Additional material to chapter 5

RECRUITMENT
1 The application process
The first step in getting a job is the application process. Job advertisements are often published in separate sections of
newspapers, or on the internet. They use rather specialized vocabulary to describe both the position and the person
they seek to recruit.

Here are six job advertisements and six extracts from six letters of application. Match each letter with the job it was
written for.

1
1.1 Vocabulary related to recruitment

Complete these four vocabulary networks with the words and expressions that are underlined in the adverts.

DUTIES OF THE SKILLS AND

JOB QUALIFICATIONS
NEEDED

PERSONAL
QUALITIES ADVANTAGES
NEEDED FOR THE JOB OFFERS
THE JOB

1.2 Vocabulary in context

Complete text A with the vocabulary from the box. Then think of suitable words to put in text B.

RESUME LETTER OF APPLICATION INTERVIEW POSITION APPLICATION FORM

RECRUIT RECRUITMENT AGENCY APPLY FOR HIRE CURRICULUM VITAE
APPLICANTS HUMAN RESOURCES SHORT LIST CANDIDATES COVERING LETTER

A When a company needs to _____________________(1) or employ new people, it may decide to advertise the job or
_____________________(2) in the appointment section of a newspaper or on the internet. People who are interested can
then _____________________(3) the job by sending in a __________________________(4), or __________________________(5) (US:
cover letter), and a __________________________(6) or CV (US: _____________________(7)), containing details of their education
and experience. A company may also ask candidates to complete (fill in) a standard __________________________(8). The
company’s __________________________(9) department will then select the most suitable applications and prepare a
_____________________(10) of candidates, or _____________________(11), who are invited to attend an
_____________________(12). Another way for a company to _____________________(13) new employees is by using the
services of a __________________________(14) (US: _____________________(15)) who will provide them with a list of suitable
candidates.

B Headhunters, or executive search firms, specialize in finding the right person for the right job. When a company
wishes to _____________________(16) a new person for an important _____________________(17), it may use the services of
such a firm. The advantages for the _____________________(18) are that it does not have to organize the costly and time-
consuming process of advertising, selecting, and interviewing suitable _____________________(19). In some cases, the
search firm may already have a list of people with the appropriate _____________________(20) for the job. If this is not the
case, then it may act as a consultant, advising on or even organizing testing and simulations to evaluate the
candidates’ _____________________(21) in order to select the most _____________________(22) person for the job.
2
1.4 Vocabulary – Recruiting

Match the words with their definitions. Then use the new vocabulary in the sentences (SELF-STUDY).

3
1.5 Vocabulary – Hiring Personnel

Match the words with their definitions. Then use the new vocabulary in the sentences (SELF-STUDY).

4
2 Politeness
Being polite and diplomatic is very useful in the hiring process. In English we try to avoid short answers such as an
abrupt “yes” or “no”. A longer response using modalities such as Could I please have…, Would you please…, Do you
think I could help you…, sound more polite.
2.1 Polite phrases.
The short phrases in the table use standard/neutral language (refer back to 1coj1 for Formal/Informal). Complete the
table with the polite/diplomatic phrases from the box.

COULD YOU POSSIBLY DO YOU NEED ANY HELP WITH I WONDER IF YOU COULD WHY DON’T WE
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD PERHAPS WE SHOULD IS IT ALRIGHT IF I

REQUEST (asking somebody for something)

Direct: Diplomatic:
Can you…? 1_______________________________________________________________?
Could you…? 2_______________________________________________________________?
PERMISSION (asking if you may do something)
Direct: Diplomatic:
Can I…? 1_______________________________________________________________?
Could I…? 2_______________________________________________________________?
OFFERING HELP
Direct: Diplomatic:
Can I…? 1_______________________________________________________________?
Shall I…? 2_______________________________________________________________?
SUGGESTIONS
Direct: Diplomatic:
What about…? 1_______________________________________________________________?
Shall we…? 2_______________________________________________________________?

2.2 More ways to make your language polite/diplomatic.

Complete the words in each sentence with the missing letters.

1 There will be a delay.
2 There is a problem.
3 I disagree.
4 We can’t do that.
5 That gives us very little time.
6 It will be better to ask Olivia.
7 That will be very expensive.
8 That will be very expensive.
 I am af __ __ __ __ there mi __ __ __ be a sm __ __ __ delay.
 It se __ __ __ we have a sl __ __ __ __ problem.
 I th __ __ __ there m __ __ be an issue here.
 To be ho __ __ __ __, I’m not s __ __ __ we can do that.
 Act __ __ __ __ __, that does __’__ give us m __ __ __ time.
 Wou __ __ __’__ it be better to ask Olivia?
 That mi __ __ __ be qu __ __ __ expensive.
 That won’__ be ch __ __ __.

2.3 Exercise.
Rewrite the sentences to make them more polite and diplomatic. Use the words given on the right.
1 Can we meet again next week? __________________________________________________ WONDER / COULD
2 You’ve made a mistake on the invoice! _________________________________________________ THERE / SEEMS
3 The quality is low. __________________________________________________ NOT VERY
4 Shall I speak to Mr. Baker? __________________________________________________ WOULD YOU LIKE
5 Your estimate for the cost is too low. __________________________________________________ MIGHT / A BIT
6 We should wait. __________________________________________________ WOULDN’T / BETTER IDEA
7 It’s a bad idea. __________________________________________________ HONEST / NOT SURE / GOOD
8 Let’s cancel the project. __________________________________________________ PERHAPS / SHOULD THINK

5
2.4 Rewrite the responses in a polite way. Start as suggested.

