Uint4
II,Basic Listening Practice
Script
M,Did you pick up the paper for me today? I really want to check the job vacancies.
W,I know,it’s over there,There’s not much happen though,I had a look already,Maybe you should look on the Net instead.
Q,What is the man looking for?
Script
M,You don’t have enough experience or qualifications for this role,What makes you believe you could handle the position?
W,I’m a fast learner and enjoy learning on the job,My natural skills lie in this area,and I’m confident that I could handle the challenge,Given a chance,I would prove myself.
Q,What is the woman saying?
3,Script
M,Could you help me with my resume? Jane said you’re good with these things,and I really need someone to edit it,It’s way too long.
W,Sure,no problem,give I to me,A good resume should be no more than one page,you know,And it should list you experience in reverse chronological order,I can see we’ve got some work to do!
Q,Which of the following is true according to the conversation?
4,Script
M,Could you tell me why you would like to work for our company?
W,Well,it has a good reputation as an employer,and its products are quite popular in the marketplace,I would feel proud to work for a company like this and to contribute a great deal to its success.
Q,Why does the woman apply for the job?
5,Script
W,Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
M,I aim to have been promoted to senior manager at the very least,I’m very ambitious and want to climb up the career ladder as fast as possible,I don’t want to feel miserable on the first rung in five years’ time,watching everybody above me.
Q,What does the man want in fie years?
Keys,1.C 2.D 3,A 4.C 5.B
III,Listening In
Task 1,Tell me about yourself.
Script
M,Tell me a little about yourself.
W,I’m from Guilin City.
M,What brought you to the east coast?
W,I came to Qingdao to attend college,I’m impressed by this city’s dynamic economy,I’ve come to love it so much that I’ve decided to stay and work here.
M,What work experience do you?
W,I worked as an intern for a small shipping company,And my primary responsibilities were to maintain the company’s ties with the existing customers and try to find new cargo sources.
M,And what did that experience teach you?
W,I learned that communication skills are extremely important,The knowledge I acquired from textbooks is indeed,but it is equally essential to be able to persuade a potential client t to trust you.
M,How would your former employer describe you?
W,He told me that my ability to find one customer after another was an asset to the company,He thanked me for my loyalty,He also appreciated my team as shown in my cooperation with my colleague.
M,You seem very mature for your age,And I see from your resume that you are very goal-oriented.
W,Thank you,I believe I’ve acquired many good qualities from my parents,They’re my role models,However,I know I still have a lot to learn.
The woman went from Guilin City to the east coast city of Qingdao to attend college,She was impressed by the latter’s dynamic economy,Now shi is being interviewed for a job,She says she once worked as an intern for a small shipping company to maintain the company’s ties with the existing customers and try to find new cargo sources,There she learned the importance of communication skills,She has realized that book knowledge is indeed necessary,but it is equally essential to persuade potential clients to trust her,Her former employer said her ability to find customers was an asset to the company,He appreciated the loyalty and team spirit,The interviewer finds her mature for her age and very goal-oriented,And she believes that she has acquired many good qualities form her parents,but still has a lot to learn.
Task 2,A Work Qualification Test
Script
Murphy applies for an engineering position at an Irish firm based in Dublin,An American applied for the same job,Quite by coincidence,the two amplifications,and were asked to take the same test by the manager of the Human Resource Department,Upon completion of the test,both men missed only one of the questions,The manager went to Murphy and said,“Thank you for your interest,but we’ve decided to give the American the job.”
Bewildered by the manager’s decision,Murphy asked,“Why would you be doing that? We both got nine questions correct,This being Ireland and me being Irish,I should get the job!”
The manger answered calmly,“We have made our decisions based on the correct answers,but on the question you missed.”
Unconvinced and somewhat indignant,Murphy question,“And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?”
The manager’s maser took him by surprise,“Simple,on QuestionNo.5,the American put down ‘I don’t’ know’,and you put down ‘Neither do I’.”
Keys,FTTTFT
For Reference
He made his decision based on the wrong answers to the one question one missed,rather than on the correct answers.
By writing,Neither do I”,it seems that Murphy copied the American answer on the test.
Task3,A Guide to a Successful Job Interview
Script
There are times that you will be asked a hard question during a job interview,Don’t panic,they just want to see how you handle a difficult situation,Being prepared is always the best policy,Here are some samples of questions and some advice on how to handle them properly.
