Unit 1 Applying for a Job

ApplyingforaJob UNIT 1 LearningObjectives Understandhowtoprepareforajobinterview Conductyourselfappropriatelyduringajobinterview Composeacurriculumvitaeandanapplicationletter Everyoneseeslifethroughtheirjob Tothedoctor theworldisahospital Totruckdrivers it saroadsystem aScottishwriterandartist AlasdairGray SpeakingTask StartingUp 1 ListeningTask 2 3 ReadingTask 5 WritingTask Follow upPractice 6 4 5 4 3 2 1 6 Contents 1 1StartingUp 1 1 1Workinpairsorsmallgroupstolistasmanyjobsasyoucan Putthejobsinorderofyourpreferenceandgiveyourreasons Forexample teacher lawyer accountant doctor businessman 1 1 2Whichofthefollowingwouldyoulikeornotlikeinajob Pleasestateyourreasons 1 alotoftelephonework2 writinglotsofreports3 workingwiththesamepeople4 workingwithlotsofdifferentpeople5 sharinganoffice6 usingEnglishatwork7 travelingalot8 workingflexiblehours9 casualdress10 uniforms11 workingonyourown12 workingonthecomputer Readthefollowingtipsforajobinterview TipsforJobInterview1 Learnaboutthecompany 2 Haveaspecificjoborjobsinmind 3 Prepareanswerstobroadquestionsaboutyourself 4 Preparequestionsofyourown 5 Practiceaninterviewwithafriendorrelative 6 Arrivebeforethescheduledtimeofyourinterview 7 Makeagoodfirstimpression 8 Relaxandanswereachquestionconcisely 9 Bepositiveandenthusiastic 10 Thanktheinterviewerfortheirtimeandshakehandsfirmly 1 Whichdoyouthinkarethefivemostimportantinterviewtips Why 2 Canyouaddmoretipsasadviceforjobinterview 3 Haveyoueverbeenonajobinterview Ifso tellusaboutone 4 Whenlookingforajob whatfactorsdoyouconsiderimportant Pleaselistanumberoffactorsinorderofimportance andcompareitwithyourpartner s Trytostateyourreasons 5 Ifyouhadthechancetointerviewwithanycompany whichonewoulditbeandwhy 6 Whatshouldyoudoornotdoduringajobinterview 1 1 3Discussthefollowingquestionsinpairsorsmallgroups INTERVIEWPREPARATION Informationyoushouldknowaboutthecompanypriortoyourinterview Organizationalstructure Divisions departmentsthatinterestyou Products Services TrainingPrograms Sizeofcompany Howlonghavetheybeeninbusiness Typesofclients Growthinthepastandfuturepotential Jobdescription jobtitle Newproductsandservicestheyaredeveloping Employeebenefits Geographiclocation INTERVIEWPREPARATION Memorizethenameofthepersonwhowillinterviewyou Nothingcouldbemoreembarrassingthanforgettingtheirnameorcallingthembythewrongname Decidewhatyouwillwear Getagoodnight ssleep Arrive15minutesearly Thisnotonlyshowsthatyouarepromptitalsogivesyouachancetogainyourcomposure Befriendlytothereceptionist secretary theyoftenareaskedtheiropinion INTERVIEWDRESSING DO S Dressconservatively Checkoutwhatmanagementwearsanddresssimilarlywithoutoverkill Practicegoodgrooming Dohaveclean neatlystyledhair Dohavecleanhandsandtrimmednails Dobringacleannotepadandpenthatworks Dowearshoesyoucanwalkeasilyin INTERVIEWDRESSING Don ts Don tweartorn soiled wrinkledclothing Don tdresscasual Don twearalotofjewelry Menshouldavoidearrings Don twearathleticshoes Don teatspicy offensivesmellingfoodspriortotheinterview Don twearsexyclothing Don twear cutesy ties i e aflashingMickeyMousetie Don tchewgumorsmoke Don twearamini skirt Don twearheavymake up DURINGTHEINTERVIEW Startitofflikeawinner Becomfortable Listenattentively Avoidnervousmannerisms Speakclearly Bepositiveandenthusiastic Askpertinentquestions Whenitisover standup thanktheinterviewerfortheirtimeandshakehandsfirmly Besuretofindoutthenextstep Thenextdaywritetheinterviewerabriefnotereiteratingyourinterestinthejob