Lê Hiền Triết
LANGUAGE

Vocabulary
• Words and phrases related to the world of work
Pronunciation
• Stressed words (exceptions)
Grammar
• Reported speech: reporting orders, requests, offers, advice, instructions,...

SKILLS

• Reading for specific information in job advertisements
• Discussing skills and qualities needed for getting a job
• Listening for general ideas and specific information about how to write a good CV
• Writing a CV to support an application for employment

COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE

• Issues related to a job application
• The job seeking experiences of an English school leaver
Advertisement
(n) quảng cáo
 /ədˈvɜː.tɪs.mənt/
/æd.vɝːˈtaɪz.mənt/
CV = curriculum vitae
(n) Lý lịch
employ
(v) thuê, mướn
employer
(n) chủ
employee
(n) Nhân viên
employment
(n) việc làm
unemployment
(n) thất nghiệp
demonstrate 
(v) chứng minh, giải thích
relevant  
(adj) thích đáng, thích hợp
recruit  
(v) tuyển
probation   
(n) thử thách, tg tập sự
/rɪˈkruːt/
Mai and Nam are talking about their preparations for the world of work. Listen and read.
Nam: Hi, Mai!
Mai: Hello, Nam. How are things?
Nam: Great, thanks. I found a job advertisement for the position of a waiter in a restaurant. I`m writing my CV to apply for the job.
Mai: Can I see it?
Nam: You asked to see the job advertisement? Okay, here it is.
Mai: Oh, you are applying for this job? But you still go to school, Nam.
Nam: Yeah, it`s just a part-time job, and I`ll only work at the weekend. My father advised me to get some work experience.
Mai: Well, my mum thinks working while still at school is a waste of time.
Nam: Really?
Mai: She told me to focus on my studies. She advised me and my brother not to look for jobs until we have finished university. She also offered to do all the housework for us so that we have more time to study.
Nam: I think your mother has her own reasons. I guess she wants you and your brother to be well-prepared for your future jobs.
Mai: I think so, too. It`s getting more and more difficult to get a good job nowadays.
Nam: Yes, employers usually look for qualifications and relevant experience. They also want job applicants to be able to demonstrate their skills and qualities.
Mai: Sounds very challenging. How can we do that?
Nam: Before we apply for any jobs, we need to prepare a good CV and a covering letter carefully. They should include information about relevant qualifications, experience and skills.
Mai: Yes, but will employers have time to read each application carefully? So many people are looking for jobs.
Nam: You`re right. There are usually a lot of seekers applying for one position. Only a few of them are shortlisted for an interview.
Mai: The job interview is also very important. Only the best candidate is recruited. Sometimes there are even two or three rounds interviews!
Nam: Yes, then new employees have to go through an initial period of probation when employer will assess their performance and provide some training. If everything goes well, they will be confirmed as regular employees.
Mai: It seems like hard work getting a job, Nam. I think I should start learning how to prepare my CV and practising my interview skills.
 Read the conversation again. Answer the questions about it.
1. What is Nam doing?
2. Does Nam’s father want him to work while at school? Why?/Why not?

3. Does Mai’s mother want her to work while at school? Why?/Why not?
He is writing a CV to apply for a part-time job.
Yes, he does. He wants his son to get some work experience.
No, she doesn`t. She wants her to focus on her studies.
 Read the conversation again. Answer the questions about it.
4. What information do job seekers need to include in their CVs and covering letters?



