II. Discuss these questions.
1 What do you think of:
a) the employers' decisions? b) the employees' reactions?
2 How important is your personal appearance at work?
Think about formal clothing, uniforms, men with earrings, and tattoos, etc.
III. Match the adjectives in column a to the nouns in column b. Make six word partnerships.
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А growing appearance company professional good unfair |
В dismissal human number rights discipline impression |
IV. Now complete these sentences with word partnerships from the list.
1 It is important to make a................ ......................at an interview by dressing appropriately.
2 In a case of................ ......................, an employee may sue a company to get their job back or to receive financial compensation.
3 А...growing… number….of firms realise that their employees' appearance is important. Therefore, many companies are introducing dress codes for their staff.
4 If a management allows staff to be absent from work without reason, this will affect................. ......................
5 When dealing with customers directly, it is important to have a………… …….
6 Some people say that being able to go on strike and having a minimum wage are basic................... ...................
Part III
Read the opening descriptions of the three people’s jobs. What do you think these expressions mean?
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private eye insurance claims |
taking her life in her hands like gold dust tempers can fire |
a strapping 6ft 9in |
Read the text. All the people answer the same six questions. What do you think the questions were?
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The people
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Job: private investigator Name: Clive Brown, 44 Qualifications: police training plus common sense HOME LIFE: married with two children SALARY: over £35,000 a year Being a private eye in real life isn't nearly as exciting as it is in detective stories. Clive Brown is on call day and night, investigating large insurance claims, dishonest employees, and unfaithful husbands and wives. |
JOB: traffic warden NAME: Linda Jackson, 35 QUALIFICATIONS: on-the-job training HOME LIFE: single SALARY: £16,000 a year
For the past 13 years, traffic warden Linda Jackson has been taking her life in her hands. In the few square miles of city streets where 5ft 4in Linda has her beat, parking spaces are like gold dust and tempers can flare.
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JOB: nightclub bouncer (official title‘Persuader') Name: Jim Allen, 42 QUALIFICATIONS: none, but all the right physical attributes HOME LIFE: married, no kids SALARY: £65 a night Bouncer Jim, a strapping 6ft 9in, has been standing on the door of the Black Cat nightclub in Leeds for the last 20 years making sure that trouble stays out and only the right kind of people get in.
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The question | |||
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I became a private eye because I was unemployed and had a family to support. I used to be a policeman so this was an obvious business. |
Basically for security. The company I worked for was making redundancies. Traffic wardens' money was good and so were the promotion prospects. |
I wanted work where I could meet people as I do enjoy it very much. Obviously, I'm also pretty strong physically, being an ex-professional boxer and wrestler. |
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I might not admit I'm a private investigator, but there are plenty of ways to 'disguise' what I do, such as calling myself a 'security consultant'.
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If I'm meeting someone for the first time I might say I work for the Civil Service. Then if they ask further I tell them because I'm quite proud of my job. |
Well, I don't like to be too obvious at the club, but I'd never lie about my job. I'm not out to give people any trouble. |
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Oh, you bet! You come across a lot of rather unpleasant characters. Someone who's been battering his wife, for example, isn't going to think twice before he starts battering me! |
I was very nearly attacked once, when I had to call the police to help me deal with a man who got extremely nasty. He was arrested -and he got a ticket from me as well! |
Some people get a bit upset at the door and won't be told to go quietly. But I never use violence myself. If anyone starts a fight, I always call the police. |
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Not that I can think of, but, in fact, if I'm doing my job properly I shouldn't have much contact with the people I'm investigating. They shouldn't even be aware I'm interested in them! |
Quite often I come up against people with a problem - someone ill at home, for example, and they have to get to the chemist. But I'd never stand there and argue or reduce them to tears. I just help as best I can. |
No! To be a bouncer, you need to understand people and to know about life. I think I'm very tactful. If I made the customers cry I might as well be working on a building site. |
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? |
Just every now and then, when a client's cheque bounces. That really brings the tears to my eyes! But, seriously, I try not to get emotionally involved in my job; otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it. |
Some of the horrible things people say have upset me, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of crying. Anyway I'd look pretty stupid in a uniform sobbing on the street.
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Do what?
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? |
I'd like to say the satisfaction of helping my fellow men and women, but to be honest the thing I really like best about it is the money it brings me. |
Meeting people - I'm a real chatterbox and love talking. I used to be shy, but the job soon changed that!
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The people, without a doubt! I can mix with the crowd for most of the time so it's a nice social job. |
Which of these adjectives do you think describes each person best?
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Part IV
Task
You are directors of Slim Gyms. Study the file cards on the four short-listed candidates. Hold a meeting to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each person. Try to agree on who seems to be the best candidate the job.
