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Colm Downes
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UNIT 1 Research and preparation


L Identifying the stages in the
job application process
L Researching yourself
L Highlighting your skills and
experience
L Researching the market

Identifying the stages in the job


application process
Most of us spend between 60–80% of our waking hours working,
so it’s important to find a job that brings true satisfaction. If you
haven’t found it yet, then don’t give up. Keep looking until you find
a job that you love doing.

1 a Teresa Fernandez, a recent graduate, is applying for a job in marketing.


Match the extracts from documents and conversations (a–h) to the stages
in the job application process (1–8).
1 Sending a cover letter 4 Responding to interview questions 7 Researching the market
2 Sending a CV/resume 5 Making interview small talk 8 Researching yourself
3 Sending a follow-up letter 6 Reading a job advertisement
a
b
l
MARKETING ASSISTANT, Bristo ‘Teresa?’
circa £25K pa
al logistics
We are a leader in the internation ‘Yes. Hello.’
r 20
business, with operations in ove ‘Good afternoon. My name’s Alan Cassidy. Sorry to
es. We are see king a you ng, dynamic
countri keep you waiting.’
keti ng team . You
professional to join our mar
ree in mar keti ng or a ‘That’s all right. I’ve been enjoying your company
will have a good first deg
idea lly som e exp erie nce brochure. It all looks very impressive. It’s nice to
related subject, and
artment of a meet you at last.’
of working in the marketing dep
t have a
large company. Above all, you mus ‘Thanks. Have you travelled far to us today?’
skills, and an
positive attitude, strong creative ‘Quite far. I’m currently based in London, so I
Full training will
ability to work well in a team. came on the train this morning.’
elle nt opp ortunities
be provided. There are exc
the dep artm ent.
for promotion within

6 Unit 1 Research and preparation

© Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org


Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-72215-5 - Cambridge English for Job-hunting
Colm Downes
Excerpt
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keting,
with first-hand experience of mar
I am a recent psychology graduate for the pos ition of Mar keting
ld like to apply
customer service and sales. I wou
rdian.
Assistant, as advertised in The Gua
ause it will
your company very attractive bec
I find the prospect of working for a very
al knowledge of human natu into re
enable me to put my deep theoretic
international firm.
practical context in a successful

c I am writing to thank you for giving me the opportunity of an interview


d today. Everyone in your office was friendly and made me feel very welcome.
As we discussed during the interview, I believe my skills and experience
would enable me to make a very useful contribution to your team. On my
journey home I gave more thought to your question about pricing. I checked
your prices against how much your competitors are charging for equivalent
e services, and calculated that with your strong reputation for quality, you
could justify charges of …

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eZdeaZ
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 $VTUPNFSTFSWJDFBTTJTUBOU 1BDLBHJOH1BMBDF
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L 3FTPMWFEDVTUPNFSDPNQMBJOUT
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‘Hello. My name’s Teresa Fernandez. L -JBJTFEXJUINBOBHFNFOUPOQSJDJOHTUSBUFHZ
Could I speak to Mr Cassidy in
Marketing, please?’
‘I’m afraid he’s in a meeting. Can I take a message?’
‘I’m not sure. I was calling to see if there are any vacancies in your marketing department. I’m a recent
psychology graduate, and I’m very keen to work for a company like yours, because of your excellent
reputation.’
‘Actually, I think there is a vacancy. There was an advert in The Guardian last week. Have you seen it?’
‘No, I must have missed that. Do you have a copy of the advert that you could send me?’
‘Of course, but you’ll have to be quick: the closing date is tomorrow.’

b Put the stages (1–8) in Exercise 1a into the most logical sequence.
Unit 1 Research and preparation 7

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c Read the extracts again. Which extracts mention:


1 details of Teresa’s work experience? 8
2 details of Teresa’s studies and qualifications?
3 the job salary?
4 Teresa’s weaknesses?
5 evidence of Teresa’s skill with numbers?
6 where the vacancy is advertised?
7 evidence of Teresa’s research skills?
8 teamwork?
9 a compliment from Teresa about the company?
10 evidence of Teresa’s research into the company?

d Do you think Teresa has a good chance of getting the job? Why (not)?

