The Kind of Job You Want

The first step in a successful search for a job is to decide on the kind of job you want and the kind you are qualified for. This means that first you should answer the questions "What can I do well?" and "What do I really want to do?" Begin with thinking about the work you can do. Include work you have been trained to do, work you have actually done, and work you enjoy doing. Therefore, you have to answer some questions.

• Do you like to work with your hands?

• Do you like to work outdoors?

• Do you like to work with others?

Next, talk to as many people as possible about your job interests and concerns. Talk to your friends, neighbours, and your family or relatives. These contacts may help you to get more information about different jobs; to form a "network" of people interested in helping you; to find people who work (or who know people who work) in the area of your interest; each discussion will give you additional practice in expressing yourself.

Now when you know the kind of job you want, the next question to answer is "Where can I find that job?"

People use many methods of finding a job. They answer job advertisements (want ads), or apply directly to employers. Of course, some methods are better than the others.

2. Read, translate and try to identify your interests.

1. What are you looking for: money, power, prestige, security, travel opportunities, spare time?

2. How important are the salary, environment, benefits, and job stability?

3. Do you enjoy working with people, information, or things?

4. Is it important to be your own boss?

5. What is your idea of a perfect job? A perfect boss? A perfect colleague?

3. Read and translate the text. Write out the unknown words.

"Want Ads"

"Want ads" are job advertisements you can find in the classified advertising section of newspapers, professional or trade journals. You should read the want ads at least for two reasons:

• to learn more general information about jobs available;

• to learn specific information about a particular job that is of interest to you.

The ad may tell you about the education and work experience required for the job, the location of the job, the working hours, and the pay. It also tells you how to apply for that particular job.

Some want ads say that certain qualifications are required, while other qualifications are preferred or hoped for. The employer will try to find someone who has all of the required and preferred qualifications. However, if no one has all the qualifications that the employer requires and prefers, he may hire someone who has only some of those qualifications. It is usually best to apply only for jobs for which you have at least all the required qualifications. However, this is not always true.

Not all want ads are easy to read. The longer a want ad is, the more money it costs to print. In order to save money, employers leave unnecessary words out of the advertisement. They also use abbreviations.

There are many good reasons for using the want ads in your job search. The following suggestions will help you to use want ads effectively:

a) Remember that want ads are only one of the methods you may use. Save time to use other methods.

b) Reading all the want ads you will learn useful general information.

c) Avoid ads that make unrealistic offers.

d) Analyze ads, which are of interest to you.

e) Determine your qualifications for that job.

f) Act quickly, effectively and stay cheerful!

4. Read and discuss the samples of want ads. Compare the ordinary and abbreviated one.

5. Let’s speak about the personal features. Match the definitions in A with the correct adjectives or phrases in B. Try to describe your features of character for the future employer.

А В

1. wants to get to the top a. sensitive

2. open and friendly b. creative

3. doesn't get tired easily c. attentive to detail

4. can change people's opinions d. ambitious

5. doesn't get angry or irritated quickly e. adaptable

6. can produce new ideas f. independent

7. thinks of other people's feelings g. outgoing

8. doesn't mind changing his/her habits h. energetic

9. can work alone i. persuasive

10. regularly checks the quality of his/her work j. patient

6. Write a short description of someone you like (or dislike) in your personal or professional life.

MODEL: My boss is very energetic. She works about 12 hours a day. She is a patient woman, and always has time to talk to us if we have a problem.

7. Read the text and try to retell it.

The United States leads the industrial nations in the proportion of its young people who receive higher education. For some careers – law, medicine, education, and engineering – a college education is a necessary first step. More than 60 percent of Americans now work in jobs that involve the handling of information, and a high school diploma is seldom adequate for such work. Other careers do not strictly require a college degree, but having one can often improve a person's chances of getting a job and can increase the salary he or she is paid.

8. Read and translate the part of the interview. Is it hard to find a good job nowadays?

AJ: That's great. You said that you did start working after your children grew up. Where did you work or what did you do?

NC: Well, I had a hard time finding a job because jobs were very hard to find, but finally I had a job with the state and I worked for the state and I got a job there, but my experiences of getting a job after high school were terrible. It was so bad. It was terribly hard to get a job. And all I wanted to be at that particular time was a court stenographer. I loved shorthand and everything I heard I was taking it down, and I was so naive, I thought all I had to do was be smart and be ready, and I was.

9. Look and try to analyze these ads for job openings.

Dental Receptionist/Secretary

Part-time. Bilingual Spanish/English. Mature, bright. Respond with qualifications and salary requirements, Larkin Agency, 23rd Street. Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Matsuda of Tokyo

Opportunities available for salesperson in Philadelphia boutique. Send resume with salary requirement and references to Nicole. 109 Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19105

10. If you want to get a job about which you’ve read in the want ads, you have to send a letter of application. Read the instructions how to write it better.

1. Remember that the first impression is very important.

2. Type the letter neatly on good stationery.

3. Check for spelling mistakes. Use a dictionary if you are not sure of a word. Retype the letter if necessary.

4. Describe yourself, your qualifications, and your experience clearly.

5. If the ad tells you to write for an application form you do not need to give detailed information in your letter.

6. Follow standard business letter format. Address the letter and envelope clearly.

A Letter

421 Lafayette Drive, Apt. 317 St. Paul, Minnesota 56106 April 4, 2005

Personnel Department

Continental Computer Corp.

935 Watson Ave

St. Paul, MN 55101

Dear Sir or Madam!

In reference to your ad in today's Standard I am interested in the opening for a trainee computer programmer. Please send me an application form and any further details. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours truly,

Ashley Wychulte

11. Write a letter of application