WORK
People in Britain can look for jobs in the Situations Vacant column of national or local newspapers. National newspapers such as "The Guardian" focus on different areas of employment such us media, education, social work and information technology on different days. Job vacancies are also displayed at Job Centres and other Employment Agencies in towns and cities and on the Internet.
Before applying for a job, you should check that you meet the requirements. These are usually specified in terms of previous experience, qualifications and personality. To show that you are a suitable candidate for the post, it is usual to enclose a curriculum vitae with your letter of application. There are many computer programs that will help you produce a well designed and professional-looking curriculum vitae, available both from computer software retailers and as freeware on the web.
If you make the right impression, you will be invited to an interview; otherwise you will probably receive a letter saying: "we regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful." The successful applicant will probably be given a contract of employment which will contain the job description and the terms and conditions. You show your acceptance of these by signing the contract.
On your first day of work, you may be invited to join a trade union. If so, you will probably be introduced to your shop steward, the trade union official who will represent you and your colleagues in negotiations with management. Sooner or later, you will meet your boss. The person who you report to, could also be called a line manager or director. In factories, workers often take their orders from a team-leader or foreman, who is an intermediary between the employer and the employees.
1. What ratio of work to leisure would be your ideal? Answer using percentages.
2. Are the people in your country famous for working hard or for having a good social life?
3. What jobs would you most and least like to do?
4. What jobs have you done in your life and what did you like and dislike about them?
5. Which age-groups are worst affected by unemployment in your country?
Should people who have never worked before be entitled to unemployment benefit?
6. What are the causes of unemployment and how is the problem solved in your country?
7. Do women in your country have equality of job opportunities? Are they paid as well as men?
8. Are there many migrant workers in your country? If so, what kind of jobs do they do? What are their working conditions like?
9. Do people leave your country to find work in other countries? Where do they go?
What sort of jobs do they get? Are they made welcome?
10. Do workers in your country pay a lot of income tax to the government?
Do people with large salaries pay a much higher rate of tax than other workers? Do you think they should?
11. Do you think that every worker should have the right to join a Trade Union?
12. Do you think that every worker, (including doctors, nurses, teachers, the police,
ambulance crews and fire fighters), should have the right to go on strike?
NICKNAMES FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONS
A psychiatrist → A shrink A pharmacist → A pill-pusher
An author → A scribbler A detective → A gumshoe
An electrician → A sparky An artist → A dauber
A police officer → A cop A judge → A wig
An office worker → A pen-pusher An actor → A luvvie
A carpenter → A chippy A prison officer → A screw
A dancer → A hoofer A taxi driver → A cabbie
An air steward → A trolley dolly A doorman → A bouncer
A doctor → A quack A scientist → A boffin
A boxer → A pug A bus conductor → A clippie
A sailor → A tar A soldier → A squaddie
A journalist → A hack A magistrate → A beak
I mend and alter clothing. I'm a ………..
I arrange travel plans for clients. I am a…………….
I'm the top person in a prision facility. I'm a………………….
I design buildings. I am an………………
I would take care of graveyards. I am a………………….
I had to go to a culinary arts school. I'm a ………………..
I do general office work. I'm a ………………………..
I serve food on an airplane. I'm a……………………………. I get rid of your trash. I'm a…………………… Make 3 more short descriptions of different jobs.
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Job Name Description
accountant a person who maintains financial records.
architect a person who designs buildings.
bartender a person who makes and serves achoholic beverages either at a pub, night club, or bar.
butcher a person who prepares meat to be sold to customers.
caretaker a person who takes care of graveyards.
cashier a person who collects payment for merchandise.
chef a person who prepares food; destinguished from a cook by a degree in culinary arts
civil servant a person who is employed as a government worker in one of several offices that provide services for the community.
clerk a person who does general office work.
construction worker a person who builds buildings.
decorator a person who decorates houses, offices, ect, for special events.
garbageman (refuse collector) the person who picks up and gets rid of your trash.
economist a person who studies, works, in the field of economics.
electrician a person who works installing and repairing electric equipment.
film director the person who tells actors what to do on the movie set.
flight attendant a person who serves food and takes care of passangers on an airline.
judge a person who hears and determines cause in a court of law.
lawyer a person who practises law.
pharmacist a person who prepares and dispences medical drugs.
plumber a person who installs and repairs water fixtures.
police officer a person who enforces the law and arrests criminals
porter a person hired to carry baggage
prison guard a person who keeps order at a jail or prision.
receptionist a person who greets visitors at an office.
sailor a person who works on a ship or ocean going vessel.
server a person who serves food in a resturant. Has replaced the terms waiter and waitress in most places in the United States.
salesperson a person who sells merchandise or services; usually paid by commission.
secretary a person who handles correspondence and does clerical work.
tailor a person who makes or mends or alters clothing.
telephone operator a person who helps people make phone calls.
travel agent a person who arranges travel plans for clients.
warden the top person in a prision facility.