1 Coffee!  Could you

2 Remember to use wide margins in the future.  Would you please
3 I want a word with you in private.  Can I
4 Where do I plug this mobile phone in?  Is there somewhere
5 Check the numbers again!  Would you mind
6 How does this damn program work?  Could you tell
7 What is the phone code for Ireland?  Do you happen
8 You’ll have to work an extra shift this evening.  Do you think I could ask

2.5 Ask for the following in a polite way.

1 I want a window seat. 

2 Help me with my bags! 
3 What time is it? 
4 Where is the ATM? 
5 Lend me your pen! 
6 How far is it to the conference? 
7 You’ll have to give me 3 copies. 
8 Don’t drive so fast! 
9 Give me change for 50 Euros. 
10 I need to recharge my laptop somewhere. 

2.6 Read the situation and complete the words in each reply with the missing letters.

Somebody sends you an email: “I’ve just had a great idea! We could have a team meeting every
Monday morning at 8am to plan the week’s work.” You want to disagree politely.

1 It sou________ like a good i__________, but I’m not sure it would work in pra____________.
2 I can see what you’re sa___________, but wh_______ ab________ the traffic on Monday morning?
3 Wo________’t some people find that a li__________ early?
4 To be ho___________, I’m not s__________ that would be conv_______________ for everyone.
5 I know what you m___________, but I can see one or two pro______________ with that.
6 It’s a good idea, but d________’t you think 9am wo___________ be b___________er?

2.7 Diplomacy in Emails

Make these more polite by changing the words in italics. Use techniques from 2.1-2.3. Write the expressions below.

1 2
Luisa, thanks for your email about the new brochure and the attached file with the quote from the printers. It is very
3
expensive. Isn’t it a better idea to contact some other printing firms and get some alternative quotes? After all, we have
been very unhappy4 with the quality of their work on the last few jobs. What do you think?

5 6
Frank – sorry we didn’t have a chance to talk yesterday. Actually, I have a favor to ask. Could you have a word with Sandra
7
in HR about when the position of Sales Director is going to be advertised? It’s delicate for me, as I’m sure you understand,
8
because there is a chance I will be one of the candidates. Thanks.

9
Steven, thanks for sending the suggestions on how to price our new range of accessories. I don’t agree with you. The prices
10 11 12
you suggest are too high for the market. Don’t you think a lower price will result in higher sales and therefore higher
profits? Let me know what you think.

1__________________________ 2__________________________ 3__________________________ 4__________________________

5__________________________ 6__________________________ 7__________________________ 8__________________________
9__________________________ 10_________________________ 11_________________________ 12_________________________

6
3 Resumes / CVs
Resume, CV, or Curriculum Vitae mean the same thing. The word Resume can also be spelled using the accent marks
(Résumé). A resume should include the following information and in this order:

 Personal details
 Education
 Work experience
 Related skills/abilities or extra certificates
 Hobbies / Interests
 References

3.1 Gap Filling

Complete the following text with the appropriate word. Choose a, b, c, or d (SELF-STUDY).

The name of the game is to win. Remember that when you are _____________________(1) for a job, your
_____________________(2) is a very important document that will say more about you than just your skills and
_____________________(3) history. It is important for it to _____________________(4). It is essential that you avoid using the
same old _____________________(5) that mean nothing like “hardworking, team player, responsible, etc.“. As a student you
may not _____________________(6) a lot of work experience. That is why it is important to include some of your
_____________________(7) from your university studies. When writing about your work experience, describe your
_____________________(8) in the job in full detail. When listing computer or language _____________________(9), describe
them fully instead of using short, one word responses. Make sure to list all related skills that could be helpful in the
_____________________(1) you are applying for using complete sentences. You might want to include some hobbies, but
only include those that the potential employer would find interesting. Doing these things will improve your chances of
getting the job.

1 a) applying b) hiring c) employing d) getting

2 a) application b) history list c) vitae d) recommendation

3 a) job b) work c) employment d) education

4 a) be flashy b) standout c) be exciting d) wordy
5 a) generalizations b) words c) sayings d) cliché
6 a) had b) have c) had had d) has
7 a) degrees b) interest c) activities d) accomplishments
8 a) performance b) duties c) requirements d) work
9 a) abilities b) skills c) experiences d) hobbies
10 a) work b) rank c) company d) position

3.2 Finding information to put in a resume.

At a young age, you may have trouble of thinking of things that could be included on a resume. Young people tend to
underestimate their own ability. The most important thing to do on a resume is to be sure to provide a complete
image of yourself. One thing that you should avoid is just simply listing one-word responses to an experience, skill, or
job responsibilities. In each skills category, you need to explain fully the range and scope of your abilities. The same
applies to job duties.

Find examples on the following page.

7
 Education

Wrong X 2014-2019 Matej Bel University

Engineer Degree: Public Economics and Regional Development
Right  2014-2019 Matej Bel University
Master’s Degree: Public Economics and Regional Development
Special concentration on Regional development with emphasis on solutions
for areas that are losing population
Master’s Thesis: Transaction cost with abandoned properties.

