Job Hunting

Employment Applications

Everyone who applies for a job (an applicant) must submit an application. An employment application is useful in collecting factual information on a candidate’s education, work experience, and personal history. The data obtained from applications are usually used for two purposes: to identify candidates who are worthy of further scrutiny and to familiarize interviewers with applicant’s backgrounds. A typical employment application represents a special form to be filled in.

Sample Application Form

NAME Victor Klimenko

ADDRESS 10 Gogol St.,Ap.7 PHONE NO. (044)513-26-11 (home)

DO YOU HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENCE Yes No

MARITAL STATUS married NO. OF DEPENDANTS 1 daughter

EDUCATION higher

Name of School Year graduated Course Taken or Degree

Kiev University 1990 M. Sc. In Economics

LANGUAGES

Russian/Ukrainian Excellent Good Fair

English Excellent Good Fair

EXPERIENCE (Give present or last position first)

COMPANY Alpha ADDRESS 17 Proreznaya St.

TYPE OF BUSINESS/INDUSTRY EMPLOYED (Month &Year)

Information Technologies From March 1990 To July 1995

POSITION(S) HELD SUPERVISOR’S NAME

Manager Alexander Bach

DESCRIBE YOUR DUTIES

Negotiations, purchase of equipment

WHY DID YOU LEAVE

The company has moved to Sevastopol.

PERSONAL REFERENCES

Name A. Bach Address 3 Tolstoy St. Phone No. 221-1834 (home)

Resumes

Many job candidates submit resumes to employers, and some firms require them. A resume is a short summary of the candidate’s background and qualifications. It includes a description of the type of job the applicant is seeking. A resume may be submitted along with an employment application. In Britain a resume is often referred to as a curriculum vitae (CV). The structure of a resume must follow a certain order:

Letter of Inquiry (Covering Letter)

It’s extremely impolite to send a resume without a covering letter in the USA. A covering letter or cover letter must be written in the standard business style and in one page. A cover letter is an integral part of the American business-etiquette showing that the bearer of the resume sends it deliberately to get particular position. A cover letter makes possible for the bearer to show his/her certain abilities and skills.

Thank-You Letter

In all American companies there is a tradition to write a “thank you letter” after each meeting with the employer. If the company does not receive such letter it’ll mean that the person does not know the principles of business-etiquette. Now this practice is spread in Russia too.

Interviews

The employment interview is the most widely used selection technique.

Interviews provide an opportunity for the firm and the applicant to learn more about each other. Interviewers can ask different questions to learn something about the candidate’s attitude to the job and motivation.

Very often interviewers ask questions to different applicants and it becomes impossible to compare candidates’ qualifications. The problem can be solved through the use of structural interviews. A structural interview is an interview in which an interviewer asks a prepared set of questions.

2. Mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F).

1) An employment application is useful in:

a) leaving the work

b) collecting information on a candidate

c) seeking a job

2) The data obtained from applications are usually used:

a) to identify candidates who are worthy of further scrutiny

b) to get to know candidates’ characters

c) to familiarize interviewers with applicant’s backgrounds

3) A resume is:

a) a candidate’s testimonial

b) a detailed description of the job the applicant is seeking

c) a short summary of the candidate’s background and qualifications

3. Choose the correct endings for the statements.

1) It’s extremely impolite to send a resume without:

a) a letter of inquiry

b) a letter of invitation

c) a cover letter

2) A cover letter makes possible for the bearer to show:

a) his/her appearance

b) his/her certain abilities and skills

c) his/her views

3) If the company does not receive a “thank you letter” it will mean that:

a) the job does not suit the employee

b) the person does not know the principles of business-etiquette

c) the employee will call and thank the employer

4. Match the English and Russian instructions for writing a covering letter.

1.State your reason for writing	a) Поблагодарите за внимание. Сообщите, что надеетесь получить ответ.
2.You will either inquire whether any positions are available or you will say which position you are applying for. If you are applying for a specific position identify the source of the information (a person, a newspaper, including date, etc.)	б) Опишите своё образование и профессиональный опыт. Особое внимание уделите тем положениям своего резюме, которые наилучшим образом связаны с местом, на которое Вы претендуете.
3.Describe your educational background and professional experience. Focus on those things from your resume that best relate to the position you are applying for.	в) Укажите, что Вы прилагаете своё резюме и/или другие необходимые материалы. Выразите желание предоставить дополнительную информацию и пройти собеседование.
4.Say you are enclosing your resume and/or other supporting material. State your willingness to provide more information and to be interviewed.	г). Вы запрашиваете, имеются ли в наличии какие-либо вакансии, либо сообщаете, каким рабочим местом Вы интересуетесь. Если Вас интересует конкретное место, назовите источник информации (человек, объявление в газете с указанием даты и т.д.)
5.Thank them for their consideration. Say you look forward to hearing from them.	д) Сформулируйте цель письма

5.Read and translate the following cover letter. Pay attention to the underlined expressions.