Recruitment

and Enquiries
English for Business II - Spring 2024
Some feedback on CVs
- Take all the opportunities you can to highlight your
skills
- Use the grammatical forms discussed in class to
make your CV more precise and efficient.
- Only include an interests/hobby section if you
think it will improve your employment chances
Employment agency Shortlist

Senior/Junior post Application

Headhunter Curricula Vitae

Vacancy Cover letter

Internal/external candidate Resign

Promotion Job description

Post
1. After two years of hard work, she was thrilled to receive a ____________ to
a managerial role within her team.
2. During the hiring process, the company considered both ____________
and ____________ _____________ for the management position.
3. She carefully filled out the ____________ form, making sure to detail all her
relevant experience and skills.
4. The ____________ in the IT department was advertised internally, hoping
to find a suitable candidate from current employees.
5. After graduating from college, I registered with a local ____________ to
find my first job in marketing.
6. The hiring committee created a ____________ of five candidates for the
final round of interviews.
7. He was eagerly waiting to see if he got the ____________ in the marketing
department he had applied for last week.
1. After two years of hard work, she was thrilled to receive a promotion to
a managerial role within her team.
2. During the hiring process, the company considered both internal and
external candidates for the management position.
3. She carefully filled out the application form, making sure to detail all
her relevant experience and skills.
4. The vacancy in the IT department was advertised internally, hoping to
find a suitable candidate from current employees.
5. After graduating from college, I registered with a local employment
agency to find my first job in marketing.
6. The hiring committee created a shortlist of five candidates for the final
round of interviews.
7. He was eagerly waiting to see if he got the post in the marketing
department he had applied for last week.
1. A ____________ contacted me with an opportunity at a leading tech
firm, saying my skill set was a perfect match.
2. He was excited to apply for the ____________ ______________ in the
finance department, as it would be a big step up from his current
role.
3. The ____________ listed all the duties and responsibilities of the sales
manager role, along with the required qualifications.
4. In her ____________, she explained why she was passionate about
joining the organization and how her background was a perfect fit.
5. After much consideration, he decided to ____________ from his
position to pursue a career in freelancing.
6. His ____________ was impressive, showcasing a decade of experience
in high-level project management.
1. A headhunter contacted me with an opportunity at a leading tech
firm, saying my skill set was a perfect match.
2. He was excited to apply for the senior post in the finance
department, as it would be a big step up from his current role.
3. The job description listed all the duties and responsibilities of the
sales manager role, along with the required qualifications.
4. In her cover letter, she explained why she was passionate about
joining the organization and how her background was a perfect fit.
5. After much consideration, he decided to resign from his position to
pursue a career in freelancing.
6. His curricula vitae (CV) was impressive, showcasing a decade of
experience in high-level project management.
Your employee, Bill, has informed you that he will leave your company after his
contract expires. What is the first thing you should do?

A. either hire an employment agency (or for a senior post, a firm of headhunters), or
advertise the vacancy
B. establish whether there is an internal candidate who could be promoted (or
moved sideways) to the job
C. examine the job description for the post, to see whether it needs to be changed (or
indeed, whether the post needs to be filled)
D. invite the shortlisted candidates for an interview
E. make a final selection
F. receive applications, curricula vitae / resumes and covering letters, and make a
preliminary selection (a shortlist)
G. try to discover why Bill resigned
H. write to all the other candidates to inform them that they have been unsuccessful
You talk to Bill; he has found a more fulfilling position somewhere else, and you
can’t convince him to stay. You need to find someone else. What to do next?

A. either hire an employment agency (or for a senior post, a firm of headhunters),
or advertise the vacancy
B. establish whether there is an internal candidate who could be promoted (or
moved sideways) to the job
C. examine the job description for the post, to see whether it needs to be
changed (or indeed, whether the post needs to be filled)
D. invite the shortlisted candidates for an interview
E. make a final selection
F. receive applications, curricula vitae / resumes and covering letters, and make
a preliminary selection (a shortlist)
G. write to all the other candidates to inform them that they have been
unsuccessful
You have examined the job description for Bill’s post and have made a
few changes, and you have decided to replace him. What next?

A. either hire an employment agency (or for a senior post, a firm of

headhunters), or advertise the vacancy
B. establish whether there is an internal candidate who could be
promoted (or moved sideways) to the job
C. invite the shortlisted candidates for an interview
D. make a final selection
E. receive applications, curricula vitae / resumes and covering letters,
and make a preliminary selection (a shortlist)
F. write to all the other candidates to inform them that they have
been unsuccessful
You have established that there is no suitable internal
candidate. What is your next step?