Followup Ifyouhaven theardfromtheinterviewerwithinthetimeframeindicatedatthecloseoftheinterview callthemtorelayapolitereminderthatyou restillinterestedinthejob Askwhentheyplantomakeahiringdecision Ifyouaren thiredandcontinuetobeinterestedinthecompany itpaystokeepintouchwiththeinterviewer Often throughpersistence youmaybeofferedapositionatalaterdate ChinUp Gearupforyournextinterview Afterallthemoreinterviewsyoutacklethemorepolishedyoubecome Youmaywanttocontacttheinterviewerwhorejectedyouandseeifyoucangetanypointersonwhattoimprovebeforeyournextinterview Typicalconcernsinterviewershave whichyouneedtoaddresswhenansweringquestions Besensitivetotheseconcerns answeringallquestionsinthemostpositivewaytobuildpsychologicalleverageandpositionyourselffortheoffer Doestheapplicanthavetheabilitytodothejob Canheorshemanagepeople Howdoesheorsherelatetopeople Whatkindofapersonisthis Aleader Whatstrengthsdoesheorshehavethatweneed Whyhastherebeenanumberofjobchanges Inwhatareasisheorsheweak Howwillthisaffectperformance Whatcontributionhastheapplicantmade Whatarehisorherambitions Aretheyrealistic Doessheorhehavegrowthpotential Howwillotherinterviewersreact Shouldthispersongetanoffer Inthispartyouwilllistentothreepassagesaboutjobinterviews Trytofinishtheexerciseswhilelistening Areyouready 1 2ListeningTask 1 2 1Insertthefollowingwordsinthegapsinthepassageandthencheckyouranswersafteryouhavelistenedtoit Whenacompanyneedsto 1 oremploynewpeople itmaydecideto 2 thejobor 3 intheappointmentssectionofanewspaperoronthe 4 Peoplewhoareinterestedcanthen 5 thejobbysendingina 6 or 7 anda 8 CV or 9 containingdetailsoftheireducationandexperience Acompanymayalsoask 10 tocompleteastandard 11 Thecompany s 12 or 13 willthenselectthemostsuitable 14 andpreparea 15 ofcandidatesor 16 whoareinvitedtoattendan 17 recruit advertise position Internet applyfor letterofapplication coveringletter curriculumvitae r sum candidates applicationform HumanResourceDepartment PersonnelDepartment applications shortlist applicants interview 2 2Listentothepassageandanswerthefollowingquestions 1 Whatarejobinterviewsallabout Answer 2 Whatarethetwostylesofinterviewingusedbythecompanies Answer 3 Whydojob seekersneedtospendtimeconductingresearchonthecompanybeforetheinterview Answer 4 Whatadviceisgivenforanticipatingquestionsandpreparinganswers Answer 5 Whatdoyouneedtodointhefollow upstageoftheinterview Answer Jobinterviewsareallaboutmakingthebestmatches Theyarethetraditionaljobinterviewandthebehavioralinterview Becauseyourknowledgeaboutthecompanyiscriticaltoyoursuccess Youshouldnotmemorizeanswers butscriptspecificresponses Youshouldalsohaveseveralquestionsreadytoasktheinterviewer Youmustimmediatelywriteathank younotetoeachpersonwhointerviewedyou 1 2 3Listentothepassageandfilltheblankswiththemissinginformation The jobinterviewuses questionssuchas whydoyouwantto thiscompany and tellmeaboutyour ismoreoftenbasedonthe ofthejob seekerto thanonthe oftheiranswers Employersarelookingfortheanswertothreequestions doesthejob seekerhavethe toperformthejob doesthejob seekerpossessthe thattheemployerexpects andwillthejob seekerbea andfitintotheorganization The jobinterviewisbasedonthe that isthebest offuturebehavior andusesquestionsthatprobe suchas tellmeaboutatimewhereyouconfronted tellmeaboutanexperiencewhenyoufailedto and givemeaspecificexampleofatimewhenyoumanaged atonce Job seekersneedto theseinterviewsby thatfitthevarioustypesofbehavioralinterviewingquestions Recent