Preparing for

Work

2

Aims

1. Looking for a job

2. CVs (resumes)

3. Interviews

4. English at work

5. How BEC can help

3

Think about yourself

qualifications, experience, interests independence, responsibility contact with other people using English hours of work location

4

Job advertisements:

an example.

5

Location: SHANGHAI

Job Title: Business Development Manager for a major consultancy company

Main responsibilities

•Identify, target and manage key business partners

•Develop and recommend marketing strategies including direct marketing, telemarketing and promotional events

•Implement marketing plans necessary to ensure achievement of marketing objectives

6

Experience/Knowledge requirements: - Graduate in Business, Marketing or MBA- Preferably with 2 to 3 years marketing experience - Excellent written and spoken English is essential- Knowledge of basic accounting

Personal Competencies required: - Strong business sense - Excellent interpersonal skills - Effective in verbal and written communication

- Energetic and enthusiastic - Good team player - Able to take initiative

7

What the ad says

what’s essential

what’s desirable

qualifications

experience

What the ad doesn’t say

company culture

the job

the person

8

First impressions

Your CV needs to show what sort of person you are that you’re worth interviewing

100+ CVs

5 seconds

9

Layout professional well-organised use a PC no more than 2 sides easy to read: headings,

white space

10

Personal Details

Education

Qualifications

Work Experience

Personal Skills

Languages

Interests

Referees

11

A Functional CVHaven’t started your career?

Identify relevant skills/job functions, e.g.

problem-solving communications team building computer skills

12

Problem solving

I was part of a team set up to improvepoor communications between studentsand lecturers at my college.

We interviewed a number of people tofind out the causes of the problem, andsuggested some ways of solving it. Thesehad considerable success.

13

Communications

I have written several articles which were published in my college newspaper.

I gave a successful presentation to my classmates and lecturers about global marketing strategies.

I worked as an assistant teacher for disabled children.

14

Team building

During my college course, I was in a project team of four people carrying out research by interviewing CEOs of large companies.

I have helped to organise social events for the college baseball team.

15

Computer skills

I am familiar with Excel and PowerPoint. I have designed promotional leaflets for

several events at college. I kept the accounts of a college club

using Excel. I set up and maintained a database of

potential customers for a small business.

16

Personal skillsRelevant to the job but not already included

good time management motivating others assessing alternatives and making decisions accurate written work speaking in public

17

organisational skills dealing with conflict attention to detail team player numerate establishing good working

relationships with others computer-literate (I am familiar

with Excel and PowerPoint)

18

Languages you…

English: BEC Vantage, Pass (2004)

speak:

Cantonese: native speakerhave studied:

English: upper intermediate

have qualifications in:

19

Referees

professional, personal positive contact details ask first!

20

Covering letter/email keep it short begin by saying why you are writing

I am writing to apply for the position of Clerical Assistant, ref. T2, as advertised in “The Times” of 15 May.

draw attention to the most relevant points in your CVAs you can see from my CV, I have two years’ experience of working in this field and have completed a number of relevant training courses.

21

stress your main qualities that are relevantI enjoy working as part of a team and am good at meeting

tight deadlines.

tailor your letter to that particular companyI was interested to read on your website about your

company’s plans for expansion, and would like to be part of your forward-thinking organisation.

refer to future contactI am available for interview at any time (except between 10

and 17 July), and can be contacted by email or phone (details above). I look forward to hearing from you.

22

your addressyour address

Company contactCompany addressCompany address

Date

Dear Sir/Madam or Dear Mr/Ms XXX

I am writing to apply for etc. etc. etc.

Why I’m perfect for the job Why I’m perfect for the job Why I’m perfect for the job Why I’m perfect for the job Why I’m perfect for the job

Why I want to work for you Why I want to work for you Why I want to work for you Why I want to work for you Why I want to work for you

I am available for interview at any time, and look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely

your signature

your name printed

23

Before you send your application…

have a break check your CV and covering letter enclose copies of certificates

24

Recruitment procedures

face-to-face interview telephone interview presentation problem-solving handwriting analysis psychometric tests

25

Before an interview

accept the invitation find out how long you’ll be needed reread the ad do more research on the company decide what you want to tell them decide what questions to ask practise practise practise!

