Study the ways of finding a job and discuss them in pairs or in small groups.

MODULE 1

 

I. JOB HUNTING

Task 1.

1) In pairs or small groups discuss the following:

1. Have you ever tried to find a job in accordance with your specialism?

2. What skills and qualifications are necessary to have to find a good job of your specialism?

3. Which of the following are important to you in a job? Classify them in order of importance.

Long holidays; friendly colleagues; a challenging, interesting and creative job; competitive salary; pleasant working environment; regular bonus; good pension; prestigious company; opportunity for promotion; flexible hours; foreign travel; other perks (e.g. company car, sick pay).

Describe your dream job.

As a jobseeker, you will have to follow a certain schedule that will involve analyzing your strengths and restricting your search; preparing a dossier; looking in the right places for a job; constructing a CV (curriculum vitae); writing letters of application; attending an interview; accepting or declining a job; filling out a job application. You can secure a suitable job on today's highly competitive job market if you keep in mind that the basic purpose of all this activity is to sell yourself, preferably to the best employer and for the highest price.

 

Task 2. Words to remember:

achievement – досягнення

advantage – перевага

advertise – рекламувати, оголошувати

advertisement (ad) – оголошення

aim – ціль; syn purpose, objective

applicant – кандидат, претендент, заявник

apply for a job – подавати заяву на роботу

appreciate – цінувати, бути вдячним

arrange for an interview – влаштовувати, домовитись про співбесіду

available – доступний, що є у наявності

background – вихідні дані, підготовка

be good at – мати схильність до

be interested in – цікавитись чимось

be willing to do smth – бути готовим до, робити з задоволенням

bonus – премія, надбавка, пільга; syn perks

career growth – кар’єрний ріст

challenging work – складна, перспективна робота

community activities – суспільна діяльність

competitive salary – конкурентоспроможна зарплата

confidence – впевненість

consider – розглядати, вважати

cover letter – супровідний лист

CV (Curriculum Vitae) – автобіографія

employ – надавати роботу, мати в штаті

employee (office worker, white-collar worker, clerk) – працівник (службовець, «білий комірець»)

employer – роботодавець

employment (recruitment) agency – бюро по працевлаштуванню

employment history – послужний список

enjoy doing smth – подобатись, отримувати задоволення від

fellowship – стипендія

flexible hours – гнучкий графік роботи

fill in an application form – заповнити анкету, заявку

find (found, found) – знаходити

find out – дізнаватись

fringe benefits – додаткові позазарплатні пільги (пенсія, відпускні, страховка, тощо)

have experience in some field – мати досвід у якійсь сфері

hold a position – обіймати посаду

job hunting – пошук роботи

job seeker – людина, яка шукає роботу

long-term goals – довгострокові цілі

look for a job – шукати роботу

look forward to (hearing from smb) – з нетерпінням чекати звістки

make an impression – справити враження

match (fit) the position – відповідати (посаді)

negotiable – договірний, який підлягає обговоренню

offer – пропонувати

part-time work – неповна зайнятість

pay and benefits – оплата та пільги

perform functions (duties) – виконувати функції, обов’язки

prefer – надавати перевагу

previous experience – попередній досвід

probation period – випробний термін

promotion – просування, кар’єрне зростання

qualifications – кваліфікація, професіоналізм

quality – якість

recent position (post, appointment) – остання посада

recruit for a job – наймати на роботу

refer (relate to) – торкатись, відноситись до

reference – рекомендація

relevant – значущий, істотний

remuneration – компенсаційний пакет (сукупність усіх видів винагород робітника, включаючи заробітну плату, соціальний пакет, страхові виплати, тощо)

require – вимагати; requirements – вимоги

responsibilities – обов’язки

short-list – включити до кінцевого списку, відібрати

skilful, experienced – умілий, досвідчений

skills – навички, вміння

strength – сила, сильна сторона

suit smb – влаштовувати

supply (information, documents) – надавати, постачати

tip (advice) – рекомендація, порада

vacancy (job opening) – вакансія

vocational training – професійне навчання

volunteer work – волонтерська робота

weakness – слабкість, слабка сторона

with reference to the advertisement in… – стосовно вашого оголошення

work overtime – працювати понаднормово

work under pressure – працювати під натиском

Task 3.

Job Hunting

Employment agencies: The different types of employment agencies including search firms, executive search firms, contingency agencies, and retained search firms.

Job search engines: Use a job search engine to search all the top job sites, company sites, and online newspapers. There are a lot of websites, such as www.jobs.ua, www.work.ua, www.totaljobs.com.

Ads: Local and regional employers don't always post on the major jobs sites. Instead, they will advertise in their local newsletter to avoid being overwhelmed with applicants and, in many cases, because they are not interested in paying relocation costs.

Job fair is a fair or exposition for employers, recruiters and schools to meet with prospective job seekers. Expos usually include company or organization tables or booths where resumes can be collected and business cards can be exchanged.

Network is the practice of meeting other people involved in the same kind of work, sharing information, supporting each other. Career networking should become a part of your daily work and career-related endeavors. Your career network should be in place for when you need it, both for job searching and for moving along the career ladder. Since you never know when you might need it, it makes sense to have an active career network, even if you don't need it today.

