3 Applying for a job

A A job ad
1
if you have a passion for something, you like
it very much
2
a positive word for something which is
FDR BANK Careers Branches About Us Contact
3
exciting and di icult
if an environment is fast-paced, things
happen quickly there
R F 4
available jobs
5
R R D F OO W FR F R D D S R R F WR if you report to someone, he/she is your boss
6
F R ORRN IR D F RO W D S F RN experience of this type of job from before
R W 7
all the training you need
5 %D N D DO RS IR WR F 6 WD W SR 8
job
R W WR 6 F 0D D R OO SR
O IR DO W F WR 9
T R W S R D D D O 1R S R S F F D opportunities for promotion and career
D OO 7 SR RII F OO W F SR S F WR development
10
FD DW R R W DW S D D N WR S R RW D the ability to lead a group
ORS WDO W W W FR SD 11
as good as, or better than, other salaries for
RII D FR S D D DWW DFW benefits package FO similar jobs
S R F S D DO 12
all the extra benefits that a company o ers
,I W R O N W MR IR R W FO FN to fill in the R SS F R (as well as a salary)
IR FO WD O RI R S F R 13
partly paid for by the company

B A cover letter
You want your application to stand out [be better than others], so you 1
a letter sent with a job
should include a clear, well-written cover letter1 which highlights key application (also called a
points from your CV. Here is a letter sent with the application for the job covering letter)
2
in A above. how you start a letter
when you do not know the
name of the person you
Dear Sir or Madam2 Be sure to are writing to
3
specify the practical, direct (not
Please find attached my CV in support of theoretical)
job you are
Mention my application for the position of Customer applying for at 4
area of business or activity
any studies Service Assistant. I have just completed my the beginning 5
dealing directly with
or training degree in Business Studies and am keen to of the letter. customers
courses you gain hands-on3 experience in this area. 6
a person who is good at
have done During my course I chose to study several working with others
which are 7
experience of managing
modules on banking and finance, as I have
relevant to other people
always been interested in working in this It is important
[connected to] 8
how you finish a letter
field4. In addition, I have worked as a part- to mention
the role. when you do not know the
time sales assistant in a large department any relevant
name of the person you
store for the last two years. This has given experience
are writing to
me valuable customer-facing5 experience, as you have, to
If you have show your
well as developing good communication skills
previous suitability for
both with customers and the rest of the
managerial the role. If you
team. I am a team player6 and I am keen
experience, can, provide
you can say ‘In
to develop my career and gain managerial
experience7 in the future. examples of
my previous specific projects
role as (Sales Thank you for taking the time to consider you have
Manager), I this application and I look forward to carried out.
led a team of hearing from you. [done]
(four people).’
Yours faithfully8
Rebecca White

12 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

 Exercises
3.1 Match the two parts of these business collocations from A and B.
1 healthcare a faithfully
2 team b prospects
3 Yours c plan
4 competitive d a team
5 challenging e application
6 communication f role
7 online g letter
8 lead h player
9 career i skills
10 cover j salary
3.2 Replace the underlined words with a word or phrase from A or B with a similar meaning.
1 You don’t need to have done this job before.
2 As part of my new job, I get meals partly paid for by the company.
3 It’s really important to make your application look di erent from all the others.
4 Working in the factory over the summer gave me some direct experience of manufacturing.
5 I’m hoping to work in the area of automotive manufacturing.
6 Prism Consulting has a number of positions available for graduates.
7 The ad said the company will provide all the training you need.
8 You should only apply for the job if you have led a team before.
9 The salary isn’t great, but they o er an attractive set of other advantages.
3.3 Look at A and B. Fill the gaps in these sentences, using a word from the box and a suitable
preposition.

carried passion relevant reported role suitable support

1 I am sending my CV in my application for the position of sales team leader.

2 I have a sales.
3 Jakob’s experience is more the job than Sylvana’s.
4 In my previous Sales Representative, I the Sales Manager.
5 While working as a Customer Service Assistant, I also some research projects for the
marketing department.
6 He only has 6 months’ experience as a trainee. I don’t think that makes him the job
of quality manager.
3.4 Answer these questions.
1 What do we call a job which deals directly with the customers?
2 How can we describe someone who works well with other people?
3 How should you start a letter to someone whose name you don’t know?
4 What four other words can be used instead of ‘job’ in an advertisement?
5 How can we describe a working environment which is busy and rapidly changing?

