5. Points for discussion.

• How do people start looking for a job?

• What services do employment agencies offer?

• What are the stages of the job-hunting process?

• What questions should you think over before going to the interview?

• Why should we rehearse before the interview?

• Why is it advisable to do some research on the company you're going to be interviewed with?

• What can you say about finding a job in Russia nowadays?

• Make an employment advertisement. Give the name of the company, a brief job description; state what skills and qualifications are required; mention benefits and salary.

Part II. Writing a resume

The last part of your pre-interview preparation consists of writing your resume. Since this is the first docu­ment the interviewer will be seeing, it will create the first impression in his mind. The slightest mistake on a resume can disqualify an applicant in the eyes of an HR manager, so every word you write is of a paramount importance (avoid such slips as "Fluent in English, fax and xerox" or "Family: one son, one dog"). Keep your resume to one page. Don't go into much detail. A standard format for resumes must in­clude (in order):

• your name, address, phone num­ber should always go at the top of your resume;

• career objective: orient your re­sume to a particular position; it should be more than "to make money";

• your educational background (in chronological order): list any courses you've taken that might be relevant to the job you're seeking, including specific company training programs or language courses;

• your work experience (in re­verse order): outline your duties briefly, emphasizing your principal activities, especially those that ap­ply to the company you are tal­king to.

• the languages you speak and the degree of fluency; computer and other skills.

Don't give such details as your marital status, number of children, names of your supervisors, your hob­bies etc. If the interviewer wants to know, hell ask. You shouldn't stretch the truth. If the HR manager checks and finds a statement that isn't true, this will automatically eliminate you from a candidacy.

When you send your resume to a company, you must include a cover letter, which should be brief but to the point. The purpose of a cover letter is to get an interview with a company. Never send a resume without a cover letter.

The cover letter is composed of three or four short paragraphs. If you don't know the name of the person who is in a position to make decisions, your salutation should be "Dear Sir/Mad­am" or "Dear Sirs", rather than "To whom it may concern", judged as sounding too impersonal. The first paragraph explains why you are writ­ing. The goal is to create interest so that the reader continues reading.

"While researching job opportunities in the city, I recently heard about the opportunities in sales at Boogie-Waogie Company. The training program you offer for sales is the kind of opportuni­ty I've been looking for." The second paragraph describes why you are qual­ified for the position. If you are not sure what is available, explain why you are interested in the company.

"As you can see from my resume, I have had two years experience as a sec­retary in the sales department of Honey-Money, Inc. My responsibilities included interacting with clients on the telephone and in our showroom, as well as prepar­ing promotional materials. I have the energy and motivation necessary to sell consumer goods."

In the third paragraph expand on some of the achievements you men­tioned in your resume, or explain why you're interested.

"The fact that Boogie-Woogie Com­pany has begun production in SPb re­gion proves that you made a serious commitment to the Russian market. The reputation of your company for pro­moting employees into management po­sitions after they have proven them­selves is unique. Finally, you produce and sell high-quality products that have an excellent potential market."

The fourth paragraph is the most impor­tant. Open the door to further discus­sion with the prospective employer. Don't leave it to them to call you — being aggressive and persistent in the job-hunting process is often perceived as a positive quality! Tell them when you'll call.

"My background and talents could be an asset to your company. I'll call you in a few days to arrange the time when we can meet to discuss employment oppor­tunities. I look forward to speaking to you."

Don't forget that it should be a personal letter from you to a pro­spective employer. If your letter is general or a "form" letter it won't be effective. Make it unique in some way that will separate you from other can­didates. Use standard business letter format and edit carefully. Have a na­tive speaker proofread it.

EXERCISES