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UNIT 4 APPLYING FOR A JOB

Answer the following questions

What is most important to you when choosing a new job?

Choose your top 3

a. Salary
b. Work Environment
c. Values – Business ethics
d. Specialized position
e. Possibility of promotions
f. Room for personal growth
g. Low difficulty level
h. Close to home

What do you think are the most important qualities an Employer looks for in an employee?
Choose your top 3

a. Work experience
b. Education/training
c. Personality
d. “good fit” with the team
e. Attractiveness
f. Skills
g. Past accomplishments

Grammar

Because often times in job interviews the employer wants to know about your past experience, it is
often necessary to use past simple, present perfect, present simple and present continuous. Lets
review them….

Past simple

When to use it: to talk about finished actions in the past and when you are mentioning the start/end
date or duration of an experience.
I worked as a teacher for 4 years.
I graduated from university in 2009.
I went to The Catholic University.

Present Perfect

When to use it: Use present perfect to talk about general life experiences in the past, or to talk about
experiences that started in the past and have continued into the present.
I have travelled many times. (Finished actions, but not mentioning a specific date)
I have played the violin since I was 10 years old. (I still play it today)
He has been a manager here for 2 years.
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Present continuous

When to use it: The present continuous (also called present progressive) is a verb tense which is used
to show that an ongoing action is happening now, either at the moment of speech or now in a larger
sense. The present continuous can also be used to show that an action is going to take place in the near
future..
I am studying at Inacap Valparaiso .
Right now, I am working as an assistant manager .
I am looking for new job opportunities .

Skills and Traits

Check the meaning of these words and phrases. Circle five which best describe yourself.

SKILLS are tasks you can

do well, whereas TRAITS
are features of your
character. You learn skills
through experience in
 life, whereas traits are
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theorized as integral to
you either through
genetics or experiences in
life. Trait theory explains
human personality; many
theorists believe traits
remain relatively
constant over your
lifespan. Skill acquisition,
on the other hand, is
potentially far more
General Skills
manageable through
Accuracy training.
Evaluating Organizational Tasks
Administration Expression of Feelings Overseeing Meetings
Advising Financial Report Auditing Overseeing Operation
Analysis Fundraising Personal Interaction
Assembling Apparatus Goal Setting Plan Development
Being Artistic/Creative Handling Complaints Planning
Being Thorough Human Resources Prediction
Budgeting Independent Action Preparing Written Documents
Calculations Information Search Principal Concept Knowledge
Challenging Employees Innovation Prioritizing
Classifying Records Interviews Problem Troubleshooting
Coaching Individuals Inventing New Ideas Promotions
Collaboration Investigation Proposals
Communication Involvement Proposal Writing
Compiling Statistics Knowledge of Current Publications
Conducting Meetings Governmental Affairs Public Relations
Confronting Others Language Translation Public Speaking
Construction Leadership Questioning Others
Consultation Listening Reading Volumes
Computer Locating Missing Recommendations
Counseling Documents/Information Regulating Rules
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Creating Ideas Logical Thinking Rehabilitating Others

Creating Innovation Maintaining High Levels of Remembering Facts
Creating New Solutions Activity Reporting
Creating New Procedures Maintenance Report Writing
Creativity Management Responsibility
Defining Performance Standards Managing Finances Service
Defining Problems Measuring Boundaries Scheduling
Demonstrations Medical Assistance Screening Calls
Detail Management Meeting Deadlines Sketching
Dispensing Information Monetary Collection Supervision
Displaying Ideas Motivation Technical Support
Editing Negotiation Team Building
Emotional Control Networking Technology
Encouragement Numerical Analysis Toleration
Entertainment Oration Training
Equipment Operation Organizational Management

Decide whether the following concepts are considered Skills or Traits

Brainstorm your skills, qualifications, strengths and special interests.

 Things you’re good at

I have the ability to carry out constructions or modification of a construction, I have the ability
to understand the proposed ideas

 Work activities you like doing (meeting people, making bread)

I like to make plans for new projects, interact with colleagues in the field, help people in need,
I like to complement my work.

 Skills you already have (IT skills, a foreign language)

I use certain programs such as microsoft office, autocad, revit, among others. I also have
command of medium English, some software works in this language.

 Qualifications
my grades have never been very good, but it is enough for me to pass

 Personal strengths

I am characterized by being respectful, responsible, I like to be supportive when I can,

empathic. I was also characterized by being active and creative.
 Skills you would like to develop
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I would like to continue developing my skills as a professional, working on being a better

person

 Clubs or groups you belong to

At the moment I don't belong to a club, but I did belong to a soccer sports club before. I am
currently part of a construction company

 Interests outside of work/your studies

realize proposed long-term goals, improve as a person and professional.

Preparing for the interview

Before Your First Job Interview

 Research the company. Take some time to research the company, so you are familiar with how they
operate. There is a lot of company information available online. You might be asked what you know
about the organization, so check out the "About Us" and "Careers" section of the company website
if you're interviewing with a large employer. For smaller employers, review their website to get an
idea of what the company is about. Also, check social media pages to ascertain the company's
current focus.
 Learn about the job. Find out as much as you can about the position you’re applying for, and then
ask yourself, "Why am I the best person for this role?" Do you know someone who works at the
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company? Ask them about the job, the interview process, and the company. The more you know
about the job, the easier it will be to answer questions about why you'd be a good fit for it.
 Practice interviewing. Review typical teen interview questions and answers, and then ask a family
member or friend to ask you some questions so you can practice your answers. You may also want
to review the ten most common interview questions.

The most common job interview questions

1. Tell me a about yourself.

2. What are you looking for job change?
3. Why do you want to work with our company?
4. What are your career goals?
5. What are your strengths?
6. What are your weaknesses?
7. Why should we hire you?
8. What are your salary requirements?
9. How do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

How to deal with interview questions

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Interview tips
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 Find out about the employer and the job

 Think about the answers to standard questions
 Have a neat, smart appearance- appearance counts
 Arrive ahead of time, so you don’t feel rushed
 Don’t give a poor/limp handshake
 Sit comfortably in the chair – not slouched or on the edge
 Speak clearly and confidently
 Be positive about yourself and your abilities
 Show enthusiasm in your voice, and smile
 Don’t criticize previous employers
 Give full answers but keep to the point
 Ask about career development and opportunities, not just money and holidays