BUSINESS ENGLISH 1 UNIT 1

Unit 1
Careers

STARTING UP
A. Discuss these questions.
1 How ambitious are you?
2 Do you have a career plan? Where do you want to be in 10 years' time?
3 Which of the following would you prefer to do?
a) work for one company during your career
b) work for several different companies
c) work for yourself

B. Look at these activities (1-7). In pairs, match each activity to its corresponding area of work (a-g).
Which of these areas do you work in or would you like to work in? Why?
1 making/manufacturing things a) Sales and Marketing
2 being in charge of people and b) Finance
running the organisation
3 selling products or services c) Management
4 dealing with clients/consumers d) Human Resources (HR)
5 working with figures e) Production
6 dealing with employees and training f) Research and Development (R&D)
7 investigating and testing g) Customer Service

C. What should you do to get ahead in your career? Choose the four most important tips from this list.
Compare your ideas in a group and try to agree on a final choice.
1 Change companies often.
2 Use charm with your superiors.
3 Attend all meetings.
4 Go to your company's social functions.
5 Be energetic and enthusiastic at all times.
6 Be the last to leave work every day.
7 Find a n experienced person to give you help and advice.
8 Study for extra qualifications in your free time.

VOCABULARY
A. These phrases (1-6) all include the word career. Match each of them to its correct meaning (a-f). Use a
dictionary to help you.
1 career move a) chances to start/improve your career
2 career break b) ideas you have for your future career
3 career plan c) an action you take to progress in your career
4 career opportunities d) a period of time away from your job to, for example, look after
your children
5 career path e) a series of levels or steps in your working life
6 career ladder f) the direction your working life takes
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B. CD l.l-1.3 Listen to three people talking about their careers. Which person is at the beginning, in the
middle and at the end of their career?

C. CD l.l-1.3 Listen again. Which of the phrases with career in Exercise A does each person use? Which
of the experiences do you think are common?

D. Complete the sentences below with the verbs in the box. Use a dictionary to help you.
climb decide have make offer take
1 Employees in large multinationals . . . . . . . . . . . . excellent career opportunities if they are willing to
travel.
2 Some people . . . . . . . . . . . . a career break to do something adventurous like sailing round the world
or going trekking in India.
3 One way to . . . . . . . . . . . . a career move is to join a small but rapidly growing company.
4 Certain companies . . . . . . . . . . . . career opportunities to the long-term unemployed or to people
without formal qualifications.
5 Ambitious people often . . . . . . . . . . . . on a career plan while they are still at university.
6 In some industries, it can take a long time to . . . . . . . . . . . . the career ladder.

E. Look at these groups of words. Cross out the noun or noun phrase in each group which doesn't go with
the verb in italics.
1 make fortune / progress / a living / a training course
2 get progress / a promotion / a bonus / fired (AmE) / the sack (BrE)
3 earn commission / a part-time job / money / 40,000 per year
4 do part-time work / a mistake / a nine-to-five job / your best
5 take a pension / an opportunity / time off / early retirement
6 work flexitime / anti-social hours / overtime / an office job

F. Complete each of these sentences with the appropriate form of a word partnership from Exercise E.
1 In banking, you can . . . . . . . . . . . . with the big bonuses and retire at 35.
2 When you . . . . . . . . . . . ., you can arrange your own schedule, so this is very convenient when you
have children.
3 People who work in sales often have the opportunity to . . . . . . . . . . . . on top of a basic salary.
4 Luke is ambitious and does not want to be a sales assistant all his life. In fact, he hopes to . . . . . . . . .
. . . and become Assistant Manager very soon.
5 Many students . . . . . . . . . . . . when they are at university because it fits in with their studies.
6 Go ran is 59, but he does not want to . . . . . . . . . . . .. In fact, he is taking on more work!

READING: Be aware of your online image

A. Discuss these questions in pairs.
1 What social-networking sites do you a) know, and b) use?
2 Why do you use them?

B. Scan the article below quickly and answer these questions.

1 What percentage of employers research candidates online?
2 Which social-networking sites are mentioned?
3 Who do Peter Cullen and Farhan Yasin work for?
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C. Read the article again and choose the best headline (a, b or c).
a) Complaining about your job could lose you your job
b) Facebook profile 'could damage job prospects'
c) Ambition is key to a successful career

D. According to the article, how can social-networking sites make or break your career?

E. In pairs, write a short list of things you should not do on your social-networking pages. You can include
your own ideas.

F. Should staff be allowed to use social-networking sites during the working day? Discuss.

LISTENING: Changing jobs

A. CD 1.4 Melissa Foux is the Finance Director of CSC Media Limited, a television company. Listen to the
first part of the interview and answer these questions.
1 How does she describe her current company?
2 What was her previous job?
3 Why is it easy to move from sector to sector in the finance world?
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B. CD 1.5 Listen to the second part and complete this extract.

When I was a student, although I was studying . . . . . . . . . . . .1 I thought I would like to do something . . . . .
. . . . . . .2 afterwards, and I actually did a summer . . . . . . . . . . .3 with one of the big . . . . . . . . . . . .4 firms, which
was an excellent way to get an . . . . . . . . . . . .5 of what the job would be like. I started off as an auditor, and
it was through that . . . . . . . . . . . .6 that I got my first job.

