consolidation

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording:

Transcript:

Job hunting is a full time job. Preferably 35 - 40 hours a week. Chances of getting a job are better with smaller companies than with large ones. Identify your skills in great detail, and in order of importance. Find out all you can about the organisation and show interest. Sell your skills, not your 'old' occupation or qualifications. Determine why you will be better at the job than other candidates. Discover alternative jobs where you can use the same skill. Don't limit yourself to one type of organisation for job openings. Don't just apply to your first choice.

Get as many other people as possible to help you look for a job. Be clean, well-dressed and alert. Show a potential employer you have the right attitude and skill. Don't be afraid of rejection. Be persistent. Never give up.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Job hunting is a part time job.

[?]
It is easier to get a job in a smaller company than a big one.

[?]
It isn't important to know as much as possible about the company.

[?]
Your 'old' occupation is more important than your skills.

[?]
When seeking a job concentrate on one type of organisation.

[?]
It is not a good idea only to apply to your first choice.

[?]
Don't worry about not getting the job.

[?]
Be clean and smart.

[?]
Friends and family should not help you look for a job.

[?]
If at first you don't succeed, give up.

[?]

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Exercise 3: Cloze

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

Recording:

Transcript:

Job hunting is a [?] job. Preferably 35 - 40 hours [?] week. Chances of [?] a job are better with smaller companies [?] with large ones. Identify your [?] in great detail, and in order of importance. Find out [?] you can about the organisation and show interest. Sell your skills, [?] your 'old' occupation or qualifications. Determine [?] you will be better at the job than other candidates. Discover alternative jobs [?] you can use the same skill.

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

How did you get ____ at the interview?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
It was OK in ____ ways.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
I would have been away from home ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
They would have ____ me to put in extra hours.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
A good curriculum vitae is your first ____ to a job interview.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Your CV must be ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Be positive when you speak about ____ work experience and skills.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
____ your skills to the job profile.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You may ____ caught out in the interview.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You have the motivation ____ the job well.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You must feel ____ during the interview.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You should dress ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Your body language will probably give you ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Identify your skills in order of ____
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Look into all job ____ of interest.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Never ____.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
It is not a good idea only to ____ your first choice.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Use all possible methods to ____ appropriate jobs.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You can always ____ a job offer if a better one develops.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
There is no need to look ____ a movie star.
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Checklist

Use the following list to check whether you have obtained full benefit from this unit. You should be able to:

talk about ability
talk about availability