3.5 Over to you

Find a job ad that you are interested in and write an example cover letter in English.

English Vocabulary in Use Advanced 13

 4 Job interviews
A Preparing for interviews
When companies are recruiting1, they o en have a set of criteria2 (e.g. three years of
experience in the field, or a degree in a relevant area) which they use to find the most suitable
candidates. If you are shortlisted3 for an interview, make sure you do your homework first:
find out as much as you can about the company, its products, markets, competitors, etc.
If you can, ask a friend to do a trial run4 with you. This will help boost5 your confidence.
The interview may be conducted by a panel [a group of people], probably including your future
line manager6. Don’t forget to make eye contact with all the interviewers while you are talking.
As you arrive for the interview, body language7 is important. Give a firm handshake and
speak up8. This will help to create a good first impression.
1
hiring (new sta ) 2 requirements you use to make a decision 3 selected from a larger group 4 a practice
of something new 5 improve or increase 6 the person who is directly responsible for your work 7 physical
movements which show how you are feeling 8 speak (more) loudly and clearly

B During an interview
These are examples of things that might be said at a job interview.
A: So, can you talk us through1 your CV?

B: Well, I studied Engineering and then took a job as a trainee2 at F3

Telecom.

A: I’d like to ask about opportunities for professional development3.

B: We have a very good in-house4 training programme for new recruits5.

1
tell us about in more detail 2 a person
Can you give us an example of how you’ve worked well under pressure?
who is learning a new job 3 training given
How would your colleagues / your supervisor6 describe you? to employees to increase their knowledge or
skills 4 within the company 5 people who
I’m keen to take on7 more responsibility. have just joined (the company) 6 the person
who checks your work 7 start to have 8 find
A: We’re looking to fill the post8 fairly quickly. If you are successful, someone to do the job 9 time you need to
how soon could you start? work in your job a er you have o icially told the
company you are leaving
B: The notice period9 on my present job is just two weeks, so I could
start very soon.

C A job offer

5 SO R D
Dear Mr Malton,
Thank you for attending the interview last week. We very much enjoyed meeting you.We are delighted to offer you
the position of Trainee Programmer. We believe your quali cations and experience will be an ideal t for1 the job.
Please review the attached document outlining2 your salary, bene ts (including paid leave3) and reporting
structure4, and sign where indicated. Return the document within ve business days. Once we have received the
paperwork, we will contact you to arrange your start date.
We look forward to welcoming you as part of our team.
Kind regards
Melanie Stephens

1 3
very suitable for time o you are paid for, such as holiday or parental leave
2 4
giving an overview of company structure and who you report to

14 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

 Exercises
4.1 Look at A and fill in the tips for a successful interview.
1 Before the interview, your : find out as much as you can about the
company and prepare answers to common interview questions.
2 If you can, do a to practise how you will answer the interview questions.
3 You need to create a good with the interviewers. Dress smartly and professionally.
4 Remember that your also plays an important part. Don’t forget to smile! This will
make you seem more friendly, and might actually your confidence too.
5 Make sure you greet your interviewer with a . Make when you talk to
them – look at them directly.
6 During the interview, describe all your relevant education and experience to show how you
fulfil all the for the job.
4.2 Choose the correct word from A and B to complete the sentences.
1 I’m afraid you’ll have to speak up / eye up / head up. I can hardly hear what you’re saying.
2 We are taking / recruiting / searching people for our new branch in the city centre.
3 If we can’t fill / fulfil / supply the post internally, we’ll have to advertise externally.
4 If I get the new job, I will have to take up / over / on more responsibility, but I will get a
salary increase.
5 I don’t like working under pressure / under stress / by force. I end up making mistakes.
6 As part of the programme of reporting structure / professional development / notice period,
we would like to invite you to a session on project management.
4.3 Rewrite the following sentences using expressions from A, B and C.
1 Could you tell us about your previous experience in this field?
2 I think we should give the job to Ruth. She seems perfectly suited to the team.
3 Employees are entitled to 30 days’ holiday.
4 The group of interviewers will include your future line manager.
5 They just called me to say I have been chosen (as one of the best candidates) for an interview.
4.4 Look at B and C opposite. There is one mistake in each of these sentences.
Correct the mistakes.
1 Please find attached a document overviewing your working conditions.
2 In some companies the leaving period can be as much as six months.
3 I’m going to be working as a superior, in charge of a team of 4 people.
4 The company doesn’t do any in-o ice training. It’s all done externally.
5 My begin date for the new job is 1 July.
6 I’m a trainer accountant. I haven’t passed my qualifying exams yet.

