Jobs: topic box

What are the reasons these people have for choosing a certain kind of job and not another? What about you? What kind of a job would you tike? Why? What kind of job would you not like?

Elizabeth

The job I’d choose would have to be secure. I don’t mind starting with low pay if I know the job’s permanent. On the other hand, it has to have good prospects. There’s no point starting on a career if you can’t get a promotion, is there?

Jackie

I couldn’t stand being a teacher. I think I would just get up and throw a book at some of the children. I couldn’t be a doctor either – all that blood! I’d like to do some kind of social work perhaps, but I don’t really know what kind of jobs there are in that field.

Fred

I’m going to do something where I’m independent. I’ve got to be my own boss. I couldn’t stand anyone telling me what to do all the time. I wouldn’t mind working long hours if I knew I was working for myself.

Alan

I don’t care what I do as long as the money is good

Louis

I’d like to be a reporter on a magazine or a newspaper. It would be interesting because there would be so much variety. And I wouldn’t be stuck in an office all day. I would go out and meet people.

Penny

I’m going to be a designer – I’ve always been good at art. It’ll mean working in an office but I’ll be doing something different every day, so it’ll be interesting. I can’t think anything better than doing what you enjoy most all day long – and getting paid for it!

Phoning about a job

T he quickest way to find out more about any of the jobs advertised in the paper is to phone up. First you have to get through to the right person — not always easy.

"Could I speak to Mr Harris, please?"

"This is Booth, there's no Harris here."

"I'm sorry, I must have got the wrong number."

Or. "Mr Harris is not in this department."

"Well, could you put me through, please?"

Or: "Speaking."

"Good morning, my name's.... I saw in the paper that you have a vacancy for a... (that you need/require a...)."

Now choose one of the adverts on the next page and go on with the questions and answers on the right. Make up a dialogue, working in pairs.

The manager will want to know more about you:

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. Could you repeat it, pleased"

"Could you spell it for me?"

"You're not British, are you?"

"Are you looking for a permanent job or a temporary one?"

"Have you ever done work like this before?"

"Do you think you could manage it?'

"When could you come for an interview?"

"When would you be able to start?"

Give suitable answers

You 'II have some questions, too:

— about pay

— working hours

— holidays

— what you'll be expected to do

— bonuses

Ask further questions about the advert you have chosen.

Vacancies

Writing a letter of application

It's worth giving a bit of thought to a letter of application because your future employer gets his first impression of you from it. In a letter of application

— you give your reason for writing (e.g. "I'm a student of English and interested in..." / "I am looking for a job as..." / "I see you have a vacancy for a..."

— you give information about yourself (e.g. age, experience, qualifications, interests; if you are prepared to work at the weekends,or not; when you could start...)

— you ask for information (e.g. about the kind of work you would be expected to do, about working-hours, holidays, accommodation...)

- you say if and when you could come for an interview.

Write a letter of application for one of the jobs in the adverts. Add more information or questions of your own.