Why should we choose you? To this question,you can ask yourself why you applied,what makes you suitable for this question,what the company can gain from hiring you,what you have to offer,how you would handle this jib,etc.
Often they ask you to tell them about yourself,You can split your answer into two,the professional and the personal level,Both are important,and how you move from one to the other depends on what you have to say,You can give a brief summary of your life,professional and personal,with less emphasis on the early past,and more emphasis on the present and the future.
When asked,What are your weakness?”,don’t say,“I don’t have any.” Everyone has weakness,and it takes something positive like,“I haven’t had a lot of exposure on the on-site work,but I’m looking forward to being more involved in dealing with customers directly and learning their needs.”
Another common question is:,What are your strengths?” You should customize your answer to meet the position requirement,Keep in mind the things they asked for in the advertisement,Tell them your strengths,but also show them how they how they would apply to this job,To show how your strengths were valuable,use the,Why,where,when,how” to demonstrate and prove your strengths.
What is the passage mainly concerned with?
What does the speaker NOT mention as an answer to the question,“Why should we choose you?”?
What does the speaker say you should stress when introducing yourself?
What does the speaker advice you NOT to say when asked,“What are your weaknesses?”
What should you say when asked about your strong points?
Kes,1C 2.C3,B 4.A 5.D
For Reference
“Why should we choose you?”,“Tell me about yourself.”,“What are your weaknesses?”,and,What are your strength?”
IV,Speaking Out
MODEL 1 Can you give me some tips about how to get a good job?
Susan,John,can you give me some tips about how to get a good job?
John,Did you go to the job fairs and meet with companies?
Susan,Yeah,I did,But they didn’t seem to be interested in women,I thought about suing then for sexual discrimination.
John,I’m afraid it won’t be much help,Have you looked at the want ads in the newspaper?
Susan,I’ve been checking the want ads every day for a week,but I can’t find anything interesting that I’m qualified for,And the few that I have seen are very low-paying.
John,Then try the Internet,You can use a search engine to find a job site related to your field.
Susan,Good thinking! Thanks! I think I’ll look for something in electronic engineering.
John,Hey,I just saw a job opening at a company called E-Tech,It could be just the sort of thing you’re looking for.
Susan,Great,I’ll try my luck there.
John,Yeah,but if I remember,the deadline is this afternoon.
Susan,This afternoon? Oh no! I’d better get online quickly and see if I can submit my resume by E-mail.
John,Wait,have you updated your resume? You’d better include your work experience from the IT company last summer.
Susan,Don’t worry,It’s all set,Thanks,mate.
John,Any time,Sue.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A,Can you give me some tips about how to get a good job?
B,What have you done so far?
A,I’ve asked a few friends and relatives for job information,but it’s not of much use.
B,That method is out of date,You should go to the job fair and meet wit companies.
A,Yes,I did,But IT industry seems to have been badly hit the economic recession,and not many companied came to the job market,As for those who did come,they set a high standard for the candidates.
B,To find more opportunities,you might as well look at the want ads in the newspaper.
A,I’ve been checking the want ads regularly for months,and I can’t find anything good that I’m qualifies for,And the few that I have seen are very low-paying.
B,On the Internet you can find more job ads,You can use a search engine to find job sites related to your field,
A,Good idea! I think I’ll look for something in software development.
B,I just found a job available at a computer company on the Net the other day,It might be just the sort of thing you’re looking for.
A,Great! I’ll take a chance on that.
B,Remember to update your resume before you send it in,It’ll be plus for you if you include your recent work experience at the IT company.
A,Sure,Thanks.
MODEL2 Do you have any tips for a successful interview?
Script
Susan,John,do you have any tips for a successful interview?
John,Well,first of all,you need to dress professionally.
Susan,Oh,what about during the interview?
John,Ok,be sure to maintain good eye contact and answer all questions politely and directly,Don’t look too shy,nor should you sound too aggressive.
Susan,I’m not sure what kind of questions they’ll ask.
John,They’ll probably want to know a little about your work experience,Many companies don’t want a completely green hand,They don’t want to spend time and money on training.
Susan,Fortunately,I gained some experience at an IT company during the last summer holiday.
