Activity template applying for a job in europe

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UNIT: APPLYING FOR A JOB IN EUROPE

SPEAKING

Activity 1

Work in pairs and tell each other which of these you are willing to do in your future jobs. Then tell the class your partner's answers.

Are you ready to....

travel?

work at weekends?

work overtime?

work flexible hours?

work shifts?

work on call?

undertake future training?

Activity 2 What is better, “a job for life” or “a life of jobs”?

In the past the majority of workers had full time positions and they started and ended their working career with the same company while nowadays the employment situation has changed and there are different types of working practices.

Discuss the following points in pairs and take notes of your partner's opinions.

Talk about employment and working practices in your country

Compare between the past and the current situations

Examine the reasons why there have been changes to working practices

Describe what the situation was like when you started looking for a job

Talk about advantages and disadvantages of “a job for life” and “a life of jobs”

Ask your partner if he would prefer “a job for life” or “a life of jobs” and why.

Created by Yolanda Cabré under ©©Materials created by Alessandra Gatteschi under

Images and photos from http://pixabay.com/This worksheet can be freely used and modified mentioning its source.

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Activity 3

Entrepreneurial spirit

Discuss these questions in small groups: What kind of qualities do you think make up an

entrepreneurial spirit? What are the advantages and disadvantages of

working for yourself? How easy is to become an entrepreneur in your

country? Do you have any good ideas for an innovative

business, product or service? Would you like to become an entrepreneur?

Do you think you can have talents and skills to become an entrepreneur?

Are you ready to take risks?

WRITING

Activity 1

Match each paragraph of the job application with a title which summarizes its content.

1I would like to apply for the post of secretary advertised on www.jobinformation.com.

SKILLS

2I'm 28 and I have a diploma in Accountancy.

CLOSING SALUTATION

3

As my CV shows, I have worked four years in the Marketing Department of a local company where I got experience in the secretarial field.

ENCLOSURES

4I'm familiar with the most common computer programs and I can speak both English and French fluently.

SOURCE

5Please find enclosed my detailed curriculum vitae and references from my employers.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

6I hope my application will be considered favorably and look forward to hearing from you.

WORKING EXPERIENCE



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Activity 2

Complete the following cover letter with the expressions from the box.

I obtained - interview - Please find enclosed – considered favorably - fluently - part-time sales assistant - I look forward - European Computer Driving License - I'm interested in - I'm writing to apply

Dear Sir/Madam,

1) ___________for the position of secretary advertised on www.jobs&jobs.com.

I'm currently working as a 2) ____________for a big department store in my town.

I've got a Diploma in Book-Keeping and Accountancy which 3) ___________ four

years ago.

4) ____________the post because I need a new challenge in my career.

I can speak English and French 5) ____________and I have a 6) ___________

7) ____________a copy of my CV and references from my employer.

I hope my application will be 8) ____________and 9) ____________to being

invited to an 10) ____________.

Yours Faithfully

Activity 3

Download the Europass CV from https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae/templates-instructions and fill it in.



https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/home

https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae/templates-instructions

https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae/templates-instructions

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Activity 4

Read the advertisement below and write a letter of application for the job.

JOBS IN EUROPEThe best Agency for the best jobs

We urgently require call center telephone operators for Rome, Bucharest, Istanbul, Tarragona.

You must have a good knowledge of English and a friendly personality.

Shift work.

No previous experience required.

Send CV to: [email protected]

Activity 5

Write a cover letter and a CV using the information below.

You have seen an advert for a post of

Assistant Accountant on

www.business.com and you want to apply

for the job.

You have a Diploma in Book-keeping and

Accountancy and you have just completed

a training course in computer studies.

You have spent six months in the UK so

you can speak English fluently.

For the last three years you have

worked for a big company where you

gained experience in all aspects of

book-keeping.

Enclose your detailed CV and close

your letter with the hope to attend an

interview.



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READING

Activity 1

Read the texts and write the number of each working practice next to its definition in the table below.

1. Part-time2. Fixed-term contracts3. Tele-working4. Temporary or seasonal work5. Self-employed6. Job sharing

(…..) Members of staff share responsibility for one full-time position. The job-sharers should co-ordinate their work and collaborate well together.

(…..) It's a type of contract convenient for those who have other responsibilities because employees work less than the standard number of full hours.

(…..) Working at home using a phone, computer and Internet. It reduces the cost and time of commuting but workers miss the social aspect of being with colleagues in an office.

(…..) With this type of contract workers are hired for a short period of time. Specialized agencies supply workers to the employers who only pay for staff when there is a need.

(…..) Workers have a lot of independence and they can choose which contracts to accept and the number of hours to work. It's possible to earn a lot but there can be periods without any work at all.

(…..) These contracts can be a good start for young people entering the job market for the first time and they are usually for one or two years. After that the company can decide whether to renew the contract or not.



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Activity 2

Living at home

Read the text and ask the following questions.

Seventy-three million young adults around the world are young and jobless so many have to live at home in order to get by.

