You never get a second chance
to make the first impression.
1 Check the words and phrases.
covering letter CV ( resume)
interview persuasive
relevant confusion
2 Read the information that will help you to write a covering letter.
When you apply for a job, most employers want to have 2 important documents from you: a CV (or resume) and a covering letter.
Your CV and covering letter are usually the first impression that an employer has of you. Your CV or resume is your visiting card, your ambassador, your shop window. It represents you and it has a specific purpose: to get you an interview! Before even looking at your CV, an employer usually reads your covering letter. If it is well-written, attractive, easy to read and persuasive, the employer will turn to your CV. It's that simple!
A covering letter is the letter that accompanies your resume when you send it to a company. The reader of your letter may be busy and unwilling to waste time on unnecessary details. You should therefore design your letter to be easy to read. It should be short and relevant. It should not be too formal or complicated.
Your letter should:
• confirm that you are applying for the position
• say where you learned about the position
• say why you want the position
• say why you would be a benefit to the company
• request an interview.
The layout of a modern business letter in English is very simple. Your address is at the top, on the right or in the middle. The rest of the letter can be in 'block' format, with each line starting on the left. Try to keep the whole letter on one single page, with plenty of white space.
Remember:
1 Do not write the date as numbers only, for two reasons: It can be considered too official and therefore impolite. All-number dates are written differently in British English (31/12/09) and American English (12/31/09). This can lead to confusion.
2 A letter in English always begins with 'Dear...', even if you do not know the person. There are several possibilities: Dear Sir/ Dear Madam /Dear Mr. Smith /Dear Mrs. Smith, Dear Sir/Madame, Dear Sir or Madame, etc.
4 End your letter by Yours sincerely /Yours faithfully /Yours truly
5 Sign in black or blue ink with a fountain pen.
3 Study the example of covering letter. What can you learn about Rachel King’s:
a) working experience
b) recent job
c) why could she be a benefit to the company?
26 rue Josef
75008 PARIS
France
tel: +33 1 77 77 77 77
email: rachelking@eflnet.fr
17 April, 2006
Horizons Unlimited PO Box 444 Richmond
Surrey
SJ5 4TS
Dear Sir or Madam,
In reply to your advertisement in “Work and Education” I would like to apply for the position of civil engineer. I am a certificated civil engineer with nearly 10 years' experience to offer you.
I enclose my resume as a first step in exploring the possibilities of employment with Horizons Unlimited.
My most recent experience was participation in a large-scale construction project for Landscape Laborers. I was responsible for the project supervision and had to deal with the customers’ complaints.
As Civil Engineer with your organization, I would bring a focus on quality and effectiveness to team-work and I am experienced in responsibilities planning.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully, 
Rachel King
|
4 Louisa Barry wants to apply for a job. Match the addresses and dates below with the correct position on the letter. Put Louisa’s letter in the correct order.
30th April 2009 Horizons Unlimited 15 Thayers Farm Road
PO Box 444 Abington
Richmond Northampton
Surrey NT12 4PF
| __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ _________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ |
SJ5 4TS
a I am interested in the secretarial position you have.
b I will be able to start work in the middle of June.
c I look forward to hearing from you soon.
d Yours faithfully,
e I enclose my CV as requested
f I am a qualified and experienced PA, and I am bilingual in Spanish and English. I also speak French fluently
g I am writing in reply to your advertisement for temporary summer positions, which appeared in the Western Mail on 27th April
h Dear Sir of Madam,
i Louisa Barry
5 Write a similar letter to Horizons Unlimited. Mention where you would like to work and what kind of work you would be interested in. You can invent qualifications and experience!
Reading and writing
Your CV/Resume
1 Check the words and phrases.
objective
experience
skills
statement of intent
extracurricular
reference reverse
fluent
request intermediate
2 Read the text and learn how to write resumes in English.
CV stands for the Latin words Curriculum Vitae, which mean: the course of one's life. A CV is also called a resume (especially in American English). Your CV is a summary of your professional/academic life until now, and it usually concentrates on your personal details, education and work experience.
An excellent resume may help you get the job of your dreams. Ideally, resume should not be longer than one page.
The contents of a resume can be roughly categorized as: PERSONAL INFORMATION, JOB OBJECTIVE, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, REFERENCES.
The resume begins with PERSONAL INFORMATION, name, address, telephone number and e-mail centered at the top of the page.