John,They may also want to know something about your character,You see,ability for teamwork is usually valued,
Susan,What kind of questions should I ask them?
John,You should ask them about the job requirements and about the company.
Susan,Should I ask about salary and fringe benefits?
John,Better not,Not unless they bring it up,Just use the first interview to sell yourself.
Susan,You’re right,If they are interested in hiring me,there will be plenty of chances to talk about money later.
John,Right,And the more interested they are,the more they’ll offer.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A,Can you give me some advice on how to succeed in an interview?
B,Well,first of all,you need to pay attention to your appearance,You have to dress appropriately.
A,What do you mean by appropriately?
B,It’s often best to wear a suit,Some bosses don’t like to see a candidate on a dirty T-shirt and jeans.
A,I see,Careless clothes may be an indicator of careless attitude in work.
B,Right on,Also,many employers are unwilling to hire a young man with his hair dyed red or yellow.
A,Then,what about during the interview?
B,You should speak politely but firmly,If you look too shy,they may suspect you are not capable of dealing with a challenging task.
A,I’m not sure what kind of questions they’ll ask.
B,They’ll probably want to know something about your work experience,Companies usually don’t want an entirely new hand,They don’t want to spend time and money on training.
A,Fortunately,I gained some experience at a law of firm during the last summer holiday,I worked as an intern to provide free legal advice for those who need it.
B,Oh,I see,this is what they called,legal assistance to the needy”,Also,a company may want to know something about your character,You see,team players are often valued above all others.
A,What kind of questions should I ask them?
B,You should ask them about the job requirements and about the company.
A,I hear that many companies asked the candidates what salary they expect.
B,That’s true,You have to inquire about the possible salary level for a green hand in advance,If the salary you expect is reasonable,this shows that you know the professions well and will have a good impression on the interviewer.
A,Oh,I’ve learned so much from you,A thousand thanks.
MODEL3 Our best bet is to recruit from the competition.
Script
Helen,Our company is starting from scratch,so we don’t have the expertise to compete.
Bill,Then our best bet is to recruit from the competition.
Helen,We need managers who know how to be strong,yet know how to give employees their freedom.
Bill,That’s essential,especially in the computer industry,Often computer experts like to work on their own.
Helen,We also don’t believe that a right management system will work wonders for our company.
Bill,Um…that philosophy will help you attract many worthwhile people.
Helen,I remember your friend David Miller is the CEO of a management recruitment agency,I hope he’ll help us start a recruitment drive.
Bill,Certainly,And it’s a good time,too,A number of firms have been downsizing.
Helen,Good,So lots of capable people out there are interested in bigger and batter things,But can David help us pin them down?
Bill,Sure,Helen! That’s why they call them headhunters.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A,What can I do for you?
B,I’m looking for a public relations manager at our advertising company.
A,Do you have any specific requirement for such a manager?
B,Well,first of all,she must be a good leader,who know to be strong,yet knows how to allow people freedom,Only in this way can she give full play to the employees’ enthusiasm.
A,Oh,that’s essential for leader in many companies,What other qualities do you expect of the manager?
B,She must be skilled in interpersonal communications,You see,without such skill,one can hardly get a job well done.
A,I can’t agree more,Is that all?
B,Not yet,If she happens to have a wide network of business connections,it’ll be a great assert to the company.
A,I see,We’ll try our best to find one who meets your requirements.
B,Do you think you can pin one down quickly?
A,Probably,You see,a number of firms have been downsizing,So it’s a good time for head-hunting.
B,Good,That’s why they call you headhunters.
V,Let’s Talk
Script
Good afternoon,everyone,The university’s Career Office asked me to give a talk on the topic of how to prepare for job interviews,This is probably the most important aspect in securing a job,Here are some tips I believe to be useful.
First,do some research are,Once you have this information,make a list of what skills or knowledge you have that would be valuable to them,You cannot sell yourself to them if you don’t know what it is you are selling.
The next thing to consider is your physical appearance,You have to dress right for job interviews,Don’t wear anything too flashy; being neat and clean is more important than wearing the latest fashion,The aim is to look professional without overdoing it,Also,it is important that you feel comfortable,If you are not comfortable with a tie,it might be best not to wear one,unless the job requires you to dress this way,The last thing you want is to be worried about your appearance during the interview,It will only make you nervous,and you will quickly lose confidence.
