Description: Write a CV, job application letter; learn about interviewing; write a thank you note.
[wptabsy shortcode_id=”584″ alignment=”left” active=”#1e73be,#c7ecf9,” inactive=”,,” tabcontent=”,,”][tab icon=”fa-check-square-o”]Teacher Guidelines[/tab][tab icon=”fa-thumbs-o-up”]Can-Do\’s[/tab][tab icon=”fa-comments-o”]Activity[/tab][tabcontent]Title of ER: You’re hired! Well, almost…
Level: B2
Target audience: all college level students
General goals/objectives: writing, speaking
Specific goals/objectives:
- Write a CV.
- Write a job application letter.
- Participate in an interview.
- Write a thank you note.
Materials needed for activity: (check the following)
X internet access _ projector _ speakers _ printout X BYOD (Bring Your Own Device – smartphone, tablet)
_ other:_____________
Time: 7 academic hours
Overview:
Write a CV, job application letter, learn about interviewing, write a thank you note.
Activity 1
The resume and job application letter activities are designed to be used independently by the student. Plenty of guidance is provided in the UC Berkeley guide. The teacher might want to frame the assignment by picking an advert from a site such as Monster, which contains many kinds of job offers in a variety of fields and for many expertise levels.
Activity 2
The interview activity is to be used independently by the student. The teacher might want to set up a mock interview simulation so that the Ss can practice their skills. Perhaps onlookers can ‘grade’ the interviewee according to the criteria set out in the background material.
Activity 3
The thank you note activity is to be used independently by the student. The teacher should emphasise the importance of a thank you note, noting the employers indeed take note of these.
Supplementary materials
The supplementary materials are listed in the activity for the Ss to use as needed.
Here are some good sites for practicing the language of applying for a job:
- Blair English (vocabulary explanations and exercises for writing resumes, job application letters, and job interviews)
- 5 Minute English (vocabulary explanations and listening task for job interviews
- engVid (vocabulary explanations for job interviews and resumes)
- English Grammar Online (useful phrases for job application letters)
- BBC (vocabulary practice for job application letters)
- BBC (preposition practice for job application letters)
- BusinessEnglishSite 1, 2, 3, 4 (vocabulary practice for job application letters)
- BusinessEnglishSite 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (vocabulary practice for interviews)
- CV and Cover Letter – Useful Phrases (useful phrases for resumes and job application letters)
[/tabcontent][tabcontent]
| Production / Writing | Reports and essays | Can summarize and synthesize from a variety of sources write a report and give his/her opinion on familiar routine and non-routine matters within his/her field with some confidence (adapted B1+) |
| Production / Speaking | Sustained monologue presenting a case (e.g., in a debate) | Can develop a clear argument, expanding and supporting his/her points of view at some length with subsidiary points and relevant examples (B1+) |
| Interaction / Spoken | Overall spoken interaction | Can interact with some confidence on familiar routine and non-routine matters related to his/her interests and professional field (adapted B1+) |
| Interaction / Spoken | Overall spoken interaction | Can enter unprepared into conversation on familiar topics, express personal opinions and exchange information on topics that are familiar (adapted B1) |
| Interaction / Spoken | Conversation | Can engage in extended conversation on most general topics in a clearly participatory fashion (B2) |
| Interaction / Spoken | Information exchange | Can summarize and give his/her own opinion about a topic in his/her own field with some confidence (adapted B1+) |
[/tabcontent][tabcontent]You’re hired! Well, almost…
If you’re applying for a job, here are some of the things you should know how to do:
- formulate a resume
- write a job application letter
- participate in an interview
- write a post interview thank you note
Sections 1-4 address these and section 5 presents a list of resources for English language learners.
- Resume and job application letter
Many university career centers offer online guides for writing resumes and job application letters. One of the best guides is produced by UCLA Berkeley and includes the crucial step-by-step process of analyzing a job description and identifying your accomplishments and skills that fit the description. If you work through this guide, you’ll be sure to produce a winning resume and job application letter.
Tips
- The guide suggests three resume formats (chronological, skills, hybrid). Follow the chronological format, as this is the most common.
- The verb list on page 27 is an excellent reference and will help you show who you are through what you’ve done.
- Interview
The key to a successful interview is preparation. This short Forbes article provides a guide to preparing for interviews, including the 50 most common interview questions. Make sure that you can answer them before your interview. For a more detailed guide to interview preparation, including information you should know about the company, and questions you could ask the interviewer, look at this guide produced by the Colorado School of Mines. Finally, have a look at this entertaining Interview questions and answers video about answering interview questions (though the candidate’s appearance seems casual).
- Post interview thank you note
Writing a thank you note shows that you are grateful for the opportunity to have been interviewed and demonstrates your professionalism. This short Forbes clip/article guides you through the post-interview process and provides some sample thank you notes. Notice that the article suggests handwriting these notes on notecards.
- Resources for English language learners
Here are some good sites for practicing the language of applying for a job:
- Blair English (vocabulary explanations and exercises for writing resumes, job application letters, and job interviews)
- 5 Minute English (vocabulary explanations and listening task for job interviews
- engVid (vocabulary explanations for job interviews and resumes)
- English Grammar Online (useful phrases for job application letters)
- BBC (vocabulary practice for job application letters)
- BBC (preposition practice for job application letters)
- BusinessEnglishSite 1, 2, 3, 4 (vocabulary practice for job application letters)
- BusinessEnglishSite 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (vocabulary practice for interviews)
- CV and Cover Letter – Useful Phrases (useful phrases for resumes and job application letters)
[/tabcontent][/wptabsy]