Work Experience

Wrong X 2013-2014 Restaurant Dukat, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

Waitress
Right  2013-2014 Restaurant Dukat, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Waitress and special-event server
Duties included rapid service for lunch time crowd, banquet and special
events that included special decorations and preparation of food for
Swedish table, attending to 5 course meal service including comprehensive
wine service.

Computer Skills

Wrong X Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Internet

Right  Microsoft office suite:
Word: including creation of table of context and material for publication books and
magazine
PowerPoint: including animation are creation of presentations in video format and
embedded audio
Excel: including the creation of spreadsheets with advance formulas for
amortization, depreciation, and tax purposes.

Language Skills

Wrong X Languages
English- Good
German- Intermediate
French- Beginner
Right  Languages
English Fluent speaker in English. Writing skills are proficient for office
correspondence with complete familiarity with business and economic
vocabulary.
German Intermediate level in speaking and listening. Speaking a functional level in
German society. I am able to understand most day to day correspondents.
French Beginner level. I am capable of asking and hearing simple expressions for
day to day correspondents in a French society.

It is essential to tailor the resume to a specific job. Do not send out one single resume to different employers. Take
time and effort to adjust each resume to the job it is meant for.

8
3.3 Taking Stock of oneself (=evaluating yourself)

If you are 20 years old, you may not think you have a lot to say about yourself, but you might be surprised how
valuable you are. In this exercise, write (in complete sentences) a response to the following questions.

1. What has been your favorite class in the past 2 years (university or high school) and why?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Who would you consider your role model in your field of study?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. List 5 duties you had to do in your last job or your favorite job. (If you never had a real job, then list something you
have done as a volunteer or something for school).
1 __________________________________________
2 __________________________________________
3 __________________________________________
4 __________________________________________
5 __________________________________________

4. Describe a situation where you had to survive using a foreign language.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What was the most complicated thing you ever created on a computer?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Describe a school project that you are proud of.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What do you like best about your favorite hobby?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Describe a person you would like to be like one day.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

From the above exercise, you can get a better mental picture about who you are and what you are capable of
achieving. Writing about your favorite class can tell you something about what you might want to specialize in while at
university. Writing about a foreign language experience can tell you something about your language ability. Same is
also true about using the computer to create something. When you write your resume, make sure that the information
describes the real you.

9
3.4 Reading: 10 Phrases That Kill Resumes (SELF-STUDY)

This job market is very different from job markets of the past. If you haven't job-hunted in a
while, the changes can be very stressful.

One of the biggest changes is the shift in what makes a strong resume. Years ago, we could
write the same points and phrases that everyone knows and use.

Things have changed. The “same old” phrases will make your resume look uncreative and dull.
You can make your resume more compelling and human-sounding by finding and replacing the
boring corporate-speak phrases and replacing them with human language -- things that people
like you or I would actually say.

Here are the worst 10 phrases -- the ones to seek out and destroy in your resume as soon as
possible:

1. Results-oriented professional
2. Cross-functional teams
3. More than [x] years of progressively responsible experience
4. Superior (or excellent) communication skills
5. Strong work ethic
6. Met or exceeded expectations
7. Proven track record of success
8. Works well with all levels of staff
9. Team player
10. Bottom-line orientation

You can do better. What about adding a human voice to your resume? Here's an example:

"I'm a Marketing Researcher who's driven by curiosity about why people buy what they do. At
XYZ Industries, I used consumer surveys and online-forum analysis to uncover the reasons why
consumers choose our competitors over us; our sales grew twenty percent over the next six months
as a result. I'm equally at home on sales calls or analyzing data in seclusion, and up to speed on
traditional and new-millennium research tools and approaches. I'm fanatical about understanding
our marketplace better every day, week and month -- and have helped my employers' brands grow
dramatically as a result."

You don't have to write resumes that sound like robots wrote them.

From Liz Ryan, a 25-year HR veteran, former Fortune 500 VP and an internationally recognized expert on
careers and the new millennium workplace.

4 Correspondence

4.1 Format of a business letter

On the next page you will find a typical layout of a simple business letter (structure applies generically, not only to
letter of application). Use the twelve different parts shown to put together the letter below.

10
1 ______ 2 ______ 3 ______ 4 ______ 5 ______ 6 ______

7 ______ 8 ______ 9 ______ 10______ 11______ 12______

11
4.1 The Application Letter (Cover Letter)

The letter of application can be as important as the CV in that it often provides the first direct contact between a
candidate and an employer. If this letter is not well written and presented, it will make a poor impression. The letter of
application normally contains four paragraphs in which you should:

 Say you want to apply for the job and where you learned of the job.
 Say why you are interested in the position and the company.
 Highlight the skills you have and how they can contribute to that job.
 Tell them that you are willing to go through the interview process (and maybe when you are available).

As in the resume, it is important to avoid meaningless phrases and words. Would anyone write in a cover letter that
they were lazy, uncreative, slacker, irresponsible, and hate to work will people? Of course not! So why would you write
the opposite?

In the following cover letter, underline all of the clichés that will be viewed negatively by a potential employer. A part
from the clichés, identify the other bad qualities in this cover letter. Identify other problems this letter has.