Mover over,you have to work out what you need to take with you,A copy of your CV,originals and copies of your qualification paper,copies of reference,samples of your work,if applicable,and anything else that they may want to see,Again,make sure everything is well organized and neatly presented,Don’t take a pile of paperwork that you have to sift through for ten minutes to find something,That will give them the impression that you are disorganized,If you are well prepared,you’re likely to have good luck.
Things to Do
More Details
Tip1
Do some research on the company.
Make a list of what skills or knowledge you have that would be valuable to them.
Find out what products it makes,who its customers are,and what its objective is.
Tip2
Take care over your physical appearance.
⑴ Dress right,Don’t wear anything too flashy; neat and clean are more important than the latest fashion.
⑵ Feel comfortable,Being worried about your appearance during the interview will make you nervous and you will quickly lose confidence.
Tip3
Work out what to take with you.
⑴ Prepare a copy of your resume,originals and copies of your qualification papers,copies of references,and samples of your work.
⑵ Make sure everything is well organized and neatly presented.
Discussion
SAMPLE
A,After listening to the career officer’s talk,I’ve now realizes the importance of getting prepared for an interview.
B,Quite true,First of all,we should never be late for an interview,If you’re not punctual,they’ll suspect that you’ll be late for work in future.
A,Before going to the interview,we had better pay attention to our dress,We must look professional without overdoing it,Careless clothes will lead them into thinking that you’re likely to do your job carelessly.
B,During the interview,it is important to look confident without being too pushy,It’s necessary to maintain eye contact,This shows your interest in the conversation,and helps to maintain the communication between you and the interviewer.
A,Many employers attach importance to the education you’ve received,We need to highlight those courses especially valuable to the company.
B,Book knowledge is not enough,We must show them we have practical experience in the field,Tell them about our internship,and emphasize the skills that are useful in the job we’re seeking.
A,How clever you are! These days many students want to tell the prospective employer that they have a good command of English and have obtained a College English Test Band 4 Certificate,
B,They’re also eager to tell interviewer about their computer skills with PowerPoint,office automation,and so on,Students from non-key universities especially need certificates to shoe they’ve acquired those skills before they can hope to compete against students from prestigious universities.
A,Character is considered an important factor in contemporary society,where teamwork is a must.
B,But too many students are saying more or less the same thing,If everybody says,“I’m warm-hearted and cooperative,get along well with my classmates,and have good team spirit,” the boss will soon get fed up.
A,Perhaps we should let the work we’ve done shoe our character.
B,Right on,Participation is important,If you can show them you’re an important official of the Student Union of the university or the department,or you’ve organized a singing competition and won an award,obviously you’re a good team player.
VI,Further Listening and Speaking
Task1,The Role Memory Plays in Our Life
Script
Your resume,or CV in British English,has one mission and one mission only,to get you a job interview,Your resume is usually the first impression an employer has of you,And as,you never get a second chance to make a first impression”,you‘d better get it right firs time,Here’re some suggestions that may be of use in preparing a resume,First,use a design that demands attention,Employers don’t have time to read through each of your job descriptions to know if you have the skills they need,The design of your resume must do it for them,Your resume should be concise,well-organized and relevant,It should emphasized the most important and relevant points about your experience,skills and education.
Second,put important information first,List important information at the beginning of your job descriptions,Put statements in your resume in order of importance and relevance to the job you want,A powerful statement with exact numbers influences every statement that follows.
Third,target the job,You will have more success if you adjust your resume and cover letter for the specific skills another job,In other words,you need to,re-package” yourself,In that way,an employer will see immediately that you correspond to the job description,It is not dishonest to,re-package” yourself,You are simply pressing yourself and your skills in the best light for a particular employer,This will help you to get more interviews and allow you to apply for a wider range o jobs.
Why does the speaker say the resume is important?
According to the passage,why should you emphasize the most important point about yourself?
Where does the speaker advise putting the important information in your job description?
How many resumes would the speaker advise you to write if you applied for three jobs?
5,Which of the following makes a good title for the passage?
