A Job Interview. CV. A Letter of Application
Vocabulary
1. asset (n) [´æsәt] имущество,
ценное качество
2. average (adj) [´æv(ә)rıdž] средний
3. the Cambridge First [sә´tıfıkәt] сертификат FCE
Certificate (n)
4. take care of smb, smth (v) заботиться о
5. convenient (adj) [kәn´vi:әniәnt] удобный
6. current (adj) [´kšrәnt] текущий, нынешний
7. curriculum vitae (CV)/ [kә´rıkj|lәm ´vi:taı] биография
rsum (n)
8. driving licence (n) [laısns] водительское
удостоверение
9. enclose (v) вкладывать (в письмо)
10. first aid (n) первая помощь
11. fluent (adj) [´flu:әnt] беглый (о речи)
12. fly (v) летать
13. hard-working (adj) трудолюбивый
14. hesitate (v) [´hezı‚teıt] сомневаться, колебаться
15. literate (adj) [´lıt(ә)rәt] грамотный
16. look forward to (v) с нетерпением ожидать
17. response (n) [rıs´pãns] ответ
18. responsible (adj) [rıs´pãnsәbl] ответственный
19. thorough (adj) [´θšrә] тщательный,
основательный
20. tour guide (n) гид
14.1. State the difference between the following:
1. an employer / an employee
2. an interviewer / an interviewee
3. an application form / a CV
4. experience / qualifications
5. a salary / a bonus
6. a company / a factory
14.2. Which is right?
1. Most of our employees / employers have been with the company since we started last year.
2. A good interviewer / interviewee knows how to ask good questions to find out about people.
3. I’m afraid we need someone for this job with much more experience / qualifications.
4. If we reach our sales targets, we will get a 20 percent salary / bonus.
5. I must fill in the application form / CV for that job at CoffeeCo. today.
6. Children used to have to work in terrible conditions, in companies/factories and mines.
14.3. Discuss with a partner the following:
1. What qualities make a good interviewer / engineer / scientist?
2. What information should you include in a CV?
3. What is a typical salary in Russia for an engineer? What about other countries you know well?
4. Would you rather have a high salary and no bonus, or an average salary and possible bonuses?
5. Have you ever been an interviewee? What questions were you asked?
14.4. Read the Letter of application and define each part of it. Compare it with A formal letter given below.
Letter of Application
Dear Ms Brown,
I am writing to apply for the position of Tour Guide with your company. I saw your advertisement in the Buenos Aires Daily Planet and I would like to be considered for the job.
I believe I am suitable for this post as I already have experience working with young people. I worked at a summer camp in the United States last summer. I was responsible for a group of six children, and my duties also included taking care of basic first aid. I found the job very rewarding and I would like to work with this age again. I feel that my experience would be an asset as a tour group leader.
In addition, I am hard-working and responsible. I passed my high school diploma with a distinction, and have recently passed the Cambridge First Certificate, so you can see that I have the language skills needed for this job. I speak Spanish fluently and have a good working knowledge of French.
I have a clean driving licence and have always been interested in British culture.
I would like to work for your company as it would give me an opportunity to develop my English skills further.
I am enclosing a copy of my CV with this letter. I would be available for an interview at any time convenient to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Cesar Villaraga
Cesar Villaraga
14.5. Before you write your own letter of application, study the following:
Structure and useful phrases in a letter of application
| Introduction Qualifications and experience Personal qualities and addition-nal skills Say why you want the job End the letter | I am writing in response to the job which I saw advertised in the _____ . I would like to be considered for the position of _____ . I heard about this position through my careers officer at school. I am writing to apply for a place on your work training scheme. I believe that I have all the necessary skills and qualifications for this post. I believe that I would be suitable for this post. I have two years’ experience working in this field. I have had considerable experience working with _____ . I have been a qualified _____ for three years. I am a fully qualified _____ . I have passed the _____ (licence). I have taken the course in Excel. I graduated from university with a Grade Point Average of 4,5 (6.0 scale). I am currently studying on a Master’s Degree Programme at _____ (name of the University). I enjoy working in a team. I enjoy the challenge of meeting targets. I am patient and thorough in my work. I am able to carry out most tasks in French. I am fluent in German. I am computer literate. I have a good working knowledge of Excel. I would like the opportunity to learn more about _____ . I would like the opportunity to work for a large, international company like _____ . This job would offer me more experience in my chosen field. You will find a copy of my CV enclosed. I would be happy to attend an interview at a time convenient to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information. I look forward to hearing from you soon. |
14.6. Learn how to write your Curriculum vitae (CV).
Your curriculum vitae (CV) should be:
1. Word processed
2. Laser printed on good quality paper
3. No longer than two pages of A4 paper
Your CV should include the following:
1. Personal details
The employer wants to know who you are and how to contact you (essential information only).
2. Education
3. Work experience
Don’t just describe the job – stress what you achieved and what you learnt.
4. Positions of responsibility
If you do not have a lot of work experience, this section will show employers your potential.
5. Skills
Be positive about your ability – never undersell your experience.