C. CD 1.6 Melissa is asked if she has had any good advice during her career. Listen to the third part and
number these points in the order in which she mentions them.
a) maintain clarity
b) be able to see the key point and the key decision you have to make
c) do not overcomplicate things

D. CD 1.7 Listen to the final part and decide which was the interviewer's question (a, b or c).
a) What is the most interesting question you have been asked at interview?
b) What is the key difference between people who work in finance and those who work in research?
c) How would you advise people who are starting their careers?

E. In groups, discuss these questions.

1 What do you hope to do in the future in your career?
2 Do you think there is an ideal career for you? What is it? Why?
3 What is the best advice you have been given during your career or your studies?

LANGUAGE REVIEW: Modals (ability, requests and offers)

Modal verbs are very common i n English. Match these functions (a-c) t o the examples (1-3).
a) making an offer b) describing ability c) making a request
1 Can you help me?
Could you say that again, please?
2 Can I help you?
Would you like a cup of coffee?
3 I can speak Polish and Russian.
She could read and write before she was three.

A. Rearrange the words to make questions from a job interview. Then decide whether each question is a)
making a request, b) making an offer, or c) asking about ability.
1 get / you / can / I / a drink / ?
2 e-mail address / your / confirm / I / could / ?
3 can / you / spreadsheets / use / ?
4 speak / languages / any other / you / can / ?
5 about / tell / you / job / us / your present / more / could / ?
6 tell / your current salary / me / you / could / ?
7 would you / as soon as possible / your decision / let us know / ?
8 start / you / when / can / ?
9 like / tea / some more / you / would / ?
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B. Match the questions in Exercise A (1-9) to these interviewee's answers (a-i).

a) It's €60,000 a year.
b) Not very well, but I'm doing a course next week.
c) I can let you know next week.
d) Thank you. A cup of tea, please.
e) The address is correct, but I've got a new mobile number.
f) I'd love some. Thank you.
g) Well, I'm currently supervising an HR project.
h) Yes, I can speak Korean and Japanese.
i) My notice period is two months.

C. Work in pairs. Student A is an interviewer and Student B is an interviewee.

Student A: Follow the instructions below.
Student B: Answer the questions truthfully.
Then switch roles.

Student A
§ Ask Student B:
§ Offer tea or coffee.
1 to tell you about themselves;
§ Find out Student B's ability to:
2 for the best number to contact them on
1 speak any languages;
tomorrow;
2 use Excel, PowerPoint or
3 to repeat the number;
Publisher;
4 if they would like to work abroad;
3 drive.
5 if there are any hours they wouldn't be
able to work.

SKILLS: Telephoning (making contact)

A. What kinds of phone calls do you make in English? What useful telephone expressions do you know?

B. CD 1.8—1.10 Listen to three phone calls and answer these questions.

1 What is the purpose of each call?
2 Do the callers know each other?

C. CD 1.8 Listen to the first call again. Complete the expressions on the right so they have the same
meaning as the ones on the left.
1 Can I talk to ... ? I'd . . . . to . . . . to . . . .
2 Just a moment ... Thank you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 I'll connect you. I'll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Am I speaking to Carina Molenaar? Hello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carina Molenaar?
5 Yes, it's me. ..........................
6 The reason I'm calling is ... Yes, I'm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . your advert . . .
7 Can I have your name and address? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . your name and address,
please?
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D. CD 1.9 Listen to the second call again and complete this extract.
A: Hello. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 to Giovanna, please?
B: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 she's not here at the moment. Can I . . . . . . . . . . .3 a. . . . . . . . . . .4?
A: Yes, please . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Johan from Intec. . . . . . . . . . .6 you . . . . . . . . . .7 her I won’t be able
to . . . . . . . . . .8 the training course on Saturday? She can . . . . . . . . . .9 me . . . . . . . . . .10 if there’s a
problem. I’m . . . . . . . . . .11 0191 498 0051.

E. CD 1.10 Listen to the third call again. Choose the phrases the speakers use.
Matt: Hello, Matt speaking.
Karl: Hi, Matt. Karl here.
Matt: Oh, hello, Karl. How are things / you1?
Karl: Fine, thanks. Listen, just a quick word / question2.
Matt: Yeah, go ahead.
Karl: Do you think you could give me / let me have3 the other number for Workplace Solutions? I
can't get through to them. Their phone's always busy / engaged4.
Matt: I've got it here / right in front of me5. It's 020 9756 4237.
Karl: Sorry, I didn't hear / catch6 the last part. Did you say 4227?
Matt: No, it's 4237.
Karl: OK. Thanks. Bye.
Matt: No problem / Don't mention it7. Bye.

F. Study the Useful language box below. Then role-play the phone calls.
USEFUL LANGUAGE
MAKING CALLS RECEIVING CALLS
Could I speak to Carmela Cantani, please? Who's calling, please?
Yes, this is Erika Mueller from KMV. Could you tell me what it's about?
Is this the sales/finance/marketing department? I'll put you through.
I'm calling about ... Can you hold?
Could you transfer me to the IT department, He seems to be with someone right now. Can I get
please? him to call you?
Could you tell him/her that I called? I'm afraid there's no answer. Can I take a message?
Could you ask him/her to call me back? I'm sorry, there's no answer. I can transfer you to
Can I leave a message, please? his/her voice mail.