Keys,1.C 2.A 3.A 4.C 5.B
Task 2,Two Essential Factors in an Interview
Script
When applying for a job,especially a job you really want,It’s not usually to feel nervous and anxious,Sometimes it’s this anxiety,not our qualifications,that keeps us from obtaining our dream job,
So you must overcome your nervousness and build up confidence,This often involves two factors,one mental and the other physical,Mentally,it’s important to prepare yourself for the interview without obsessing over it,Remember,it might be your dream job,but it won’t be the end of the world if you don’t get it,Tell yourself that the company would be lucky to get you; and if they choose someone else,it will be their loss,In essence,you need to build your self-confidence,Your ability to answer all questions without hesitation will certainly impress the interviewer.
Now that you are mentally ready for any question that might be thrown your way,it’s time to work on your physical presentation,No matter what position you are applying for,your physical appearance at the interview will be a big factor in the final determination,It’s always a good idea to wear a suit; it doesn’t have to be a designer suit,but something plain and conservative,Do not dress too informally,For example,don’t wear a red fashionable jacket for your interview,Make sure,too,that it is clean and pressed,This may seem like common sense,but you’d be surprised how careless some applicants are,While it’s not necessary to visit the beauty salon before your interview,make sure that your nail are well-manicured,and your hair is styled carefully and neatly.
Task3,An Interview That Upsets the Boss
Script
John was in a terrible accident at work and lost both of his ears,Since he was permanently disfigured,he settled with the company for a fairly large compensation and decided to invest the money in a small but growing telecom business,After weeks of negotiations,he bought the company,Then he realized that he knew nothing about running such a business and quickly set out to hire someone who could do that for him.
So he set up three job interviewers,The first guy was great,He knew everything the company needed and was very interesting,At the end of the interview,John asked him,”Do you notice anything different about me?” And the gentleman answered,“Why yes,I couldn’t help notice you have no ears.” John got very upset and threw him out.
The second interview was with a woman,and she was even better than the first guy,He asked her the same question,“Do you notice anything usually about me?” and the she replied,“Well,you have no ears.” Again John got furious and tossed her out.
The third and the last interview was the best of all three,It was with a very young man who was fresh out of college,He was smart and handsome,And he seemed to be a better businessman than the firs two put together,John was anxious to employ him,but asked him the same question,“Do you notice anything different about me?”
And to his surprise,the young man answered,“Yes,you wear contact lenses.”
John was amazed,and said,“What an incredibly observant young man! How in the world did you know that?”
The young man laughed and replied,“Well,it’s pretty hard to wear glasses with no ears!”
For Reference
He lost both of his ears.
Because he realized that he knew nothing about running the business after he bought it.
Because the interviewee said he noticed that John had no ears,and John got upset.
He said he noticed John wore contact lenses.
He thought it was pretty difficult to wear glasses with no ears.
News Report
A Galaxy of Film Prize Winners
Script
The European Film Awards—First Hollywood,then Cannes,and now Pairs?
The European Film Awards ceremony was held in Pairs in early December,honoring the best in European and world films.
Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark was the overall winner of the evening,receiving awards for the best European film and best actress—Bjork.
.The audiences was disappointed,however,as neither von Trier,Bjork,nor the Oscar-winning Italian director Roberto Benigni showed up to accept awards.
Still,other prize winners did come,The Irish actor Richard Harris,who was given an award for lifetime achievement,gave a humorous thank-you speech that was the high point of the evening.
Another internationally known actor,Jean Reno,also gave an enthusiastic thank-you speech,The French actor received an award for European achievement in world cinema,for his international firm career.
Other VIPs from around Europe also attended,But most of the prizes at the ceremony,which people have been calling,the European Oscars”,went to French films.
There was one international film award,which went to a French-Hong Kong co-production,Wong Karwai’s In the Mood for Love.
II,Basic Listening Practice
Script
M,Did you pick up the paper for me today? I really want to check the job vacancies.
W,I know,it’s over there,There’s not much happen though,I had a look already,Maybe you should look on the Net instead.
Q,What is the man looking for?
Script
M,You don’t have enough experience or qualifications for this role,What makes you believe you could handle the position?
W,I’m a fast learner and enjoy learning on the job,My natural skills lie in this area,and I’m confident that I could handle the challenge,Given a chance,I would prove myself.
Q,What is the woman saying?
3,Script
M,Could you help me with my resume? Jane said you’re good with these things,and I really need someone to edit it,It’s way too long.