2) Answer the questions:

1. What other ways of getting a job can you name?

2. What are advantages and disadvantages of each way?

3. What way would you choose if you needed to find a job? Why? Explain your point of view.

4. What way is the most difficult to follow?

Task 4. Read and discuss the perspectives of careers in IT:

How to Find IT Jobs

IT professional is one of the hottest majors on college campuses today. The allure of high starting salaries and being in demand among employers is great. They are sought after in today's job market. This demand is fueled by the continuing development of and reliance on increasingly complicated forms of technology in society. For those with a degree in this area, it isn't hard to find IT jobs.

Things you'll need:

1. Attend job fairs. If you are a student, the computer sciences department at your university will almost certainly hold one or more job fairs each year. These fairs are excellent opportunities to find out what companies are hiring, what your job would involve and any special qualifications you might need. You can also talk to the people who will do the hiring, which gives you the chance to impress them in person.

2. Get an internship. Internships in computer sciences provide invaluable experience that you can use when you start your career. Internships also allow you to make personal contacts in the field and to establish relationships at the firm where you are interning. You can use these contacts and relationships to secure a job for yourself after graduation. In fact, many companies hire their interns outright after those interns graduate.

3. Network with IT professionals. Join local professional groups and attend their meetings. This gives you the opportunity to meet others who are working in the field. These personal contacts can lead to job offers down the road.

4. Look in the classified ads of the newspaper in the town in which you want to work. Usually firms do place want ads, just like other companies. The job you want may be listed today. If it's not, keep looking until you see something that appeals to you. New jobs open up every day in this country.

Paths to Professions

And every company or organization has a computer-related component that's critical for getting the job done. So you might program or engineer computer software (though the BLS warns that programming jobs will likely shrink due to offshoring and the increasing ability of users to write their own programs), evaluate and implement the proper computer network architecture to fulfill a company's objectives, develop or administer websites, coordinate a company's information security, or design games and apps.

A strong background in the technical fundamentals of computer science and programming languages like Java, Microsoft.NET, and C++ are obviously important for success in the field. But a creative brain and an ambition to stay updated on the newest advances in the field -- whether through books or training -- are also key, according to recruiters and IT employees. That's because there's never one way to solve a problem and technologies are constantly evolving.

"You always have a new challenge and you're always applying a different set of knowledge to solve it," says Jim Schelle, a solution architect for Synchronoss Technologies in Seattle, Wash. "It's constant work to stay on top of it. You don't get to rest on your laurels in the tech industry."

It's also important that you can communicate and work well with others, because you'll likely be working in a group with other programmers, engineers, or architects. And don't expect to arrive at an interview with strong grades as the main proof of your desirability as a candidate — be prepared to show hiring managers your code from a class project or a student competition (read: get involved with activities outside of your core course load) or a program you created in your spare time.

Salaries in information technology are strong—Web developers start out earning an average of $38,800 a year, according to salary data from PayScale.com. With several years of experience, you can earn $94,800 per year as an information technology program manager, or $93,600 per year as a software development manager. And many companies pay much more for skills that are in-demand.

What Professionals in the Field Say:

Sixty-five percent of those in the field who answered our PayScale.com survey said the skills sets they learned in their degree program (in CIS or MIS-related degrees) were important or very important for advancing their careers; and 53% of respondents said they'd recommend or strongly recommend an IT-related major to a friend, family member, or colleague.

Personality Fit for IT: Curious, creative problem solvers with strong technical abilities.

Your IT Career: In order to get hired in IT, you'll need a strong undergraduate background in computer science, math, and physics classes, because while you'll learn plenty on the job, recruiters and employees in the field stress that those technical building blocks are crucial for cementing the kind of analytical thinking that's necessary to succeed.

But you don't have to stick just to tech companies for prospective jobs—you can also take your programming skills and apply them in another field. For example, Adam Roberts, a 2007 computer engineering graduate of the University of Florida, spent two years as a teacher in the Teach for America program, and now works as an IT manager for a school district in Washington, D.C.

Getting Started: While there's not a set career trajectory in IT, being a recent college graduate, you might enter the workforce as an entry-level computer programmer or software engineer, where you'd be writing or updating code or engineering computer software. Recruiters say it can be a plus to have a sense of the creative side—the graphic design elements that compliment programming. But be cautious about focusing only on the latest hot tools.

Get on the Fast Track: Hot areas of IT where jobs are expected to grow include cyber security and cloud computing, and mobile- and Web-based games and apps are exploding. So if you know the mobile programming language HTML5, or are a whiz at using Flash to design cool graphics, you'll have a leg up. The field of Web analytics, used to enhance user experience or business functions, is also poised for huge growth, so if you have a background in both computer science and marketing or business, you'll be an in-demand hire.

Next Up: After a few years, you could advance in the ranks to become a senior level engineer after becoming faster and more skilled at solving increasingly complex software solutions that involve more moving parts. But recruiters emphasize that ambitious and hardworking entry level hires can make an impact and advance quickly if they show the talent and the drive to continue taking on more responsibilities. An engineer with a knack for management might advance to become a project manager, directing groups of engineers and programmers. But if you prefer the technical side of the coin, you'd advance to become a senior developer, and then a team lead, in which you're advising the team of developers.

Phase Three: Within a few years, you might become an architect, in which you are mapping out and testing the kinds of technologies that will best accomplish your goal, and which requires a bigger picture view of the business and its objectives.