Dear Mr. Novák,

I am writing to apply for the accounting position that was advertised in profesia.sk this week. I feel
that I would make the perfect candidate for this job.

I am an ambitious graduate of UMB with a double major in both tourism and public economics. I
am a punctual, personable, and smart individual as I managed to graduate with a master’s degree
in both fields of study. Getting two degrees was not as easy as just getting one, but I felt that I had
the ability to succeed at both.

I want to demonstrate that I am a hard worker and at your company I know I will be able to fit right
in as I love people and I am a team player. Your company is a firm with a reputation that is known
for top quality and only the best and rightest employees work for you. I know that the employees in
this firm will push me to excellence, especially in the accounting department.

I am proficient in computer programming, especially Microsoft Office. I can learn new programs
very quickly. In my most recent job, my employer found me so useful that he promoted me quickly.
I also know good English and can sprechen sie deutsch. Apart from this, I am responsible, a team
player, can work independently, punctual, and a generally nice lady.

Thank you so much for your time, and I am waiting to hear from you.

Best,

Nora Kováčová
12
4.2 Writing proper cover letters

The following example demonstrates a model cover letter replying to an advert for a job (SELF-STUDY)

13
4.3 How to write streets and highways in addresses

Write the type of road that goes with the description in the space provided. The streets are arranged in size from small
to large.

street - St lane - Ln drive - Dr cul de sac

expressway freeway road - Rd interstate
toll road alley motorway parkway - Pkwy
boulevard - Blvd dead end avenue - Ave

Small 1_______________________
2_______________________
3_______________________
4_______________________
a very narrow road usually behind houses only for use by the owners of the homes
and for trash pickup
a street that has only one way to enter. (x 2)
ordinary name for a road that usually found in a city or town

5_______________________
6_______________________
7_______________________
Large
8_______________________
names for a street that gives the feeling of a country setting even though it could be
in a city or town. (x 2)
names for wide streets usually with trees (but not always, as streets get bigger, the
trees are sometimes removed). (x 2)

9_______________________ a highway with open landscape

10______________________ a highway that you must pay to enter

11______________________
Highways

12______________________ an express highway with controlled access (x 2)

13______________________
14______________________ a large highway in the US that connects the different states

15______________________ a large highway in the UK

4.4 Abbreviations

What do these abbreviations mean? If you are not sure, use a dictionary/internet.

1 Sq. in an address stands for _______________________(1).

2 #23 in the USA and No.23 in the UK both mean _______________________(2).
3 On an envelope, you can see the abbreviations c/o = ______________________(3), Attn. = ______________________(4),
or P.O.B. = _______________________(5).
4 These can be found in a report or a textbook: e.g. = _______________________(6) i.e. = ______________________(7),
etc. = ______________________(8), and P.T.O. = ______________________(9).
®
5 How do you read @ = __________________(10), © = ______________________(11), Apple _______________________(12),
TM
Macintosh = _______________________(13)?
6 At the end of a formal business letter it is common to use c.c. and Enc., which stand for
_____________________(13) and _______________________(14).
7 In an invitation, you may find the abbreviation RSVP. It comes from French and means
_____________________(15).
8 The abbreviation p.p. = _______________________(16) is used when someone signs a letter on behalf of somebody
else.
14
4.5 Adjectives, adverbs, and nouns – suffixes

People tend to express themselves and their deepest thoughts on Facebook, or Twitter, and share their stories on
LinkedIn these days. Yet, many find it hard to talk about themselves and their personal qualities in such important
instances as applying for a job.

To describe a person we use adjectives – words that are normally used with a noun. Adjectives can be formed (mostly)
from nouns by adding an appropriate suffix. These are some common adjective suffixes and examples of adjectives:

-able* approachable, manageable -ic basic, scientific -ly friendly, orderly

-al personal, universal -ical logical, practical -ous courteous, victorious

-ary complimentary, customary -ish** childish, selfish -ry advisory, cautionary

-ful skillful, successful -less** useless, worthless -y bossy, happy

*also –ible, **mostly negative

Adverbs are words that modify a verb. There are adverbs of time, place, frequency, manner and degree. To describe
actions in a more lively way it is a good idea to add an adverb of manner, which answers the question: How? The main
suffix of adverbs of manner is –ly, with variations, as shown below:

-ly definitely, wholly -ily easily, voluntarily -ally academically, classically

Some adverbs have two forms and you need to be cautious about using the right one:
hard = He works hard. vs. hardly = He hardly ever works.
late = They arrived late. vs. lately = Have you seen them lately?
near = The road runs near the center. vs. nearly = That car nearly crashed into us!

Nouns are another part of speech with own suffixes and these should be used correctly. Not everything you add –ation
to sounds English, so do not create words from Slovak by adding an ‘English’ suffix. Some suffixes may even be the
same as for the adjectives, so be careful. In the following table, you can see some popular noun suffixes.

-al approval, proposal -sion decision, profession -age breakage, package

-ance* attendance, performance -ure departure, enclosure -ing seating, writing

-ation** confirmation, information -ment employment, involvement -ery bravery, machinery

*also –ence, **or just -tion

Try to distinguish between the verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs by completing the following table.

VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE ADVERB

to prefer preferable
to educate
to manage
to produce
to employ
to forget forgetfulness
to free freely
to justify
to create
to theorize
to permit
to personalize
to excel
to regulate regular, regulatory ---
to execute

15
4.6 Describe yourself well

While it may serve its purpose to describe oneself as a ‘compassionate guy, carelessly living his life to its full’ at the
first date, these are not traits that the recruiters are looking for. It is therefore essential to take simple adjectives (or
adverbs), and turn them into skills that can be transferred into the job related qualities. Sometimes even a potentially
dangerous quality, such as being adventurous may be turned into a fantastic trait every employer wants, if you make it
sound right – I like to take risks.

Read the following descriptions of personal traits. Which simple adjective is hidden behind them? The first letters are
given.

A I am driven to succeed.
A I can express myself well in front of groups.
C I stay levelheaded in a crisis. (Levelhead=exercising good judgment.)
C I thrive under pressure.
D I am committed to the company’s success.
E I possess formal training.
E I have very quick turnover time.
E I put my all into every project.
F I am easy to work with.
I I only need very little direction.
I I can read between the lines.
M I pay attention to the small details.
O I take constructive criticism well.
P I am not easily ruffled.
P I am a natural salesperson.
Q I am a great listener.
R I always finish a task on time.
T I am comfortable initiating a dialogue.

Now you provide descriptions to these adjectives. Remember, always turn it onto the positive side and phrase it right.
Even the ‘empty words’ like reliable, flexible, or responsible may be described with great efficiency (SELF-STUDY).

cooperative
determined
easy-going
energetic
flexible
honest
imaginative
inquisitive
Intuitive
opinionated
organized
perceptive
punctual
resourceful

16
4.7 Adjectives - more practice (SELF-STUDY)

Match a positive adjective on the left to its best negative on the right.

1 calm A deceitful 1 ______

2 generous B messy 2 ______
3 honest C discouraging 3 ______
4 hard-working D mean 4 ______
5 supportive E stressed 5 ______
6 organized F impractical 6 ______
7 ambitious G lazy 7 ______
8 hands-on H rigid 8 ______
9 flexible I lacking in drive 9 ______

Fill in the missing letters to make adjectives.

1 someone with a sense of adventure is adventu__ __ __ __

2 someone with a lot of ambition is ambit__ __ __ __
3 someone with a lot of dedication to their work is dedic__ __ __ __
4 someone who shows they can adapt to different conditions is an adapt__ __ __ __ person
5 someone who is straight/direct in communication is straigth__ __ __ __ard
6 someone who makes a lot of sense is smart or sens__ __ __ __
7 someone who has earned respect of others is a respect__ __ __ __ person
8 someone who shows harmony and friendliness towards others is a harmon__ __ __ __ person

Make nouns from the adjectives and verbs. Use those nouns in the sentences.

strong ________________ weak ________________

responsible ________________ perform ________________
commit ________________ achieve ________________

1 What are your main functions and duties in your present job? What are your ____________________?
2 How does the company know that you are doing a good job? How do they measure your ____________________?
3 What are the positive thins you can bring to our team? What are your ____________________?
4 And, on the other hand, what would you say are your ____________________? Come on, be honest now.
5 What is the one thing you are most proud of in your present job? What is your greatest ____________________?
6 If we offer you this job, what kind of ____________________ will you have to the company? Will you be looking for
another job after a year or two?

Here are a few more nouns that may be incorporated in questions at an interview. Match them with their definitions.

aptitude background experience know-how knowledge skill

1 knowledge that you will need to be able to do something _____________________

2 information that someone knows _____________________
3 an ability to do something well, mainly because you have practiced it _____________________
4 knowledge or skill that you get from being in different situations _____________________
5 the type of education, experience and family that you have _____________________
6 a natural ability to do something well or to learn it quickly _____________________

17
4.6 Job application

Put the parts below into the correct order to make a complete email for someone applying for a job.

1 ______ 2 ______ 3 ______ 4 ______ 5 ______ 6 ______ 7 ______

8 ______ 9 ______ 10______ 11______ 12______ 13______ 14______

18
The previous email is one long paragraph. When writing a letter (or email), it is best to divide it into sections. Write the
symbol // in the text where you feel it needs a new paragraph. With the job application, the sections you divide into
may be as follows:

1 Greeting

2 Reason for writing

E.g. where and when you saw the advertisement and which job you are applying for.

3 Your background experience

E.g. your age (consider if appropriate), present or last job and/or studies, your qualifications (if you are a
student, write what you hope to do in the future), description of you recent work experience.

4 The job

E.g. mention the skills and personal qualities that make you suitable for this job.

5 Refer to your resume

Ask the reader to look at your resume/CV, and focus on one or two key points.

6 Final comments

E.g. express hope your application will be considered (but don’t sound desperate), say who will give you a
reference, when you are available for the interview, and how you can be contacted.

7 Standard final sentence

8 Formal ending

4.6 Small words are important

Choose the right word to put in these sentences: AS, AT, FOR, FROM, IN, OF, ON, TO.

1 With reference _______ your advertisement _______ the JobFinders.com website, I am interested _______ applying
_______ the post _______ a tour leader.
2 I have attached my resume _______ a Word document.
3 I am available _______ the interview _______ Bratislava _______ any time.
4 I am working _______ a sales representative _______ the moment.
5 You can email me or telephone me _______ the number given _______ my resume.
6 I look forward _______ hearing _______ you soon.
7 I have a good knowledge _______ business administration. I studied it _______ university.
8 I am unemployed _______ the moment. I have been out _______ work since the summer.
9 I am studying _______ a degree _______ Environmental Studies.
10 I hope to follow a career _______ the legal profession.
11 I have been working _______ Slovak Telecom _______ one year.
12 I attach my resume _______ your consideration _______ requested.