W,Sure,no problem,give I to me,A good resume should be no more than one page,you know,And it should list you experience in reverse chronological order,I can see we’ve got some work to do!
Q,Which of the following is true according to the conversation?
4,Script
M,Could you tell me why you would like to work for our company?
W,Well,it has a good reputation as an employer,and its products are quite popular in the marketplace,I would feel proud to work for a company like this and to contribute a great deal to its success.
Q,Why does the woman apply for the job?
5,Script
W,Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
M,I aim to have been promoted to senior manager at the very least,I’m very ambitious and want to climb up the career ladder as fast as possible,I don’t want to feel miserable on the first rung in five years’ time,watching everybody above me.
Q,What does the man want in fie years?
Keys,1.C 2.D 3,A 4.C 5.B
III,Listening In
Task 1,Tell me about yourself.
Script
M,Tell me a little about yourself.
W,I’m from Guilin City.
M,What brought you to the east coast?
W,I came to Qingdao to attend college,I’m impressed by this city’s dynamic economy,I’ve come to love it so much that I’ve decided to stay and work here.
M,What work experience do you?
W,I worked as an intern for a small shipping company,And my primary responsibilities were to maintain the company’s ties with the existing customers and try to find new cargo sources.
M,And what did that experience teach you?
W,I learned that communication skills are extremely important,The knowledge I acquired from textbooks is indeed,but it is equally essential to be able to persuade a potential client t to trust you.
M,How would your former employer describe you?
W,He told me that my ability to find one customer after another was an asset to the company,He thanked me for my loyalty,He also appreciated my team as shown in my cooperation with my colleague.
M,You seem very mature for your age,And I see from your resume that you are very goal-oriented.
W,Thank you,I believe I’ve acquired many good qualities from my parents,They’re my role models,However,I know I still have a lot to learn.
The woman went from Guilin City to the east coast city of Qingdao to attend college,She was impressed by the latter’s dynamic economy,Now shi is being interviewed for a job,She says she once worked as an intern for a small shipping company to maintain the company’s ties with the existing customers and try to find new cargo sources,There she learned the importance of communication skills,She has realized that book knowledge is indeed necessary,but it is equally essential to persuade potential clients to trust her,Her former employer said her ability to find customers was an asset to the company,He appreciated the loyalty and team spirit,The interviewer finds her mature for her age and very goal-oriented,And she believes that she has acquired many good qualities form her parents,but still has a lot to learn.
Task 2,A Work Qualification Test
Script
Murphy applies for an engineering position at an Irish firm based in Dublin,An American applied for the same job,Quite by coincidence,the two amplifications,and were asked to take the same test by the manager of the Human Resource Department,Upon completion of the test,both men missed only one of the questions,The manager went to Murphy and said,“Thank you for your interest,but we’ve decided to give the American the job.”
Bewildered by the manager’s decision,Murphy asked,“Why would you be doing that? We both got nine questions correct,This being Ireland and me being Irish,I should get the job!”
The manger answered calmly,“We have made our decisions based on the correct answers,but on the question you missed.”
Unconvinced and somewhat indignant,Murphy question,“And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?”
The manager’s maser took him by surprise,“Simple,on QuestionNo.5,the American put down ‘I don’t’ know’,and you put down ‘Neither do I’.”
Keys,FTTTFT
For Reference
He made his decision based on the wrong answers to the one question one missed,rather than on the correct answers.
By writing,Neither do I”,it seems that Murphy copied the American answer on the test.
Task3,A Guide to a Successful Job Interview
Script
There are times that you will be asked a hard question during a job interview,Don’t panic,they just want to see how you handle a difficult situation,Being prepared is always the best policy,Here are some samples of questions and some advice on how to handle them properly.
Why should we choose you? To this question,you can ask yourself why you applied,what makes you suitable for this question,what the company can gain from hiring you,what you have to offer,how you would handle this jib,etc.
Often they ask you to tell them about yourself,You can split your answer into two,the professional and the personal level,Both are important,and how you move from one to the other depends on what you have to say,You can give a brief summary of your life,professional and personal,with less emphasis on the early past,and more emphasis on the present and the future.
When asked,What are your weakness?”,don’t say,“I don’t have any.” Everyone has weakness,and it takes something positive like,“I haven’t had a lot of exposure on the on-site work,but I’m looking forward to being more involved in dealing with customers directly and learning their needs.”