Researching yourself
Before you look for the perfect job, write a CV or apply for a job, you need to do
some research. Researching yourself is the key to finding the job that is right
for you.

2 a 1.1 Silvia Carnali is approaching the end of her degree course at


university. She has decided to start looking for a job, but is not sure where
to begin. Silvia asks her friend Sophie, who works in the university careers
office, for some advice. Listen to their conversation and, in pairs, discuss
the following questions.
1 What is the first thing Sophie suggests Silvia does?
2 How does Sophie identify her transferable skills?
3 Does Sophie think personality tests are very important?
4 What is the final piece of advice Sophie gives Silvia?

b Have you tried any of Sophie’s suggestions? Did they work for you?

Your strengths and weaknesses


The first thing you need to do when starting the job-hunting process is a self-
assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses. This process will help
you identify the skills, qualifications, experience, knowledge and personal
characteristics that employers are looking for.

3 a After talking to Sophie, Silvia produced a ‘mind map’ to highlight her


strengths and weaknesses. Complete the sentences (a–j) in Silvia’s mind
map on the following page using the prepositions in, to or at.

b Complete the headings (1–6) on the mind map using the words in the box.
Achievements Experience Knowledge
Languages Personal characteristics Skills

8 Unit 1 Research and preparation

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c 1.2 Listen to two friends, Federico and Jack, talking about Federico’s
strengths and weaknesses. In pairs, discuss the following questions.
1 What has Federico recently decided to do?
2 Why has he made this decision?
3 What does Federico claim to be good at?
4 What would Federico really like to be able to do?
5 What is Federico doing in order to achieve this aim?

d 1.2 Listen again and underline the personal characteristics in the box that
best describe Federico. In pairs, discuss your answers using evidence from
the conversation to support your opinion.
creative disorganised flexible
impatient reliable successful

e Match the personal characteristics (1–6) to the questions (a–f).


1 creative a Do you always do what you say you’ll do?
2 decisive b Are you good at getting other people to agree with you?
3 flexible c Are you good at making your mind up quickly?
4 organised d Are you able to plan ahead successfully?
5 persuasive e Are you able to cope with last-minute changes?
6 reliable f Are you good at coming up with imaginative solutions?

f Make the personal characteristics in Exercise 3e negative by adding a


prefix (dis-, in- or un-).
1 jcXgZVi^kZ 3 5
2 4 6

g In pairs, take turns to ask and answer the questions in Exercise 3e. Discuss
your individual strengths and weaknesses, giving specific evidence.
A: ‘Do you always do what you say you will do?’
B: ‘Yes, I’m very reliable. I’m always on time to work, classes and meetings,
and when I can’t make it, I let people know ahead of time.’
Unit 1 Research and preparation 9

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Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-72215-5 - Cambridge English for Job-hunting
Colm Downes
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h Draw a mind map similar to Silvia’s, showing your strengths and


weaknesses. Add as many bubbles as you like. Try to use the following
phrases.

Strengths Weaknesses Positive Negative


characteristics characteristics
I’m excellent at … I’m not very good at … I am … I can sometimes be …
I’m able to … I could be better at … I try to … Occasionally I am …
I’m interested in … I’m reasonably good at … I can be a little bit …
I recently managed to … I would like to be able to …

i In pairs, discuss your mind maps. Do you share any common strengths or
weaknesses?

Your qualifications
At all stages during the job application process you will need to be able to
describe your academic qualifications clearly.

4 a Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in the box. You
will need to use some verbs more than once.

award complete graduate hold obtain read

1 I \gVYjViZY with a BA in Sociology from the


University of California in Los Angeles in 2007.
2 I Economics at the London School of
Economics and Political Science (LSE). I then
a Master’s in Security Studies at the University of
Birmingham, which included a semester at New York
University at the Centre of European Studies.
3 I with a BA in Hotel & Catering Management
from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. I also
an MBA in Marketing, which I last year.
4 After from the School of Oriental Languages and Communication
with a BA (Hons) in Mandarin Chinese and English in Maastricht (The
Netherlands), I was a scholarship to International Relations
at the College of Europe, Warsaw.

b Complete the sentences using the prepositions at, from, in or with.