It is essential that your letters and resumes are flawless. For you this means checking them over and over for spelling,
punctuation, and/or grammar mistakes. It helps to have your letter and resume proofread by somebody else.

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4.7 Identify the mistakes in the sentences below and correct them.

It is essential that your letters and resumes do not contain typos. Another thing to be careful about is the text/context
itself. Computer spellcheck will not correct your IF written instead of IS or IT, or the preposition FROM instead of FOR.
Be extremely careful about not missing any words, even the shortest ones, like a, an, or to. Identify the missing words
in the following exercise.

4.8 Each phrase has one word missing. Write the missing word.

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5 The interview
5.1 Before the interview.

Complete the following passage. Choose a, b, c, or d (SELF-STUDY).

Before interviewing for a job, it is important that you _______________________(1) your resume to make sure that it
stresses the _______________________(2) that would make you an idea candidate for the position. Before going to a job
interview in a company, it is very important to _______________________(3) some research into what the company does
and some detail about their organization. In order to be natural, it is a good idea to _______________________(4) your
interview before you start. An interview is a two-way street and not a(n) _______________________(5). You should also have
a list of questions for the interviewer as well. You have 15 minutes to make a first _______________________(6), so it is
important that you are dressed well and that your hair is well _______________________(7). Don’t forget to bring
_______________________(8) materials such as extra copies of your résumé, pen, calculator, and notepad.

When you are at the interview, it is important to not be _______________________(9). You need to be able to act and react
like an intelligent adult. Your confidence during an interview should be obvious and _______________________(10).

1 a) evaluate b) glance at c) review d) study

2 a) skills b) knowledge c) work d) experiences
3 a) make b) do c) create d) perform
4 a) prepare b) read c) act out d) rehearse

5 a) interrogation b) inquisition c) hearing d) lecture

6 a) appearance b) impression c) entrance d) arrival
7 a) styled b) cut c) cleaned d) kept
8 a) appropriate b) important c) strategic d) formal
9 a) boring b) passive c) quiet d) desperate
10 a) genuine b) bona fide c) official d) accurate

5.2 Reading. The Interview That'll Win (SELF-STUDY)

by Sarah E. Needleman Tuesday, April 14, 2009 Washington Post

In recent weeks, recruiters for Consolidated Container Co. have seen job candidates arrive up to an hour early for
interviews. Other candidates have hinted to financial hardships while in the hot seat, and one person even distributed
bound copies of documents describing projects he completed for past employers.
These sorts of tactics aren't exactly winners.
In today's ultracompetitive job market, even getting an interview is a feat. Yet recruiters and hiring managers say
many unemployed candidates blow the opportunity by appearing desperate or bitter about their situations — often
without realizing it.
At an interview, you want to stand out for the right reasons. To do so, you'll need to leave your baggage and
anxiety at the door. For starters, wait until 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time to announce yourself.
Arriving any sooner shows that you're not respectful of the time the hiring manager put aside for you says. A
candidate who arrives an hour early makes workers uncomfortable.
Signal confidence by offering a firm handshake. Focus your attention on the interviewer. Avoid looking around the
room, tapping your fingers, or other nervous movements.
No matter how you're feeling, keep your personal problems out of the interview process. Instead, always exude an
upbeat attitude.
Meanwhile, show you've done your homework on the company by explaining how your background and track
record relates to its current needs. This is particularly important if the firm is in a different industry than the one you
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worked in before. To stand out, you'll need to look up more than just basics on company leadership and core
businesses. You'll also need to find out — and understand — how recent changes in the marketplace have affected the
firm, its competitors and industry overall.
Also, be sure to show you're a strong fit for the particular position you're seeking. Offer examples of past
accomplishments — not just responsibilities you've held — and describe how they're relevant to the opportunity. For
example: Know the product line, what market it is in, how could you cut cost and expand market shares.
Be careful not to go too far, though, in your quest to stand out. For example, it may be tempting to offer to work
temporarily for free or to take a lesser salary than what a job pays. But experts say such bold moves often backfire on
candidates. Employers want value. They don't want cheap.
If all has gone well, don't stalk the interviewer. Wait at least a week before checking on your candidacy. Call recruiters
only at their office, even if their business card lists a home or cell number. Leave a message if you get voicemail. These
days, recruiters typically have caller ID and can tell if you've tried reaching them multiple times without leaving a
voicemail. There's a fine line between enthusiasm and overenthusiasm.

5.3 The 13 most difficult questions you'll be asked on a job interview

This article has been excerpted from "PARTING COMPANY: How to Survive the Loss of a Job and Find Another
Successfully" by William J. Morin and James C. Cabrera, and adapted.

1. Tell me about yourself.

Be extra careful that you don't talk too much. Keep your answer to a minute or two at most. Cover four topics: early
years, education, work history, and experience. When speaking about yourself, think ahead of what you want to say.
Make sure you don’t start a sentence without knowing how you are going to finish. Many applicants, being under
stress, tend to finish the sentence with ‘so’, such as “I worked as a… and it gave me lots of opportunities to…, so…”. So
what? Sound confident by completing your ideas. Don’t make audible pauses or say ehm, uhm.

