Exploring the Job Market

UNIT 2 SEARCHING FOR A JOB

Structure
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Warm Up
2.2 Reading Comprehension: Creative Job Hunting
2.3 Vocabulary: Definitions
2.4 Listening
2.5 Speaking
2.6 Grammar: Passive Form
2.7 Writing: Filling a Questionnaire
2.8 Let Us Sum Up
2.9 Answers

2.0 OBJECTIVES
By the end of the unit you will:
• have some idea about the world of jobs
• know how to search for a suitable job
• know how to write letters to find out about the job market
• explore the internet for jobs
• understand vocabulary associated with jobs

2.1 WARM UP
Are you familiar with the internet? If so, look up the Internet and find at least
three to four sites that will tell you about the availability of jobs.

Interview any young friend who has just secured a job. Find out about his/her
job.

2.2 READING COMPREHENSION: CREATIVE

JOB HUNTING
A career is a course of successive situations that make up some activity. One
can have a sporting career or a musical career, but most frequently “career” in
the 21st century refers to the workplace: the series of jobs or positions by which
one earns one’s bread.

In the relatively static societies before modernism, many workers would often
inherit or take up a single lifelong position (a place or role) in the workforce, and
the concept of an unfolding career had little or no meaning. With new ideas of
progress and of the habits of individualist self-betterment, careers became
possible, if not expected.

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Career counseling is one-on-one or group professional assistance in exploration Searching for a Job
and decision making tasks related to choosing a major occupation. The field is
vast and includes Career Placement, Career Planning, Learning Strategies, and
Student Development.

By the late 20th century a plethora of choices (especially in the range of potential
professions) and more widespread education had allowed it to become fashionable
to plan (or design) a career.

Once you have decided on your career and completed the course of study, you
will need to look for a job. In order to decide the sort of job you would like to
undertake, it is sometimes advisable to contact consultants who could help you
to understand the challenges involved in starting a new job. Consultants that
take up too may diverse areas may loose focus and may not be able to deliver the
goods. However many consultancies have had real success stories and going to
one can help you plan your ventures.

It has been estimated that most jobs are not advertised in a competitive job market.
Most employers actually expect applicants to take the initiative. It has been
estimated that one-third of vacancies for graduates are not advertised publicly,
particularly in a competitive job market. It can be cost effective for the employer
to draw on a limited but well-qualified and motivated “self-referred” pool of
candidates.

If you decide to take this creative approach to job search, remember that thorough
research is vital to success. A small number of well-targeted applications are
more likely to produce results than wasting paper and postage on mass mailing.

You will need to look beyond the recruitment sections of the local and national
press to the general news/business sections. Where have new contracts been
awarded, which organisations are expanding, who is reporting record profits or
developing a new product/service?

Research thoroughly. What is the focus of individual companies? What do they

look for in graduates?

Build up a network of contacts. Usually people are happy to talk about their
areas of work and can provide you with further, perhaps even more relevant
contacts. Academic staff may have excellent links with the local industry and
commerce, which could help you develop your network.

Remember to keep a record of your network of contacts and follow them up

from time to time to let them know you are actively seeking work, to update
them on your progress or to say thank-you. Never underestimate the effectiveness
of personal contacts – hopefully your motivation and perseverance will be
recognised when a vacancy does turn up.

Telephone before you send a letter, so that your application does not arrive “cold”
or on the wrong person’s desk. Aim to track down the most relevant person and
their job title (and make sure you spell their name correctly!). Clearly state what
job area you are interested in. Say why you have chosen to apply to that particular
organisation. Demonstrate that you know something about them, their products
and/or services.
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Exploring the Job Market You will need to convince the employer that you can do the job for which you
are applying. The style and tone of your letter should be persuasive. State when
you are available for an interview or discussion. You may want to follow your
letter with a telephone call a few days later to demonstrate your commitment and
enthusiasm.

If you want to discuss creative job-hunting or receive feedback about your CV

and covering letter, feel free to speak to a Career Adviser or use an E-Guidance
service.

Activity 1

After reading the passage answer the following questions.

1) What does a career imply in the 21st Century?

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2) Before the so called ‘modernism’ what sort of jobs existed?
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3) What is the role of the career counselors or advisors?

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4) List some other areas in which career counselors work?

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5) Besides counselors who are the other people who can help you with a job? Searching for a Job

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6) A creative approach to a job implies:

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7) How do you prevent your application from reaching ‘cold’?
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2.3 VOCABULARY: DEFINITIONS

Activity 2

1) Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate words.

i) I have been in this job so long that I feel my career is more or less
_____________. (progressive, static)

ii) It is interesting to __________________ the possibilities of different

career options. (explore, accept)

iii) It is advisable to take help from ________________ to find a job.

