A5003/Unit 2_______________________________________________________________________________

ENGLISH FOR TECHNICAL PURPOSES 5A5003

UNIT 2

Making Enquiries About Jobs

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A5003/Unit 2_______________________________________________________________________________

UNIT 2

Making Enquiries About Jobs

GENERAL AIM

At the end of the unit you should be able to make enquires to enable you to get a job.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

At the end of the unit, you should be able to :

1. make a list of appropriate questions to elicit information about jobs, such as job vacancies and job specifications.

2. make enquiries on the telephone or in person about jobs, such as job vacancies and job specifications.

3. make an appointment for an interview via the telephone or in person.4. negotiate qualifications, pay, etc.5. respond to enquiries

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BEFORE YOU CONTINUE

Have you worked before?If you have, how did you get the job?What are the various ways you can get a job?

Complete the web below

Write in

Job

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A5003/Unit 2_______________________________________________________________________________

Bazli’s friend has informed him that there are job vacancies at the firm in which she works. She has asked him to contact Encik Abdul Bin Rahman to find out more.

1. What is the name of the company Bazli is calling?A. Toshiba Sdn BhdB. Canon ElectronicsC. Senawang Electronics

2. Encik Abdul Bin Rahman works in theA. Personal DepartmentB. Personnel DepartmentC. Research and Development Department

3. What post is Bazli applying for?A. ElectricianB. Electrical Technician C. Electronics Technician

4. How did Bazli come to know about the job vacancy?A. From a friendB. From a relativeC. From a job advertisement

5. What is Bazli’s qualification?A. A university degreeB. A diploma from a polytechnicC. A certificate from a polytechnic

6. When is the appointment made between Bazli and Abdul Bin Rahman ? A. 3rd AprilB. 30th AprilC. 13th April

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Listening Listen to the conversation between Encik Abdul Bin Rahman and Bazli and answer the questions which follow.

Task 2.1

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Now listen again and fill in the blanks to complete the dialogue.

Operator : Good morning, Toshiba Sdn. Bhd., may I help you?

Bazli : Good morning. __________________________________ Encik Abdul Bin Rahman, please?

Operator : May I know who’s calling, please?

Bazli : My name is Bazli. I am phoning _______________________ whether you have any job vacancies.

Operator : One moment please, I’ll ___________________________ Encik Abdul, the Personnel Officer who deals with recruitment.

Encik Abdul : Hello, personnel department, Abdul here.

Bazli : Good morning Encik Abdul. I’m Bazli bin Mohammad. A friend of mine, Suzana, informed me that you may want to hire

an electronics technician.

Encik Abdul : We do have some vacancies at the moment. Can you tell me something about your background?

Bazli : I have a Diploma in Electronic Engineering from the Ungku Omar Polytechnic.

Encik Abdul : ___________________________________________?

Bazli : Two years ago.

Encik Abdul : What have you been doing since then?

Bazli : I worked with two companies. The first was with Hock Loong Electronics, I left the company a year ago. Since then I have been with Senawang Electronics.

Encik Abdul : Encik Bazli, why do you want to leave Senawang Electronics? It’s a well-established company and I’m sure they pay you well.

Bazli : Yes, that’s true, but since working there, I have had only very routine work. I have not learned anything new.

Encik Abdul : Encik Bazli, I’d be interested to meet you. But before we arrange for an appointment, is there anything you would like to ask me?

Bazli : Yes. Could you tell me a bit ___________________________?

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Encik Abdul : Well, basically you will have to troubleshoot and maintain the electronic equipment that we have. Besides that you may be required to assist in special projects done by our Research and Development Department. I think you’ll enjoy the challenge.

Bazli : That’s interesting. I ___________________________________ what the salary is like.

Encik Abdul : We offer a very competitive remuneration package. However, I think it’s best we discuss it when we meet.

Bazli : __________________________ to discuss the position further?

Encik Abdul : Would you be able to come in to see me tomorrow 3rd of April, say at nine in the morning? We’re on the first floor of Wisma Perak, Jalan Duta. You shouldn’t have any problem finding the place.