Task 5.

Task 6.

Job Advertisement

Exercise1. Look at these job advertisements. Make notes on each advertisement specifying the title of the post, the type of the company, the responsibilities described, the type of person required, the business skills required, the pay and benefits.

1. A market leader in technology consultancy, requires an experienced JAVASCRIPT FRONTEND DEVELOPER to develop responsive designs for exciting new projects.
The successful candidate will possess good overall Frontend and WEb Development experience, and have utilised the latest Javascript MVC frameworks such as Angular.js, Backbone.js and Ember.js.
Responsibilities
Adding functionality to Front End UX/UI applications
Ensuring that applications work efficiently and effectively across browsers and devices
Working directly with UX/UI team members who are responsible for wireframes and information architecture
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define, design, and deliver creative digital solutions
Test both the application code and usability features
Work on bug fixing and improving application performance
Continuously discover, evaluate, and implement new technologies
Skills & Experience
4+ years relevant software development experience building web applications
Expert in designing and building robust, modular, well-abstracted and maintainable JavaScript
Solid JavaScript experience ideally with one or more MVC frameworks (e.g. Angular.js, Backbone.js, Ember.js) and building AJAX based responsive web applications
Proven experience of utilising APIs to achieve impactful data visualisation and user experience
Have previously used JavaScript build tools
Strong knowledge of HTML and CSS (HTML5 and CSS3 preferred)

 

2.

Assistant to Finance Director

Foxtree is an IT company supplying software to the engineering sector. The ideal candidate will be both flexible and ambitious with a proven track record in preparing budgets, preferably in the IT industry. Although you will report to the Finance Director, you will be also responsible for assisting the Chief Executive when she travels abroad. An excellent remuneration package is available including profit-related bonus, company car, and negotiable salary. If you are looking for a challenging career with excellent prospects for rapid career progress, send your full CV to:

Web Designer

Creative Niche - Toronto, ON

Our client, located in Toronto is currently seeking a Web Designer to join their team. This position reports directly into the Manager of Creative, Digital. The function of this role will be to create professional online/mobile designs that will help support and promote our client’s brands. Accountabilities/ Responsibilities Design graphics and page layouts for ongoing site and content updates Ad media design and production Provide production support on medium and large-scale projects Maintain and adhere to site design standards and content templates Deliver solutions within existing constraints and limitations Work collaboratively with project teams to meet business goals Accountable for accuracy, project deadlines, and contributing to project completion Convey knowledge of current web trends, user experience and the project process Support and exhibit departmental core values; positive, flexible, enthusiastic and professional Required Skills, Experience and Qualifications: Related post-secondary education or commensurate experience 3 - 4+ years of relevant experience in a busy, demanding studio environment Design portfolio that clearly demonstrates required skills and experience Excellent knowledge of current web trends, image optimization and production best practices Excellent skills in design, layout and typography Proficiency using industry standard tools including; Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign Dreamweaver, and Flash as well as Adobe Acrobat. Beneficial but not mandatory to be proficient in front-end web production using HTML and CSS Highly organized and accountable self-starter who is able to juggle multiple priorities Strong attention to detail and time management Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills We appreciate your interest but due to time constraints we can only contact candidates in consideration. Creative Niche is dedicated to matching outstanding communication, design and interactive professionals with the right companies. If you are not contacted for the current role(s) for which you have applied, please be confident that your application will be electronically filed for future searches.

*****************************************************************************

Task 7.

An Application Form

An application form usually contains: personal details, academic and professional background, citizenship or permanent residence status, letters from two referees, etc. Application forms vary in details since they are developed for specific reasons (e.g. to continue studies abroad, to get a grant, to apply for a job).

III. JOB INTERVIEW

Task 8.

Exercise 1. Discussion.

a) Have you ever had an interview? What was it for? How did you feel? What was the result?

b) Rank the following questions in order of difficulty (1=most difficult).

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

How would your colleagues/friends describe you?

Why do you want the job?

Would you ever lie to get what you want?

 

Exercise2. Read the dialogue. Then make a list of dos and don’ts for interviewees.

Peter: Before going to the interview try to find out information about the company you would like to get into. This will help you to make a better impression. There are also some basic rules common to most interviews.

Jack: Could you give me some examples?

P.: When greeting the representative of the company, wait until he moves to shake hands. You should also wait until he offers you a seat.

J.: But what about usual questions people are asked in an interview?

P.: The most common questions are, for instance: Why do you feel qualified for the job? Do you enjoy working with others? Are you willing to work overtime? Tell me about your experience. What are your long-term career goals?

J.: Are there any surprise questions?

P.: Employers often use ‘killer questions’ or ‘shock tactics’, such as these: ‘We have employed people from your university, and they haven’t been good. Can you tell us why you think you’d do better?’ You may anticipate such questions: Why should I hire you? What are your three greatest strengths for this job?

J.: And how can you act in a situation like this?

B.: Stay calm, take a few deep breaths and buy some time, e.g. ‘Actually, that’s interesting. I haven’t thought about it, but maybe I’d …’ By surprising you with an original or difficult question, interviewers want an honest reaction and an unplanned response. They also want to see candidates think through their responses calmly.

J.: I see. Are there any topics that should be avoided?