withlittleworkexperienceshouldfocuson and thatmightlendthemselvestothesetypesofquestions alsomightprovideexamplesyoucoulduse Job seekersshouldframetheiranswersbasedonafour partoutline 1 2 3 and 4 traditional broad based workfor strengthsandweaknesses Interviewingsuccess ability communicate truthfulnessorcontent skillsandabilities enthusiasmandworkethic teamplayer behavioral theory pastperformance indicator specificpastbehaviors anunexpectedproblem achieveagoal severalprojects preparefor recallingscenarios collegegrads classprojects groupsituations Hobbiesandvolunteerwork describethesituation discusstheactionsyoutook relatetheoutcomes specifywhatyoulearnedfromit Inthispartyouaregoingtoreadtwodialoguesandthenyouwillbeaskedtoanswersomequestionsaboutwhatyouhaveread Pleasereadlouder SpeakingTask 1 3SpeakingTask 1 3 2Conversation2 Mr TonyJohnson themanagerofExportDepartment isinterviewingMsLindaWhitewhoisapplyingforthepostofsecretary 1 WhatdoesMsWhitedoatthemoment Answer 2 Whydoesshewanttochangethepresentcompany Answer 3 WhatdidMsWhitesayaboutthequalitiesasecretaryshouldhave Answer 4 WhatdidthereportsentbyPersonnelDepartmentsayaboutMsWhite Answer 5 WhatdoyouthinkofMsWhite srepliesattheinterview Answer 6 DoyouthinkMsWhitewillgetthejob Giveyourreasons Answer Sheisasecretary Shewantstogetmoreinterestingwork that swhysheisapplyingforthispost Asecretaryneedstobeprettyhard workingandshouldbeabletodoalotofthingsonherowninitiative Shedidreasonablywellintheshorthandandtypingtest andverywellindeedintheintelligencetest Open Open 1 3 3Conversation3 StellaisapplyingforajobasanacademicadvisorattheUniversityofGeorgia Theuniversityisinterestedinherr sum andhasaskedhertodoaphoneinterview 1 WhatjobisStellaapplyingfor Answer 2 Whatdoesanacademicadvisordo Answer 3 WhatareStella sgreateststrengths Answer 4 HowdoesStelladescribeherweaknesses Answer 5 WhatisStella smulti taskingability Answer 6 DoyouthinkStellawillgetthejob Whyorwhynot Answer SheisapplyingforajobasanacademicadvisorattheUniversityofGeorgia Anacademicadvisorisresponsibleforadvisingundergraduatestudentsaboutcourses graduationrequirements anddepartmentpolicies Shesaysthatherstrengthsarehercommunicationandorganizationalskills Shesaysthatshedoesnotreallyhaveanyweaknessesthatwouldaffectherabilitytoperforminthisposition Butifshehadtogiveone shewouldsayit shercomplexmathskills Herexperienceinherpreviouspositionshasallowedhertobequitesuccessfulathandlingmultipletasksatonce Open ReadingTask Inthispartyouaregoingtoreadapassageandthenyouwillbeaskedtoanswersomequestionsaboutwhatyouhaveread 1 4ReadingTask Pre readingquestionsforpairwork1 Howmanyinterviewshaveyouattended Whatweretheyfor 2 Didyouthinktheyweregoodinterviewsorbadinterviews Whatmadethemgoodorbad 3 Didyoupreparefortheinterview Ifyoudid thenhowdidyouprepareforit 4 Doyouthinkitisnecessarytoprepareforaninterview Why Whynot 5 Ifyouthinkpreparationisnecessarywhatshouldthepreparationinvolve 6 Whatdoyouthinkaretheeffectivewaysofimpressingtheinterviewer Answerthefollowingquestions 1 Whydoyouneedtodosomeresearchbeforeaninterview Answer 2 Whatsortofinformationdoyouneedaboutthecompanyyouapplyfor Answer 3 Whatistheproperwayofdressingforajobinterview Answer Researchingacompanyandthepositionmakesyoustandoutinaninterview Itshowsthatyouarereallyinterestedinworkingthere Youmayneedinformationsuchaskindsofproductsorservicesthecompanymakeorsell thetypesofpeoplewhoworkthere thetypicalhoursthispositionrequiresandsomeoftheday to