4.5 Over to you

• What do you do before a stressful situation to boost your confidence?
• Would you rather have a lot of paid leave or a higher salary?
• Do you work better under pressure? Or do you prefer to have more time?
• Do you enjoy taking on extra responsibility? Or do you find it stressful?

English Vocabulary in Use Advanced 15

 5 At work: colleagues and routines
A Colleagues
1
Philip is my opposite number1 in has the same position / does the same job as me
2
the company’s New York o ice. We way of communicating and working together
3
have a good working relationship2 working together to achieve shared goals
4
and there’s a lot of day-to- more formal equivalent of opposite number
5
day collaboration3. Having a /ræˈpɔː/ communication/relationship
6
4
counterpart like Philip in another branch is a great make decisions without being told what to do
7
support. Last month we got a new boss, who quickly /ˌhaɪəˈrɑːkɪkəl/ has a structure with important
established a good rapport5 with everyone. She and less important people
8
likes us to take the initiative6. The company is very a system where some people have the right to get
benefits/promotions before others
hierarchical7; there’s a pecking order8 for everything. 9
an agreement where two people each share the
I do a job-share9 with a woman called Rose, which suits
same job
us as we each have childcare responsibilities. My o ice 10
a policy of sharing desks in an o ice, so people
uses a hot-desking10 system, so I sit in a di erent place
sit at whichever desk is free on a particular day
every day. I socialise with my workmates11 outside of 11
colleagues you are friendly with (especially in
work, but we try not to talk shop12 on those occasions. non-professional occupations); informal
12
talk about work; informal
B During the day (different work patterns)
I do fairly mundane1 tasks. Occasionally I have to meet a deadline2 or they need
someone to volunteer3 for something. Then the job is more rewarding4 and
stimulating5. Sometimes I have a heavy workload6 but at other times it can be
quite light.
1
ordinary, not interesting 2 have something finished by a fixed day or time 3
o er to do something without
4
being asked or told to do it making you feel satisfied that you have done something important or useful, or
done something well 5 encouraging new ideas or new thinking 6 amount of work I have to do

I start work at my machine at seven o’clock when I’m on the day shi . The job’s
mechanical1 and repetitive2. All I ever think about is knocking o 3 at three o’clock.
The shi I hate most is the night shi . I start at ten and work till six in the morning.
It’s a bit monotonous4. It’s not a satisfying5 job – I feel I need something a bit more
challenging6.
1
you don’t have to think about what you are doing 2 the same thing is repeated every day
3
finishing work; informal 4 boring because it never changes 5 (does not) make me feel pleased
by providing what I need or want 6 that tests my ability or determination

I have a pretty glamorous1 job. I’m a pilot. But the hours are irregular and anti-social2.
I’m not stuck behind a desk3, but long-haul flights can be a bit mind-numbing4; most
of the time the plane just flies itself. We work to very tight schedules5. But I shouldn’t
complain. I feel sorry for people who are stuck in a rut6 or who are in dead-end7 jobs.

1
very exciting, which everyone admires 2 do not enable one to have a normal social life 3
sitting at a
desk all day; informal 4 extremely boring 5 very strict or severely limited timetables
6
stuck/trapped in a job they can’t escape from 7 with no prospects of promotion

I started o as a technician 1. A er retraining, I worked for a so ware company, and later I

went in with2 a friend and we formed our own so ware company as a start-up3 in 2009,
so now I’m self-employed. My husband is freelance4: he works for several di erent
companies as and when they need work done – he’s a computer programmer5.

