UNIT 8 : JOBS

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1. GETTING A JOB
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VOCABULARY PRACTICE
1. Look over the list of jobs below and then decide which of the skills and qualities in the boxes
are required for each of them:
doctor/physician; surgeon; dentist; nurse; lawyer; economist; journalist; teacher; engineer;
accountant; manager; public relations officer ; executive manager ; security officer; policeman;
designer; librarian;

;tailor/dressmaker; officer; merchant; shop-assistant; typist;

bricklayer; plumber; electrician; painter; locksmith ; weaver ; farmer; clerk;

carpenter;

secretary; hair-

dresser.
Skills
computer skills
typing skills
driving skills
telephone skills
interpersonal skills
artistic skills
language skills
mathematical skills
managerial skills
financial skills

Qualities
patient
physically strong
emotionally strong
well-organized
intelligent
caring
calm
quick-thinking
honest
clean and tidy
punctual

2. Divide the above mentioned jobs into professions (jobs that require considerable training and/or
qualifications) and trades (skilled manual jobs requiring on-the-job and other training).
3. Whose job do these things belong to?
Example: bucket

ladder

leather

window-cleaner

a. board

chalk

overhead projector

b. scalpel

mask

forceps

c. tippex

filing cabinet

stapler

d. make-up
e. tractor
f. sewing machine

script
plough
scissors

microphone
barn
needle

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4. Fill in the gaps with the following collocations:

a. look for work
b. get/find work
c. do for a living
d. make a living
e. offer a job
f. take on a job
Id love to (1) a job in journalism, but its not easy without qualifications. Since I have to earn a
(2) somehow, Ill have to get .(3) wherever I can find it. Ive been .(4) some part-time
work editing a typescript for a book, but Im not sure I want to it (5).

5. Use the above collocations in sentences of your own.

6. Using the expressions below, say what you think has happened/is happening:
Example: Im not working now; the babys due in 3 weeks.
Shes on maternity leave.
1. be made redundant (thrown out, no longer needed)
2. to take early retirement (retire at 50)
3. work shift-work (nights one week, days next)
4. be promoted (get a higher position)
5. get the sack (thrown out of your job)
6. work nine to five ( regular day work)
7. be a workaholic (love work too much)

a) I lost my job. They had to make cutbacks.

b) Hes enjoying life on a pension, although hes only 54.
c) One week its six to two, the next its nights.
d) Theyve made her General Manager as from next month.
e) I was late so often, I lost my job.
f) I get in at nine oclock and go home at five.
g) Your trouble is you are obsessed with work!

7. Janet Morgan is looking for a job. Choose the best job for her and give your reasons.
EMPLOYMENT WANTED

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Woman with two school-age children seeks employment. Typing 60 wpm and shorthand. References.
Tel.: 784-293

HELP WANTED
KITCHEN HELP
Casa Theresa, Mexican restaurant, has immediate openings for kitchen help. Day shift only. No
experience required, will train. Excellent benefits. :apply in person 2-4 p.m.. Mon. through Thurs.
CASA THERESA.41436 Midland Dr, Equal Opportunity Employer
OPPORTUNITY
To work at Watchdog Security Corp. as a guard. Night shift. 12 a.m. to 8 a.m We offer free
uniforms, paid vacations. and yearly bonus. If you are intelligent and mature, and have a car, phone,
and clean police record, apply Mon.-Fri. in person at 487 North Ave., Suite 318
PROGRAMMER
Entry level, to $20,000. Must have knowledge of data processing and COBOL. Hours 8:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. Many benefits. Call Barney Reese at 555-4996 (agency).
RECEPTIONIST
Attractive and personable individual wanted to work in glamorous, busy modeling agency. Office
skills not essential. Must be prepared to work 2 evenings and Saturdays. Sunday and Monday off. Must
be able to handle pressure situations NORMA STEEL STUDIOS Call Ms. Tompkin 55~-7159
RECEPTIONIST/TYPIST
Private school. We are seeking a mature candidate, able to handle a variety of office routines. Must
type 55 wpm. Knowledge of word processors or willingness to train in this area a must. Apply in
writing only, giving details of experience and references, to Mrs. M. Forman: St. Michaels School 423
Mohawk Rd. Rockford, IL 61107
Which is the best job for Janet Morgan? Why?
READING AND SPEAKING PRACTICE