1 I started my career Vi Johnston Group after graduating Hanyang
University a BA and MA Chemical Engineering.
2 I graduated 2008 an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Tokyo University.
3 I also obtained a BSc Computer Science Moscow State University
2005.
4 I read Modern Languages The National University of Singapore.

c In pairs, discuss the following questions.


1 What qualifications do you have?
2 Where did you go to university?
3 When did you graduate?
4 What types of career are common for people with your qualifications?
5 Which of your qualifications is most likely to impress a future employer?

10 Unit 1 Research and preparation

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978-0-521-72215-5 - Cambridge English for Job-hunting
Colm Downes
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Highlighting your skills and experience


Employers will ask for transferable skills or competencies – the skills,
knowledge and behaviour they consider necessary for a particular job.
Reviewing your previous experience will help you to identify your transferable
skills and recognise jobs that you are qualified for.

5 a In pairs, discuss the following questions.


1 What general skills and knowledge do most employers look for in job
applicants?
2 Apart from specific qualifications and technical expertise, what skills and
knowledge have you got that make you employable?

b Match the transferable skills (1–8) to the examples of professional


behaviour (a–h).
1 analytical skills a I have a justified belief in my ability to do the job.
I am able to express my opinion or provide advice when necessary.
I am good at making decisions.
2 creativity b I actively seek feedback on my performance and carefully consider feedback.
I demonstrate an interest in and understanding of my own and other cultures.
I understand my own strengths and limitations.
3 self-confidence c I am good at getting a good deal.
I am good at developing and managing relationships with others.
I am able to persuade, convince and gain support from others.
4 communication d I am able to formulate new ideas to solve problems.
skills I am able to think ahead to spot or create opportunities.
I set aside thinking time to come up with alternative ways of getting things done more
efficiently.
5 independence e I can work with sustained energy and determination on my own.
I can find ways to overcome obstacles to set myself achievable goals.
I strive towards my own targets and refuse to settle for second best.
6 interpersonal f I am good at data analysis.
skills Iam excellent at interpreting data to see cause and effect and am able to use this information
to make effective decisions.
g I am able to express myself effectively.
7 negotiation I am able to make my opinions totally clear and am rarely misunderstood.
skills I produce clear, well-written reports that can be easily understood.
h I am good at working cooperatively.
I am good at working and communicating within a team to achieve shared goals.
8 self-awareness I am a good listener.

c Write your own examples of behaviour for the following transferable skills.
Compare your answers with the suggestions in the answer key.
1 flexibility >Vbcdig^\^Y^cbnVeegdVX]idldg`#
2 leadership skills
3 organisational skills
4 teamworking skills

d Identify three key transferable skills of your own, which you have used
at work or university. In pairs, tell each other about your skills, giving
examples of your behaviour.

Unit 1 Research and preparation 11

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Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-72215-5 - Cambridge English for Job-hunting
Colm Downes
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e 1.3 After creating her mind map, Silvia talks to Sophie about her
university and work experience. Listen to the conversation and answer the
following questions.
1 When did Silvia apply for her MA course?
2 What was Silvia doing in Africa?
3 What job did Silvia have at university?

f 1.3 Complete the extracts from the conversation using the correct form of
the verbs in the box. Listen again and check your answers.

apply convince deal give plan talk understand work

1 ‘I Veea^ZY for my MA course while I was working in Africa, and even


managed to start doing some research for the course before I came back to
England.’
‘So you’re clearly quite good at .’
2 I for an NGO as part of a large team with people from all over the
world. We all lived together and shared a bathroom. The work was quite
varied and I was different tasks to complete each week.
3 … our main aim was to educate local people about the need for
reforestation. We tried putting up posters, but this didn’t have much of an
effect. We needed to find a better way to communicate this message. Later
on I to respected members of the community, and them to
talk to other people in the village. This approach was far more effective.
4 When I was at university I was the communications officer of the student
union and I was responsible for with suppliers. I had to order food
and drink for university concerts and so on. It was always possible to get
a better deal if you were good on the phone. It wasn’t just a question of
being persuasive though, it was really a case of being clear and expressing
yourself well, making sure that everybody what I was saying.

g In pairs, discuss which transferable skills in Exercises 5b and 5c are


demonstrated in each extract (1–4).