1 2
person whose job involves practical work with scientific or electrical equipment formed a business
3
partnership with a small business that has just started 4 or works freelance 5
someone who writes
computer programs

16 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

 Exercises
5.1 Correct seven mistakes in this paragraph.

REAL WORKERS, REAL STORIES |

more stories about

I’m a tecnician in a factory. I think I have a good work relationship

with my colleagues. I tried to establish a good report with them from
the very beginning. The person I like most is my opposite member in
our office in Paris. My boss likes me to make the initiative. Generally,
when I socialise with my jobmates outside of work, we try not to talk
about shop, but it’s not easy and sometimes we have a good gossip
about colleagues and events at work.

5.2 Match the le and right-hand columns to make pairs of sentences.

1 We o en work together. a There are several levels of management.
2 The firm’s rather hierarchical. b Deadlines have to be met.
3 Peter’s my counterpart. c It’s a job-share.
4 We work to a tight schedule. d Collaboration is a good thing.
5 I don’t think I’ll be promoted before her. e We do the same job but he’s based in Rome.
6 Jess and I work half-and-half. f There’s a strict pecking order in the company.
5.3 Use words and phrases from the opposite page to complete these sentences.
1 A good friend suggested we set up a small company together, so I her and we
formed a in 2012.
2 I’m really tired; I’ve had a very heavy recently.
3 I don’t want an o ice job. I don’t want to spend all day stuck .
4 I’d hate to feel trapped in my job and to be stuck in .
5 I work for di erent companies at di erent times as it suits me. I’m .
6 I used to work for someone else, but now I’m my own boss; I’m .
7 I stopped working in the hamburger restaurant. It was such a dead .
8 When I was working in the factory, all I could think of all day was the moment when I could knock
.
9 Being a hospital nurse is a good job, but you can’t go out much with friends. The hours are a bit
. (two possible answers)
10 I find annoying, because it means I don't have my own desk where I can keep
things at work.
5.4 Choose adjectives from the box to describe the jobs below. You can use more than one for
each job. Add other adjectives of your own.

glamorous stimulating repetitive stressful monotonous varied mechanical

mundane challenging mind-numbing rewarding

1 assembly-line worker in a car factory 6 lifeguard on a beach

2 supermarket shelf stacker 7 receptionist at a dentist’s
3 public relations o icer in a multinational company 8 private detective
4 bodyguard to a celebrity 9 refuse collector in a city
5 surgeon 10 night-security guard

5.5 Over to you

Write down words from this unit that relate to your job, or to a job you would like to do in
the future.

English Vocabulary in Use Advanced 17

 6 At work: job satisfaction
A Aspects of job satisfaction
What does job satisfaction mean? [a feeling that your job is worth doing and fulfils you] Is it just
having a pleasant workplace or is it more than that? [the place where you work] Can a run-of-
the-mill job be satisfying? [ordinary, not special or exciting]
Some people are prepared to put up with a stressful or unpleasant job if it means short-term
financial reward. [immediate; opp. = long-term] [money gained]
Sta morale has been very low since the company announced a freeze on pay rises. [amount of
confidence felt by a person or group]
Our new manager is very keen to encourage teamwork to help us solve problems. [working
together for a common purpose]
Is job stability more motivating than an exciting, high-risk career? [not likely to change]
A er working in the fast-moving fashion industry for six years, Sam has decided to look for a
career with a better work–life balance. [developing or changing very quickly] [the amount of time
spent working compared to the amount of time spent doing things you enjoy]
Daniel’s job in a dynamic new company is o en challenging but exciting. [continuously
developing]
Chloe is demotivated in her current job following recent changes in the finance sector. [feeling
less enthusiastic about work] She is looking to work in / seeking a career in something more
creative, like marketing.

Language help
The text has some words with similar meanings connected to work. It is a good idea to learn
them in pairs, e.g. fast-moving and dynamic (industry/profession), seeking a career in …
and looking to work in … . (Note: we say look to, meaning consider or plan, NOT look for.)