26

What you might askWhat are the company’s plans for the next

few years?

How successful are the company’s products in East Asian markets?

What are the prospects of more responsibility in the future?

What are the main situations where English is necessary?

27

The Interview one or more interviewers a few minutes or all day no immediate job offer dress appropriately try to relax be friendly, smile look at the interviewer/s

If you don’t understand, ask!

28

What you might be asked

Why do you want to work here?

What would you say are your main strengths?

Can you give me an example of how you’ve dealt with a problem?

Tell us about something you find difficult to do.

29

Language skills using social

language answering

questions asking questions expressing

opinions

giving information giving explanations asking for

clarification

1

30

Business English Certificates

BEC Preliminary

BEC Vantage

BEC Higher

31

What is BEC?

An English language exam which

tests the 4 skills of English in a

business context.

32

What do you need to succeed in getting a job?

Take part in a

discussion about the business

Listen to an explanation

and respond

Write a formal letter Read

company literature

33

What do you need to do at work?

Take part in a

discussion about the business

Listen to an explanation

and respond

Write a formal letter Read

company literature

34

Reading skills and BEC

Read graphs and charts Skim and scan texts like job adverts Read business articles for specific

information Understand the structure of a text

35 PART TWO · Look at the list below. It shows a range of business books available from an

internet bookseller.

· For questions 8 - 10 below, decide which book (A - H) each person needs.

8 Ram Banerjee is applying for a job in a new company and needs some advice about

preparing for the selection process. 9 Belinda Thomas is considering buying some shares in internet businesses for a project on

her MBA course. 10 Doreen Yip designs software for major companies and plans to expand her firm’s customer

base.

A New Technologies – companies to invest in

B Great Answers to Difficult Interview Questions

C Negotiating International Contracts

D Which MBA? A Guide to the Best Courses

E A Dictionary of Business Terms

F How to Sell your Products

G The Perfect Project Manager

H Getting what you want in the office

This week’s most popular business books

36

Writing Skills and BEC Shorter documents, e.g. memo, note,

email, Longer documents, e.g. letter, fax, report,

proposal Formal and informal styles Responding to written or graphic input

37

PART TWO•You are the manager of Arvon Industrial Park and you have just received the letter below from FNT Ltd, a potential customer.

•Look at the information below, on which you have already made some handwritten notes.

•Then, using all your handwritten notes, write a letter of reply to FNT Ltd.

•Write 120 - 140 words.

38

Arvon Industrial Park

Units between 1000m2

and 3000m2

Short or long-term rentals

Competitive prices

Contact ArvonIP@ptel.comfor further information

explain benefits oflong-term

rental

The manufacturing company I work for, FNT Ltd., is expanding and needs to rent a new factory unit in a suitable location.

It is important for us that the industrial park offers:

·security services

·adequate staff parking

·good electricity supply

give example of transport

links

give example of service offered

improvedlast year

parking for

500 cars

We are uncertain about the length of the rental period we need, but would welcome details of possible contracts

39

BEC ListeningA variety of people and situations – in a meeting,

on the telephone, an interview, a presentation, a discussion between colleagues…

hear everything twice 4 different tasks 30 minutes listening

40

Speaking 2 candidates and 2 examiners

• interlocutor

• assessor

3

2 Part 1

Part 2

4 Part 3 (a)

5 Part 3 (b)

41

BEC candidates are confident can express themselves well have a range of speaking skills: have

conversations, give presentations, respond to questions etc

are easy to understand can understand what they’re asked to do

42

Reports, reviews, articles

Formal styles, letters,

summariestexts

writing

talking

Formal conversations

about business

Presentations, introducing

yourself, social conversations

43

Who recognises BEC?Internationally : BMW AstraZenecaNestlé PricewaterhouseCoopersSiemens Johnson & JohnsonCoca-Cola Motorola and more

In China: BASF (China) Co. Ltd. BP Amoco China Jardine Matheson (China) Ltd National Westminster Bank Group Shell Development (China) Co. Ltd. and more

44

Why take BEC exams? international recognition for work and study

communication for essential business needs

international business context

value for study and business career

Preparing for BEC prepares you for the

real-life working environment!

45

Further Information

www.CambridgeESOL.orgwww.CambridgeESOL.org