12 Unit 1 Research and preparation

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h Complete the phrases for demonstrating transferable skills using the


correct verbs in brackets.
1 analytical skills (analyse / conduct / identify)
a ^YZci^[n a mistake b data c a survey
2 creativity (invent / solve / suggest)
a a machine b an alternative c a problem
3 communication skills (explain / give / write)
a a report b an idea c a presentation
4 interpersonal skills (listen / resolve / work)
a a dispute b to a point of view c with ‘difficult’ people
5 leadership skills (chair / delegate / motivate)
a a meeting b a team c tasks
6 organisational skills (decide / implement / meet)
a deadlines b on priorities c a plan
7 teamworking skills (contribute / discuss / support)
a an issue b to a meeting c a colleague
8 negotiation skills (change / convince / negotiate)
a someone’s mind b with someone c someone to do something

i In pairs, think of some more specific actions or tasks which demonstrate


transferable skills.

j Identify three of your transferable skills. Make notes about the things you
have done in the past that demonstrate these skills. Use the phrases in
Exercises 5h and 5i.

k In pairs, take turns to tell each other short stories about the things you
have done that demonstrate your transferable skills, using your notes from
Exercise 5j. Try to guess which transferable skills your partner’s stories
demonstrate.

l Think of three different jobs and list two transferable skills that are
essential to each job.
Job 1 Job 2 Job 3
Skill1 Skill1 Skill1
Skill 2 Skill 2 Skill 2

Researching the market


Finding a job
Once you know yourself, it’s time to start researching the market – finding out
more about the type of job you want and the companies and organisations that
have similar posts. Doing this will help you make a short list of the places where
you’d like to work.

6 a In pairs, discuss the following questions.


1 Where would you start looking for a job?
2 Which of these methods would you consider using?
L job agencies / headhunters L the Internet

L newspapers and magazines L cold calling / mailing

L networking

Unit 1 Research and preparation 13

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b 1.4 Listen to five people discussing job-hunting. Which job-hunting method


in Exercise 6a does each speaker recommend?
Speaker 1 Speaker 4
Speaker 2 Speaker 5
Speaker 3

c 1.4 Listen again and, in pairs, discuss the following questions.


1 Do you agree with the advice the speakers give?
2 Have you used these methods in the past? Would you try any of these
methods?
3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?
4 Can you think of any other job-hunting methods?

Cold calling
Cold calling means phoning a company to enquire about job
opportunities which have not been advertised. The phone
conversation is used to generate interest in you as a potential
employee. The aim of the call is to get an invitation to send
your CV.

7 a In pairs, discuss the following questions.


1 Have you ever tried cold-calling a company? Was it
successful?
2 What advice would you give somebody cold-calling a
company in your country?

b 1.5 Eryk and Patrick are looking for work in the hotel
industry in London. They both have experience working
in hotels in their own countries. They decide to cold-call
a number of hotels in London to try and find a suitable
job. Listen to their calls and decide who has the more
successful cold calling technique.

c 1.5 Complete the extracts from Eryk’s call (1–5) using the sentences (a–e).
Listen again and check your answers.
a I have worked for a number of big hotels in Poland.
b I would like to speak to Janet Robinson.
c What background experience are you looking for?
d Are you looking for someone with experience such as this?
e Are you looking for employees with international experience?
1 Good morning. I’m Eryk Pawlak. Is she there?
2 I have considerable professional experience in the hotel industry.
3 My mother tongue is Polish, but I can also speak Spanish, having worked
for a big hotel in Spain.
4 To begin with I mainly worked managing a team of cleaners and porters.
However, my Spanish improved quickly and I was moved to reception, where
I dealt with customers both face to face and on the phone.
5 ‘Do you have a degree?’
‘Yes, I have a degree in tourism. ’

14 Unit 1 Research and preparation

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d Match the extracts (1–5) in Exercise 7c to the following cold calling


techniques (a–e).
a Give just enough information about yourself to generate interest in yourself
as a potential employee. '
b Respond to questions with your own questions to find out more about the
company.
c Use positive questions that invite a ‘yes’ response.
d Mention one or two concise achievements, using facts and figures where
possible.
e Ask to speak to the decision maker by name.