P.: Yes, certainly. Avoid criticizing your former employers or fellow workers. Don’t discuss your personal, domestic or financial problems unless you are asked about them.

J.: Can I ask about the salary?

P.: Absolutely. You can state the salary you want, but not until the employer has introduced the subject.

J.: Thank you very much for all this valuable information.

P.: One more thing. It would be polite to send a thank-you letter after the interview. It will remind of you and may help to get a job, finally. And remember, you never get a second chance. Interviewers only give you a short time to show who you are. Good luck.

 

Look through the following questions and be ready to answer them:

Task 9.

What’s a Thank-You Letter?

 

It is a part of business etiquette to send thank-you letters. A thank-you letter can help you stand out from the other candidates. A thank-you letter should be sent before the hiring decision has been made, so it is best to mail it as soon as possible after the interview.

By sending a thank-you letter, you give the employer a chance to remember you, to distinguish you from other candidates, to remember your specifics. It is your opportunity to say any important information you didn’t discuss during the interview.

There are several situations that require a thank-you letter after an employment interview: when someone gives you job search assistance and after a company visit or other career exploration activity.

Thank-You Letter Layout

 

(1) Your address

(not your name)

 

(2) Date

 

(3) Name and address

you are writing to

 

(4) Greeting

 

(5) First paragraph: Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Mention the date. Remind of the position for which you were interviewed.

 

(6) Second paragraph: Restate your interest in the position. Emphasize your strengths, experiences, skills, accomplishments and slant them from the point of view of your employer.

 

(7) Third paragraph: Once again, thank the employer for the time and consideration. Close with a suggestion for further action, or say that you will give a phone call in a few days. Provide your phone number and the hours you can be reached.

 

(8) Closing

Signature

 

 

Task 10.

Task 11. Additional reading

Career of Engineer

If you want to have a career in engineering, you have two options from which to choose. You can be an engineer or an engineering technician. Each of these has different educational and licensing requirements, as well as different duties and salaries. See the chart below for a quick look at the differences between these two career choices. Both engineers and engineering technicians can also choose from a variety of specialties which are discussed in the individual career profiles.

Engineers apply the theories and principles of science and mathematics in researching and developing solutions to technical problems. To become an engineer one must earn a bachelor's degree in engineering. Some jobs are available for those who have earned a bachelor's degree in physical science or mathematics. Engineers who offer their services directly to the public must be licensed. Engineers held 1.6 million jobs in 2008. The highest number of these jobs were in civil engineering (278,400), mechanical engineering (238,700), industrial engineering (214,800), electrical engineering (157,800) and electronic engineering, not including computer engineering (143,700).

Educational Requirements for Engineers:

To get an entry-level engineering job, one usually needs a bachelor's degree in engineering. Sometimes a bachelor's degree in physical science or mathematics may suffice, especially in high-demand specialties. Generally engineering students specialize in a particular branch of engineering but may eventually work in a related branch.

How Do Engineers Advance?

As entry level engineers gain experience and knowledge, they may work more independently, making decisions, developing designs, and solving problems. With further experience, engineers may become technical specialists or supervisors over a staff or team of engineers or technicians. Eventually, they may become engineering managers, or may move into other managerial or sales jobs.

Job Outlook for Engineers:

In general, engineering employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2018, although outlook will vary by branch.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that biomedical, environmental and civil engineering will experience much faster than average growth, while employment in petroleum engineering, industrial engineering and geological and mining engineering will grow at a faster than average rate.

Other branches will grow either as fast as the average or slower than the average for all occupations, or will see a decline in employment.

Engineering Technician

Engineering technicians often assist engineers and scientists, using science, engineering and mathematical principles to solve technical problems in research and development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection, and maintenance. The work of engineering technicians is more application oriented and more limited in scope than that of engineers. To become an engineering technician one must generally earn an associate degree in engineering technology. Engineering technicians held 497,300 jobs in 2008. There were 164,000 electrical and electronic engineering technicians, 91,700 civil engineering technicians, 72,600 industrial engineering technicians, 46,100 mechanical engineering technicians, 21,200 environmental engineering technicians, 16,400 electro-mechanical technicians, and 8,700 aerospace engineering and operations technicians.

Educational Requirements for Engineering Technicians:

Those who want to work as engineering technicians should have at least an associate degree in engineering technology, although some employers will hire candidates who don't have formal training. Those who plan to become engineering technicians can expect to take courses in college algebra and trigonometry and basic science. Other coursework depends on specialty. For example, those who want to become electrical engineering technicians will take classes in electrical circuits, microprocessors and digital electronics.

Advancement for Engineering Technicians:

Engineering technicians initially work under the supervision of more experienced technicians, technologists, engineers or scientists. As they gain experience they are given more difficult assignments with limited supervision. Eventually they may become supervisors.

Job Outlook for Engineering Technicians:

Employment of engineering technicians, across all disciplines, is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2018. The outlook, however, will vary by specialty. For example, job growth for environmental engineering technicians is projected to be faster, through 2018, than it will be for other occupations requiring post-secondary training or an associate degree. Civil engineering technicians will also see an increase in employment as it grows faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of electro-mechanical engineering technicians will decline.

Check your comprehension

~ Do engineers usually assist engineer technicians?

~ What are job predictions for engineers and engineer technicians?

 

MODULE 2

I. CURRICULUM VITAE

Task 1.