Background
SLIM GYMS owns and operates six health and fitness clubs in Manhattan, New York. The clubs aim to appeal to people of all ages and income groups.
All the clubs have a large gymnasium, with the latest equipment, an aerobics studio, a solarium, a swimming pool, sun decks, a cafe, bar and clubroom. There are always several fitness instructors on hand to advise people and provide them with personalised fitness programmes. A wide range of aerobic and relaxation classes run throughout the day and during the evening. The clubs try to create a friendly atmosphere, organising numerous social activities to bring members together. Three of the clubs are located in areas where large numbers of Spanish, Chinese and Italians live. Slim Gyms recently advertised for a General Manager.
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SLIM GYMS General Manager Required for our chain of Health and Leisure Clubs • Salary negotiable • Excellent benefits package
Apply to: 88 Harvey Place 11—С New York NY 10003-1324
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THE JOB • Developing a customer-oriented culture in the organisation in the clubs • Increasing the revenue and profits of the six clubs in Manhattan • Exploiting new business opportunities • Liaising with and motivating our team of managers and their staff Contributing to marketing plans and strategies THE PERSON • Dynamic, enthusiastic, flexible • A strong interest in health and fitness • A good track record in previous jobs •The ability to work with people from different cultural backgrounds • Outstanding communication skills • A flair for new ideas and sound organisational skills |
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NAME: Isabella Rosetti Age: 35 MARITAL STATUS: Single: EDUCATION: Princeton University - Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) EXPERIENCE: Advertising agency for the last eight years. Important position liaising with clients and managing a team of 10 people. Previously worked as Sales Manager in a department store (Chinatown area). OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Got a contract with a major advertiser. SKILLS: Fluent Italian, judo expert, paints. PERSONALITY/APPEARANCE: Well dressed and self-confident. Says she is usually successful when she wants to be.Thinks women are better managers than men: They listen more and use their intuition to solve problems' COMMENTS: Positive reference, but employer suggested she sometimes took days off work with no good reason. Several good ideas for increasing revenue, e.g. by setting up beauty centres in our clubs. Didn't mention the cost of doing this! Above average score on our aptitude test. HANDWRITING SAMPLE: I am currently working for… |
NAME: Michael Bolen Age: 36 MARITAL STATUS: Married, with three children EDUCATION: Columbia University - Master's degree in . Business Administration (MBA) EXPERIENCE: Four years with international sports goods manufacturer - Marketing Director Previous experience with a variety of firms (sales, administration). Wants to work for a smaller organisation. OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Successful product launch in previous job. SKILLS: Numerate and good with computers. Only a few words of Spanish. PERSONALITY/APPEARANCE: Forceful, determined, with strong views. Likes to 'keep his distance' from people until he knows them well. According to the letter of reference,'Some women find him too assertive and cold.' COMMENTS: Unhappy in present position. He has often changed jobs. Aptitude test - average score. HANDWRITING SAMPLE: I am looking for a new challenge… |
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NAME: Bob Wills Age: 40 MARITAL STATUS: Single EDUCATION: Park High School EXPERIENCE:Twenty years in US army - Physical Fitness Instructor. Travelled all over the world. Left army three years ago. Has taken courses in marketing, management and computing. Over the last two years has run a fitness centre in Lower Manhattan very successfully. OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Two decorations for bravery. SKILLS: Speaks Spanish fluently (his girlfriend is Puerto Rican). Is a successful disc jockey in a downtown club. PERSONALITY/APPEARANCE: Correctly dressed in a dark suit, but has tattoos. Sociable, with a lot of friends. Enjoys parties and dancing. COMMENTS: Believes you should always stick to the rules.Values honesty and reliability. Can be quick-tempered if people are not doing their best. Very enthusiastic with many good ideas. High score on aptitude test. HANDWRITING SAMPLE: I am writing to apply for the post of ... |
NAME: Stephanie Grant Age: 30 MARITAL STATUS: married, no children EDUCATION: New York University - BSc in Business Administration EXPERIENCE: Former swimming champion. Competed at Olympic Games. For last six years, highly successful presenter (children and sports programmes). OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Voted Top Sports Personality on a cable TV channel four years ago. SKILLS: Exceptional sportswoman. PERSONALITY/APPEARANCE: Beautiful, clever and successful. Good sense of humour On television, handles people well. Presents an image of a caring, sympathetic person. COMMENTS:'She'll do anything to get what she wants,' wrote one journalist. At 24, she gave up competitive swimming, following rumours of drug-taking. Aptitude test - above average. HANDWRITING SAMPLE: I would love the opportunity to contribute to your…
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