2. Applying for a job

Questions for strong students:

1.     How do people learn about job vacancies?

2.     What are the sources of a job ad?

3.     What are the parts of a job ad?

4.     What do job requirements include?

5.     What do fringe benefits include?

6.     What stages does an applicant go through to get a job?

7.     What documents should an applicant prepare to apply for a job?

8.     What does a resume consist of?

The topic for weak students:

When you graduate from a university, you have to look for a job. The first step in a successful job search is to decide what kind of job you want and if you have suitable qualifications.

You can look for job vacancies in many sources. Thus, you can find job ads in newspapers, recruitment agencies, billboards, the Internet and of course company websites. You could also hear about a vacancy from friends or colleagues.

Most job ads contain the general information about a company, its location, job requirements, fringe benefits and prospective responsibilities of an applicant.

When you apply for a job you should interest your prospective employer s that he will plan an interview with you. This can be done by sending a resume (sometimes accompanied with a letter of application). Before writing a resume you have to collect all the information you need – education, work experience, dates, strong points, basic and additional skills. If you are shortlisted, you might be called in for an interview.

The hiring manager or someone from the HR department will talk to you to find out if you can do the job and whether you will be suitable for the position. The interview is also your opportunity to find out if the company is a good match for you. If they like you (and you like them) you probably need to supply references, which are checked by the company. Then a firm offer can be made, and you can start negotiating salary and other benefits.