After your address, JOB OBJECTIVE should be written. Think about your job search and career goals carefully. For example: "Objective: To obtain a position in telecommunication that will allow me to use my knowledge of engineering and take advantage of my desire to work in sales."
After the statement of intent, describe your EDUCATION. List the universities, institutes and colleges you have attended in reverse chronological order. Any studying you have done abroad should be included and courses you have taken and that are relevant if you graduated with honors, you should definitely include this. A "red diploma" can be called "graduated with high honors" in English. Do not include your school.
In the EXPERIENCE section list your experience starting with your most recent place of employment and work backwards. List your responsibilities in short statements that don’t include the words "my" or "I".
Following experience, you should list your special SKILLS. These include your language skills, computer abilities, and any other talents that relate to your statement of intent. When describing your language abilities, it is better to be honest about your level, "Fluent English," "native Russian," "intermediate German", and "beginning French" are all ways to describe your language abilities.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES should be included in the next section. Organizations you belong to, sports and hobbies should be listed here. Do not list "reading" or "writing" as an activity. It is assumed most people with a higher education do these things regularly.
The last section of your resume is the REFERENCE section. List at least two people, not related to you, who can describe your qualification for the job. Their names, titles, places of work, and telephone numbers should be included. If you do not have space on your resume for this, write "Available upon request." You will then be expected to give this information to a prospective employer if it is requested.
A neat and well-written resume with no spelling mistakes will give an employer the impression that you are accurate and take care of details.
3 Read Louisa’s CV and tick the topics in the text which are included.
| Louisa Barry Flat 7, 32 Sycamore Avenue Marston MN42 7HD Tel: (home) 0278 657 9876 (mob) 09876 334455 E-mail: LouisaBarry@eserve.co.uk Education High school graduate, Fredericksburg Gymnasium, Denmark. Degree Transportation Management, University of Marston (to be completed June 2009). Knowledge of all aspects of transportation processes (design, logistics, transport rounds). Skills Proven ability to work under pressure as a member of a team, excellent personal skills. Experience Six-month work placement with independent transportation company (Brown’s Roads Inc, Marston) working on delivery processes. Gained valuable experience during university vacations working in private transportation companies in France. Languages Danish (mother tongue), French (fluent in speech and writing), English (intermediate). Personal details Danish nationality (EU citizen – work permit not required). Age 22. Single. Non-smoker. Full clean driving license. |
4 a Find words or phrases in Louisa’s CV that mean the following.
1 she has shown that she can do something
2 the ability to get on well with people
3 time spent getting work experience while you are a student
4 someone who has completed their course at school or university
5 it will be finished
6 first language
7 quite good
8 someone who doesn’t smoke
b Notice how in a CV we miss out words which are unnecessary or obvious.
Examples:
(I am) final year student in Transportation Management at (The) University of Marston.
(I have) knowledge of all aspects of transportation processes.
4 Work in pairs. Imagine that your firm received a lot of applications for a job. Discuss them. Sort them into three groups:
a these look promising,
b these are possibles,
c no, thanks.
1 As you will see from my enclosed CV, I have been working for my present company for three years. I joined them as assistant works manager and was promoted to production manager last year. Before that I had spent two years taking full time diploma course.
2 My name’s Jim Brown and I can do great things for your company!
3 I’m 29, unmarried, fit and healthy and I’ve got all the qualifications and experience to make me the ideal.
4 I am sure I would be able to manage the department successfully as I am good at supervising people and at giving clear instructions. I feel that I would be perfect.
5 I wish to apply for the job you have advertised. Please send me further details.
6 I noted with interest your advertisement for a marketing assistant.
7 I am writing about the job in your advertisement in today’s newspaper. I have 5 years’ experience in export and import trade as well as the qualifications you listed.
8 I am ambitious and my present job doesn’t offer me the chance to develop.
9 If you consider that my experience and qualifications are suitable, I would be available for interview at any time
10 I enclose a CV, which gives full details of my qualifications and work experience. In support of my application, I should like to mention that, though my present employers are first – rate and our relationship is excellent, I am keen to extend my range and I am looking for a more rewarding and challenging job.
11 I would be grateful if I could discuss the post available in person and perhaps go into my background and my suitability for the post in more detail.
5 Write a CV for yourself using the headings in the text and Brigitte’s CV to help you. You can invent experience and qualifications if you prefer.