Another common question is:,What are your strengths?” You should customize your answer to meet the position requirement,Keep in mind the things they asked for in the advertisement,Tell them your strengths,but also show them how they how they would apply to this job,To show how your strengths were valuable,use the,Why,where,when,how” to demonstrate and prove your strengths.
What is the passage mainly concerned with?
What does the speaker NOT mention as an answer to the question,“Why should we choose you?”?
What does the speaker say you should stress when introducing yourself?
What does the speaker advice you NOT to say when asked,“What are your weaknesses?”
What should you say when asked about your strong points?
Kes,1C 2.C3,B 4.A 5.D
For Reference
“Why should we choose you?”,“Tell me about yourself.”,“What are your weaknesses?”,and,What are your strength?”
IV,Speaking Out
MODEL 1 Can you give me some tips about how to get a good job?
Susan,John,can you give me some tips about how to get a good job?
John,Did you go to the job fairs and meet with companies?
Susan,Yeah,I did,But they didn’t seem to be interested in women,I thought about suing then for sexual discrimination.
John,I’m afraid it won’t be much help,Have you looked at the want ads in the newspaper?
Susan,I’ve been checking the want ads every day for a week,but I can’t find anything interesting that I’m qualified for,And the few that I have seen are very low-paying.
John,Then try the Internet,You can use a search engine to find a job site related to your field.
Susan,Good thinking! Thanks! I think I’ll look for something in electronic engineering.
John,Hey,I just saw a job opening at a company called E-Tech,It could be just the sort of thing you’re looking for.
Susan,Great,I’ll try my luck there.
John,Yeah,but if I remember,the deadline is this afternoon.
Susan,This afternoon? Oh no! I’d better get online quickly and see if I can submit my resume by E-mail.
John,Wait,have you updated your resume? You’d better include your work experience from the IT company last summer.
Susan,Don’t worry,It’s all set,Thanks,mate.
John,Any time,Sue.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A,Can you give me some tips about how to get a good job?
B,What have you done so far?
A,I’ve asked a few friends and relatives for job information,but it’s not of much use.
B,That method is out of date,You should go to the job fair and meet wit companies.
A,Yes,I did,But IT industry seems to have been badly hit the economic recession,and not many companied came to the job market,As for those who did come,they set a high standard for the candidates.
B,To find more opportunities,you might as well look at the want ads in the newspaper.
A,I’ve been checking the want ads regularly for months,and I can’t find anything good that I’m qualifies for,And the few that I have seen are very low-paying.
B,On the Internet you can find more job ads,You can use a search engine to find job sites related to your field,
A,Good idea! I think I’ll look for something in software development.
B,I just found a job available at a computer company on the Net the other day,It might be just the sort of thing you’re looking for.
A,Great! I’ll take a chance on that.
B,Remember to update your resume before you send it in,It’ll be plus for you if you include your recent work experience at the IT company.
A,Sure,Thanks.
MODEL2 Do you have any tips for a successful interview?
Script
Susan,John,do you have any tips for a successful interview?
John,Well,first of all,you need to dress professionally.
Susan,Oh,what about during the interview?
John,Ok,be sure to maintain good eye contact and answer all questions politely and directly,Don’t look too shy,nor should you sound too aggressive.
Susan,I’m not sure what kind of questions they’ll ask.
John,They’ll probably want to know a little about your work experience,Many companies don’t want a completely green hand,They don’t want to spend time and money on training.
Susan,Fortunately,I gained some experience at an IT company during the last summer holiday.
John,They may also want to know something about your character,You see,ability for teamwork is usually valued,
Susan,What kind of questions should I ask them?
John,You should ask them about the job requirements and about the company.
Susan,Should I ask about salary and fringe benefits?
John,Better not,Not unless they bring it up,Just use the first interview to sell yourself.
Susan,You’re right,If they are interested in hiring me,there will be plenty of chances to talk about money later.
John,Right,And the more interested they are,the more they’ll offer.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A,Can you give me some advice on how to succeed in an interview?
B,Well,first of all,you need to pay attention to your appearance,You have to dress appropriately.
A,What do you mean by appropriately?