daytasksthatthejobinvolves Howyoushoulddressinajobinterviewdependsonthetypeofjobyouapplyfor Forexample forajobinanoffice itisusuallybesttowearadark colored conservativesuit forbothmenandwomen 4 Accordingtothepassage whatismeantbygoodinterviewetiquette Canyouaddmore Answer 5 Whyisitnecessaryforajobcandidatetopreparesomequestions Answer 6 Whatshouldyoudoaftertheinterview Answer Goodinterviewetiquettemeanssomeimportanttipslike Beontimeforyourinterview Beawareofyourbodylanguage and Keeptheinterviewpositive Becausepreparingsomequestionsaboutthebusiness theposition therequirements theexpectationsofthepersonwhowillfillthepositionandsoonshowsyouaretrulyinterestedinthepositionandalsohelpsemployersknowthatyouhavealltheinformationyouneedtomakeadecision ifofferedthejob Youshouldsendtheinterviewerathank younote thankinghimorherfortakingtimetointerviewyou Thisisnotonlyproperetiquetteandacommondisplayofappreciation butitalsoallowsyoutoreaffirmoneortwokeypointsoftheinterview Italsoletstheinterviewerknowhowinterestedyouareinworkingforthecompany WritingTask Inthispartyouaregoingtolearnhowtowriteemployment relatedletters curriculumvitaeandletterofapplication 1 5WritingTask ThereareseveralstandardCVformats Themostpopularformatusuallycontainsthefollowingcomponents BasicPersonalInformation JobObjective Education WorkExperience SocialPractice ExtracurricularActivities necessaryforgraduateswithoutworkexperienceonly Activities Honors SpecialSkills HobbiesandInterests optional References KeytoaSuccessfulCV Whetheryouarearecentgraduateorhavemanyyearsofworkexperience yourCVcanbethedoorwaytoamorefulfillingcareer WhenarecruiterlooksatyourCVanddecideswhethertoinviteyouforaninterview the firstappearances ruleapplies Youonlyhaveafewsecondstomakeagoodimpressionandsetyourselfapartfromothercandidates FollowingtheguidelineswillmakeiteasiertowriteyourCVandhelpyoutosucceedingaininganinterview Onetotwopages nevergobeyondtwopages Useaneasytoreadfont 10 12 fontsize UseafontsuchasTimesNewRoman Havealotofwhitespaceonyourresume makeiteasytoread Usesomegraphicsthatareeasytoread suchasbold capitalletters underline italics orboxes etc Yourresumeshouldhavevisualimpact Listaccomplishmentsandskills Leadwithyourstrongeststatementofyourskillsandqualifications Useaheavybond qualitypaper Correctalltypographical grammaticalandspellingerrors Beneat organizedandprofessional Usealaserprinter CURRICULUMVITAE Name ChristopherPhillipsNationality EnglishAddress 28RoyalPark MuswellHillLondonN102JPPhone 02089900655Email christopherphillips londonmet ac uk SampleCV confirmthatyouwishtoapplyandsaywhereyoulearnedaboutthejob saywhyyouareinterestedinthepositionandrelateyourintereststothoseofthecompany showthatyoucancontributetothejobbyhighlightingyourmostrelevantskillsandexperience indicateyourwilinesstoattendaninterview Effectiveapplicationlettersexplainthereasonsforyourinterestinthespecificorganizationandidentifyyourmostrelevantskillsorexperiences Theyshouldexpressahighlevelofinterestandknowledgeabouttheposition Theynormallycontainfourpartsinwhichyoushould SampleLetterofApplication SampleLetterofApplication WritingPracticeReadthefollowingjobadvertisementscarefullyandthenpreparetheCVandletterofapplicationthatyouwouldsendtothecompany Youmaymakeupyourqualificationsandexperiencesyouthinkrelevanttotherequirements JuniorSalesManagerExpandingpharmaceuticalexportfirmseeksyoungjuniorsalesmanagers Excellentprospectsforwell educatedpersonswithambitionanddrive Interestingandvariedworkincludingtravel