2. What do you know about our organization?

You should be able to discuss products or services, reputation, image, goals, problems, management style, people,
history and philosophy. You might say: "In my job search, I've investigated a number of companies” or “Yours is one of
the few that interests me, for these reasons...". Make sure you can tell them the reasons. This requires good
preparation before you get to the interview. Do not underestimate it or you may end up having no job.

3. Why do you want to work for us?

The deadliest answer you can give is "Because I like people." Who doesn’t – mainly when describing themselves in a
positive way. A good answer comes from having done your homework so that you can speak about what the
company's needs. Be careful about not sounding selfish, e.g. “I want to work in your company because you pay your
employees well and I sure need the money.” or “I want to be promoted to higher positions so one day I can…” I, I, I –
that’s not what they are looking for. They need to know how you will fit in. Adjust your answer to the goals of the
company (research ahead, as it was already said).

4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?

Talk about your record of getting things done, and mention specifics from your resume or list of career
accomplishments. Do not sound like you have no idea what to do but do not promise things you are incapable of. You
are not a Superman, so be realistic.

5. What do you find most attractive about this position?

6. What seems least attractive about it?
List three or four attractive factors of the job, and mention a single, minor, unattractive item. The point here is not just
to name three or four things but also elaborate more on them. It, again, requires, some search done before the
interview, so you know what your responsibilities should be in the future.

7. We have a lot of applicants for this job. Why should we hire you?

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Create your answer by thinking in terms of your ability, your experience, and your energy. This is sometimes a point
when candidates try out their humor by saying something like “Because I’m the best!” – well, that’s up to them to
consider. Have specific answers, do not blab about general stuff.

8. What are you looking for in a job?

Keep your answer oriented to opportunities at this organization. Talk about your desire to perform and be recognized
for your contributions. As in question 3, do not show yourself as selfish.

9. Please give me your definition of [the job you are applying for].
Keep your answer brief and task oriented. Think in in terms of responsibilities and accountability. Be creative and don’t
give generic answers everybody else before and after you might. You want to stand out, be different than the crowd,
and win this job!

10. How long would you stay with us?

Say that you are interested in a career with the organization, but admit that you would have to continue to feel
challenged to remain with any organization. Do not say stuff like “If I have the opportunity for promotion and if you
pay well, maybe forever.” If that is your plan, there is nothing wrong with that, just make it sound like you actually
want to contribute to this company, not that it is their job to keep you in there by motivating you to wake up every
morning and go to work.

11. What important trends do you see in our industry?

Be prepared with two or three trends that illustrate how well you understand your industry. This requires a lot of
reading, so don’t get stuck with school Powerpoints only. They might be enough for you to do your 65% but will
certainly not give you any global understanding of your field. Neither will Facebook or Wikipedia, so get outside the
teenage life and get serious about what you want to do.

12. In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you like the most? The least?
Be careful and be positive. Describe more features that you liked than disliked. Do not blame your previous or current
employer for being unfair, cheap, or hostile towards you. By describing your previous job experiences in a negative
way, you are actually giving your potential employer a certain message. Think about this.

13. What are your long-range goals?

Don't answer, "I want the job you've advertised." Use words like “I would like to...” and think 10 years from the
interview, not 3 months. They want to see you as a perspective, loyal employee, not as a free bird who runs wherever
the opportunity to a raise takes them.

5.3 Asking and answering questions during the interview process

There are two opposite sides present at the interview – the interviewer (the person who asks questions, e.g. the
employer or a recruitment agency), and the interviewee (the applicant or candidate). Some interviewers give
candidates a hard time by asking them difficult or even tricky questions, as it has been suggested above. Here are
some other questions you may expect at the job interview, which you should be able to answer without hesitation.
Choose 6 questions and practice answering them in pairs. Make sure that you don’t give one-word answers (even in
yes/no questions, e.g. questions 8 and 12, it is expected you will say more).

1 What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses?

2 What has been your most valuable experience?
3 How would you describe your personality?
4 When did you last lose your temper? Describe what happened.
5 Which is more important to you: status or money?
6 Why do you want to leave your present job?
7 What makes you think you will enjoy working for us?
8 Are you an ambitious person?
9 What are you most proud of having done in your previous job?

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10 What was the worst problem you have had in your present/previous job and how did you solve it?
11 What is the best idea you have had in the past month?
12 Don’t you think you may be a little young/old for this job?
13 What do you do in your spare time?
14 What excites you about the job you are doing now?
15 What worries you about the job you are doing now?
16 Describe your ideal boss.
17 How would you rate your present boss?

You may also be asked some supplementary questions if the interviewer wants to hear more details. Examples of those
questions are:

1 Why do you think that?

2 In what way exactly?
3 Could you explain what you were saying in more detail?
4 What do you mean exactly?
5 Can you give me an example of that?
6 Are you quite sure about it?
7 Can you describe it in more detail?

You should always have an answer ready, and without thorough preparation for the interview, it may be really hard. In
case you feel you need a little time to think the answer over, you can buy yourself time by starting the answer with:

Let me see, …
That’s a very good question!
Mmm, let me think, …
I am not sure about that, but I think …

If you feel you cannot answer the question, it is better to be honest and admit it, of course, in a polite way, e.g.:

I am afraid I don’t know.