A. either hire an employment agency (or for a senior post, a

firm of headhunters), or advertise the vacancy
B. invite the shortlisted candidates for an interview
C. make a final selection
D. receive applications, curricula vitae / resumes and covering
letters, and make a preliminary selection (a shortlist)
E. write to all the other candidates to inform them that they
have been unsuccessful
You decide to save money by doing the recruiting yourself
instead of using an employment agency. You advertise the
vacancy. What do you do next?
A. invite the shortlisted candidates for an interview
B. make a final selection
C. receive applications, curricula vitae / resumes and
covering letters, and make a preliminary selection (a
shortlist)
D. write to all the other candidates to inform them that
they have been unsuccessful
You have received several applications and CVs and
have made a shortlist of the best candidates. What
next?
A. invite the shortlisted candidates for an interview
B. make a final selection
C. write to all the other candidates to inform them
that they have been unsuccessful
You invite the shortlisted candidates for an
interview. What’s next?
A. make a final selection
B. write to all the other candidates to inform them
that they have been unsuccessful
Listening activity 1
Listen to the interview with John Antonakis and answer the
following question:

1. John Antonakis says that’s it’s important to come prepared

for an interview. Based on the audio, what can interviewees
do to prepare for the interview?
Listening Activity 2: Mark whether the following statements are true or
false based on the audio.
1. Interviewers make quick decisions about interviewees because
they don't have enough information about them.
2. Interviewees can demonstrate their intelligence and personality in
a job interview.
3. Interviewers make judgements on the basis of small signals or
cues.
4. Interviewers have a fixed idea in their heads as to what a
competent person looks like.
5. Interviewers are biased towards people who resemble
themselves.
6. Interviewers can either try to make a candidate succeed or fail.
7. Interviewers will alter incorrect first impressions if a candidate
answers questions well.
Listening activity 3

Make a list of the 5 things that John

Antonakis says interviewees should do
either before or during the interview.
Business correspondence
Business email tips
- Be clear and concise
- Use a professional tone
- Proper formatting
- Request, don’t demand
- Proofread before sending
Subject: A Few Questions Regarding Some Information That I Need for Some Reports

Hi Mark,

I hope you're doing well and that your week has started off great. I was thinking about the various
reports we have due, and it reminded me that I wasn't entirely sure about all the deadlines we have
coming up. You know, with all the different projects we've been juggling, it's a bit hard to keep track
of everything!

Speaking of reports, do you happen to know when we need to turn in the sales report? I think I
remember you mentioned something about it last week in the meeting, or was it the week before?
Anyway, I'm not sure if it's this month or next month. Also, while we're on the subject, could you let
me know if there are any specific formats or templates we should be using this time around? You
know how it is, always trying to make sure everything is just right!

Looking forward to hearing from you, and let's catch up over coffee sometime!

Cheers, Task: Identify the unnecessary information in this email

János
Subject: Report Deadlines and Format Requirements

Dear Mark,

Hope you're well. Could you confirm the due date for the sales
report? Also, are there any specific formats or templates we
should use?

Looking forward to your response.

Best regards,
János Task: Identify the unnecessary information in this email
Subject: Hey, any update on the open position?

Yo Andrea,

Just wanted to see if there's any news about the position

that I applied for. I interviewed like ages ago and haven't
heard anything back. Is there someone I can chat with
about this?

Cheers, Task: Replace the informal parts with more

Balázs formal alternatives.
Subject: Follow-up regarding the open position

Dear Andrea,

I wanted to see if there's any news about the position

that I applied for. I interviewed several weeks ago and
haven't heard anything back. Is there someone I can
discuss this with?

Best regards, Task: Replace the informal parts with more

Balázs formal alternatives.
Requests vs demands
Demands are seen as more impolite compared to requests, so
in business correspondences it is better to use requests.
Compare:

Send me the recruitment status report for the IT department

immediately. ← can be seen as rude

Could you please send me the recruitment status report for the
IT department? ← more polite

Note the use of modal verbs and please

Transform the demanding sentences below into more polite requests. Use modal
verbs and polite phrases in your sentences.

A. Have the shortlisted candidates’ profiles on my desk by tomorrow

morning.
B. Set up interviews with the candidates by this Friday, no excuses.
C. I want more candidates with leadership experience added to the list, and I
want it done now.
D. I want to see the feedback from the recent interviews in my email first
thing in the morning.
E. Expand the search to international candidates, and make it quick.
F. Send me the finalized salary details for the new hires by the end of the
day.
G. Speed up the recruitment process and report back to me on the progress.
Situation: You are an employee at a company and there is an
open position for a project manager on the marketing team. You
have a friend, Cecilia, who would be a great fit for the role and is
currently looking for a job. You want to reach out to the head of
marketing, János, and ask if he would consider Cecilia as a
candidate.

Task: Write an email to János. His email address is

jtoptsi@gmail.com. In your email:

- Explain how you know the candidate

- Highlight their relevant skills and experience
- Make sure your email is professional and polite