Bazli : Sure, I’ll be there.

Encik Abdul : Please bring a copy of your Diploma, your _______________ and a recent _____________________.

Bazli : No problem.

Encik Abdul : O.K. then, I’ll see you tomorrow.

Bazli : Thank you very much Encik Abdul. I’m really _____________ ______________________________ you.

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS

Below are some of the language functions used in the conversation between Bazli and Abdul. Match the functions with the expressions used in the conversation. The first one has been done for you.

To greet – Good morning, Toshiba Sdn. Bhd., may I help you?

To introduce –

To enquire –

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Task 2.2

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To inform –

To request –

To instruct –

To confirm –

To thank –

Making Enquiries about Job Vacancy

.The following questions were asked by Bazli during the telephone conversation. Use the question structure and the key words in brackets to make similar questions. The first one has been done for you.

1. Could you tell me about the nature of the job?

(qualifications) Could you tell me about the qualifications needed for the job?

Now you do it

1a (background of company)

________________________________________________________________

1b (fringe benefits)

________________________________________________________________

2. When can we meet to discuss the position further?

2a (report for duty)

_______________________________________________________________

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Task 2.3

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2b (submit application)

_______________________________________________________________

3. I hope you won’t mind telling me what the salary is like. 3a (postpone interview)

_______________________________________________________________

3b (send me an application form)

_______________________________________________________________

Special Note:

When you use ‘mind’, you’ll have to add ‘-ing’ to the verb which follows it. For example, I hope you won’t mind telling me ……

More useful expressions for asking for information

I would like to know more about the position. Would you mind telling me more about the position? Would it be all right if I ask you about the position? May I know if the company has branches in East Malaysia?

Work in pairs. Use the polite expressions to form questions to ask for job-related information.

a) ___________________________________________________________________

b) ___________________________________________________________________

c) ___________________________________________________________________

d) ___________________________________________________________________

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Task 2.4

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In the conversation, the Simple Past Tense and the Simple Present Tense are used. When do we use these tenses?

The Simple Present TenseThis tense is used when we want to talk about happenings in the present situation.

Examples:I have a Diploma in Electronic Engineering.I work at Toshiba Sdn Bhd.I know where the company is located.

The Simple Past TenseThis tense is used when we want to talk about our past experience or something which we did at a certain time in the past.

Examples: I worked with two companies.I left the company a year ago.

Using the tenses in making and answering enquiries

Simple Past Tense

Question: When did you graduate from the polytechnic? (Note: ‘did’ is used when you ask a question about something which occurred at a certain time in the past)

Answer: I graduated in 1999.

Simple Present Tense

Question: How many branches does the company have in South East Asia?(You use ‘do’ or ‘does’ when you want to ask questions about the present situation. Use ‘does’ when the subject is singular and ‘do’ when the subject is plural.)

Answer: We have 12 branches.

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LANGUAGE INPUT

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Answer the following questions using the above two tenses to talk about your own background.

1. What did you do after you completed your SPM?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Where do you live?

____________________________________________________________________

3. Why did you choose to study Electronics (or the course you are doing now)?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What did you learn during your industrial training?

____________________________________________________________________

5. Why do you want to join our company?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What do you do in your free time?

____________________________________________________________________

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Task 2.5

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Classified advertisement

Work in pairs. One of you be the job applicant and the other Cik Zuraida. The person playing Zuraida should complete the form on the next page.

Zuraida: Good morning, JD and SONS Insurance, may I help you?

Job Applicant: Good morning. Could I speak to Cik Zuraida please?

Zuraida: Yes, speaking. What can I do for you?

Job Applicant: I’m phoning about ………………………

Now you continue. Try to arrange for an appointment for an interview.

Useful Expressions

Could you repeat that, please?

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Making Telephone Enquiries about Job Vacancies

INSURANCE TRAINEE

RM15,000.00 per annum plus bonus plus luncheon vouchers.