ApplyinwritingtoPersonnelManagerofPharmexLtd P O Box222 HarlowNewTown Essex JobAdvertisement 1 JobAdvertisement 2 1 8Follow upPractice Yes let sdoit Wewillpracticewhatwehavelearntinthisunit 1 A What syoureducationalbackground B 2 A Whatqualificationshaveyougot B 3 A Whatdoyouexactlydoatthatcompany B 4 A B Ienjoydoingsomethingmorechallenging 5 A MayIknowwhyyouareinterestedinworkingforourcompany B 6 A Whatqualificationsdoyouhavethatmakeyouagoodcandidateforthisjob B 7 A I dliketoknowwhatyouconsideryourstrengthsandyourweaknesses B 8 A B IsupposeI mquiteoutgoing hardworkingandeasy going 9 A Wouldyoumindtellingmewhatsortofqualitiesyou dlookforinyoursalesmenifyouwereinmyshoes B 10 A B I vegotacertificateCollegeEnglishBandSix 1 8 1Writedownwhatyouwouldsaytoeachofthefollowingquestionsoranswersandthenpracticethedialogueswithyourpartner Interviewer squestions1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Yourquestions1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 8 2Thinkof8questionsyoumightbeaskedand8questionsyoumightaskduringthejobinterview Writetheminthespaceprovided Thenaskandanswerquestionswithapartner Afteryouhavefinished changetheroles TYPICALINTERVIEWQUESTIONS Studyandpracticeyouranswerswithyourpartners Whataretheresponsibilitiesofyourcurrentorpreviousposition Whatdoyouknowaboutthisindustry Whatdoyouknowaboutourcompany Whatisyourmostsignificantaccomplishment Whydidyouleaveyourlastjob Whydoyouthinkyouwouldliketoworkforourcompany Whathaveyoudonetoovercomemajorobstaclesinyourlife Howwouldyoudescribeyourworkstyle Whydoyouthinkweshouldhireyouforthisjob Whatisyourweaknessandstrength Whataccomplishmentsareyoumostproudof Whathasbeenyourgreatestcrisis howdidyousolveit Whatdoyoulikebestaboutyourjob school Whatdoyoulikeleast Howhascollegepreparedyouforthiscareer Describeyouridealjob Whataspectofthisjobdoyouconsidermostcrucial Whatareyoursalaryrequirements TYPICALINTERVIEWQUESTIONS 1 8 3OralPresentationGiveashortpresentationononeofthefollowingtopicsforatleast4minutes 1 8 4PutthefollowingChineseinthebracketsintoEnglish 1 A 从你的简历和求职信来看 你对销售工作已有相当多的经验 B Yes I vebeenasalesmanforfiveyears inthreedifferentfirms 2 A Whyareyouinterestedinworkingforourcompany B 据我了解 贵公司的目标是成为全国最大的办公品供应商 我相信我在客户群方面的知识和经验能为实现该目标做出贡献 我十分愿意为公司的发展壮大来挑战自己 3 A 如果你处在我的位置 你希望你的秘书应具备哪些素质 B Well tostartoffwith I dsaysheneedstobeprettyhard working Iseefromyourr sum andapplicationletterthatyou vehadquitealotofexperienceinsalesalready Iknowthatyourgoalistobecomethebiggestproviderofofficesuppliersinthecountry Myknowledgeandexperienceofthecustomerbasecanmakeacontributiontothisgoal Iwouldreallyenjoythechallengeofgrowingthisbusiness Ifyouwereinmyshoes whatsortofqualitiesyou dlookforinyoursecretary 4 A Whydoyouwantthisposition B 我认为我的经验和技能非常适合该职位 而且我确实能够为贵公司做出积极的贡献 A Whydidyouleaveyourformercompany B 我以前在一家小公司工作 小公司缺少机会 而我对贵公司感兴趣的原因之一是贵公司是一家从事国际贸易的大公司 我想在贵公司会有更多个人发展的机会 而且这里的工作对我来说更具挑战性 6 A Now youknowwe reallhumanbeingshereandI dliketoknowwhatyouconsideryourstrengthsandweaknesses B 我遵守纪律且意志坚强 我相信这些优点成就我在销售方面的成功 我的缺点 我想我这个人就有点完美主义 对自己做的事情通常不满意 认为总是可以用不同的方式做得更好 IfeelthatmyexperienceandskillsareagreatmatchforthepositionandIcouldreallymakeapositivecontributiontoyourfirm Iusedtoworkinasmallcompany Therewasalackofgrowthopportunitiesinasmallcompany OneofthereasonsI msointerestedinyourcompanyisthatyouarealargecompanydealingininternationaltrade IfeelthatIwouldhavemorescopeforpersonaldevelopmentinyourcompanyandthattheworkwillbemorechallenging