B Expressions connected with working life

In many countries, women are allowed maternity leave, and men paternity leave, if they’re having
a baby. If they adopt a child, they may have a right to adoption leave. [time away from work to prepare
for and look a er a new baby / adopted child]
What perks (informal) / (extra) benefits (formal) do you get in your job? [extra things apart from salary,
e.g. a car, health insurance]
What’s your holiday entitlement? I get four weeks a year. [number of days you have the right to take
as holiday]
Do you get regular salary increments each year? [increases/rises; formal] Do you get performance-related
pay rises? [depending on how well you do your job] Do you get an annual bonus? [extra money paid once a
year, usually based on good performance]
Most people think they are overworked and underpaid. (o en said together as an informal, humorous
fixed expression)
Because of the recession, the company announced that there would have to be voluntary/
compulsory redundancies. [people losing their jobs, by o ering to do so / having no choice]
During the strike, the airport managed to continue running with a skeleton sta of volunteers.
[the minimum number of workers needed to keep operating ]
The people on the interview panel at the last job I applied for were so unfriendly that I got very
nervous. [the group of people interviewing someone for a job]

18 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

 Exercises
6.1 Rewrite these sentences by using words and phrases from the opposite page instead of
the underlined words.
1 Do you enjoy working as part of a team?
2 I don’t think that earning a lot of money is the key to job satisfaction.
3 Would you feel nervous giving a presentation to a group of people at interview?
4 Sales sta are o en paid extra money each year when they perform well.
6.2 Find expressions on the opposite page which mean the opposite of the underlined words
or phrases.
1 a very unusual, exciting job 6 a full sta of workers
2 a person who is highly motivated 7 someone who has a light workload and is paid
3 a rather static and slow-moving profession a lot
4 a drop in salary 8 an automatic pay rise each year
5 compulsory redundancy
6.3 Choose the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1 Rafael has done the same job for the last fi een years and his job will be secure until he retires. For
Rafael, job stability / job satisfaction is very important.
2 Kate has a good workplace / work–life balance. She never works late and she o en finds time to relax
with her family or go to the cinema in the evening.
3 A er graduating from Manchester University, Dan started work in the run-of-the-mill / fast-moving film
industry.
4 Amy joined the law firm for the bonus / long-term career prospects they o ered. It would be hard work
for the first few years, but she could later become a senior partner.
6.4 Each sentence in these pairs of sentences contains a mistake. Correct them.
1 She was on mother leave for three months a er the birth of her baby. Then her husband took
father leave for three months.
2 Sarah has been on adapted leave since she and Brian welcomed their new two-year old child into their
family. Brian took volunteer redundancy from his job, which means he is at home too.
3 My holiday titlement is four weeks a year. The atmosphere in my place for work is very pleasant,
so I’m happy.
4 When I applied for the job, I was looking for join a dynamic team. However, the interview jury gave
an impression of complete boredom and lack of interest.
5 The factory had to operate with a skeletal sta during the economic crisis. There had been a large
number of compulsive redundancies.
6 I get some good parks in my new job. I get a company car and free health security.

6.5 Over to you

• What does job satisfaction mean to you?
• Do you think financial reward is more important than job stability or work–life balance?

English Vocabulary in Use Advanced 19

 7 At work: careers
A A career in sales

When Carl le school, he took the first job he was o ered – in telesales1. He thought
telemarketing2 sounded quite glamorous but soon found that most of the people he phoned
hated cold calling3 and put the phone down when he tried the hard sell4. However, he persevered
and found he became quite skilled at persuading customers to part with their money5. He then
moved into a job on a TV shopping channel6, where he specialised in selling merchandise7 for
the leisure market. He did so well at this that he set up his own sportswear company and hasn’t
looked back8 since.