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GETTING A JOB

A job starts with an application, but so many of these end up in the waste-paper basket. Dont be
your own worst enemy. If you want to impress an organisation, there is no point in using cheap, lined
notepaper, or a page from an old exercise book. It pays to think big and use A4, and preferably to type
your CV and accompanying letter. The CV needs to be clear and not too long: one page is enough.
Include not only personal details, qualifications, and positions held, but also outline your skills and
achievements. And in the letter that you send with the CV, show some enthusiasm for the job, and
demonstrate that you have read the job advertisement thoroughly. You can go on to point out how
suitable you are for the job, but make sure, of course, that the details in the CV match your claims!
Now, as for the interview itself, make sure you arrive there 10 minutes earlier, neatly dressed and
well-groomed. You have to prepare for the interview beforehand. Some characteristics should be
displayed to have a successful interview.

Be neat and well-groomed.

Be natural, friendly, relaxed but not sloppy or overly casual.

Be more interested in the work involved in the job and in its potential than in salary and benefits.

Have definite vocational goals; know exactly what you are good at and what you want to do. Be
ready to articulate the goals you have in mind.
Interviews usually last about thirty minutes. After introductions are over, interviewers usually

spend a few minutes setting you at ease. They do not want you to be tense. After some casual talk
perhaps about current events or sports, the interviewer may then shift into telling you something about
the job. Listen closely and be prepared to come in at natural pauses with intelligent questions.
Questions and answers about you are the core of the interview.
Dont try to extend interviews. When the interviewer closes up your folder, stand up, thank and
leave.
Naturally, the job offer will come at some later time.

LETTER OF APPLICATION
The Manager, 182 Wellington Road, Reading,
Berkshire
6 September 1982

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Arab World Dept,

Shortfellow Books Ltd,
Marlow, Bucks

Dear Sir,
I should like to apply for the post of secretary as advertised in this mornings Times.
For the past three years I have been working as secretary to the Export Manager of McCarthy
Electronics Ltd (Reading).
Before that I spent two years in Egypt, where my former husband held a post with the British
Council teaching English and I worked as secretary to the Manager of the Barminster Bank. As a result
of this experience, I speak a little Arabic.
My first job, before going to Egypt, was with Kestrel Books, with whom I spent four years, the last
two as a secretary in their Medical Books department.
I am 31 years old, divorced, with no children. I am a graduate in French and Spanish from
Newcastle University, and I have a post-graduate qualification from St Crispins Secretarial College.
I am particularly interested in the post you are advertising because it would give me more
responsibility. It would also enable me to renew and combine my interests in publishing and the Arab
World.
Yours faithfully,
Katherine Stephens
7. Think of some questions the interviewer usually asks, and answer them. (pair-work)

JOB DESCRIPTIONS
a) Computer operators are the people who translate information into a form computers can
understand, feed them with programs and data and carry out routine maintenance. It is the kind
of job which involves a large measure of routine and, often, shiftwork. A university degree
course in computer science or computing should be chosen very carefully; computing, like a
foreign language, is probably best combined with some other skill or knowledge, such as
business management or economics, which will enable you to apply it. As computing is a new
area and no really heavy physical work is involved, there are more or less equal opportunities
for women and part-time work is easy to come by.
b) Civil Engineer. It can be a rough life, as a civil engineer, especially if you are actually directly
involved in construction. And civil engineering is an irregular job in many respects. Once a

