READING
A. Discuss.
• Have you ever been interviewed for a job or for anything else? If yes, how did you feel?
• In your opinion, which of the items in the box are most important in a job interview?
I have never been interviewed for a real job yet, but I was once interviewed to join the school council. I felt quite nervous before it started, but as soon as we began talking, I became more confident.
In my opinion, behaviour and knowledge are the most important items because they show who you are, how polite you can be, and how well you understand the responsibilities of the position. However, a neat appearance and good body language also help make a great first impression.
B. Read the text quickly without paying any attention to the missing sentences and choose the most appropriate title a, b or c.
a (Tips for a Successful Interview)
C. Five sentences have been removed from the text. Choose from the sentences A-F the one which best fits each gap (1-5). There is one extra sentence, which you do not need to use.
1 B (This means that you should begin by focusing on your CV and doing some pre-interview research.)
2 A (Interviewers will usually ask you about what interests you in the company and the position you are applying for.)
3 D (Seeing your facial expressions, gestures and body language can help you decide how to improve your answers and how you express yourself.)
4 C (A practice drive will ensure you know how to get to the interview and will allow you to arrive there in time.)
5 F (After the interview, it is suggested you send a thank-you email.)
D. Look at the highlighted words in the text and match them with their meanings.
- anxiety — d (a feeling of worry)
- up to date — a (including the latest information)
- gather — e (collect)
- genuine — f (real)
- select — c (choose)
- location — b (exact place)
E. Discuss. Which of the tips mentioned in the text do you find most helpful?
I find the tip about practising answers and recording yourself the most helpful. It allows you to see your body language and hear how you sound, which really helps reduce stress and build self-confidence before the actual interview.
GRAMMAR
Choose the correct option and add commas where necessary.
- Body language that includes eye contact and facial expressions is very important.
- This is the website where I found the information about the position.
- Mr Charles**, who** lives next door**,** had a car accident yesterday.
- I want to buy the mobile phone which I showed you last week.
- Dave**, whose** mum works at the supermarket**,** is one of my best friends.
- The security guards caught the thieves who were trying to steal the artwork.
- Venezuela**, where** Maria was born**,** is a beautiful country.
VOCABULARY
A. Look at the extract from the text in reading activity B and note the phrase in bold. Then decide which of the verbs make or do is used with the words in the box.
| MAKE | DO |
|---|---|
| money | well |
| noise | business |
| a decision | my best |
| an excuse | a favour |
| mistakes | the/my shopping |
| plans | homework |
B. Complete the sentences with the correct form of make or do and some of the words/phrases from activity A.
- Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them.
- Julie was pleased because she did well in her interview.
- Philip asked Fred to make a decision about where he wanted to go on holiday.
- Would you do me a favour and buy me a chocolate bar on your way home?
- Ian did his best, but he couldn’t win the match.
- I can’t sleep at night because my neighbours make too much noise.
- Alex made an excuse and left the book presentation early.
C. Choose the correct option.
- The company offered me a good salary, a car and other benefits.
- A company loses money when its income is less than its expenses.
- Lucy had a worried expression on her face when she heard the news.
- She made a gesture towards the desk, and I went to take a look.
- John spilt pasta sauce all over his shirt, so he had to change into a clean one.
- I asked him many times, but he didn’t give me a clear answer.
- Most students feel nervous before an important exam.
- Charlotte is upset because she lost her favourite necklace.
D. Read the note and the words in the box. Which verbs do these nouns come from?
- preparation — prepare
- improvement — improve
- location — locate
E. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in capitals.
- Monica put an advertisement online to sell her house.
- The recent developments in medical research have given many people a lot of hope.
- The manager and his assistant had a discussion about the project.
- I’m taking art classes at my local adult education centre.
- Various environmental organisations are working together to solve the problem.
- Julie has made all the arrangements for her holiday.
- I was very pleased to receive an invitation to the event.
- We stopped and asked a man for directions to the museum.
LISTENING
A. Discuss. What kind of questions do you think a person is asked at a job interview?
At a job interview, candidates are usually asked to introduce themselves and talk about their education and background. Interviewers often ask about previous work experience, personal strengths and weaknesses, and why the applicant wants to work for that specific company. In addition, candidates may be asked how they manage stress, handle difficult deadlines, or work as part of a team.