1
+ 2 selling or marketing goods and services by phone 5
spend money
3 6
phoning people who have not requested a call in a TV channel devoted to selling products
order to try to sell them something 7
products that are bought and sold
4
attempt to sell something by being very forceful or 8
has moved forward successfully
persuasive

B Buying and selling

A person’s purchasing power is the ability they have to buy goods, i.e. the amount of money they
have available.
If you shop around, you try di erent companies or shops to see which o ers best value.
If you want to buy something, you need to find a shop that stocks it. [keeps a supply of it = keeps it in stock]
If you trade something up, usually a car or a house, you buy one that is of higher value than the one
you had before. (opp. = trade down)
People sometimes make a purchasing decision based on brand loyalty. [confidence in that particular
make and a tendency always to choose it]
Supermarkets sometimes sell an item for less than it costs them in order to attract a lot of people
into the shop, where they will also buy more profitable items – the item being sold at a low price is
called a loss leader.
For a company to sell its products, it has to price them appropriately. [give them a price]
If a company finds a niche market, it finds a specialised group of customers with particular interests
that that company can meet.
If an item is said to come/go under the hammer, it is sold at an auction. [sale of goods or property
where people make gradually increasing bids and the item is then sold to the highest bidder]

C A career in business
A few years ago Tina started her own so ware development business, which turned out to be
very lucrative1. However, she got increasingly irritated by all the red tape2 involved in the
administration3 of a business and when a larger company contacted her with a proposition4,
suggesting a takeover5, she was interested. At first, the two companies could not agree on all the
details of the agreement but they managed to reach a compromise6 and hammer out a deal7
without too much delay. In many ways Tina was sad that her company had been swallowed up8
but she has used the money raised by the sale of her capital assets9 to invest in10 a business
start-up11: an online holiday property letting agency12.

1 7
producing a lot of money talk in detail until a business agreement is made
2 8
bureaucracy (negative) taken over by a larger company
3 9
organisation and arrangement of operations buildings and machines owned by a company
4 10
formal o er put money into
5 11
agreement in which one company takes control of new company
another one (compare with merger, in which two 12
a business organising the rental of holiday houses
companies join together to become one company) and flats
6
come to an agreement in which both sides reduce
their demands a little

20 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

 Exercises
7.1 Match the two parts of these business collocations from the opposite page.
1 loss a agency
2 capital b channel
3 purchasing c leader
4 shopping d tape
5 hard e power
6 letting f loyalty
7 brand g assets
8 niche h sell
9 red i market
7.2 Look at A and B opposite. Fill the gaps in these sentences.
1 A world-famous painting will go the hammer in London tomorrow.
2 It’s a sensible idea to shop a bit before buying a computer.
3 Sally made the right decision when she quit her old job and set up her own business – she hasn’t
looked since the day it opened.
4 I don’t mind trying a hard sell on a person who has already expressed an interest in our products,
but I hate calling.
5 It can be quite hard to persuade my dad to with his money.
6 I’m going to make a for the dining table that is up for auction tomorrow.
7 My current job is in . I spend all the day on the phone.
8 They produce special clothes for people who practise yoga and have really cornered this
market.
9 The shop I went to didn’t the printer I wanted so I’m going to order it online.
7.3 Replace the underlined words with a word or phrase from C with a similar meaning.
1 As their business interests were quite di erent, it took them a long time to come to an agreement.
2 If you want to go into the import and export business, you had better be prepared for a lot
of bureaucracy.
3 At the moment they are discussing the possibility of buying up another company.
4 Sportswear is a very profitable business to be in at the moment.
5 Banks will only lend a new business money if they have a realistic business plan.
6 A number of small companies have been taken over by that huge multinational in the last
six months.
7 Hassan has made a rather interesting suggestion about setting up a business together.
8 Chloe is much better at the creative side of business than the organisation involved in
running a company.
7.4 Choose the best word to complete each sentence.
1 I hope we’ll be able to keep / reach a compromise when we meet tomorrow.
2 I think those new games consoles are priced / purchased too high at the moment.
3 The shops are hoping to sell a lot of capital assets / merchandise connected with the
royal wedding.
4 My sports car was so expensive to run that I decided to trade it down / up for something
much cheaper.
5 Helga has never looked back / out since she started her own business ten years ago.
6 There’s a lot of loss leader / red tape involved in setting up a new business.

English Vocabulary in Use Advanced 21