I can answer that in part, but would need to consider it further to give you a full response.
I am afraid I am not familiar with…

5.4 Questions in English

There are two main types of questions: YES/NO and WH questions. The former require a yes/no answer, the latter
require a more elaborate response in which you give information. Direct questions have a way of how words are
organized in them. This is a typical structure of an English question:

(WH word) + auxiliary verb + subject + full verb + rest of the question
What did he suggest we should do?
How would the CEO approach this problem?
--- Don’t you think you are too young?
Why should we give the job to you?
--- Could you describe your job duties?

A skillful interviewer would avoid asking yes/no questions just because the answer does not give too many options.
Therefore, if you are in a position of an HR recruiting manager, focus on the Wh questions and let the interviewee talk
more. Instead of saying “Are you an open-minded type of person?” you can ask: “What kind of person do you think
you are?”, or instead of saying “Have you written many reports in French?” you can ask: “What is your experience in
writing in French?”.
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5.5 Embedded (indirect) questions

Embedded questions are questions that are included inside another question or statement. They are common after
introductory phrases, such as:

I wonder …
Can/Could you tell me …
Do you (happen to) know …
Do you have any idea …
Can you remember …
I’d like to know …
We need to find out …
I'm not sure …
Would you mind explaining …

While a direct question has a word order as explained in 5.5, an indirect or embedded question will not have this
reversed word order (such as questions do) as it does not act as a question anymore. For example:

Direct question: Where is the nearest bank? WHERE + IS + THE BANK

Embedded question: I’d like to know where the nearest bank is. WHERE + THE BANK + IS

Direct question: Do you speak English? DO + YOU + SPEAK

Embedded question: Can you tell me if you speak English? IF +(do) YOU + SPEAK

There are five main rules to how to embed questions within other questions or statements:

Rule 1: If the direct question is a yes/no question, the embedded question is introduced by the words IF, WHETHER,
orWHETHER OR NOT.

Direct question Will he be there?

Embedded question Do you know if he will be there?
Do you know whether he will be there?
Do you know whether or not he will be there?

Rule 2: If the direct question is a wh question, the embedded question is introduced by the same wh-word, e.g.
WHAT, WHO, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, HOW MUCH, WHICH EMPLOYEE, WHAT COLOR, WHY, ETC. Note:
sometimes an infinitive can substitute the whole question, as in the second example.

Direct question What should I do?

Embedded question Please, tell me what I should do.
using infinitive  Please, tell me what to do.

Rule 3: If the embedded question is a part of a statement, do not write a question mark in the end.

Direct question What time did he leave?

Embedded question I wonder what time he left.

Rule 4: If the embedded question is a part of another question, write a question mark in the end.

Direct question Have the already left?

Embedded question Could you, please, tell me if they have already left?

Rule 5: Do not use a verbal contraction in the end of the embedded question.

Direct question Where is she?

Embedded question Tell me where she is.
wrong: Tell me where she’s.
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5.5 Embedded questions – practice

Practice the correct use of the embedded questions. Choose the right option:

1 What is the best supplier to choose?

a/ I wish I knew what is the best supplier to choose.
b/ Tell me what the best supplier is to choose.
c/ Will you tell me if the best supplier to choose is?
2 Why isn’t the boss here today?
a/ Are you the reason why isn’t the boss here today?
b/ Please, explain why the boss today isn’t here?
c/ Would you mind telling us why the boss isn’t here today?
3 Will you accept the job offer?
a/ Do you think you will accept the job offer?
b/ Come on, tell me if will you accept the job offer.
c/ I’d like to know if the job offer will accept you.
4 What do you want to do after you graduate?
a/ Will you tell us what do you want to do after you graduate?
b/ Why don’t you tell me what you do want to do after you graduate.
c/ Please tell me what you want to do after you graduate.
5 What time are they meeting tonight?
a/ I was wondering what time are they meeting tonight.
b/ I don’t remember what time they are meeting tonight.
c/ I have no idea what time tonight are they meeting.

Write embedded questions. Start as suggested. Will you or won’t you write the question mark?

1 What does an avocado taste like? I don’t know _________________________________________________________

Do you happen to know _____________________________________________

2 When did you complete the report? Can you tell me_______________________________________________________
I really want to know _________________________________________________

3 Where did the factory relocate? I have no idea ________________________________________________________

It may be good to find out ___________________________________________

4 How long has your secretary been gone? You should know _____________________________________________________
Will you tell me _______________________________________________________

5 How much did you pay for the invoice? Why can’t you tell me _________________________________________________
It would be interesting to know _______________________________________

6 Where did you acquire all those skills? Would you mind telling me ___________________________________________
Please, explain ________________________________________________________

7 How much are they going to pay you? Do you know _________________________________________________________
You should ask them _________________________________________________

8 Where were you born? We’d like to know ____________________________________________________

Why don’t you tell us _________________________________________________

9 Has the problem been fixed? Do you have any idea _________________________________________________
You must know ________________________________________________________

10 Which color will customers prefer? I wonder _______________________________________________________________

We should find out ____________________________________________________
This is the end of additional material for chapter 5
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