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BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · PROFICIENCY (C2)

NAILING
YOUR JOB
APPLICATION
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1 Warm up
Put the different stages of an application process in the correct order (more than one correct order is
possible). Then, in pairs, discuss good practices for each step.

do an interview

submit your applications

prepare your CV

send a follow-up email

allow background checks

write cover letters

receive an offer

search for openings

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NAILING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

2 Vocabulary 1
Replace the underlined parts of the questions with the correct form of the words in the box. You
might also have to add words and change their order. Then answer the questions in pairs.

slip-up (n) tailor (v) first-hand (adj) flawless (adj)

sloppy (adj) embellish (n) showcase (v) eager beaver (phr)

1. Why is it important for a CV and a cover letter to be without mistakes?

2. Is it OK to make your CV more interesting by adding details that are not always true?

3. What should you present in an attractive way in your CV?

4. How can you convey on your CV that you are a very enthusiastic person?

5. How can you get an opinion coming from personal experience about what it’s like working for a
company?

6. Why is it important to adapt the CV and cover letter to the specific opening you are applying for?

7. What should you say if the interviewer asks for an example of a careless mistake in the interview?

8. What can make you look like you don’t care in the application process?

3 Reading 1
Read the article about job applications and match the headings to the paragraphs.

1. Only you
2. Tailor your CV too
3. Show your true colours
4. Be persistent
5. Be a STAR
6. Be nosy
7. Get the wording right

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NAILING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

Nailing the application process

Applying for that dream job? Make sure silly slip-ups and minor oversights don’t get your application
in the ’rejected’ pile!

A.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that you need to tailor your application to the company you are applying for.
The problem is that for most people that means just checking out their website for their values and missions,
then copying and pasting some of it in their cover letter. Dig deeper: follow them on social media to get a better
feeling of what they’re about. If possible, reach out to people who work there to get a first-hand and insider
impression. You can even find out what their competitors are up to, to see how they’re doing things differently.
Most importantly: don’t be shy about letting them know you’ve done your homework.

B.

Once you know a lot about them, you can figure out what you and only you can do for them. What unique
contributions can you make to the company? Make clear in your communication what you bring to the table with
examples from your professional history, especially accomplishments and how you overcame difficulties.

C.

Needless to say, the CV and cover letter have to be flawless: the smallest typo will scream that you are sloppy.
If you can’t be bothered to proofread such important documents, what kind of attention to detail are you going
to have on the job? Apart from that, make sure your CV lists your accomplishments, not your responsibilities.
"Responsible for..." just says what you were asked to do, not how well you did it.

D.

Most people, for some reason, think that the CV is set in stone and that the cover letter should be specific for
every job - actually, many people just re-use the same cover letter over and over again! My point is that your
resumé should also reflect that specific job you are applying for – read the job description carefully and highlight
in your CV those professional experiences that show you’re the perfect fit.

E.

This isn’t about shining bright – well, that’s also important, but this is actually an acronym to remember at all times.
It’s a very effective way to communicate information about your accomplishments. The S stands for Situation:
describe the context in which you faced a challenge. T is for task: what was your role or responsibility. A is for
action: exactly how you rose to the challenge. And finally, R for Result: what your actions led to. You can’t go
wrong.

F.

This one goes two ways: first, never outright lie, or even embellish your CV. Lies tend to be short-lived and
will hinder your chances. The other way of seeing this is that you are much more than just your professional
experience. Show what you are really about – you’d be surprised how activities not even remotely related to the
job will showcase skills and traits that your future employer values.

G.

Many candidates are afraid to follow up and seem too desperate, but most employers like an eager beaver. It sets
you apart from all the candidates who are shooting in all directions and giving up at the first obstacle. Depending
on the circumstances, a call to the recruiter confirming receipt of your CV might help. Find what makes you the
ideal candidate and be ready to sum it up in a very few words if the opportunity arises.

Sources: forbes.com, michaelpage.com.au, linkedin.com

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4 Reading 2

Read the article again and decide if the following sentences are true (T), false (F) or not given in the
text (NG).