Task 3.

Types of Resume

There are two basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings: a chronological resume and a functional resume.

The chronological resume works well for job seekers with a strong, solid work history which shows career growth from one position to the next. It is the most traditional type of resume with the focus on time, job continuity, growth and advancement. Your work experience is given the priority, and jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current, or most recent job, first, along with a brief description of duties. Employers like this type of resume because it’s easy to see what jobs you have held and how they qualify you for the advertised position.

A functiona l resume focuses on your skills and experience. The focus on what you did, not when and where you did it. It is used most often by people who are changing careers, have gaps in their employment history or very little work experience. This type of resume describes the achievements and abilities gained through work experience, vocational training, hobbies, volunteer work, community activities or just life experience. The employer can see immediately how you fit the job without having to read through the job descriptions to find out.

There are also variations of these two types. A combination resume combines the traditional chronological listings and job descriptions with a quick synopsis of your market value (your skills, qualifications, accomplishments). It has become the accepted standard nowadays, and is perhaps most effective for today’s professionals.

A targeted resume may be any of the three types above, but it is written for a specific company or a specific position. Hence, the focus is on your experience and skills relevant to the job you are applying for.

 

Task 4.

II. WRITING A CV

Task 5.

Ask yourself which personal skills on the next page match yours and how they may be applied to the workplace. Use these terms in your written applications, job interviews and anytime you are discussing your skills with a potential employer.

 

ARE YOU? PERSONAL SKILL

Careful, precise, free from error? Able to adapt oneself to new surroundings, to make suitable change so as to fit new conditions? Watchful, wide awake, ready to act? Full of ambition, strong desire ‘to do’ something? Feeling and inspiring friendliness, likeable? Good at employing analytic methods, separating things into their parts of elements? Able to express yourself clearly? Insistent on one’s rights or opinions? Able to notice, pay attention? Tolerant or liberal in thought or opinion? Practical, systematic? Serene, still, peaceful, undisturbed? Skilled and able to…? Watchful, cautious, concerned for? Adequately qualified, have ability in…? Trusting, fully assured, have belief and trust in yourself? With good moral understanding of right and wrong? Constant to same principles, not changing? Able to work well with others? Devoted to your aims and goals? Described as able to be relied on? Resolved on a course of action? Active, full of life, vigorous, an energetic worker? With strong interest and great eagerness? Manageable, adaptable, versatile? Energetic, industrious? Sincere? Ability to work on your own without being constantly supervised? Hardworking, diligent? Good at making changes, introducing something new? Able to clearly recognise your need for having a job? A person who believes that good prevails over bad? Eager to place things in working order? Calm? Genuinely able to enjoy working/ being with people? Steadfast pursuit to an aim, refusing to give up, applying continued effort? Inclined or suited to useful action, rather than speculation? Good at making things? Of practical views/policy, truth/ detail, presenting people/scenes as they are? Dependable? Able to supply what is needed, quick witted? Capable of rational conduct, trustworthy? Able to turn easily or readily from one occupation/job to another, changeable? Competent, capable, able to get results?

Accurate   Adaptable Alert Ambitious Amiable   Analytical Articulate Assertive Attentive Broad-minded Businesslike Calm Capable Careful Competent Confident Conscientious Consistent Cooperative Dedicated Dependable Determined Energetic Enterprising Flexible Hardworking Honest Independent   Industrious Innovative Motivated Optimistic Organised Patient People oriented   Persevering Practical Productive   Realistic Reliable Resourceful Responsible   Versatile Efficient

 

Task 6.

A job application letter, also known as a cover letter, should be sent or uploaded with your resume when applying for jobs.

The job application letters you send explain to the employer why you are qualified for the position and why you should be selected for an interview. Use the letter to highlight relevant information from your resume, without duplicating it.

A Letter of Application.

XYZ Company
87 Delaware Road
Hatfield, CA 08065
[phone]
[e-mail]
Date

Dear Mr. Gilhooley,
I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in the Times Union. As requested, I am enclosing a completed job application form, my certification, my resume and three references.
The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting, and I believe that my strong technical experience and education will make me a very competitive candidate for this position. The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include:
• I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use applications
• I strive for continued excellence
• I provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers
With a BS degree in Computer Programming, I have a full understanding of the full life cycle of a software development project. I also have experience in learning and excelling at new technologies as needed.
Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.
I can be reached anytime via email at [e-mail] or my cell phone, 909-555-5555.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity.

Sincerely,
FirstName LastName

III. IF YOU ARE NOT HIRED

Task 7. Read the text.

What to Write

Whom to Send It to. Normal thank-you letters are addressed to everyone who interviewed you. The big-boy/girl letter, however, only goes to the decision maker and/or the HR representative you dealt with. If the [rejection] letter you received is signed by the HR person … thank both of them. If it is signed by the hiring manager, you need to send a thank-you note only to that person.

What to Say. Thank them for considering you for the opportunity. Tell them what impressed you about the company or the department you were being considered for. Let them know you would like to keep in touch and would like to be considered for future openings.

Keep the letter brief and very positive. State that you were disappointed, but congratulate the hiring person(s) on having made a selection, and then wish them well.

In a final, short paragraph reiterate a positive point from their interview that reflected well on the interviewer and, again, state that they’d like to be considered for future openings.