(consultants, offices)

iv) Sometimes in the _____________ world today jobs are not advertised.
(consultant, competitive)

v) Jobs are advertised in the _____________ sections of the newspapers.

(matrimonial, recruitment)

2) Look at the adjectives below. Match each of the definitions (i-xii) with one
of the adjectives. The first one is done for you.
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Exploring the Job Market
extrovert punctual sensitive ambitious practical
cool-headed empathetic persuasive dynamic reliable
energetic creative

Definitions:
i) A person who wants to get to the top. ambitious
ii) A person who can relate to other people’s feelings.
iii) A person who enjoys meeting people and new situations.
iv) A person who is always on time.
v) A person who can be counted upon.
vi) A person who can change people’s opinions.
vii) A person who is good at finding solutions to problems.
viii) A person who is original in his thinking.
ix) A person with the capacity for vigorous activity.
x) A person who is easily affected by emotions.
xi) A person who is forceful and vigorous.
xii) A person who does not easily get ruffled.

2.4 LISTENING
Activity 3

Listen to this advertisement on the audio. Complete the passage after you have
listened to the advertisement

The advertisement is for jobs in a)____________ sector. They are looking for
b)____________c)____________ experts. For the General Managers the three
skills that are desirable are d)______________, e)________________,
f)________________. Experience should be a minimum of g)_____________
years. For Project Managers the candidate should be h)___________ /
__________ or i)__________ with at least j)__________ years of experience.
Project leaders should have 6 years of k)______________ experience. Candidates
having l)____________ visa will be preferred. Interviews can be scheduled by
m)______________ or by sending n)_____________ to the enail address given.

2.5 SPEAKING
Activity 4
Here is a situation.
You have gone to submit your application for a job. When you reach there you
find that it is a “walk in” interview. You are asked to wait as you will be called in
shortly. At the reception you meet another young man / woman. You get into a
conversation about your qualifications and your previous job. In pairs act out
this scene. Ensure that both of you speak, on issues that are relevant. Before
you speak you and your partner can write out your script.
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 Searching for a Job
2.6 GRAMMAR: PASSIVE FORM
Read the following sentences from the reading passage:

1) It has been estimated that most jobs are not advertised in a competitive job
market.

2) Never underestimate the effectiveness of personal contacts – hopefully your

motivation and preferences will be recognized when a vacancy does turn
up.

The underlined sentences are in the passive voice and the doers of the action are
not mentioned. The doers in reports, newspaper headlines and science experiments
are omitted because the doers are many or are not very important to know, or are
very obvious.

The passive forms of the verb in different tenses would look as follows:

Tense Simple Continuous Perfect

Present Is/am/are+ past Is/am/are+ being+ Has/have+ been +part

participle past participle participle

Past Was/were+past Was/were + being + Had + been + past

participle past participle participle

Future Will/ shall + be - -

+ past participle

Activity 5

Change the following sentences into the passive voice. Omit the doer where it is
necessary.

1) They pulled down many trees.

2) We make water from a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.
3) Someone hit my car from the back.
4) The Principal unfolded the flag on Independence Day.
5) Madam Curie discovered Radium.
6) They announced the winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry
yesterday.
7) Someone broke the window yesterday in the evening.
8) The fire brigade will put out the fire.
9) They have cleared all the roads in this area due to VIP movement.
10) They elected a new mayor yesterday.

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Exploring the Job Market
2.7 WRITING: FILLING UP A QUESTIONNAIRE
Activity 6
Filling up a questionnaire
Very often when you apply for a job you submit a resume. On the basis of the
resume you are short listed and called for an interview. Some companies expect
you to fill up a questionnaire just before the interview.

Here’s such a questionnaire. Please read it carefully and fill it up. You have
applied to a company manufacturing chocolates.

Questionnaire
All candidates appearing for the interview are expected to fill up this form just
before the interview. This will give us a better picture of you.

Name:

Job applied for. Tick the right box.

Management Trainee Administrator Account Officer

a) List previous jobs and positions held if any.

1)

2)

3) Not Applicable

b) List three reasons why you feel you are really suitable for the job.

1)

2)

3)

c) List any two hobbies you have that will support your candidature and say
how.

1)

2)

d) These are some qualities we value in our employees. Number them according
your priority.

honesty commitment

punctuality respect

sense of belonging responsibility

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e) In a short paragraph of not more than 100 words tell us about yourself. Searching for a Job
Write about your dreams and ambitions and how you plan to make them a
reality.
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2.8 LET US SUM UP

After going through this unit you will have some idea of the type of jobs available
in the market. More than that, you would have learnt how to explore the job
market and get help to find the most suitable job. Remember that if you get a job
you like and enjoy it then your job will cease to be work, and will become a
world of joy. That would be the best thing that would happen to you, wouldn’t
it?