In Spain, where living at home into your 30s is traditional, hundreds of thousands of people have left the country since the financial crisis started in 2008. For those who have stayed in Spain, or even returned from abroad, moving back in with their parents can be a positive and comfortable option. Most 25- to 29-year-olds live at home. The typical Spanish home is a noisy, vibrant place. Honest, fiery debate, often conducted over long meals, is a daily staple of family life. Most people live in flats, so there is not much personal space. And unlike in many other developed countries, Spanish children are, normally, not itching to leave. In fact, living at home well into your 20s and even into your 30s is common. The latest government figures show that 55% of 25- to 29-year-olds in Spain, live at home with their parents.

Alberto Barragan is 29 and lives at home with his parents in the city of Alcala de Henares, the birthplace of the Spanish author Cervantes. He moved back in after two years working in a restaurant in London.

"I don't have to pay bills and rent, I don't have to cook or make my bed and my parents know me very well, so they know what I like, and what I dislike, "he says.

But domestic bliss comes with effort. Alberto's first tip for making it work is respect.

"I have to be patient with them a lot of the time, "he says.

"They always worry about what I'm doing, but I understand that, as my parents, they have to worry about me."

Secondly, Alberto says, love makes the whole set-up work.

"My parents are my best friends. If love is in the relationship, everything else doesn't matter. I really love spending time with my parents. If you do not enjoy spending a couple of hours every day with them, you cannot share the same space."

From: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-25356377

Why do many young adult have to live at home?

Why in Spain have hundreds of thousands of people left the country?

What's the typical Spanish home like?

Where do most people live in Spain?

Is living at home well into your 20s common in Spain?

Where does Alberto Barragan live?

What did he do two years ago?

What are the advantages of living at home with his parents?

What is the first tip to make it work?

And the second?



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Activity 3

Young workers: 'Never forget your dreams'

Although millions of young people globally are searching desperately for a job there are many who have bucked the unemployment trend and have successfully taken their first step on the career ladder.

As part of a series of features about youth unemployment around the world, we asked you to tell us your stories of how you got your break in these tough circumstances, and what advice you'd give to others still searching.

By Dhruti Shah BBC News

Go to http://www.bbc.com/news/business-19464117 (30/09/2012) and read stories which include war, luck, determination and realism. Take notes of the experiences of these young people and how they faced the problem of unemployment.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-19464117

VOCABULARY

Activity 1

Complete the sentences with the words in the box.

Applicants - application form - apply for - applications

1. I would like to____________the post of accountant advertised on your web site.

2. The company has received a lot of____________.3. ____________should send an e-mail with their CV to the above e-mail

address.4. The candidate should fill in the____________and submit it.



http://www.bbc.com/news/business-19464117

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Activity 2

Working in pairs, try to guess the meaning of these words. Then fill in the sentences and check with another pair.

A. EmploymentB. EmployedC. EmployerD. EmployeeE. Self-EmployedF. UnemployedG. Unemployment

1. A person who doesn't have a job is____________.

2. A company which pays people to work for them is an____________.

3. There is a lot of____________in Europe at the moment.

4. If you work for yourself you are____________.

5. Young people find it difficult to find an____________at the moment.

6. If you are employed and paid for your work you are an____________.

7. Not many young people are____________at the moment

Activity 3

Match each word with its definition.

1 Vacancya Meeting in which someone asks you

questions to see if you are suitable for a job

2 Skillb What you get when you pass an exam or a

course

3 Advertisement c A job that is available for someone

4 Interviewd Information in a newspaper or on the Internet

asking for someone that you need

5 Qualifications e The ability to do an activity or job well



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GRAMMAR

Activity 1

THE FUTURE

Will Going toPresent

continuous1. for predictions

The number of shopping malls will double in the next 5 years.

2. for decisions made at the moment of speaking

Thank you very much for coming. We’ll contact you soon.

3. for offers and promises

I ’ l l help you later with your presentation.

1. for intentions

Our company is going to open a new branch in Milan.

2. for things that are certain to happen, based on current evidence

Have you seen these figures? We are going to increase our turnover.

1. for arrangements

I ’m meeting the Personnel Manager tomorrow at 3.00pm.

Activity 2

Complete these sentences with the correct future form of the verbs in brackets.

1) I____________ (meet) the boss at 11.00 in his office'.

2) I think she__________ (not get) the job. She hasn't got enough

experience.

3) I____________ (apply) for the post of secretary advertised on

www.jobsonthenet.com.

4) Can you send me the certificate of attendance? Sure, I________ (do) it

now.

5) The number of unemployed in Europe__________ (increase) in the next

10 years.



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LISTENING

Activity 1

Listen to Marcella and complete her CV below.