5. Why is the probation period important?



6. Do you think you are ready for work? Why?/Why not?
No, she doesn`t. She wants her to focus on her studies.
They need to include information about their relevant qualifications, experience, and skills.
Because it is a period when the employer can assess the employee`s performance and provide them with some training.
3 Complete the text with the correct form of the words from the box.
CV job seeker covering letter
job interview job advertisement
A (1) __________ is a person who is trying to find a job. He or she often looks for (2) ______________ - notices in newspapers or other mass media telling people about an opportunity to get a job.
If the job seeker is interested in the job and thinks that he is qualified for it, he will prepare a written record of his education and the jobs he has done, which is known as a (3) __________ or curriculum vitae in
its full form. He also needs to send a letter containing extra information which is called a (4) __________. If his application is impressive enough, he can be called for a (5) __________, which is a meeting in which interviewers ask the job seeker questions to see whether he would be the
right person for that job.
job seeker
job advertisement
CV
covering letter
job interview
4 Complete the sentences using the reporting verbs from the conversation.
1. Mai _________________ to see the job advertisement.
2. My father _________________ me to get some work experience.
3. She _________________ me to focus on my studies.
4. She _________________ me and my brother not to look for jobs until we have finished university.
5. She also _________________ to do all the housework
for us so that we have more time to study.
asked
advised
told
advised
offered
1 The words in the left column are from the conversation in GETTING STARTED. Match them with the appropriate definitions in the right column.
find new people to join a company or organisation
a certificate or a degree that you earn after completing a course or passing an exam
a period of time during which your
employer can see if you are suitable for the job
make a formal application or request
correct or suitable for a particular purpose
2 Complete the text with the correct form of the words in 1.
Applying for a job is a process of several stages. First, when a new job is advertised, people (1) ____________ by sending their CVs and covering letters. All these CVs and covering letters are then screened, and only the (2) ____________ applicants with suitable experience and (3)  ____________  are shortlisted and invited for a job interview. If the candidates can perform well and impress the interviewers during the interview, they can be (4) ____________. Next, the new recruits often go through a (5) ____________  period that may last from several months to a year, depending on the policy of the company or organisation.
apply recruit qualification relevant probation
apply
relevant
qualifications
recruited
probation
Listen and repeat the sentences, paying attention to the stressed words.
1. I’ll help you to write the CV if I can.
2. We would send you the application if we could.
3. Her mother can’t help her with the job application letter, but her sister can.
4. He isn’t interested in that job, but she is.
5. She has the right skills to do the job, and he does, too.
6. A: You can’t work under time pressure.
B: I can work under time pressure.
7. I couldn’t write a CV two years ago, but I can write one now.
Grammar
Reported speech: reporting orders, requests, offers, advice, instructions, ...
1 Rewrite the sentences in reported speech, using the appropriate verbs from the box in the correct tense.
ask
offer
tell
advise
1. Our teacher: ‘You must study hard for the final exams.’
→ Our teacher ________________________________________.
told us to study hard for the final exams
2. The job applicant: ‘Could you tell me if the company provides computers for all employees?’
→ The job applicant  _______________________________________________.
asked if the company provided computers for all employees
Grammar
Reported speech: reporting orders, requests, offers, advice, instructions, ...
1 Rewrite the sentences in reported speech, using the appropriate verbs from the box in the correct tense.
ask
offer
tell
advise
3. The career adviser: ‘You should develop your communication and planning skills.’
→ The career adviser _____________________________________.
advised us to develop our communication and planning skills
2. My mother: ‘I’ll find information about short courses on organisational skills for you.’
→ My mother _______________________________________________.
offered to find information about short courses on organisational
skills for me
2 Complete the sentences, reporting what was said.
1. ‘Would you like to see me play in a football match?’
→ The monitor invited ______________________________________.
2. ‘Could you tell me what skills I need in order to get this job?’
→ The applicant asked the head of the human resources department ________________.
3. ‘If you like, I’ll find more information about the company that you are applying to.’
→ My friend offered ______________________________________________.
4. ‘Go ahead. Apply for the job.’
→ His father encouraged __________________________________________.
5. ‘The working conditions at this factory are terrible!’
→ He complained to his friends_______________________________________ .
6. ‘No, I can’t tell you what the director’s salary is because that information is confidential.’
→ She refused _______________________________________.
1 Below are some skills and qualities required for the position of an apprentice administrator.
Tick the ones that you have. Do you think you are qualified for this job?
Articulate
(adj) Phát âm rõ ràng, nói năng rõ ràng
Self-motivated
(adj) Năng động, năng nổ, tự biết phấn đấu
Flexible
(adj) linh hoạt
prioritise
(v) Dành ưu tiên
/praɪˈɒrɪtaɪz/
A successful car dealership specialising in second-hand cars is looking for an apprentice administrator to provide administrative support for the team. This would be a fantastic opportunity for someone looking for an entry-level position in administration as no experience is required. The ideal candidate should also be able to work on Saturdays.
Apprentice Administrator in a Car Dealership
Main responsibilities
• Answering telephone calls and responding to emails
• Meeting and greeting customers
• Filing and entering data
• Typing reports and creating spreadsheets
• Taking minutes at meetings
• Arranging meetings
Requirements
• 18 years of age or older
• Finished school with a National Certificate of Secondary Education
• Excellent time-management skills
• Good communication skills
• Well spoken and articulate
• Responsible and self-motivated
• Flexible and eager to learn
• Friendly and approachable
• Well-organised
• Able to work to deadlines and prioritise tasks
The successful candidate will be offered:
• competitive salary
• ongoing training
• 12 days of annual leave
• long-term job prospects in the company after six-month apprenticeship

