Careers Unit 01
Unit 01
Careers
Learning Objective
After studying this unit, you will be able to
• prepare questions that an interviewer and applicant would ask
• respond to employment interview questions
Warming-up Class Work
* Describe the pictures in 1 minute using your own words.
1. How many jobs have you had so far?
2. What kind of job did you enjoy most?
3. Have you ever consider changing your job? Why?
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Unit 01 Careers
Dialogue Class Work
Job Interview
Interviewer: How many jobs have you had since leaving university?
Candidate: I've worked for six companies.
Interviewer: Why have you changed jobs so often?
Candidate: I wanted to earn more money.
Interviewer: What have you done that shows leadership?
Candidate: Well, I lead the sales team. I'm also chairperson of a local business association.
Interviewer: What are your strengths?
Candidate: I'm fluent in Italian and Spanish. I'm good at training sales staff and I get on well
with people. I think I'm very good at organizing seminars for customers.
Interviewer: In what ways has your job changed since you joined the company?
Candidate: I now have more responsibility and work longer hours.
Interviewer: What mistakes have you made?
Candidate: I'm not patient when people don't meet deadlines.
Interviewer: Have you ever worked with a difficult person?
Candidate: Well, the boss in my last company wasn't easy to work with.
Comprehension Questions
1. How many companies has the candidate worked for?
2. Why has the candidate changed jobs so far?
3. What strengths does the candidate possess? Say just two things.
4. What mistake has been made by the candidate?
Dialogue Practice
Practice the conversation below with your partner.
A: How many jobs have you had since leaving university?
B: I've worked for (six companies).
A: Why have you changed jobs?
B: I wanted to (earn more money).
A: What are your strengths?
B: I'm good at (training sales staff and organizing seminars for customers).
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Careers Unit 01
Useful Expressions Class Work
Interviewer & Candidate
[Experience]
What did you learn from your last job? I learned to
What didn't you like about your last job? Well, I had a problem with
[Skills]
What are you good at? People say that I'm good at
Do you have any special skills? My main strengths are
[Future plans]
What do you want to do in the future? My main aim is to
Where do you want to be in ten years' I plan to be
time?
I hope to have
[Interests]
What do you do in your free time?
I really enjoy
What are your main interests?
I spend a lot of time
Reading Class Work
Cosmopolitan readers queue for Tube job
More than 1,400 readers of Cosmopolitan have applied to
become a London Tube train driver. London Underground described
the response to its single advertisement in this month's issue
as 'exceptional.'
Successful applicants will have to get out of bed for regular
4:45 a.m. starts, but the ￡27,650 salary and up to eight weeks'
holiday may prove sufficient compensation.
Lorraine Candy , editor of Cosmo, said t he interest her readers had shown demonstrated that young
women were not bound by traditional career patterns.
'It's always been a classic thing for boys to want to be train drivers. Now we're seeing that girls
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Unit 01 Careers
can do it too,' she said.
'I don't think the job is boring or unsexy and I'm sure the passengers couldn't care less whether the train is
being driven by a man or a woman—as long as it's on time.'
The ability to break bad news to travelers more sympathetically is one reason London Underground is
keen to increase its number of female drivers from 100—just three percent of driving staff.
Comprehension Questions
1. How many adverts did London Underground put in Cosmopolitan?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the job?
3. What do passengers care about most?
4. Why does London Underground want to hire more women?
Activity
High Profile Inc.: Job Interview
High Profile Inc. (HPI) is one of the biggest sports agencies in the world. At present, HPI is
interviewing two candidates for the job of marketing manager in its London office. Read the marketing
director's notes below.
Skills required
- Communication skills - Negotiating skills - Interested in travel
- Teamwork skills - Speak two foreign languages
Task
1. Work with your teacher.
Person A takes a role as the Marketing Director: turn to page 123. Person B takes a role as Candidate 1: turn
to page 124.
Read your role card and prepare for the interview. Then, hold the interview.
2. Change the roles.
Person B takes a role as either the Marketing director or the second option, P. Madison: turn to page 123.
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Careers Unit 01
Person A takes a role as Candidate: turn to page 124.
3. Decided which candidate is better for the job and explain why.
Discussion Class Work
1. Look at these jobs. Who do you think should get the highest salary for these jobs? Put the jobs
in order, highest salary first.
- lawyer - accountant - firefighter
- nurse - fashion model - teacher
- football star - postal worker - advertising executive
2. Which of the following would you like (○) or not like ( ×) in a job?
a. a lot of telephone work
b. writing lots of reports
c. working with the same people
d. working with a lot of different people
e. working individually
f. sharing an office
g. using English at work
h. working flexible hours (including weekends)
i. a casual dress code
j. uniforms
3. Which is more important to you: a high salary or having a job you enjoy?
Business Culture Individual Work
China: Interview Etiquette
• Your interview may be scheduled on a weekend, as some offices are open on Saturdays
• You may be greeted by a handshake, nod or slight bow to the head. Return the gesture that is initiated by
the interviewer. The traditional Chinese greeting is a bow. When bowing to a superior, you should bow
more deeply and allow him/her to rise first.
• Dress in appropriate attire for the industry to which you are applying. It is best to be slightly conservative
(more formal) for the first interview. For males conservative suits and ties in subdued
colors are the norm. For females, conservative suits or dresses are generally worn. A blouse or any other
kind of top should have a high neckline. Neutral colors such as beige and brown are common.
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Unit 01 Careers
Due to the emphasis on conservative, modest dress in Chinese business culture, flat shoes or very low
heels are the main footwear options for women. High heels are acceptable at formal receptions.
• the interview: if you are presented with business cards, accept with both hands. Study it for a few
moments before carefully placing it away. Do not hastily stuff a business card into your back
pocket or write on someone's business card, as this is regarded as highly disrespectful
• be aware that in China, it is perfectly acceptable to ask people questions about age, income, marital status
or related subjects. If you do not wish to answer personal inquiries, side-step these questions as graciously
as possible. Regardless, do not express annoyance, outrage or similar feelings that will cause the
questioner to 'lose face'.
Write Aloud
What do you know about the etiquettes or tips for a successful interview?
Vocabulary Individual Work
Dialogue
association: an organization or club
fluent: a) having full command of a foreign language, b) spoken or written with ease
get on with someone: to have a friendly relationship with them
Reading
queue: to stand in a line waiting for something advertisement: a promotion of a
product or service keen: eager; willing
Vocabulary Exercise
Fill the gaps with the words above.
1. I saw an for a job with a large engineering company.
2. Becoming in a foreign language is no easy task.
3. He joined an athletic
4. I wonder how Sam him.
5. She's still to keep in touch with her ex-boyfriend.
6. There is a line of women in for bread.
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