Personal information

Name: Marcella Surname: ToledoAddress: 45, Via delle Rose, Monte San Savino, ArezzoTelephone: 00393487754921E-mail: [email protected] of birth: 1)____________Nationality: 2)____________Marital status: single

Education Qualification

2012-2014 Technical Business School “Buonarroti-Fossombroni”- Arezzo 2006-2007 4)____________ course in Arezzo

2003-2005 School of 5)____________ Monte San Savino-Arezzo

Diploma in 3)____________

Diploma

Work experience

2009-2012 Hairdresser for “Wonderful Ladies' Hair” Shop in Arezzo

2007-2009 6)____________ for “Everything for Your Hair” in Monte San Savino

Skills

Fluent English and PortugueseFairly good 7)___________Excellent knowledge of 8)____________

References

Mr Paolo Bianchini 9)____________ of Wonderful Ladies' Hair Shop

Mr Alessandro Artini10)____________ of “Buonarroti-Fossombroni” Secondary School



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Hi, my name's Marcella and my surname's Toledo. I was born in Brazil on the 30th of April 1989 and I moved to Italy with my family when I was 10. I'm single and I live in Monte San Savino, a village near Arezzo in Tuscany. I've got a Diploma in Accountancy which I obtained in 2014 from the Technical Business School “Buonarroti-Fossombroni” in Arezzo. I attended the course for adult students there.Before coming back to school, I had attended a Hairdressing course in Arezzo for two years. When I was 16 I was a student at the School of Art in Monte San Savino but I failed so I gave up studying. I started working as a Sales Assistant in a big shop in Monte San Savino which sells products for people's hair but after two years I got a job as a Hairdresser in “Wonderful Ladies' Hair” Shop in Arezzo. After three years there I decided to come back to school, get a Diploma and find a better job. I didn't want to be a hairdresser forever. At the moment I'm unemployed but I would like to work as an Accountant for a company and have the opportunity to use foreign languages. I can speak a fluent English and Portuguese and a fairly good Spanish. I've also a good knowledge of Word processing.For references you can contact Mr Bianchini, the Director of Wonderful Ladies' Hair Shop and Mr Artini, the Headteacher of “Buonarroti-Fossombroni”.

Activity 2

Some tips for a successful interview

A job interview is a formal meeting during which both the interviewer and the candidate exchange information. For a successful interview, it is very important for the candidate to be prepared, even though it is impossible to plan in advance for everything that may happen during the interview.Listen to Omar giving advice on how to prepare yourself and get through a job interview successfully and complete the table below with some of the tips mentioned.Here is some advice for a successful job interview. Preparation and practice can help you a lot. First of all find out as much as you can about the company and the field they work. You can find information on the Internet. Then prepare your answers to the questions an interviewer is likely to ask you. You can write down questions and answers and stage a mock interview with a friend. This will help you to gain confidence.Prepare also a few questions to ask the interviewer. If you don't have any questions the interviewer can think that you are not really interested in the job. Try to have a positive attitude during the interview and think that you are the person they need to fill the post.Remember that the first impression is based on appearance so try to be well dressed and avoid bad habits such as tapping fingers and clicking pens. Sit up straight and maintain eye contact.



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Answer all the questions as fully as you can and avoid simple 'yes' or 'no' answers. Be yourself and answer questions honestly without telling lies. Emphasize what you can do for the company. Finally, thank the interviewer for meeting you.

Tips mentioned

Interview preparation: The interview:

1) __________________________

2) __________________________

3) __________________________

4) __________________________

5) __________________________

1) __________________________

2) __________________________

3) __________________________

4) __________________________

5) __________________________

Activity 3

Listen to the job interview between Mr Rossi, the Personnel Manager from Italian Systems Ltd in Milan and the candidate, Sofia Soldini, applying for the post of secretary and answer the questions below.

Mr Rossi: Good morning Miss Soldini and welcome. Sofia: Good morningMr Rossi: Please sit downSofia: ThanksMr Rossi: Now, I've read your CV and application form and I've seen that you are 26, you are single and you live in Arezzo. Is that right?Sofia:Yes, that's rightMr Rossi: You have got a Diploma in Accountancy, haven't you?Sofia: Yes, I have.Mr Rossi: You have been working in a local company for the past three years. Is that right?Sofia: Yes, that's right. I'm working for Gold&Silver, in the administrative office as secretary.Mr Rossi: Can I ask you why you want to work for us, Miss Soldini?Sofia: Because I would like to work for a big company where I can use my PC skills and foreign languages. The company where I'm working for at present is only a family business.Mr Rossi: Where did you learn English and French?Sofia: At school but I also spent some months in England and in Francewhere I could improve both languages.Mr Rossi: I see. Well, Miss Soldini thanks a lot for coming. As soon as we have some news we'll contact you.Sofia: Thank you very much for the interview. Goodbye.



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Mr Rossi: Goodbye.

1) Where does Sofia live?2) What kind of Diploma has she got?3) How old is she?4) Where is she working at present?5) How long has she been working there?6) What kind of company is Gold&Silver?7) What's her job there?8) Why does she want to change job?9) Can she use the computer?10) What foreign languages can she speak?

Tags: Job applications, job interviews, EU Curriculum Vitae, Vocabulary: jobs, Grammar: Future tenses.



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Activity template applying for a job in europe