To apply for this position, send your CV and a covering letter to hr@hungphamcarsales.com. For further information, please phone Ms Kim Thanh at 0123975648.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
1. a person whose job is to manage and organise the public or business affairs of a company or an institution
2. becoming an expert in a particular area of work or business
3. put tasks or problems in order of importance so that you can deal with the most important first
4. selected for final consideration
5. friendly and easy to understand and to talk to
administrator
specialising
prioritise
shortlisted
approachable
3 Read the job advertisement in 2 again and decide whether the statements below are true (T), false (F), or not given (NG).
Job applicants must have the relevant working experience to apply for this job.
The job involves office work such as typing reports and taking minutes at meetings.
The job applicant is expected to be good at time management and communication.
Being flexible is the most important quality required for the job.
After finishing the apprenticeship, the person will be recruited on a long-term contract.
4 Read the final part of the advertisement carefully. Answer the following questions.
1. What benefits will you be offered if you get the apprenticeship?
2. How can you apply for the apprenticeship?
3. How can you get additional information about the apprenticeship?
4. Who will be contacted and invited to an interview?
Competitive pay, ongoing training, 12 days of annual leave, and long-term job prospects in the company after completing the apprenticeship.
I need to send my CV and a covering letter to hr@hungphamcarsales.com.
For additional information, I can call Ms Kim Thanh at 0123975648.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to an interview.
5 Discuss the questions with a partner.
Which benenits of the apprenticeship mentioned in the advertisement are the most important to you? Why?
I think the apprenticeship mentioned in the advertisement are the most important to me are:
- Answering telephone calls and responding to emails, Meeting and greeting customers , because I can improve my communication skill.
- Competitive salary , because I will have money for my life.
- long-term job prospects in the company after six-month apprenticeship, because it is a good job.
1. Look at the lists of skills and qualities. Can you add more of them? Choose a job in the box below, and decide on the skills and qualities needed for the job. Tell your partner about the job.
shop assistant
chef
teacher
engineer
police officer
farmer
doctor
flight attendant
2 Complete the conversation between Lan and Nam using the information in the box. Then practise the conversation in pairs.
Lan would like to work as a chef in the future. She is hard- working, creative, and self-motivated. She is also good at planning menus and can give clear instructions.
Nam wants to be a teacher. He is very good at science subjects. He is friendly. He loves children and can communicate his ideas very clearly to other people.
Nam: What kind of job would you like to have in the future?

Lan: I’d like to work (1) _______________ .

Nam: Really? Why do you want to be a chef?

Lan: Well, I think I have (2) ____________________________________ .
I’m (3) ______________________________________ .

Nam: I agree. I’ve always admired your creativity.

Lan: I’m also good at (4) _______________ and can(5) _______________.

Nam: Yes, you have excellent communication skills. I hope you will become a master chef one day.
as a chef
the qualities needed to be a chef
hard-working, creative, and self-motivated
planning menus
give clear instructions
Lan: Thank you! What about you?

Nam: I don’t really know. My parents want me to study medicine, but I don’t think I’d like to be a doctor. I want (6) _______________ instead.

Lan: Great, but do you think you can be a good teacher?

Nam: Actually, I’m very good at (7) _______________ . I’m (8) ______, I love children, and I can (9) ____________________________________________. My biology teacher also advised me to consider becoming a teacher.