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project is finished, you have to move to where the next job is. Nearly all civil engineers take
university degrees. After that they undergo three to six years training while actually employed
before taking a professional exam. Experience counts highly projects take so long that it may
be 15 years before you really have an all-round view of the business. The main source of stress
is that your mistakes could possibly cause a major disaster.
c) Teacher. Other professionals get tired, teachers become exhausted, or so they say. It is a job
that uses up nervous energy (plus some imagination and creativity), though without necessarily
forcing you to think too much. The career has two main advantages: first, there is less pressure
to achieve measurable results and second, teachers are fairly independent professionally. The
average week is about 45 hours if you include lesson preparation, marking and other tasks.
Promotion prospects at present are poor. And only 10% of women are heals or deputies
compared with 17% of men.
d) Social Worker. There is no such thing as a typical social work problem. Working as a social
worker may involve providing people with practical help, such as finding accommodation for a
homeless family, arranging holidays for the handicapped, or organising neighbours and
relatives to help old people. A social worker requires enormous patience and tolerance and the
ability to recognise his or her own prejudices. Clients can be ungrateful, and may well be
uncooperative and resentful. It goes without saying that you need to be a good listener. The
main attraction is probably the variety, as well as the individual responsibility, involved and the
flexibility to organise your own time. Naturally, the job involves unsocial hours, plus there is
report writing, and you may have to make some painful decisions. You need either a degree
plus professional certificate or can take a two-year course.
8. Read the job descriptions above and discuss what they involve, taking into consideration:
personal qualities

qualifications prospects

conditions and hours

9. What are the main differences between these types of jobs? Which ones would you enjoy most
and least?
manual work

working outside

office work

working inside

creative work

working alone

selling

working from home

10. Read the text and use the following words to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.
satisfy, create, attend, familiar, advertise, consciuos, original, character, memorable, produce

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I get a lot of (1) .... from my job. Advertising can be very (2) .... because you have to think of new
ways to attract peoples (3) .... . The best way to do this is by surprising them (4) .... is boring and
people soon get fed up with an (5) .... they have seen many times before.

(6) .... they want to be

shocked. Apart from (7) .... , the other really important (8) .... of a good campaign is (9) ..... After all
if people dont remember what was being advertised, they wont buy the (10)... .
11. Read the text below and look carefully at each sentence. Some of the sentences are correct, and
some have a word which should not be there. If a sentence has a word which should not be there, write
the word at the end of the line. There is an example at the beginning.

APPLICATION FOR A JOB

Dear Sir or Madam,
I refer to your advertisement which I have seen in todays `Gazette, and should wish to apply for
the post of shouid Tour Leader. You will see from my enclosed CV that I have already had some
experience of this kind of a work.
Last summer I have worked with Korean visitors to York, showing to them the most famous
attractions and at the same time explaining them the history of the city. I very much enjoyed do this
job, and found that in spite of not speaking their language I could communicate well with my clients. I
was regularly received compliments and gifts from them.
The job which advertised by you seems to be very similar to my previous one, and I hope so that
you will invite me for an interview, in order that we can discuss the possibility of my working for you.
I can come to London at any time during for the next two weeks. If you would like to meet me, would
you be so kind as to tell me how to get there to your office from the station?
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
12. Read the following questions and check that you understand the meaning of the words in
italics. Use a dictionary where necessary.
1 What do you think is a good salary or wage in your country? How much would you like to earn?
2 Would you like to work on commission? Why/Why not? Do you think people should get paid a
bonus for especially good work?
3 What different information should you put in a C. V.?
4 What should you do to make a good impression at a job interview?
5 Think of the job you do at the moment or that you would like to do in the future. What skills and
qualifications do you need to do it?
6 How many years training do you need to do before you can become a doctor in your country?

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7 Is it common or unusual for employees to go on strike in your country. Do you have trade
unions?
8 For what reasons can people be sacked? For what reasons can people be made redundant? Why
do people sometimes resign from their jobs?
13. What help do people get from the government if they are unemployed in your country?
14 At what age do men and women usually retire in your country? Do you think this is early, late
or about right? Do they usually get a pension?

LISTENING PRACTICE
A student phones a college office for information about courses. Write down the answers to her
questions.

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