1. The writer claims that most applicants only do a superficial background check on the company
they’re applying for.

2. You should not show the interviewer how much you’ve researched the company.

3. Challenges that you overcame are more relevant than your accomplishments for recruiters.

4. Mistakes on your CV can be indicative of your future performance at the company.

5. All applicants tailor the cover letter, but not the CV.

6. STAR is a reminder of how you can talk about your achievements.

7. The mention of activities not directly related to the job should be avoided.

8. Most candidates apply to many jobs at the same time.

5 Vocabulary 2

What does the underlined expression from the text mean?

Make clear in your communication what you bring to the table with examples from your professional history.

Complete the underlined business expressions with the words in the box. Then tell a partner if you
agree with the sentences and why.

arm basket board book

ground mile picture shot

1. It always pays off to do things by the in business.

2. It’s always worth applying for promotion, even if it’s a long .

3. It’s often better to go back to the drawing than to insist on an idea that isn’t
working.

4. If you focus too much on details, you miss the big .

5. Managers don’t often recognise employees who go the extra .

6. It’s better to have several sources of income than put all your eggs in one .

7. If you know that you are right, you should always stand your when talking to
managers.

8. You shouldn’t let your manager twist your into doing something that’s not in your
job description.

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6 Grammar 1

Read the Grammar Box below.

Grammar Box: Grammar of phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs can be transitive (with an object) or intransitive (without an object).

Transitive: The problem is that for most people that means just checking out their website

Intransitive: ... and give up at the first obstacle.

Transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or not separable.

Separable: It sets you apart from all the candidates who are shooting in all directions...

Not separable: A is for action: exactly how you rose to the challenge.

If the phrasal verb is separable and the object is a pronoun, it must come between the
verb and the particle.

Find what makes you the ideal candidate and be ready to sum it up in a very few words if the
opportunity arises.

Find what makes you the ideal candidate and be ready to sum up it in a very few words if

the opportunity arises.

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NAILING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

Now, complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs in the box. Add pronouns if
needed.

call in catch up on give in run by

set up stick up for turn to work out

1. My manager sometimes to do work at weekends. Nobody else,

just me!

2. They made a lower offer, but I didn’t . I told them it was a 20% raise
or I would leave the company.

3. My colleague and I often have disagreements, but we usually with

an honest discussion.

4. In your first week, before sending emails to clients, me, OK?

5. Our manager always in board meetings.

6. The problem in this company is that, whenever you have a serious problem, you don’t know who
to .

7. I spent the whole morning in a meeting and didn’t have a chance to read my emails, so now I need
to .

8. I need a meeting with this client. Can you as soon as possible?

7 Speaking 1
Imagine you have a friend who is currently job-seeking. Send them a voice message with the main
ideas from the article and your own.

8 Talking point
In small groups, discuss the questions below.

1. What do you think of the tips in the article?

2. What other tips would you have for someone applying for a job?
3. What are common job interview questions?
4. What question do you dread being asked in a job interview?
5. Do you keep your CV constantly updated?
6. What is the job market in your country currently like?

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9 Extension activity 1

How many words from the worksheet can you remember? Test yourself!

1. What S-word is a careless mistake?

2. What S-word means present in an attractive way?

3. What E-word means make your CV more interesting by adding details that are not always true?

4. What F-word means without mistakes?

5. What B-word completes the phrase eager ... and means a very enthusiastic person?

6. What S-word is an adjective to describe someone who doesn’t care?

7. What B-word completes the idiom by the ... and means to do something according to the rules?

8. What G-word completes the idiom stand your ... and means to refuse to give in?

9. What M-word completes the idiom go the extra ... and means to make a special effort?

10. What T-word completes the idiom ... your arm and means to coerce you to do something?

11. What C-word completes the phrasal verb ... up on and means to make up for lost time?

12. What R-word completes the phrasal verb ... by and means to show someone something?

13. What S-word completes the phrasal verb ... up for and means to defend someone?

10 Extension activity 2

In groups, prepare a short video giving tips for job applicants.

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TEACHER MATERIALS · PROFICIENCY (C2)

NAILING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
Students order the stage of the application process. Tell them that there are different possible orders. They go
on to discuss best practices in each step. Elicit ideas as a whole class, but don’t provide much information at this
stage as they will read about it.

prepare your CV search for openings

write cover letters submit your applications

do an interview send a follow-up email

allow background checks receive an offer

2. Vocabulary 1

5 mins.
Ask students to look at the words and think about what they mean. They then replace the underlined parts of the
questions with the words in the box. Remind them that they may have to change some of the words, as well as
their order. After correction, students answer questions in pairs and then elicit some ideas as a whole class.