B. Listen to a job interview and compare the questions the interviewer asked with your ideas in activity A.
The interviewer asked the candidate to talk about herself, her time management skills, her strengths, and her weaknesses. He also asked for a specific example of working in a team, enquired about her reliability, and invited her to ask any questions she had about the position. These questions matched my ideas closely, as they focused directly on personal qualities, teamwork, and relevant work experience.
C. Listen again, and for questions 1-4, choose the correct answer a, b or c.
- a (London)
- b (working full time and receiving some training)
- c (her teamwork skills)
- b (She did research and wrote up reports.)
SPEAKING
Talk in pairs. Imagine that you are responsible for hiring a clerk at a travel agency. Read the job advertisement and the profiles of the three people who have applied for the job. Discuss and decide which person would be the most suitable and why the others are not suitable. Use the words and expressions given.
Student A: Let’s look at the three candidates for the travel agency clerk position. I think Jenny Simpson would be most suitable for the job because she is the most experienced candidate. She has already worked as a foreign exchange clerk in a busy travel agency for five years, so she is well used to a fast-paced office environment and speaks both French and German.
Student B: I agree that Jenny has great experience, however, I think Fiona Shaw is better qualified overall. Fiona holds a university degree in French and Business Studies and has a Computer Software Specialist Certification, which means she is extremely computer literate. She also worked as a receptionist in a tourist office for three years, so she has adequate knowledge of the tourism industry.
Student A: What about David White? In my opinion, David is less experienced than Fiona and Jenny. Even though he has a degree in Tourism Management and speaks fluent Spanish, his only work experience is being a camp supervisor for children, not working in a busy travel office.
Student B: I don’t think David would be suitable because he lacks office experience. Between Jenny and Fiona, Fiona is highly qualified with advanced IT skills and formal business education, but Jenny has direct clerk experience in a travel agency. However, Fiona is certified in software and speaks French, which makes her an ideal long-term choice.
Student A: I believe Fiona Shaw is the best candidate because she combines a relevant degree, expert computer skills, tourism experience, and a genuine passion for travel. Therefore, we should offer the job to Fiona.
WRITING
A. Discuss.
- Where can you find job advertisements?
- How do people apply for a job they are interested in?
You can find job advertisements on employment websites, company websites, social media platforms, newspapers, and noticeboards in shop windows. People usually apply for a job by sending an email of application along with their CV or by completing an online application form on the company’s website.
B. Read the advertisement and the email of application. Do you think that Erin is suitable for the job?
Yes, Erin is suitable for the job. She meets all the requirements from the advertisement: she is 18 years old, computer literate, fluent in Spanish, and available to work at weekends. In addition, she has previous work experience at a gift shop and demonstrates the required personal qualities, such as being responsible, punctual, and polite.
C. Read the following sentences. Tick the ones that apply to Erin’s email.
The sentences that apply to Erin’s email are:
- 2. uses set phrases to begin and end her email.
- 3. mentions where she saw the advertisement.
- 5. states her age.
- 6. explains why she is suitable for the job.
- 7. describes her qualifications and experience.
D. Read the email again and find the formal words that correspond to the more informal meanings 1-6.
- right or acceptable for sth (para 2): suitable
- free (para 2): available
- on time (para 3): punctual
- necessary (para 3): essential
- having to do with (para 4): regarding
- extra (para 4): additional
E. Look at the plan with the set phrases/expressions in the Writing section at the back of the book and rewrite the sentences below in a more formal manner.
- I am writing to request further information regarding the advertisement I saw on the internet.
- At present, I am employed at the post office.
- I am available to work on Saturdays.
- I consider myself to be pleasant and friendly.
- I am available for an interview at your convenience.
- I look forward to hearing from you.
F. Imagine you have seen the following advertisement and have decided to apply for the job. Write a formal email of application. Before you begin, read the tip and follow the plan in the Writing section.
To: applications@happyreading.com
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to apply for the part-time position at Happy Reading bookshop, as advertised on the website searchforwork.com.
I am 16 years old and currently a secondary school student. I believe that I am suitable for this role because I love reading and have a good knowledge of various book genres. I am available to work two afternoons a week as well as on Saturday mornings.
In addition, I consider myself to be a reliable, responsible and well-organised person. I have previous work experience assisting at my school library, where I helped categorise books and served visitors.
Please contact me if you have any questions regarding my application. I will be glad to provide any additional information and I am available for an interview at your convenience. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Oleksandr Melnyk