Sample Letter

Exercise 1.

• Read the following sample of the letter upon receiving the “we aren’t hiring you” notification. Fill in the missing words.

thoroughly short list disappointed opportunity forward to skilled

Dear Bob:

I would be lying if I said I'm anything but keenly ---------------------that I wasn't your final choice for the position of [job title]. But knowing how professionally and ------------------each candidate was interviewed, and having made it to the "final eight", I'm also honored to have been on that------------------. I appreciate that your job of selection was very, very difficult.

It was a pleasure getting to meet you and seeing how well your team works together. You are a rare and --------------------manager. I particularly like your style of relating to your team, and sincerely hope that sometime in the future we get an -----------------------to work together.

I agree that my skills are a great fit for your team.

I wish you and your team great success. Thank you again for all your efforts on my behalf. I will look --------------------seeing you at one of the area association meetings.

Best regards,

…………..

The Fruits of Graciousness

Frequently Employers are influenced by graciousness of a letter following a rejection and they might offer an applicant another job or just keep him/her in mind for further when another suitable position opens up.

Calling can be a good alternative to sending a letter.

• Write a gracious letter.
• Dramatize a phone conversation as an alternative to a gracious letter.
• Read the text and say what you would add to this list of tips.

A Story of Success

On the surface, it might look like John Ord got lucky.

After a relatively short job search, he was offered an opportunity to be the cloud manager for an IT services company in New York with a prestigious list of clients. Now he’s at the forefront of a hot technology discipline and working with some of the world’s leading financial companies.

“This is the trend to be in, in this business,” Ord said. "This is the right place at the right time.”

What’s more, Ord never really applied for the cloud manager job. Instead, he succeeded on the strength of his wider networking efforts.

Ord treated his job search like it was a full-time job. He woke at 6 a.m. Monday to Friday, went to the gym, showered, ate breakfast and hit the job boards at full speed at 8 a.m. Breaking only for lunch, he’d work his network, research the job market and talk to recruiters all day long. By 5 p.m., Ord would have applied to 20 to 30 jobs.

“I spent the whole day looking for jobs,” Ord said. “By doing that, I got my resume to lots and lots of recruiters.”

The manual effort was helpful, but the resume, he said, was his secret weapon.

Without writing a new one from scratch, Ord tailored his resume to each job application by working from a “master resume” that detailed all his skills and experience. When he found targeted jobs that met his requirements, he cut extraneous information from this master document and submitted the relevant details. This system allowed him to send targeted resumes to multiple job postings quickly.

“The more kinds of resumes you can get out there … the more opportunities will come your way,” he said. “And be aware of the broad range of skills that you offer. … You get out what you put in. It is a numbers game.”

That’s why he was able to land this cloud job in June, Ord said. The recruiter who brought the opportunity to his attention had Ord’s resume on file from a previous job application and thought he’d be a good candidate for the cloud manager position.

“I didn’t apply specifically for this job,” he said. “Once I saw what the opportunity was, I was definitely interested.”

The strategy paid off. It worked so well, in fact, that Ord is still being approached by recruiters months later.

Additional text

GAIN A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE

Degrees are no longer enough — employers are looking for skills in the workplace.

Today, one in three young people enters higher education, and a degree is fast becoming the minimum qualification for any white-collar job. This is not to suggest that the value of a degree has diminished. We now live in a far more complex world and most jobs today require a much higher level of intellectual skills than ever before. Graduates enjoy higher pay and lower unemployment than non-graduates, but most employers will tell you that there is still a shortage of good graduates.

So what do employers look for in graduate recruits? Certainly, they want intellectual skills acquired in taking a degree. These include the ability to collect and analyze information, to acquire special knowledge, to solve problems, and to communicate. In the past this was enough. When graduates were a small elite, employers could afford to invest in extended training programmes lasting between one and two years.

Most graduate recruits today are expected to make an immediate contribution to the organization. This means that they need more than their academic qualifications. Employers look for a range of generic vocational skills which are useful in almost all types of work; they are usually known as ‘key skills’.

Six key skills are approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) for incorporation into many vocational education and training programmes. These key skills are communication, using and presenting numerical data, information technology, team-working, improving your own learning and performance, and problem solving. Graduate employers certainly hope to find all of these, but they also look for some additional qualities such as adaptability and commercial awareness. Above all, they want recruits to have already had some practical experience of applying them.

Certainly, all students should have some ‘quality work experience’ before they complete their full-time education. However, not enough employers offer suitable vacancies to provide this. Ideally, you would get vacation or part-time work relevant to your area of study so that you could start to apply theory to the world of work. But many students end up serving in retail shops, bars and fast-food outlets, or waiting in restaurants. The money is certainly useful, but does menial work (чорна робота) provide opportunities for useful learning and help your career prospects? It does.

Even in the most menial jobs you can analyze everything you see and do and what your colleagues at all levels are doing. You can try and work out why things are organized in the way they are and why people act in the way they do. What do you find motivates the customers of your business – and annoys them? The job can be used as a learning opportunity so you can tell future recruiters what skills and understanding you have gained.

Few people will find a lifetime employer. They will move between employers to gain greater expertise and experience. Many will be offered short-term contracts, others will be offered work as consultants on a self-employed basis. Graduates face more flexible though less certain futures. In going to university it is important to recognize that the future will be very different from the past, that you must learn to adapt and that you can and should learn from every experience of student life.