1. Why is it important for a CV and a cover letter to be flawless?

2. Is it OK to embellish your CV?
3. What should you showcase in your CV?
4. How can you convey on your CV that you are an eager beaver?
5. How can you get a first-hand opinion about what it’s like working for a company?
6. Why is it important to tailor the CV and cover letter to the specific opening you are applying for?
7. What should you say if the interviewer asks for an example of a slip-up in the interview?
8. What can make you look sloppy in the application process?

3. Reading 1

7 mins.
Ask students to read the article about job applications and match the headings to each section. After correcting
as a whole class, elicit some personal reactions to the text, such as: Which was the most interesting / surprising
piece of information? Which have you put into practice already?

A. Be nosy B. Only you

C. Get the wording right D. Tailor your CV too
E. Be a STAR F. Show your true colours
G. Be persistent
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2022/03/29/how-to-make-your-job-application-stand-out/
https://www.michaelpage.com.au/advice/career-advice/resume-and-cover-letter/how-make-your-job-application-
stand-out-0
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-stand-out-when-applying-job-what-avoid-while-process-up-baker/

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NAILING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

4. Reading 2

8 mins.
Ask students to read the sentences and try to remember if they are true or not. Remind them that some sentences
are not mentioned in the text. Students then read the text to check and compare answers in pairs. Correct as a
whole class, eliciting correct versions of the sentences that are wrong.

1. T 2. F 3. NG 4. T
5. F 6. T 7. F 8. NG

5. Vocabulary 2

10 mins.
Read the sentence from the text and elicit the meaning of the idiom (can contribute). Students complete the
expressions with the words in the box. Correct as a whole class, eliciting the correct meaning of each expression
(below), then ask students to discuss the sentences in pairs.
by the book = following rules; a long shot = an attempt not likely to succeed; back to the drawing board = start
over again; the big picture = the situation as a whole; go the extra mile = make a special effort; put all your eggs in
one basket = depend on a single thing for your success; stand your ground = refuse to give in when in an argument;
twist your arm = coerce you to do something

1. book 2. shot 3. board 4. picture

5. mile 6. basket 7. ground 8. arm

6. Grammar 1

10 mins.
Read the Grammar box with the students or give them time to read it on their own. Tell them that give up can also
be transitive (i.e., give something up), but in this example it’s transitive. Then ask them to complete the sentences
using the correct form of the phrasal verbs. Remind them to include the correct pronoun when necessary. When
correcting, elicit whether the phrasal verb is transitive or not, and if transitive, whether it’s separable or not.

1. calls me in 2. give in 3. work them out 4. run them by

5. sticks up for us 6. turn to 7. catch up on them 8. set it up

7. Speaking 1

10 mins.
Tell students they are going to record a voice message about the topic of the worksheet. Allow them some time
to prepare but encourage them not to write down everything they’re going to say. Once they’re ready, they
can record themselves. Tell them they can either start again if they’re not happy with the result or record it in
parts. Once they’re ready, ask them to exchange messages with another student, who should listen to it and give
feedback.

8. Talking point

5 mins.
Students discuss the questions in pairs. Elicit some ideas as a whole class.

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NAILING YOUR JOB APPLICATION

9. Extension activity 1

15 mins.
This task revises language from the worksheet. You might decide to ask students to put away the worksheet and
do it orally. It can also be done individually, in pairs or in small groups. Ideally, there should be an element of
competition. For example, it could be used for a running dictation, or you could have a point system (one point
for each correct word and an extra point if only one student/pair/group got it right).

1. slip-up 2. showcase 3. embellish 4. flawless

5. beaver 6. sloppy 7. book 8. ground
9. mile 10. twist 11. catch 12. run
13. stick

10. Extension activity 2

15 mins.
In small groups, students prepare and record a video about job applications. They should include what they have
seen in this worksheet but can add ideas of their own. Play the videos for the class to see and hold a vote to
decide which is the best one.

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