UNIT 3: JOBS

DISCUSSION
1. Look at the picture.
a) Where do you think these people are going?
b) Why do you think they’re all riding?
.

2. What factors do people usually consider when choosing or keeping a job?

a) Choose from the list below.
b) Rank the ones you selected from the most important to the least important.
(Put a number next to each).
- Salary
- Company’s culture
- Career path
- Good work-life balance
- Job security
- The environment
- Job satisfaction
- Possibility for career break
-Perks and benefits
-Other
3. In most organisations pay is based on qualifications rather than
performance; do you agree with this practice?
What other factors do you think should be considered when paying workers?
 e.g. Experience

LANGUAGE FOCUS 1
Vocabulary
1. a) Work with a partner. Discuss the meaning of the following. Use a
dictionary if necessary.

Part-time job/ Full-time job/

Shift work / Temporary job /
Permanent job /Working
flexitime / Telecommuting

b) Match each speech bubble with the type of work it refers to in the box
below.

Part-time job / Temporary job / Shift work / Flexitime / Permanent

job /
Akissi says she
prefers the weeks
when her husband
Hey Khady! Do you still My name is My classmate lives
works at night, so he
work with that NGO Badara. I’m a near a fast-food can pick up the
during the Summer? teacher trainer restaurant. So he children after school.
and I can have works there after (4)
(1)
that job until school three days a
retirement age. week. (3)

(2)

I really like companies

where people can
organise their work
 Well, I don’t think I
should turn down their
offer: the job I have
with this supermarket is
just for six weeks. (6)

2. How do you say these in English:

CDD: ____________________________________________________________
CDI: _____________________________________________________________
OIT: _____________________________________________________________

C/ SPEAKING: Work in small groups and discuss these questions.

Some organisations prefer to recruit more men than women. Are you for or
against this?
In your group, pretend to be the organisation for or the one against and find
arguments to support your view. Then join another group to discuss.

READING
A. Before you read:
a) How important is the contract in the recruitment process?
b) What things does a work contract take into account?
c) What precautions should an employee take regarding a work
contract?
B. Read the extract from an employment contract below and

1. Match the clauses to the things they describe.

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
This agreement is hereinafter entered into between Wonder Events NINEA 23540 |
BP-45796
referred to as ‘employer’
and Mr/Mrs___name____ born in __date of birth_ , residing at________ holder of
National ID number___________ hereinafter referred to as employee,
on __________(date) under the terms and conditions of employment below:

1. Reasons
Employee is hired by Wonder Events as part of its activities.
2. Commencement of employment
This contract is effective from _____start date_____ - until either parties terminate
the contract for a fixed term contract for a period of __days or months or years_
ending on __________.
3. Position and section employed
Employee will work as Marketing Director in the executive board.
4. Job responsibilities
Marketing executive will oversee many aspects of campaigns throughout the entire
lifespan of ours products, services or ideas. As such executives are likely to have a
great deal of responsibility early on and will be required to manage their time and
duties themselves. These responsibilities can include:
- conducting research and analysing data to identify and define audiences
- maintaining websites and looking at data analytics
- updating databases and using a customer relationship management (CRM)
system
- coordinating internal marketing
- monitoring performance.
5. Place of work
Employee will work at Wonder Events Headquarters 60 Rue de Thiong, Dakar.
6. Working hours
From 8 AM to 6 PM
7. Wages
Basic Wages of 1 250 000 Francs CFA per month plus the following allowances:
- Meal allowance of 100000 Francs CFA per month
- Travel allowance of 50000 per month
- Attendance bonus of 300000 Francs CFA each quarter (3months)
 8. Conflicting Employment
Employee agrees that during the term of employment with the company, will not
engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity
related to the business in which the company is now involved or becomes involved
during the term of employment, nor will employee engage in any other activities that
conflict with Employee’s obligations to the company.

Signature of employee Signature of Board

2. Insert the two the two following sentences into the correct paragraph.

a) As such executives are likely to have a great deal of responsibility early on

and will be required to manage their time and duties themselves.
b) nor will employee engage in any other activities that conflict with Employee’s
obligations to the company
LANGUAGE FOCUS 2
Expressing the future: WILL

LISTENING
1. Ms. Akia Mende, a career advisor from Tanga Communications, is giving
some job interview tips. Which things does she mention?
E.g. Dress code
2. Listen to Mustapha, a newly recruited sales representative, share his
interview experience with a friend Orisa. Is he giving the right ideas?