 

 

MODULE 3

 

I. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE

 

Task 1. Look at the sample letters (A) and (B), and identify which is formal and which is informal. What is the difference between them?

A. Dear Kate,

I want to tell you how sorry I am about what happened yesterday. I didn’t mean to hurt you and I’m really sorry I made you feel sad.

Why don’t we meet next Sunday just to have a good friendly talk?

I hope you’ll forgive me. I want to say again how sorry I am.

Love,

Max

B. Dear Mr Dawson:

I am writing to you with reference to our last meeting. I wish to apologize for my behaviour.

As you know, I was most disappointed by the rejection of my application to the educational programme last September, and that was the reason of my rude behaviour last week.

Please, accept my most sincere apologies. I hope we can get together again in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Smith

 

Notes

1) The title and name of the addressee go together, e.g. John Brown, Mr B. Richards, Mrs C. Stanley, Ms S. Johns, Mr & Mrs Dugan, Dr Simon Green, Prof E. White, Messrs Hamilton and Jacobs.

2) The names of company types are usually abbreviated, as Plc – Public Limited Company; Inc – Corporation; Ltd – Private Limited Company.

3) If the letter is addressed to London, the name of the city ‘London’ should be followed by a shortened name of the corresponding postal district: e.g. EC – East Central; NW – North West; WC – West Central etc.

4) If the letter is addressed to the USA, the name of the city or town should be followed by the name of the state.

 

Task 10. Match address elements and their samples.

1) Title and name of the addressee

2) Position in the company

3) Name of the company

4) Number or name of the building

5) Name of the street

6) Name of the city, town or locality

7) Postal district (GB)

8) Name of the state (US)

9) Name of the region

10) Postal index

11) Postal service head-office number and abbreviation (GB)

12) Name of the country

 

(A) (B) (C)

a) Market Street a) 900 a) Ukraine

b) United Kingdom b) USA b) Dr Boiko

c) Devonshire Bank c) Mr Black c) 132

d) Henton d) 20010 d) 60050

e) Personnel Manager e) Washington e) Software engineering

f) CV22 f) Finance Director f) Chernigov

g) 6DE g) Chesapeake Avenue g) Pavlov Street

h) Mr Jones h) DC h) Managing Director

i) 12 i) Johnson & Johnson

 

Task 11. Read the following text and write the addresses (A), (B) and (C) in the order.

Language Tips

The next line after the start of the letter should begin with a capital letter. For example,

Dear Mr. Bravo:

W ith reference to our recent telephone conversation…

Write 15^th October, not the 15^th of October – it’s not usually accepted in writing. If you start a sentence with a number, this number should be written in a word. E.g. Twenty-six people attended the meeting.

Don’t use short forms such as I’m, we’ll, hasn’t, I’d, or isn’t in formal writing. These forms are used in speaking and informal letters. In formal writing words are normally written out in their full forms.

Avoid using the ‘have got’ form as it sounds informal, use ‘have’ instead. E.g. I have (not have got) experience in translating scientific texts.

Avoid starting sentences with the words ‘And’ or ‘But’. It is not a proper style for a formal communication.

Print your name and job title together with your signature – some signatures are difficult to read. E.g.

Brian Smith

Brian Smith

Sales and Marketing Manager

Some word combinations might contain words that are unnecessary (redundant) in business letters. These are the ways of reducing them:

 

8:00 a.m. in the morning = 8:00 a.m. in spite of the fact that = although

at this point of time = now in the event that = if

both together = both just exactly = exactly

bring to an end = end letter under date of = letter of

during the time that = while make a decision = decide

enclosed herein = enclosed make a speech = speak

for the month of July = for July make a recommendation = recommend

for the purpose of = to make changes in = to change

for the sum of = for on the occasion of = on

give an answer = to answer send an answer = to reply

have an ability to = can take action = act

hold a meeting = meet take into consideration = consider

inform of the reason = tell why write your name = sign

 

Task 17. Imagine that you are a young scientist. You have been studying abroad for several years and now you have returned to Ukraine. Write a letter of request to your scientific supervisor and ask him / her about the changes occurred and the current state in your sphere of science. Mind the useful language given below.

Useful language for letters of request
Opening remarks	Formal	Informal
I am writing to inquire about / in connection with / could you possibly / I would be grateful if you could / would it possible for you / I would appreciate some information about / another matter I need / I wondered if you could possibly do me a favour / I would be most grateful if you could	I want you to tell me / can you let me know / can you also find out / could you do something for me
Closing remarks	I look forward to receiving / I would appreciate it if you could inform me as soon as possible / I hope it is not so much trouble / thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter	Please let me know / tell me soon / I hope you can help me out

Task 18. Choose one of the following situations a) or b) to write a letter of apology. Mind the useful language given below.

a) Imagine that you are a young scientist. You conduct a scientific experiment with a senior colleague, your scientific adviser, who asked you to process the results of the experiment to present them at the international conference. You were terribly short of time and interpreted some data incorrectly. You discovered your mistake when your boss had already left for the conference. Write a letter of apology to him.

b) Imagine that you are a member of international research team. You have a detailed plan of work, but due to some reason you can’t complete your part of the work in time. Write a letter of apology to the manager of the project explaining the reason for being behind the schedule and negotiate a new deadline.