Job advertisements
A good job advertisement is designed to attract the most suitably qualified
applicants. It’s not just applicants that are competing with each other for jobs;
employers are also competing with each other to attract the best candidates for
their vacancies.

8 a In pairs, discuss the following questions.


1 What information would you expect to find in a well-written job advertisement?
2 What makes a good job advertisement?

b Employers usually try to squeeze as much information into their job


advertisements as possible. However, because advertising is expensive and
space limited, they tend to use abbreviations to describe roles in as few
words as possible. Write the full meanings of the following abbreviations
using the words in the box.
agency annum clean current curriculum driving
earnings experience licence of on per per
point sale target vitae week

1 CCDL XjggZciXaZVcYg^k^c\a^XZcXZ 5 OTE


2 CV 6 PA
3 EXP 7 PW
4 AGY 8 POS

c Which abbreviation would you expect to see in a job advertisement:


1 if you need relevant professional experience for the position?
2 if the salary mentioned was for the whole year?
3 if a job agency is advertising the job?
4 if the position requires experience of selling products to customers?
5 if the take-home pay will be part basic salary and part performance-related
pay?

d Job advertisements tend to use a lot of


jargon, like proactive team player. Look at the Great graduate job opportunity
extract from a job advertisement. In pairs,
Are you a team player? Are you flex
discuss what the terms in bold actually mean ible,
in specific, practical terms. Why are they
dynamic & results-focused?
Do you have good organisational
important skills in the workplace? skills?
Then we are looking for you …

Unit 1 Research and preparation 15

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e Match the jargon in Exercise 8d to the following questions. In pairs, take


turns to ask and answer the questions.
1 Do you have a personality that will fit in with the rest of the team? Are you
willing to help with tasks outside your job role when required?
2 Are you someone who wants to work, is prepared to do what it takes to fulfil
your job function and make money for the company? Will you be aware of how
your actions affect the company as a whole?
3 Are you innovative and creative? Are you the type of person who thinks
intelligently and can generate ideas to improve things?
4 Are you prepared to work to meet the demands of the business, which might
involve relocating to another office or working extra hours – even weekends?
5 Do you meet deadlines, work well with others and get things done? Can
you produce reliable work under pressure and be trusted with multiple
responsibilities?

f Read the two job advertisements and answer the following questions.
Underline the parts of the advertisements that support your answers.
1 For which job is a university degree essential?
2 Which job places more emphasis on being flexible and adaptable?
3 Which job offers a higher salary?
4 What should you do if you wish to apply for the Media Assistant position?
5 How will you know if Media X is interested
in your application?
Media Assistant. Media X
Quote Ref: 007584 MX
An excellent opportunity to work for a leading
Trainee Finance Recruitment Consultant – international education group in a small but lively media
£30–£35K OTE. Queen Careers department.
Your Profile: Are you a graduate or of graduate calibre We are looking for a well-organised and motivated
with a track record of success? You will have a minimum graduate to become part of an international marketing/
of two years’ solid sales experience and the hunger to media team. The key objective of this role is to support
succeed! For a trainee finance recruitment consultant no the team in producing a range of print and online
two days are the same, and you must be a great multi- materials for worldwide marketing and sales teams. Tasks
tasker with the ability to push yourself further and further will include reporting to the media manager, managing
all the time. The right candidate will be target-driven, fact files, accurate proof reading and editing, inputting
articulate, determined and overall 100% focused on a content into our website CMS, coordinating and gathering
career in recruitment. information, warehouse and stock management and
The Role: The role of a trainee recruitment consultant collating and writing newsletters.
is varied from day to day. One day you could be We are looking for a graduate with excellent
sourcing and screening candidates for your current communication skills, accurate written English, good
roles, and the next everything from cold-calling new
attention to detail and some experience of working in a
clients to negotiating contracts. You will be working
marketing environment.
on the secretarial and support team liaising with high-
flying candidates and well-established companies in the Proficiency in MS Office and excellent command of
investment banking sector, so your presentation skills English language are essential; additional languages
should be second-to-none. would be a plus.
The Company: Very well-established and situated in a Training will be provided for Adobe Creative Suite and
fantastic central London location, this is an opportunity Tridion, although any working knowledge of either
to work for a market-leading worldwide specialist in software package would be advantageous.
investment banking and financial recruitment consultancy. Qualification Level: Undergraduate degree essential.
Professional and consultative in approach, they offer Salary: circa £28K pro rata
second-to-none training from ground level upwards with Email your CV and cover letter to colm@MediaX.com by
bonuses, incentives and fun along the way. May 23rd.
If this sounds like the career for you please email Please note that due to the large volume of responses
Elizabeth@Queencareers.com or call 0870 12341234. expected, only successful candidates will be contacted.
Closing date: 15th May