D/ WRITING: You work in the Human Resources department of your company

which has just recruited a new sales representative. Write their work contract
using the suggested template.

CASE STUDY
Situation
Jarama furniture, a large company in the country, is recruiting a new financial
manager. They have gone through the whole process and their choice was finally on
Diabira, who proved to be the best candidate with very high qualifications and fifteen
years’ international work experience.
 Yet, Two months after the probation period, they discovered that in his previous job,
Diabira was involved in a corruption case and was convicted.
Now Jarama Furniture is facing a dilemma:

Option one: Terminate his contract because the company might be another
victim of corruption case.
Option two: Keep him because out of the fifteen candidates shortlisted he
turned out to be the most highly qualified with a PhD in Accounting and
Finance and fifteen year’s international work experience. What’s more, he’s
made numerous achievements and he’s the only bilingual candidate (French
and English)

Reading: FOCUSING IN THE FUTURE AND NOT ON THE PAST:

Unresolved past experiences can sometimes produce lasting psychological and
physiological effects. They can be so intense that they will prevent us from focusing
on our future. It’s impossible to revisit the past and change things. However, strong
social support systems can be the most important factor in healing the effects of
damaging experiences.
Human beings are far from being perfect and everyone makes mistakes. The social
environment we live is an essential part of what defines who we are. It also affects
how we incorporate unresolved past experiences into our lives. It’s important to allow
ourselves to turn the page and start a new life, set goals and plan thoroughly. One
can definitely change their reputation and lifestyle by simply taking their
responsibilities and putting in some efforts.

Task:

You’re part of the Board of Directors.

1) Read the article above and take notes.
2) Listen to the recording about the risks of hiring a convicted
employee.
3) Work in small groups and, based on your notes discuss the
consequences of each and choose the best option for Jarama
Furniture.
4) Write an e-mail to the Managing Director of Jarama Furniture and
tell them about your decision.
Listening scripts
3.1 Ms. Akia Mende, a career advisor from Tanga Communications, is giving
some job interview tips. Which things does she mention?
3.1 Interviewer: Good evening, Ms. Mende. Welcome to ‘Which worker?’
programme and thanks for joining us.
Ms Mende: Good evening and thanks for having me.
Interviewer: In your last interview you told us about your recruitment processes,
requirements and things of the kind. Today, we would like you to give potential job
candidates some useful tips about preparing and behaving at a job interview.
Ms Mende: Well, I think it’s all about making a first good impression. And for this, I
think greeting is key, that is the way you first approach your interviewer, the facial
expression, whether you look happy or unhappy, tense or relax. That’s very
important. So prior to the interview, do your best to build a stress-free atmosphere
around yourself.
Interviewer: So, Ms. Mende, how do you think we can achieve this,
Ms. Mende: Well avoid being alone, join people, and most important than all, do not
concentrate on the interview. But, that does not mean that you should not think about
the questions you’ll be likely to answer, mostly based on the CV that you provided.
Another aspect of importance is the way you dress at a job interview. It’s certainly not
advisable to wear shiny clothes that could surely draw the interviewers’ attention from
the subject_ the interview_ but it’s highly recommended to dress smart. And smart
means decent.
And last but not least, sell yourself, link your skills to the job, do not go off topic. Just
focus on the skills that are related to the post you’re applying for.
And, let me not forget: always get as much information about the organisation and be
honest in your responses.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for these insights, Ms. Mende.
Ms. Mende: My pleasure.

B1 U3 Case study Listening script

RISK OF HIRING A CONVICTED EMPLOYEE:

In today’s world, recruiters need to be very careful when it comes to hire.
Needless to say that most companies’ hiring processes are far from
being perfect. Despite the fact that many employers believe that hiring an
ex-convict has many benefits for the company as they value their work,
there are many risks linked to the hiring of a convicted employee.
Statistics show that 75% of people released from prison go back
eventually.

That was the case of Michael, an ex-gang member in Ouagadougou who

was released from prison in 2005 after spending 15 years there for
rubbing a shop in the city. His uncle who owns a super market wanted to
give a helping hand to his nephew and his family so he offered Michael a
job of cashier in his super market.

Three years later, when Michael got a promotion for excelling in his job,
the worst occurred. He murdered his uncle and rubbed several millions
from his safe.

The whole country was under the shock of this outrageous murder case
and many business-owners testify that the idea of hiring an ex-offender
is too much of a risk.