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PREPARATORY WORK
Time flies, and one day you will have to look for the job. In this unit you'll learn how to write a letter of job application, curriculum vitae (CV) = resume (American version), a short written account of your education and past employment.
Besides, you will be given some hints (advice) on how to behave during an interview.
How to write a job application
The job-winning tips from professionals:
1. Put your address, telephone number and date in the top right-hand comer and the name of the person you are applying to on the left, level with the date. Write the company name and address below.
Leave a line between paragraphs.
2. First paragraph — a polite one-sentence opening explanation of why you are writing.
3. Tell them you know that they are busy people but stress that your CV proves you are worthy of their time too.
4. Describe yourself like a product on sale. List your skills and such personal qualities as high motivation, enthusiasm and adaptability.
5. If you have qualifications, list them briefly.
6. A positive attitude is important, so explain why it's the only firm you want to work for.
7. Ask for an interview. Say you are happy to come in for a chat at any time, even if there are no jobs available now. Thank the readers for their time and remind them you are waiting for a reply. Use "Yours sincerely" if you're writing to a named person and "Faithfully" if you started "Dear Sir/Madam". Sign your letter at the bottom left and print your name clearly below.
YOUR CV (CURRICULUM VITAE)
Always type it on unlined white paper, preferably a single sheet.
Write your name, address and telephone number.
Put your health record, date of birth and marital status.
In the next section, note down your education. Put any qualifications on the next line.
Next, detail your work history, starting with your most recent job. Give dates, employers and describe your duties.
List hobbies and interests and put extra information in a separate section.
End by saying that two referees are available on request - not naming them leaves you free to choose the best ones for particular jobs. Remember the longer an application, the less chance it has of being read.
Never send a photo-copied letter - it looks as though you don't care.
Always be positive and never apologise for being You.
AN INTERVIEW
1. Think of the questions you might be asked during an interview about:
1. yourself 9. your strong points
2. your family 10. your weak points
3. your education 11. adaptability
4. your friends 12. flexibility
5. your hobbies 13. responsibility
6. your previous job 14. ambition
7. your interests and talents 15. your failures and experience of
8. business you plan to have overcoming them
2. What kind of questions would you like to ask the interviewer? Think of possible questions concerning:
1) your future job 4) your promotion
2) your со - workers 5) your duties
3) your'salary 6) possible difficulties (problems)
3. What kind of clothing would you wear if you got an invitation for an interview? Perhaps some hints from below will help you. Try to choose the proper clothes and colour. Remember that your personal appearance sends a message even before you have an opportunity to shake hands with your interviewer.
Women's clothing Men's clothing
a blouse a shirt (with long sleeves, short sleeves)
a skirt a T-shirt
1) a mini-skirt a waistcoat
2) a pleated skirt trousers a jacket the jeans
a pullover a jacket
1) double-breasted
a trousers suit 2) single-breasted
a suit a suit
a dress a sport suit,
a windcheater (jacket)
an evening dress a sweater
a lady's hat evening dress coat (tails)
a coat a tie
walking shoes leather shoes
sandals moccasins, boots
high-heeled shoes trainer sneakers
boots
a broach
a bracelet
rings
beads
earrings, clips
a pin (golden, silver)
Colours
white blue red grey (gray AmE)
black navy-blue pink lilac
brown dark-blue yellow orange
green
HOW TO BEHAVE DURING AN INTERVIEW
It's evident that getting a job depends on many factors, among them writing a strong job application and CV or resume. Your behaviour during an interview, however, is often the best and often the most important stage in getting a job.
Interviews may be conducted by one or by several people.
The interview is an opportunity for the applicant to project his/her personality and convince the interviewers of his/her suitability for the job.
1. Pay attention to the way you are dressed.
When you are properly dressed you demonstrate respect and consideration for those with whom you interact
Your hairstyle, nails and choice of cosmetics will contribute to your appearance.
Your clothing should meet the requirements of business style. It's very important that you should feel comfortable in your suit.
2. Be ready to speak about yourself. Your words should contain something to make people take notice of you. Describe briefly your experience at previous jobs and the good results you achieved there.
3. A standard question you may be asked — "Why are you looking for a job?" You should be ready to offer reasons which sound convincing.
4. You should organize your thoughts logically, have self-confidence, and never distort facts or try to persuade people to your way of thinking.
5. You must be ready to answer some unexpected questions: ''What are your strong points?" and "What are your weak points?"
Your speech should be illustrated with clear examples. When speaking about your failures or mistakes be sure to emphasize the conclusion you have drawn after analyzing your failures and what they taught you
Just remember that the capacity to overcome failures and analyze mistakes is valuable to any company.
6. You may be asked what you can do for the company or how you see your future duties. You should learn as much as possible about the company you are dealing with. If possible quote concrete figures or examples so that the interviewer will appreciate the extent of your contribution.
7. What salary are you expecting?
Think of concrete figures - you should base your answer on the average salary of other employees with your qualification.
8. Be ready for practical tests - if you apply for a job as a salesmanager you may be asked to sell something or to express your opinion about how to settle a conflict in a hypothetical situation.
9. At the end of the interview you may ask some questions. You should enquire about what your future job will entail, what possible difficulties there are in store for you, and what the other staff members are like.
10. Some more advice:
1) Never be late. Even if you come too early, it is better to walk around outside than to bother the interviewer about what you should do for the next 20-15 minutes.
2) Remember that your speech should be more than mere words. How you speak sometimes is not as important as what you say.
3) Be yourself —just speak the way you speak with your friends. Try to overcome your nervousness. You can learn to control your nervousness rather than let it get the better of you. Try to accept nervousness as a natural way of helping you to be alert and do your best. Remember it is normal and natural for you to be a little nervous. As you speak, smile and try to change your facial expression to convey the emotions that you feel. A smile coupled with good posture can work wonders.
4) Much attention should be paid to eye contact. You should not look at the floor or at the ceiling. Look into the eyes of the people you are talking to.
Your speech is certain to be enthusiastic and lively. Now think what kind of person you are.
You may use the following words to describe yourself and other people:
to be reliable to be well-organised to be intelligent
to be adaptable to be flexible to be loyal
to be energetic to be friendly to be professional
to be hardworking to be honest to be ambitious
to be experienced to be responsible to be communicative
to be modest to be patient to be sensitive
to be practical to be independent to be romantic
to be punctual to be sociable to be helpful
What do we mean:
1) when we say that a person is:
- reliable, hardworking, sociable, helpful, ambitious, friendly, professional, experienced?
2) when we say that a person is:
- unreliable, dependent, unfriendly, inexperienced, dishonest, indifferent, unsuccessful, irresponsible, helpless, inflexible?
Translate the following words and if you can say in what context you can use them:
to apply to advertise to interview
application advertisement an interview
applicant advertiser interviewer
interviewee
to employ to appear to suit (a suit)
employment appearance suitability
employer to disappear suitable employee
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