16 Unit 1 Research and preparation

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Colm Downes
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g Read the job advertisements again and find expressions to match the
following definitions.
1 A Latin term meaning approximately used to talk about salaries. This term
informs you that the salary is not fixed but may be around 10% higher or
lower depending on your relevant experience and qualifications.
2 A term used to inform you of the date by which the employer must have
received your application. Also sometimes called a deadline.
3 An abbreviation meaning thousand.
4 A term used to inform you that you must quote the reference number when
you apply for the position. This number should be clearly marked on your
envelope (if you apply by post) or the subject line of your email, as well as at
the top of your cover letter.
5 A Latin term meaning that your salary is calculated according to what
proportion of a full-time job your hours make up. So, if the salary is quoted
at £18,000 based on a full-time week of 40 hours and you are working 30
hours per week, you will be paid an annual salary of £13,500.

h In pairs, discuss the following questions.


1 What are the main transferable skills required for each job?
2 In which job would you expect to work under more pressure?
3 Which job would you prefer to do and why?

i Many job advertisements request familiarity with certain tools, skills or


languages that are relevant to the job. In pairs, put the expressions in bold
in order of knowledge and experience required.
L Training will be provided for Ado
llent be
L Proficiency in MS Office and exce Creative Suite and Tridion, althoug
h
command of English language are working knowledge of either soft
are a plus. ware
essential; additional languages package would be advantageous.

j Write sentences about your own knowledge and experience using the
following expressions.
L I am proficient in …
L I have an excellent command of …
L I have a good working knowledge of …

k Sort the phrases in the box into two groups.


ideally you will have … … is essential … is necessary … is preferred … is vital
the successful candidate will be … … would be a plus … would be advantageous
… would be desirable … would be welcome you must be … you will have …

1 Skills which candidates must have


½^hZhhZci^Va

2 Skills which the employer hopes for (they may still consider the candidate if
they don’t have all of them)

l Which of the phrases in Exercise 8k are used in the two job advertisements
on page 16?

Unit 1 Research and preparation 17

© Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org


Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-72215-5 - Cambridge English for Job-hunting
Colm Downes
Excerpt
More information

m Read the following job advertisement. Find words that mean someone who
is:
1 good at finding solutions to problems.
2 able to speak a language without any noticeable mistakes or effort.

3 flexible and able to work on different projects at the same time.

4 good with computers.


5 good at maths and dealing with numbers.

Junior Consultant

Organisation: FUTERRA
Shortlist this job
Location: Central London Email this job to a friend
Job contact details
Salary: £18,000–£20,000 View all jobs from this employer

Are you a great communicator? Want to make a difference? Talk to Futerra!


Futerra is a communications agency that specialises in the environment and social
change. We work with government, businesses and NGOs and have an exciting
opportunity for a new junior team member. You’ll need to be resourceful and have
fantastic research skills, common sense – and, of course, fluent English. You must
be adaptable: there will be lots of desk-based research, but you may also find
yourself hitting the phones or helping at events. You’ll also have to be computer
literate and numerate. You’ll have a degree in a relevant discipline and a keen interest
in communications, and be able to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability,
whether through previous roles, internships or student activities. You’ll find us bright,
passionate, committed and all-round fun people.

n What skills and experience would you need to stand a good chance of
being interviewed for the position? Do you have the transferable skills and
experience required for the position at Futerra?

o Research the market and find a number of job advertisements for


vacancies that match your criteria for work. Analyse the advertisements
and identify whether you have the transferable skills and experience
required for the position.

18 Unit 1 Research and preparation

© Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org

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