Background: Alex works as a clerk at a department store, but he is unhappy with his situation. In fact, he is really depressed. He has just come home from his job when Alex drops by to visit him.
Ryan: Hey, Alex. You look really exhausted. What gives?
Alex: You don't want to know. I mean, I've been slaving away at my nickel-and-dime job just to keep my head above water. [Really.] I mean some people think I'm a workaholic, [Who?] Well, everyone, but I have to put in a lot of overtime just to make ends meet.
Ryan: Well, why don't you ask your boss for a raise?
Alex: Huh? The last guy that did that got the ax, an' he was in line for a promotion to supervisor.
Ryan: Well, you just can't keep working your fingers to the bone for peanuts. [I know, but . . .] Hey. Look. I have connections with a guy who works for a computer company, an' he owes me a favor, and he might be able to pull a few strings an' line you up for an interview.
Alex: What? You mean like to last job you helped me get, an' then the company went belly up after only a week? I mean fat chance. I'm not going to try selling electronic toilet paper dispensers again.[Hey, that was cool.]
Ryan: No, that was different.
Alex: Ah, man. Hey, thanks, but I'm still looking, and I'm not going to get my hopes up just because a few other job searches haven't panned out. I'm going to look at my options.
Ryan: Well, whatever you do, the only way you're going to get ahead is by getting your face out there, an' you're sure to land a better job than you have now.
Alex: Well, I know. Exactly, if I can just get my foot in the door, then I can show my stuff, but I'm not . . . . absolutely not going to kiss up to ANYONE to get ahead.
Ryan: Gotcha. Hey, I'll give my friend a call, an' see if he can set up an interview.
Key Vocabulary:
■ What gives?: What's wrong?
slave away: work very hard
nickel-and-dime: not worth much
keep your head above water: just barely able to survive in times of money difficulties
workaholic: a person who works a lot
put in overtime: work extra hours
make ends meet: make just enough money to pay for expenses
get the ax: be fired from a job
be in line for: have the expectation of receiving something
work your fingers to the bone: work very hard
(for) peanuts: very little money
have connections: know important people within a company or organization
pull a few strings: influence or control others to one's advantage
line up: make arrangements
go belly up: fail, go bankrupt
fat chance: something that is unlikely to happen
get someone's hopes up: feel like your hopes and dreams will come true
land a job: get a job
get your foot in the door: get a chance to work for or be involved in a business or organization
show your stuff: demonstrate what you can do
kiss up to: try to please someone to get them to do something
gotcha: okay, I got it
- know important people within a company or organization
- a person who works a lot
- What's wrong?
- fail, go bankrupt
- okay, I got it
- make arrangements
- work very hard
- make just enough money to pay for expenses
- work very hard
- not worth much
- work extra hours
- get a chance to work for or be involved in a business or organization
- influence or control others to one's advantage
- be fired from a job
- just barely able to survive in times of money difficulties
- try to please someone to get them to do something
- feel like your hopes and dreams will come true
- demonstrate what you can do
- have the expectation of receiving something
- get a job
- something that is unlikely to happen
- very little money
■ What gives?:
■ slave away:
■ nickel-and-dime:
■ keep your head above water:
■ workaholic:
put in overtime:
make ends meet:
get the ax:
be in line for:
work your fingers to the bone:
(for) peanuts:
have connections:
pull a few strings:
line up:
go belly up:
fat chance:
get someone's hopes up:
land a job:
get your foot in the door:
show your stuff:
kiss up to:
gotcha:
Background: Alex works as a clerk at a department store, but he is unhappy with his situation. In fact, he is really depressed. He has just come home from his job when Alex drops by to visit him.
Ryan: Hey, Alex. You look really exhausted. What gives?
Alex: You don't want to know. I mean, I've been slaving away at my nickel-and-dime job just to keep my head above water. I mean some people think I'm a workaholic. Well, everyone, but I have to put in a lot of overtime just to make ends meet.
Ryan: Well, why don't you ask your boss for a raise?
Alex: Huh? The last guy that did that got the ax, an' he was in line for a promotion to supervisor.
Ryan: Well, you just can't keep working your fingers to the bone for peanuts. Hey. Look. I have connections with a guy who works for a computer company, an' he owes me a favor, and he might be able to pull a few strings an' line you up for an interview.
Alex: What? You mean like to last job you helped me get, an' then the company went belly up after only a week? I mean fat chance. I'm not going to try selling electronic toilet paper dispensers again.
Ryan: No, that was different.
Alex: Ah, man. Hey, thanks, but I'm still looking, and I'm not going to get my hopes up just because a few other job searches haven't panned out. I'm going to look at my options.
Ryan: Well, whatever you do, the only way you're going to get ahead is by getting your face out there, an' you're sure to land a better job than you have now.
Alex: Well, I know. Exactly, if I can just get my foot in the door, then I can show my stuff, but I'm not . . . . absolutely not going to kiss up to ANYONE to get ahead.
Ryan: Gotcha. Hey, I'll give my friend a call, an' see if he can set up an interview.
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