Preparing for Work. 2 Aims 1.Looking for a job 2.CVs (resumes) 3.Interviews 4.English at work 5.How BEC can help.

Slide 1Preparing for Work Slide 22 Aims 1.Looking for a job 2.CVs (resumes) 3.Interviews 4.English at work 5.How BEC can help Slide 33 Think about yourself  qualifications, experience, interests  independence, responsibility  contact with other people  using English  hours of work  location Slide 44 Job advertisements: an example. Slide 55 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 Slide 66 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 Slide 77 What the ad says  what’s essential  what’s desirable  qualifications  experience What the ad doesn’t say  company culture  the job  the person Slide 88 First impressions Your CV needs to show  what sort of person you are  that you’re worth interviewing 100+ CVs 5 seconds Slide 99 Layout  professional  well-organised  use a PC  no more than 2 sides  easy to read: headings, white space Slide 1010 Personal Details Education Qualifications Work Experience Personal Skills Languages Interests Referees Slide 1111 A Functional CV Haven’t started your career? Identify relevant skills/job functions, e.g.  problem-solving  communications  team building  computer skills Slide 1212 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. Slide 1313 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. Slide 1414 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. Slide 1515 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. Slide 1616 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 Slide 1717  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) Slide 1818 Languages you… English: BEC Vantage, Pass (2004)  speak : Cantonese: native speaker  have studied : English: upper intermediate  have qualifications in : Slide 1919 Referees  professional, personal  positive  contact details  ask first! Slide 2020 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. Slide 2121  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. Slide 2222 your address Company contact 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 Slide 2323 Before you send your application…  have a break  check your CV and covering letter  enclose copies of certificates Slide 2424 Recruitment procedures  face-to-face interview  telephone interview  presentation  problem-solving  handwriting analysis  psychometric tests Slide 2525 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! Slide 2626 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? Slide 2727 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! Slide 2828 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. Slide 2929 Language skills  using social language  answering questions  asking questions  expressing opinions  giving information  giving explanations  asking for clarification 1 Slide 3030 Business English Certificates BEC Preliminary BEC Vantage BEC Higher Slide 3131 What is BEC? An English language exam which tests the 4 skills of English in a business context. Slide 3232 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 Slide 3333 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 Slide 3434 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 Slide 3535 Slide 3636 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 Slide 3737 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. Slide 3838 Arvon Industrial Park Units between 1000m 2 and 3000m 2 Short or long-term rentals Competitive prices Contact [email protected] [email protected] for further information explain benefits of long-term rental 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 transport links give example of service offered improve d last year parking for 500 cars We are uncertain about the length of the rental period we need, but would welcome details of possible contracts Slide 3939 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 Slide 4040 Speaking  2 candidates and 2 examiners interlocutor assessor 3 2 Part 1 Part 2 4 Part 3 (a) 5 Part 3 (b) Slide 4141 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 Slide 4242 Reports, reviews, articles Formal styles, letters, summaries texts writing talking Formal conversations about business Presentations, introducing yourself, social conversations Slide 4343 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 Slide 4444 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! Slide 4545 Further Information www.CambridgeESOL.org