Lan: I think she is right. I believe that you will become a great biology teacher!
to be a teacher
science subjects
friendly
communicate my ideas very clearly to other people
What makes a good CV?
Work in pairs. Ask and answer the following questions.
1. What is a CV?
2. How important is your CV in applying for a job?
3. What makes a successful CV?
2 Match the words with their meanings.
Mr Le, an invited speaker, is talking to grade 12 students about how to write a good CV.
Listen to his talk and check your answers to the questions in 1.
Listen again and complete each of the sentences with no more than three words.
1. Your CV is one of the most important requirements for getting ____________________.
2. If your CV looks _________________ and confusing, the personnel manager is going to think that you
will be a cluttered and confused employee.
3. Many companies nowadays use _________________ to scan CVs for important key words.
4. Every job you apply for is going to have a unique _________________.
5. You should have a different and unique CV for _________________ you apply for.
Presenter: Good morning, everybody! As part of our programme to support school leavers, last week you had a chance to listen to Mr. Le talk about the skills and qualities you need to prepare for the workforce. Today, Mr. Le has come back to give you some useful tips on how to write your CV, which is the written record of your education and work experience.
Mr Le: Hello everyone! Thank you for inviting me back. As you know,
your CV is one of the most important requirements for getting a job. It is the first impression you make on your potential employer. More importantly, it can be the deciding factor in whether or not you can get an interview. And here are the top three tips for getting the most out of your CV.
The first CV writing tip is to keep it simple in terms of design. If your CV looks cluttered and confusing, the personnel manager is going to think that you will be a cluttered and confused employee. Tip number two is that you need to include important key words from the job description in your CV. Many companies nowadays have digital software to scan CVs for important key words. So, if you don’t have those key words in your CV, you won’t be shortlisted.
Finally, you should remember to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for. Every job you apply for is going to have a unique set of requirements. So, you should ensure that your experience and skills are completely aligned with those requirements. That is why you should have a different and unique CV for every job you apply for. OK, so I’ve just given you the three most important tips that will make your CV stand out. Of course, there are still other techniques that you can use. Now, if you have any questions about writing a CV, please don’t hesitate to ask me.
Student 1: Mr Le, should I include my hobbies and interests in my CV?
(fading voice)....
5 Work in groups. Which of the three tips from Mr Le’s talk do you think is the most useful for you? Why?
A. Skills
B. Personal details
C. Education and qualifications
D. Achievements
E. Responsibilities
B. Personal details
A. Skills
B. Personal details
C. Education and qualifications
D. Achievements
E. Responsibilities
C. Education and qualifications
A. Skills
B. Personal details
C. Education and qualifications
D. Achievements
E. Responsibilities
E. responsibilities
D. Achievements
A. Skills
B. Personal details
C. Education and qualifications
D. Achievements
E. Responsibilities
A. Skills
My name is Harry and I live in Bath, a small beautiful city in the south-west of England. I left school when I was 18, after taking my A levels. My results were not great, but probably high enough for university. However, I am not very academic so I decided not to study for a degree. I thought there would be lots of companies looking for bright school leavers who want to head straight into the world of work through an apprenticeship. Money was also a problem. Although there are tuition loans available and my parents were willing to help me financially, I didn’t want to borrow money and then graduate from university with a huge debt.
I started looking for an apprenticeship and it took me several months to get my first interview. My application was not successful; there were more than 4,000 applicants and only 20 were selected. I realised that apprenticeships were very competitive so I started to look for other jobs. I worked as a barista at coffee shops, I interviewed people on the street, I sold tickets for events, and I was even a human statue at different theme parks and festivals. I was not only enjoying myself, but managed to save more than £2,000.
Then while I was working at one of the music festivals, I had an idea. Why not start up a mobile catering business? Buying a small trailer didn’t require a large investment and finding someone to cook was easy. Now I have a team of 15 people, travel to fantastic events around the country, sell delicious food, and then watch people enjoy it. Although I didn’t get my ideal apprenticeship in software development or accountancy, I am a successful young entrepreneur.
1. If you want to get a job, you should look for job (adverts/CVs).
2. Don’t forget to read the information about the required skills and qualities to see if you have the (relevant/reliable) job experience.
3. If you (change/tailor) your CV to suit the job requirements, you can increase your chances of getting an interview.
4. After the CV screening process, only a small number of (interviewers/candidates) are invited for a job interview.
5. The new (employee/employer) is usually confirmed after a period of probation.
1. Mike: ‘How long will it take you to finish writing your CV, Mira?’


2. Mira: ‘I think I will need another two hours.’


3. Mike: ‘Try to finish it by 4 p.m. so that you can come and watch the football match.’


4. Mira: ‘That’ll give me only an hour!’
Mike asked Mira how long it would take her to finish writing her CV.
Mira informed him that she would need another two hours.
Mike encouraged/urged her to try and finish it by 4 p.m. so that she could come and watch the football match.
Mira exclaimed that that would give her only an hour.
5. Mike: ‘Come on, just write it quickly.’


6. Mira: ‘Sorry, I won’t be able to leave the house before 4 p.m. because I want to write a very impressive CV.’



7. Mike: ‘But you never come and see me play.’


8. Mira: ‘I’ll come to your next match. I promise!’
Mike urged her to write it quickly.
Mira refused to leave the house before 4 p.m. because she wanted to write a very impressive CV.
Mike complained that she never came and saw him play.
Mira promised to come to his match/that she would come to his next match.