Text a. Job Hunting

Read and translate the text.

I think that to have a good job means to earn enough money for living and to get satisfaction from your activity.

Effective job hunting is a skill. It can be learned just like long division. Keep a positive attitude. Your search may take several months. A job candidate’s worst enemies are impatience and despair.

A candidate for a position should follow these steps:

– firstly, develop your career objectives. That means you should understand quite clearly which field is most attractive to you, why, which is best suited to your skills and interests.

– secondly, you are supposed to market yourself:

– answer newspaper ads, talk to recruiters, always project yourself as a competent professional. Enclose your cover letter whenever you mail your resume. Have business cards printed with your name, address and phone number to leave them with people you contact. Remember, you are selling a product: yourself. And before you sell a product, you have to find the person who will benefit from it.

Networking is the third step. It means asking for a job. Begin networking by calling people you know and who are likely to respond well to your request. Networking is a pyramid process. You know someone who refers you to someone else who knows someone who has a job opening.

And at last sell yourself in the interview. During the interview you should be able to explain how you fit in and what you can do to help the company be more profitable. For this purpose study the company’s annual report, catalogues, brochures; be familiar with the company’s products and services. You are sure to be asked a lot of questions. Just relax and try to be perfect. With enough practice, you’ll come close enough.

An applicant will have to deal with the next papers: an application form, a resume, curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter.

In an application form you should point out your personal information i.e. your name, address, telephone number, marital status, educational background, experience as well as the position you are applying for.

A resume is a written list of your personal, educational and professional background. It seems to present a product (yourself), offered to a prospective employer. A resume should be quite detailed, but at the same time rather short.

A curriculum vitae differs from a resume only in its volume (up to 6-8 pages) and is supposed for candidates for top positions or for work abroad.

A cover letter is sent to the company which you are asking for a job. In it you state your reasons for writing, describe your educational background and professional experience, enclose your resume, express other wishes and thank them for their consideration.

A thank-you letter will help improve your image and promote your acceptance for a job.

Try to show yourself from the best side, be optimistic, imaginative and flexible in your search, and you are sure to be a success.

Note:

Mind the following information:

A CV (“curriculum vitae” or “resume”) is essential if you’re applying for a new job or for promotion within your own company. Some information might be given in your CV, some in your letter or application – and perhaps some on a Supplementary Information sheet (giving information relevant to the particular job you’re applying for). There are no fixed international rules about this: different countries have different practices.

Exercise I. Match English and Russian equivalents:

1. to earn enough money

2. job hunting

3. like long division

4. you are supposed

5. who are likely to respond to your

request

6. who will benefit from it

7. you should be able to explain

8. try to be perfect

9. you’ll come close enough

10. will have to deal with

a) подобно делению в столбик

b) постарайтесь быть в наилучшей

форме

c) поиски работы

d) придется иметь дело с …

e) которые, вероятно, откликнутся

на вашу просьбу

f) предполагается, что вы

g) зарабатывать достаточно денег

h) вы будете близки к цели

i) вы должны уметь объяснить

j) который будет иметь выгоду от этого

Exercise II. Complete the sentences according to the text.

1. To have a good job means …

2. That means you should understand …

3. You are supposed to market yourself …

4. Begin networking by …

5. You know someone who …

6. During the interview you should …

7. For this purpose study …

8. An applicant will have to deal with …

9. In an application form you should point out …

10. A curriculum vitae differs …

Exercise III. Choose the right word or word-combination.

1. In an application form you should … your personal information.

a) point out; b) describe; c) write.

2. Begin networking by calling people you know and who are likely to respond to your ….

a) question; b) interview; c) request.

3. During the interview you should be able to explain how you fit … with the company.

a) in; b) on; c) out.

4. You are sure … a lot of questions.

a) to ask; b) to be asked; c) asked.

5. A thank-you letter will help … your image.

a) increase; b) improve; c) highlight.

Exercise IV. Insert the necessary preposition: in, for, from, at, to, with, at, for, in.

1. I think that to have a good job means to earn enough money … living and to get satisfaction … your activity.

2. You know someone who refers you … someone else who knows someone who has a job-opening.

3. And … last sell yourself … the interview.

4. … this purpose study the company’s annual report, catalogues, brochures; be familiar … the company’s products or services.

5. It seems to represent a product offered … a perspective employer.

6. Be optimistic, imaginative and flexible … your search.

Exercise V. Answer the questions on the text.

1. Effective job hunting is a skill, isn’t it?

2. What are the main steps that a candidate for a position should follow?

3. How will you market yourself?

4. What does networking mean?

5. What facts about the company should you know before you are interviewed?

6. What papers does an applicant have to deal with?

7. What information will you point out in an application form?

8. What is a resume?

9. What is the difference between a curriculum vitae and a resume?

10. Will a thank-you letter to the company you turned to benefit you?

Exercise VI. Think and answer.

1. What do you find a fair salary? Why?

2. Where can you find job advertisements?

3. Is there a Careers Advisory Service in your country/school?

4. How do people find jobs?

5. How do you fancy to find a job?

6. What is more important for you: a good salary or satisfaction from work? Why?