We are seeking a young ambitious person with mathematical ability, to be trained in all aspects of marine insurance. Full training will be given.

Task 2.6

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Let me spell that for you. / My name is spelt …………….

Let me repeat that for you. / I repeat ……..

Would Monday 2.00 pm be all right? / How about ……….

I’m very sorry, I’m afraid I can’t make it on that day. How about …….

That’ll be fine with me. / Sure, no problem.

Thinking Aloud

What will Zuraida say if she doesn’t want to give the applicant even an interview?

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A5003/Unit 2_______________________________________________________________________________

JD and SONS Insurance

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES – JOB APPLICATIONS

Name:

Address:

Highest Qualification:

Present employer:

Position in firm:

Work experience:

Reason for leaving present job:

Applicant’s manner:

Polite [ ] Rude [ ]Articulate [ ] Inarticulate [ ]Interested [ ] Bored [ ]Confident [ ] Nervous [ ]

Action Taken:Rejected [ ] Interview arranged [ ]Asked to call back [ ] Application form sent [ ]

More Practice

Try practising the following situations with someone:

1. Phoning the company to follow-up on a job application.

2. Walking-in to enquire about job vacancies.

Try a variety of possible scenarios:For example,- the manager is not in- the manager never received your job application- you are invited for an interview – fix an appointment- the post has already been filled- no vacancies yet (for unsolicited applications), but will keep in view your

application

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A5003/Unit 2_______________________________________________________________________________

SELF-TEST

The following telephone conversation contains phrases (underlined) which are not

appropriate. Identify and correct them.

Ring! Ring!Sheila: Hello. Trendy Fashion. What do you want (1)?

Khalil: Hello, good morning. My name is Khalil. I want to know (2) if you have any

job vacancy for a graphic designer.

Sheila: In that case you’ll need to speak to our Personal Manager (3), Pn. Siti. Hold

the line please. I’ll put you through to her.

Khalil: Thank you for your kind assistance.

Siti: Hello. Siti speaking.

Khalil: Hello, I’m Khalil . I’m a diploma holder in graphic design from the Johor

Bahru Polytechnic. I want to work (4) in Trendy Fashion. Tell me (5) if there

are any vacancies that would be suitable for me.

Siti: As a matter of fact, we have two vacancies for the position of graphic

designer.

Khalil: Tell me about the job (6).

Siti: Basically the job involves designing magazine covers and web sites for our

clients.

Khalil: Very good. I want you to make an appointment for an interview with me (7).

Siti: What about this Friday at 3 p.m.?

Khalil: That will be a problem, but I’ll try to make it (8).

Siti: If that’s so, please let me note down your full name and contact number.

Khalil: My full name is Khalil b Harun.

Siti: I don’t know how you spell your name (9).

Khalil: It is k-h-a-l-i-l bin h-a-r-u-n.

Siti: Give me your phone number (10).

Khalil: It is 05-3125555.

Siti: Right. See you then. Bye.

Khalil: Thank you very much. Bye.

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SELF-TEST – ANSWERS

1. May I help you? / What can I do for you? / Can I be of assistance?2. I would like to know if / Could you please tell me / Would you mind telling

me3. Personnel Manager4. I would like to apply for a job5. Could you tell me if / I hope you won’t mind telling me if 6. Would you mind telling me about the nature of the job? / I would appreciate it

if you could give me some information about the job. 7. That’s very good news. Could I make an appointment for an interview? 8. That’ll be fine. I’ll be there on time. 9. How do you spell that, please?10. Could I have your phone number, please?

Other answers may be possible. Please check with your lecturer if you’re not sure.

How well did you do in the self-test?

You have just completed 10 questions. Use the following guide to see how well you have understood the unit:

More than 8 correct – Well done!

5 – 7 correct – Good! You have understood most of the unit. Still, you should try to find out why you got the answers wrong.

Fewer than 5 correct – Well, you should talk to your lecturer about the problems you face in understanding the unit.

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