Reading and speaking
The job interview
Luck never gives; it only lends.
1 Check the words and phrases.
to relax the dress code well-groomed
trimmed
application form
stranger
effort
shrug weaknesses
to get rid of smth.
2 Read the text and be ready to answer the following questions:
• Imagine you are having and interview. What will you put on?
• What will you do to get ready for the interview?
• What will you say to impress the interviewer?
You finally have an interview! Here are several useful pieces of advice that are designed to help you in getting the job of your life.
First of all, the interview is not the place to exhibit your flair for the latest fashion style. Even though many companies have relaxed the company’s dress code, interviews still follow the conservative standard. Remember that stylish is not conservative. How to dress for an interview?
Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best).Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best). Clean, polished conservative shoes. Well-groomed hairstyle. Clean, trimmed fingernails. Minimal cologne or perfume. Empty pockets—no keys or tinkling coins. No gum, candy or cigarettes. Light briefcase or portfolio case. No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.) No beards. Mustaches are a possible negative, but if you must, make sure it is neat and trimmed. No dresses. carry a briefcase instead. Minimal use of makeup.
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW.
1 Find as much as you can about the job beforehand.
2 Think about how your qualifications and experience relate to the job. Why should the employer employ you and not somebody else?
3. Make sure you know where the interview office and how to get there. Be on time, or better, a few minutes earlier.
4 Bring a pen; you will probably be asked to fill an application form. Answer all the questions the best you can.
5 Bring with you samples of your work or letter of recommendation from your teachers or any one else you might have worked part time for.
AT THE INTERVIEW. The interview is designed to find out more about you and to see if you are suitable for the job. And now consider the interview for a moment. You will be spending twenty to thirty minutes in a tiny cubicle with a total stranger. This person will then decide whether you will ever have a chance of working for their company. The best you can hope for is to avoid being disqualified, which only takes you one step further into the interviewing labyrinth. One little mistake, one little error, and you could be history. So to survive there you should:
1 Be prepared.
2 Strike fast. Try to establish your candidacy in the first 5 minutes of the interview. Look people in the eye.
3 Make a real effort to answer every question the interviewer asks. Be clear and concise. Never answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or shrug.
4 Admit it if you don’t know anything about the more technical aspects of the job. Stress that you are willing to learn.
5 Show some enthusiasm when job is explained to you.
6 Ask questions at the close of the interview. For instance, about the working hours, holidays, or if there is a training programme.
7 Be ready to fill out applications, give references, take some examinations or tests on request.
As you prepare for the interview process, remember that any interview is a useful experience that helps you to find out your weaknesses and get rid of them.
3 Get ready for the group simulation. Read all the information. Analyse all questions, be ready to answer them.
QUESTIONS INTERVIEWERS ASK
Personal:
1. Tell me about yourself. (Expand on your resume in two minutes).
2. What are your hobbies?
3. What do you know about our organization?
4. Describe your ideal job.
5. What do you consider to be your strengths/ weaknesses?
6. Who are your role models? Why?
7. What motivates you most in a job?
8. Have you ever had difficulty in getting along with a former supervisor / co-worker? How did you handle it?
9. Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why?
10. What have you learned from your mistakes?
Education:
1. Why did you choose your university?
2. In which campus activities did you participate?
3. Which classes did you like best/least? Why?
4. If you were to start your college career over again, what you would do in a different way, and why?
5. What is your grade point average? Does this accurately reflect your ability? Why/why not?
6. Have you held any leadership roles? What is your leadership style?
Experience:
1. What job related skills have you developed?
2. Describe your previous work experience. What were your responsibilities? What did you learn?
3. How does your college education or work experience relate to this job?
4. How do you think a former supervisor would describe your work?
5. In what ways do you think you could make a contribution to this company?
Career goals / other:
1. What are your short-term goals? Long-term goals?
2. Do you prefer to work under supervision or on your own?
3. What qualities do you look for in a supervisor?
4. Describe your ideal working environment.
5. Why do you think you would be successful in this career?
6. What are your plans for continued education?
7. Why should we hire you?
YOU are expected to ask questions about the position or the company during an interview. Do not ask questions regarding information that was available on the company’s website or literature! This will show you haven’t done your research!
About the job:
1. What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed in the job?
2. What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within this organization?
3. What do you consider to be the most challenging aspects of this job?
4. How is performance measured and reviewed?
5. Is this a new position or a replacement?
6. Why did this person leave this job?
7. What kind of work might I be doing in the first six months of the job?
8. What is your method of training and orienting new employees?
9. Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position?
