2. Discuss: How would you react to these statements? Who would you want to have as an employee?

Activity 9. Role Play

Read the following job interview.

Andrew is a senior in high school. He is looking for a summer job at a fast-food res­taurant. American teenagers frequently work after the age of sixteen, at part-time jobs after school, on weekends, and full- or part-time jobs during the summer. They work in restaurants, movie theatres, supermarkets, gas stations, stores, and so on. This is Andrew's first job interview. You will see that he still has a lot to learn.

Manager: Hello.

Andrew: Hello.

Manager: Why do you want this job?

Andrew: I need the money.

Manager: Do you work well under pressure?

Andrew: Yes, I've had experience at the Town Theatre working at the candy coun­ter. One afternoon I served over five hundred people.

Manager: Are you still working there?

Andrew: No.

Manager: Why did you leave that job?

Andrew: I left because I didn't get along with the boss.

Manager: Did you give them two weeks' notice?

Andrew: Well, no, actually I was fired. I sort of left by mutual consent.

Manager: Could I call them for a recommendation?

Andrew: You could, but you'd better not because I don't think she would give me

a good one.

Manager: Why not?

Andrew: Well, I did my work well, but we didn't get along.

Manager: What didn't you like about that job?

Andrew: When I was taking tickets at the door, I didn't like standing in one place

for four or five hours.

Manager: Are you going away in September?

Andrew: Yes, I'm going to college.

Manager: O.K. If you're hired, we'll call you in about a week.

Andrew: If you don't call me, should I come down?

Manager: No, don't bother.

Andrew: Well, thank you very much. Goodbye.

Manager: Goodbye.

In a small group

Discuss the following questions, analysing Andrew's interview.

What were some of the good and bad things in the interview?

How else could Andrew have answered the following questions?

a. Why do you want this job?

b Why did you leave that job?

c. Did you give two weeks' notice?

d. Could I call them for a recommendation?

e. What didn't you like about your other job?

f. Are you going away in September?

With a partner

For each role-play one person plays the person described in the left column, who is looking for a job. The other person plays the person described in the right column, who is an employer.

Person being interviewed 1. This woman is in her mid 40s. She was a music teacher in her native country. She worked in a school with hundreds of children. She has never sold before, but she does not like clerical work, and would like to get into sales. She has good taste, and enjoys being well-dressed. 2. This woman is in her mid 30s. In her native country she was an economist. She has just completed a course in a business school, has bookkeeping skills, and can do light typing at about thirty-five words per minute. 3. This man is a college student, age 20, who wants to work over the summer vacation. He wants a job that requires a lot of physical work.

Interviewer This woman is in her mid 30's, and is the owner of a small, fashionable boutique. She is energetic, nervous, and businesslike. She doesn't like to waste time. She needs a sales-person. This man is the owner of a small import-export company. Many of his clients speak the applicant's native language. He is a sympathetic person, but wants a bookkee­per who will give him a good day's work. This man is 52, very strong, big, and serious. He owns a construction company and sometimes employs summer workers for heavy jobs like pouring cement, etc.

With the whole class

Take turns.

Act out a job interview between the two people.

After each interview, let the class decide if the applicant will get the job.

Activity 10. Dream Job

Do you have a 'dream job'?

What job would you want if you could have any job in the world?

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