Preparing for Work

1. Preparing for Work

2. Aims • Looking for a job • CVs (resumes) • Interviews • English at work • 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 CV Haven’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 improve poor communications between students and lecturers at my college. We interviewed a number of people to find out the causes of the problem, and suggested some ways of solving it. These had 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 skills Relevant 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… • speak: English: BEC Vantage, Pass (2004) Cantonese: native speaker • have studied: English: upper intermediate • have qualificationsin:

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 CV As 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 relevant I enjoy working as part of a team and am good at meeting tight deadlines. • tailor your letter to that particular company • I 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 contact • I 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 address your address Company contact Company address Company 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 copiesof 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 ask What 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. using social language answering questions asking questions expressing opinions giving information giving explanations asking for clarification 1 Language skills

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 businesscontext.

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

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. give example of transport links • 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 serviceoffered parking for 500 cars Arvon Industrial Park Units between 1000m2 and 3000m2 Short or long-term rentals Competitive prices Contact ArvonIP@ptel.com for further information improved last year We are uncertain about the length of the rental period we need, but would welcome details of possible contracts explain benefits of long-term rental

39. BEC Listening A 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. 2 Part 1 Part 3 (a) 4 Part 2 Part 3 (b) 5 Speaking • 2 candidates and 2 examiners • interlocutor • assessor 3

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, summaries BUSINESS CONTEXT vocabulary texts writing talking topics Presentations, introducing yourself, social conversations Formal conversations about business

43. Who recognises BEC? Internationally : BMW AstraZeneca Nestlé PricewaterhouseCoopers Siemens Johnson & Johnson Coca-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.org