2.9 ANSWERS
Activity 1
1) It means a working existence, or a job by which one earns one’s living.
2) Before the state of ‘modernism’ people would inherit or take up a single
lifelong job.
3) They assess your interests, personality, values and skills and help you to
explore career options.
4) Career placement, career planning, learning strategies and student
development.
5) Consultants provide advice on the challenges of new jobs.
6) A creative approach to job implies taking the initiative and
• Writing a small number of well targeted applications
• Studying the business section of a newspaper
• Studying new contacts
• Building up a network of contacts

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Exploring the Job Market 7) Telephone the right person before you send the application. Clearly state
your job interest, explain why you have chosen to apply and show that you
know about the job.

Activity 2
1) i) static
ii) explore
iii) consultants
iv) competitive
v) recruitment
2) i) ambitions
ii) empathetic
iii) extrovert
iv) punctual
v) reliable
vi) persuasive
vii) practical
viii)creative
ix) energetic
x) sensitive
xi) dynamic
xii) cool-headed
Tape script

This is radio Barkha. Well, it is time now for job advertisements. You may be the
lucky one who has a job waiting for you. Best of luck all you job seekers, young
and not so young - here we go……
This ad is for those interested in working
It is not for everyone.
It takes a lot to be a banking technology expert. And that’s exactly what
Fiserv needs. The world’s largest IT Company has a market cap of $8 billion
and over 17,000 clients. And it’s now looking for people under the following
heads.

Banking Experts
General Managers: Candidates should be BE/B.Tech / ME / M.Tech/MBA/
CA. Excellent interpersonal, marketing skills and sound technical exposure is
required. 11 or more years of experience in handling multiple projects in banking
domains. PMP certification will be an added advantage.

Project Managers: Candidates should be BE/B.Tech/ME/M.Tech/ MBA/CA

with over 8 years of experience. Excellent interpersonal skills and sound technical
26 exposure is a must. PMP certification will be an added advantage.
Project Leaders: Candidates should be BE/B.Tech / ME / M.Tech/MBA/CA Searching for a Job
with over 6 years of experience. Hands on exposure to the given technologies is
essential.

Candidates with B1 Visa would be preferred. Interested candidates may call at

91-9818327119 to get an interview scheduled or send their resumes to
[email protected]

Activity 3
a) the banking sector
b) banking
c) technology
d) interpersonal skills
e) marketing skills
f) sound technical exposure
g) 11 eleven
h) B.E /B.Tech or
i) MBA/M.Tech / CA
j) 8 (eight)
k) hands on experience
l) B1
m) telephone
n) resume
Activity 4
Omar: Hi! My name is Omar. Are you waiting for the interview for the
script writer for the radio station?
Surayia: I’m Surayia. Yes, although I didn’t realize that this is going to be a
“walk in” interview. I haven’t really prepared.
Omar: Well, nor have I. I thought that we just have to submit the application.
Surayia: Well, is this your first job?
Omar: No, actually I have done a short stint with ARBC.
Surayia: Wow! Why did you leave?
Omar: Oh, it was a project for four months. What about you?
Surayia: This would be my first job, although I have done some script writing
as part of my training.
Omar: Where were you trained?
Surayia: At the College of Mass Communication.
Omar: That’s a really fine place.
Surayia: Where were you trained?
Omar: Oh, at a local vocational institute.
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Exploring the Job Market Surayia: Oh that’s my name announced—see you.
Activity 5
1) Many trees were pulled down.
2) Water is made from a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.
3) My car was hit from the back.
4) The flag was unfolded by the Principal on Independence Day.
5) Radium was discovered by Madam Curie.
6) The winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry were announced
yesterday.
7) The window was broken yesterday in the evening.
8) The fire will be put out by the fire brigade.
9) All the roads in the area have been cleared due to the movement of VIP.
10) A new mayor was elected yesterday.
Activity 6

My name is Salmaan Anwar. I’m in my final year of Economics (Major). I have

many dreams which I’m determined to fulfill. I wish to join UNESCO. Here I
would like to work on projects involving underprivileged children. My dream is
to create a world where no child goes hungry. My greatest joy is to see a smile on
a child’s face. In order to fulfill my ambition I am also a member of the college
social welfare club. We have taken under our care a nearby slum cluster. I do
voluntary teaching there. I teach both adults and children. I go there twice a
week in the evenings.

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