 

Useful language for letters of apology
Opening remarks	Formal	Informal
I am writing to apology for / I must apology for / please accept my sincerest apologies for / how can I apology enough for / I must apologise profusely for	I hope you will understand when I say that / what can I say, except I’m sorry that / I’m sorry for / I owe you an apology / I’m sorry if I upset you in any way / I can’t describe how sorry I am and how guilty I feel
Closing remarks	Once again, my sincerest apologies for / I hope you will accept my apologies / I hope my apologies will be / are accepted	I hope you believe me when I say how sorry I am / I can’t tell you how sorry I am / I beg you to forgive me for / there is no excuse for… and I hope you’ll forgive me

 

Outline Introduction Paragraph 1 Relationship to the applicant Main body Paragraphs 2-5 Qualities of the applicant Conclusion Final paragraph Closing remarks and additional comments Full name

Task 19. Imagine you’re a personnel manager. One of your best employees has moved to another city. Write a letter of recommendation for him in which you should make a general assessment of the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the person, or confirms details about his situation or circumstances. Follow the business letter format and include your phone number and/or e-mail so the reader can contact you with any questions. Mind the outline on the right.

Task 21. Imagine that you are a scientist, and you have recently bought a very expensive and important device for your experiment. But while testing this device before starting a very important experiment you have realized that it doesn’t work properly. Write a letter of complaint to the manager of the shop you have bought the device in. Work in pairs. Mind the useful language given below.

Useful language for letters of complaint
Opening remarks	Mild	Strong
I am writing to complain about / regarding / on account of / because of / on the subject of / I am writing to draw your attention to / I am writing to you in connection with, etc.	I was appalled at / I want to express my strong dissatisfaction with / I feel I must protest / complain about, etc.
Closing remarks	I hope / assume you will replace / I trust the situation will improve / I hope the matter will be resolved / I hope we can sort this matter out amicably, etc.	I insist you replace the item at once / I demand a full refund / I hope that I will not be forced to take further action, etc.

MODULE 4

 

1. PRESENTATIONS

Task 1. To start a presentation follow the advice:

ü Introduce yourself.

My name’s Katherine Beckett and I work for Allianz Life. My talk is called “Consultancy skills in the 21^st century”

ü Outline what you’re going to talk about: describe the different sections of your talk.

There are a few main areas in computer testing I want to talk about today

 

ü

If you have any questions, I’ll be very happy to answer them at the end of the session.

Say whether people should ask questions during the talk, or at the end.

 

 

Do’s and don’ts:

a Start on time. Don’t wait forlatecomers bPlan how long you’re going to spend on each point and keep to these timings. c Don’t labour a particular point (spend too long on something)     d Don’t digress (talk about things that have nothing to do with the subject), unless you have a particular purpose in mind.   e Finish on time. Don’t run over. It looks bad if you don’t have time to finish all your points and answer questions.

POWER POINT PRESENTATION

Think about the presentation beforehand. It is short-changing the organizers of the event and your audience if you only think about what you’re going to say the day before or while travelling to the event. If necessary, clarify with the organizers exactly what is required of you and what facilities you will require.

Be very clear about how much time you have – and stick to that time in preparing and delivering your presentation. It’s very difficult to ‘cut’ a PowerPoint presentation at the event itself, so it’s a great mistake to run out of time.

Be very clear about your key message – and ensure that everything in your presentation is both consistent with, and supportive of, that key message. You should be able to articulate the message in a phrase or a sentence and indeed you might want to use that phrase or sentence in one of your first slides, or one of your last, or even both.

Make copies of your slides available. It is a matter of preference whether you do this at the beginning of your presentation or at the end. If your listeners have copies at the beginning, they can take notes simply by annotating the slides, instead of having to note down all the information on the slides. On the other hand, you might feel that, if they can see in advance the slides you are going to use, you lose the element of control or surprise. It might depend on the content of the presentation: if you are going to show detailed tables or graphs with lots of figures, your audience will probably find it easier, if there is a large audience, people at the back may not be able to see the screen clearly and would really appreciate having copies of the slides.

Ensure that the slides look good. This does not necessarily mean that they look flashy – although suitable pictures or illustrations are very effective – but it does mean using a consistent format and typeface and readable colours plus giving each slide the logo of the organization you are representing and a chronological number.

Don’t use italics to emphasize in your PowerPoint presentation; the effect will be the reverse of what you intend. Underlined words are also hard to read. Use these effects sparingly – if at all!

The first slide should announce the title of your presentation, the event and date, and your name and position. This may seem terribly obvious, but many speakers miss off some of this basic information and then weeks later listeners (or their colleagues back at the organization) are not clear who made the presentation or when. You should try to make the title catchy, so that you immediately have the interest of your audience. A challenging question works well – for instance, a presentation on the global economic crisis might ask: “Is this the end of capitalism as we’ve known it?” Or a play on words works too – for example, a presentation on next generation broadband could be titled “The Slow Arrival of Fast Broadband”.

The second slide should seize the attention of your audience for your presentation. It could be the central proposition of your presentation or a conventional wisdom that you wish to challenge or a relevant or witty quote from a leader in your field. If it is amusing or controversial or both, so much the better.

The third slide should set out the structure of your presentation. The default structure should consist of three themes tha