10. When do you expect to make a decision on this position?
About the department
1. How many employees are in this department?
2. Who are the other people with whom I would work in this position?
3. With what other key individuals/groups does this person interface?
About the company
1. What are the company’s values?
2. Could you explain your organizational structure to me?
3. Where does this position fit in the organization?
4. Can you describe the company’s management style?
5. What are the company’s policy regarding ongoing training and education so that employees can keep up with their skills or acquire new ones?
4 Make up a list of possible don’ts for an interview.
Real Life
A formal telephone call
1 Louisa Barry is phoning to Horizons Unlimited. Listen to the conversation. Why is she phoning? What is the secretary going to do?
2 Complete the missing phrases in the conversation. Then listen again and check.
Telephonist Good morning, Horizons Unlimited.
Louise Hello, _____________________ to Marion O’Neill, please.
Telephonist Marion O’Neill… just a moment, I’ll ________________.
Secretary Hello, how can I help?
Louise Err… ____________________ to Marion O’Neill, please?
Secretary I’ll just see if she’s available, can I ask __________?
Louise Louisa Barry.
Secretary One moment, please. (pause) Hello?
Louise Yes, hello?
Secretary Yes, I’m afraid Marion’s in a meeting at the moment…
can I take __________________ or shall I ask _______ back?
Louise Well, I’m _________________ she interviewed me for a
job about two weeks ago and I haven’t heard anything yet.
Secretary Okay, well, __________________ the message and ask her
to call you back. Have you got a number______________?
Louise Well, I’ll be here till about 4 o’clock… the number’s
01604472472.
Secretary Right, and __________________?
Louise No, but she can _______________ on the answering machine.
Secretary Okay, then, thanks ____________.
Louise Thank you, bye.
Secretary Bye.
3 Work in pairs. Act out a conversation below. Student A: You are phoning Travel Direct to find out about some airline tickets you ordered. You want to speak to Sandi Elliott. Student B: You work at Travel Direct. Sandi Elliott is on the other line at the moment.
Student A Student B
← Answer the phone
Ask to speak to Sandi Elliott ---------------→
← Explain that Sandi is on the other
line; ask the caller to hold or if
he/she wants Sandi to call back
Ask if she can call back ---------------------→
← Ask what the call is about
Explain what the call is about---------------→
←Ask for the caller’s number
Give your number(s) -------------------------→
and say when you
can be contacted
← Say thank you and end
the conversation
Say goodbye------------------------------------→
Vocabulary&Reading
Contracts
1 Do the General Knowledge Quiz.
1 Contract is a
a formal agreement.
b verbal agreement.
c written exchange of promises.
2 Labour Code is a
a volume of ancient manuscripts.
b system of letters to communicate messages.
c set of principles and rules of work.
3 Remuneration is a
a system of numbers.
b system of compensations an benefits.
c reward or payment.
4 Fringe benefit is a
a bonus given in addition to a regular salary.
b hair style.
c payment to the poor.
5 Notice is
a representation of numbers and quantities.
b notification of intention to end a contract of employment.
c observation, special attention.
2 Read the contract. Pay attention to its structure.
| CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT I. General conditions of employment • Working hours – full-time 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 Saturday • Holidays – as indicated in the Labour Code and other state regulations; to be arranged by the department manager • Notice - two weeks’ notice is required during one month’s trial period - one month’s notice is required after the trial period - both parties can terminate this contract on day the trial period expires without previous notice - in all cases a notice in writing is required II. Responsibilities • contracts with customers • collecting information • managing in day to day engineering operations • planning the works • leading the team • resolving the problems III. Remuneration • A monthly salary of 2000 will be paid during the trial period. • Next, a monthly salary of 10.000 will be paid, plus incentive bonus, which will be 0,2% of the department income over 2.000.000. IV. Fringe benefits • Company car, also for private use – within a limit of 200 km/month • Free medical care. |
3 Find in the text the synonyms of the following words:
employee’s tasks
payment
supervision
probation
benefit
to end
work regulation laws
4 Make up a contract that would be ideal for you. Try to be realistic. Discuss your contract with your partner.
Check yourself
Translate the text into Russian using a dictionary if necessary.
Дата: 2018-12-21, просмотров: 631.