6. Interests
Stress any significant achievements related to your interests.
7. Referees
Current students and recent graduates should choose an academic referee and a personal one (this could be an employer).
CV /R sum /
| Put your most recent education first. Don’t go far back in time or leave any gaps. Put your most recent experience first. Give more detail about more relevant experience. Miss this section out if you haven’t had a position of responsibility. Don’t just list your interests – add a few details. Give two referees. | Personal details Melanie Henderson 99 Newlands Park London SE 30 8U Date of birth 30.05 1978 Education 2000 – present Degree in French and film studies, University of London Specialist subjects: British cinema 1995 – 2000 Royal Latin School, Aylesbury 4 A Levels: French (B), (German) (C), English (B), History (B), Art (A), Maths (B), Economics (B) Work experience 2003 Information officer Futuroscope, France Responsible for dealing with enquiries in a busy office, responding to 2,000 enquiries a week. This demonstrated my ability to retain a professional approach and a sense of humour while working under pressure. 2002 Customer Services Assistant Provided support for customer enquiries. Dealing with customers’ complaints demonstrated my ability to remain calm under pressure. Explaining complex issues simply and clearly helped me to develop my communication skills. Positions of responsibility In my final year at school, I helped organize a careers fair for all final year students. Skills Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel Spreadsheet Working knowledge of French and Italian Current clean driving license. Interests Travel: I have traveled extensively and independently in Europe. Music: I play the guitar in a semi-professional band and played at student clubs. Referees Hamish Roberts Richard Gayle (Tutor at University of London) (Customer Services 17 Woodland Avenue Manager/DAT) Oxford 31 Pleasant Street OX11 7GGR London SE18 3LSR |
14.7. Write your own letter of application and CV to ‘apply’ for the job you are interested in. This site may help in finding a suitable job:
http://www.connexions.gov.uk/jobs4u
14.8. Here is some advice for those who are unemployed and looking for a job. With a partner, decide whether you think each point is good or bad advice.
1. Take a holiday before you start looking for a new job.
2. Looking for a job is the same as doing a job – you need to work full-time on it.
3. Give yourself a little free time every week to relax.
4. Use all possible sources of information about job offers.
5. Apply for as many jobs as possible – even jobs you don't really want.
6. Phone all the companies whose numbers are in the Yellow Pages and ask if they have a job for you.
14.9. What other advice would you give to someone looking for a job?
14.10. Now listen to the interview, where Bruce Kulp, an American manager, gives his own opinions. What does he think about points 1–6 above? Put T (True) if Bruce agrees with the advice, F (False) if he disagrees and N (Not mentioned) if he doesn’t speak about it.
14.11. Read the passage and answer the questions.
Interview
Interviewers are trained to ask you ‘open’ questions rather than ‘closed’ or ‘Yes/No’ questions. Open questions begin with words like ‘Why’, ‘What’ and ‘How’ or with phrases like ‘Tell me/us about…’ and ‘Describe…’. Here are a few examples:
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your strengths?
3. What are your weaknesses?
4. What do you do in your spare time?
5. What do you think you can bring to this position?
6. Why did you leave your last job?
7. What were some of the most important things you learned in that job?
8. How well do you work in a team?
9. Tell us something about your previous experience and the other jobs you have had.
10. How have you changed over the last three years?
11. What sort of salary are you expecting?
12. What was your best subject at school/university?
13. What did you like most about that subject?
14. Tell us about your ambitions.
15. What would you like to be doing five years from now?
16. What attracts you about this kind of work?
17. Why did you apply to us?
18. How did you find out about this job?
Questions.
1. Which questions in the passage do you find most difficult to answer yourself? Ask someone three questions your find easy to answer.
2. Which of the eighteen questions would you probably not ask a very young person who is applying to your company for his or her very first job?
3. Are there any questions here which you think are strange or which would be unusual in a job interview in your country? Explain why you think they are strange or unusual.
4. Why do you think open questions are usually better than closed questions at an interview?
14.12. Match the exchanges.
| 1. So, why do you want to work for us? 2. Why do you think you’d be good at this job? 3. I see. When would you be able to start? 4. Is there anything you would like to ask? 5. Certainly. It’s $1,650 a month. | a) Well, I’m very creative. I mean, I always manage to come up with original ideas. b) That sounds fine. Thank you. c) Because it’s a large company and I’m very interested in advertising. d) Yes. I’d like to know what the salary is. e) I could start any time after 1st September. |
14.13. Use Why, What, How or some other word to make these questions open.
Model: Do you know anything about this company?
What do you know about this company?
1. Do you know anything about this kind of work?
2. Were you good at any subjects at school?
3. Do you want to work for us?
4. Are you interested in this kind of work?
5. Have you done something before that will help you to do this job?
6. Do you think you would be good at this kind of work?
14.14. What should you do to be successful in a job interview? Make a list under these headings.
1. Before the interview
2. During the interview
3. After the interview
14.15. Compare your list with other students. Do you have the same points?
14.16. Read the advice. Tick the points in your list that are mentioned.
How to Get that Job