Getting Hired
This lesson focuses on the process of getting hired, including researching companies, preparing a resume, and practicing interview skills.
Part 1
Pre-Reading
Answer the questions
Describe a boss you have worked for.
What qualities does a good boss have?
What qualities does a bad boss have?
What is a good salary?
How much time do you need before you can start a new job?
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
qualifications ___
to arrange, to plan
set up ___
the amount of money a job pays
full-time ___
exactly (when referring to time)
start date ___
to be good at negotiating
position ___
qualities or skills
salary ___
to take, to agree to
asset ___
to discuss and bargain
sharp ___
receiving a job, getting the chance to accept a new job
two weeks’ notice ___
a written agreement
drive a hard bargain ___
a good addition, a good part
job offer ___
a sum of money that is given as a reward for hard work
accept ___
the first day at work
on board ___
part of the team
contract ___
working an average of 40 hours a week
negotiate ___
an amount of time usually required before leaving a job
bonus ___
a job
Part 2
Reading
Practice reading the email message and phone call out loud with your teacher.
Underline any words or phrases you don’t understand.
A. Email
To: [email protected]
Subject: Job Offer
Date: July 7, 2015
Dear Lee,
I enjoyed our interview last week. We had a lot of time to discuss your qualifications. Your experience and education are what the company needs.
Therefore, I’m pleased to offer you a full-time position as a sales representative at River Education Books. I think you’ll be an asset to our team.
Please call me so that we can set up a start date and discuss your salary. I’m looking forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
William Michaels
B. Phone Call
The interviewer is interviewing the applicant.
Lee
Hello, Mr. Michaels. This is Lee Timson. I’m calling in response to your email message. I’m very excited about the job offer.
Hello, Lee. Thanks for calling. We need to negotiate your start date and salary.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
When do you want me to start?
I’d like for you to start next week.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
I need to give my employer two weeks’ notice.
I understand. You can start in two weeks then. How about July 21?
Mr. Michaels
Lee
That sounds good.
Let’s discuss salary next. The starting salary is $24,000 a year.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
I know that’s for a new person, but I do have some experience. I’d like to start at a higher salary. I’d like to make $29,000.
You drive a hard bargain. I could go up to $28,000 and set up a bonus plan for good sales.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
I like the idea of a bonus plan. I accept.
Great! I’ll write the contract and I’ll see you at 9:00 a.m. sharp on July 21. Great to have you on board, Lee.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
Good to be on board, Mr. Michaels!
Part 3
Comprehension
Read the email and phone call carefully. Then answer the following questions based on the information provided in the emails.
What type of position did Mr. Michaels offer Lee?
What does Lee need to do before starting his new job?
What did Mr. Michaels and Lee have to negotiate?
What final salary did Lee accept?
Part 4
Vocabulary Review
Complete the sentences using vocabulary from Vocabulary Preview section.
You may need to change the word forms.
Ryan told the interviewer that he had good ____________ such as a college education and job experience.
The ____________ position requires Rosario to work 40 hours a week. Her part-time position only requires 20 hours.
Mikhail had to sign a ____________ agreeing to the salary and start date.
The boss didn’t like people to be late for work, so everyone was always at the office at 9:00 am ____________.
Nikola was excited about her new ____________ because she could now afford to buy a new car.
Kristin could not start the new job until she gave her old boss ____________.
Her ____________ would be in three weeks.
John’s new ____________ was going to be at the office in Vancouver, Canada.
Mr. Carson told Max that he would be an ____________ to his company.
Ryoung was excited that she would receive an extra thousand dollars as a ____________ if she did her job well and brought in new clients.
Part 5
Speaking
Write your own dialogue. Work with your teacher and write your own phone conversation using at least four words or phrases from today’s lesson.
Part 6
Writing
In the spaces below, write short answers to the following questions.
Describe a job that you’d like to have.
What qualifications do you need to get the job?
What kind of salary do you want?
Do you think you can drive a hard bargain?
Why or why not?
What would you say to negotiate your salary and start date?
What kind of job offer would you accept?
Do you want to work full-time or part-time? Why?
Part 7
Listening
Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recordings.
A. Email
To: [email protected]
Subject: Job Offer
Date: July 7, 2015
Dear Lee,
I enjoyed our interview last week. We had a lot of time to discuss your qualifications. Your experience and education are what the company needs.
Therefore, I’m pleased to offer you a full-time position as a sales representative at River Education Books. I think you’ll be an asset to our team.
Please call me so that we can set up a start date and discuss your salary. I’m looking forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
William Michaels
B. Phone Call
The interviewer is interviewing the applicant.
Lee
Hello, Mr. Michaels. This is Lee Timson. I’m calling in response to your email message. I’m very excited about the job offer.
Hello, Lee. Thanks for calling. We need to negotiate your start date and salary.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
When do you want me to start?
I’d like for you to start next week.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
I need to give my employer two weeks’ notice.
I understand. You can start in two weeks then. How about July 21?
Mr. Michaels
Lee
That sounds good.
Let’s discuss salary next. The starting salary is $24,000 a year.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
I know that’s for a new person, but I do have some experience. I’d like to start at a higher salary. I’d like to make $29,000.
You drive a hard bargain. I could go up to $28,000 and set up a bonus plan for good sales.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
I like the idea of a bonus plan. I accept.
Great! I’ll write the contract and I’ll see you at 9:00 a.m. sharp on July 21. Great to have you on board, Lee.
Mr. Michaels
Lee
Good to be on board, Mr. Michaels!
Part 8
Correspondence Building
The correspondence below is not in the right order. Cut up the strips, and then work alone or with your teacher to rearrange them into the correct order. Then read the correspondence out loud.
A. Email
| a) William Michaels |
| b) I enjoyed our interview last week. |
| c) Your experience and education are what the company needs. |
| d) I’m looking forward to working with you. |
| e) I think you’ll be an asset to our team. |
| f) Dear Lee, |
| g) Please call me so that we can set up a start date and discuss your salary. |
| h) Therefore, I’m pleased to offer you a full-time position as a sales representative at River Education Books. |
| i) To: [email protected] Subject: Job Offer Date: July 7, 2015 |
| j) We had a lot of time to discuss your qualifications. |
| k) Sincerely, |
B. Phone Call
| l) Great! I’ll write the contract and I’ll see you at 9:00 am sharp on July 21. Great to have you on board, Lee. |
| m) You drive a hard bargain. I could go up to $28,000 and set up a bonus plan for good sales. |
| n) Hello, Mr. Michaels. This is Lee Timson. I’m calling in response to your email message. I’m very excited about the job offer. |
| o) Hello, Lee. Thanks for calling. We need to negotiate your start date and salary. |
| p) I’d like for you to start next week. |
| q) I understand. You can start in two weeks then. How about July 21? |
| r) I like the idea of a bonus plan. I accept. |
| s) I need to give my employer two weeks’ notice |
| t) That sounds good. |
| u) Good to be on board, Mr. Michaels! |
| v) I know that’s for a new person, but I do have some experience. I’d like to start at a higher salary. I’d like to make $29,000. |
| x) When do you want me to start? |