B,It’s often best to wear a suit,Some bosses don’t like to see a candidate on a dirty T-shirt and jeans.
A,I see,Careless clothes may be an indicator of careless attitude in work.
B,Right on,Also,many employers are unwilling to hire a young man with his hair dyed red or yellow.
A,Then,what about during the interview?
B,You should speak politely but firmly,If you look too shy,they may suspect you are not capable of dealing with a challenging task.
A,I’m not sure what kind of questions they’ll ask.
B,They’ll probably want to know something about your work experience,Companies usually don’t want an entirely new hand,They don’t want to spend time and money on training.
A,Fortunately,I gained some experience at a law of firm during the last summer holiday,I worked as an intern to provide free legal advice for those who need it.
B,Oh,I see,this is what they called,legal assistance to the needy”,Also,a company may want to know something about your character,You see,team players are often valued above all others.
A,What kind of questions should I ask them?
B,You should ask them about the job requirements and about the company.
A,I hear that many companies asked the candidates what salary they expect.
B,That’s true,You have to inquire about the possible salary level for a green hand in advance,If the salary you expect is reasonable,this shows that you know the professions well and will have a good impression on the interviewer.
A,Oh,I’ve learned so much from you,A thousand thanks.
MODEL3 Our best bet is to recruit from the competition.
Script
Helen,Our company is starting from scratch,so we don’t have the expertise to compete.
Bill,Then our best bet is to recruit from the competition.
Helen,We need managers who know how to be strong,yet know how to give employees their freedom.
Bill,That’s essential,especially in the computer industry,Often computer experts like to work on their own.
Helen,We also don’t believe that a right management system will work wonders for our company.
Bill,Um…that philosophy will help you attract many worthwhile people.
Helen,I remember your friend David Miller is the CEO of a management recruitment agency,I hope he’ll help us start a recruitment drive.
Bill,Certainly,And it’s a good time,too,A number of firms have been downsizing.
Helen,Good,So lots of capable people out there are interested in bigger and batter things,But can David help us pin them down?
Bill,Sure,Helen! That’s why they call them headhunters.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A,What can I do for you?
B,I’m looking for a public relations manager at our advertising company.
A,Do you have any specific requirement for such a manager?
B,Well,first of all,she must be a good leader,who know to be strong,yet knows how to allow people freedom,Only in this way can she give full play to the employees’ enthusiasm.
A,Oh,that’s essential for leader in many companies,What other qualities do you expect of the manager?
B,She must be skilled in interpersonal communications,You see,without such skill,one can hardly get a job well done.
A,I can’t agree more,Is that all?
B,Not yet,If she happens to have a wide network of business connections,it’ll be a great assert to the company.
A,I see,We’ll try our best to find one who meets your requirements.
B,Do you think you can pin one down quickly?
A,Probably,You see,a number of firms have been downsizing,So it’s a good time for head-hunting.
B,Good,That’s why they call you headhunters.
V,Let’s Talk
Script
Good afternoon,everyone,The university’s Career Office asked me to give a talk on the topic of how to prepare for job interviews,This is probably the most important aspect in securing a job,Here are some tips I believe to be useful.
First,do some research are,Once you have this information,make a list of what skills or knowledge you have that would be valuable to them,You cannot sell yourself to them if you don’t know what it is you are selling.
The next thing to consider is your physical appearance,You have to dress right for job interviews,Don’t wear anything too flashy; being neat and clean is more important than wearing the latest fashion,The aim is to look professional without overdoing it,Also,it is important that you feel comfortable,If you are not comfortable with a tie,it might be best not to wear one,unless the job requires you to dress this way,The last thing you want is to be worried about your appearance during the interview,It will only make you nervous,and you will quickly lose confidence.
Mover over,you have to work out what you need to take with you,A copy of your CV,originals and copies of your qualification paper,copies of reference,samples of your work,if applicable,and anything else that they may want to see,Again,make sure everything is well organized and neatly presented,Don’t take a pile of paperwork that you have to sift through for ten minutes to find something,That will give them the impression that you are disorganized,If you are well prepared,you’re likely to have good luck.
Things to Do
More Details
Tip1
Do some research on the company.
Make a list of what skills or knowledge you have that would be valuable to them.
Find out what products it makes,who its customers are,and what its objective is.
Tip2
Take care over your physical appearance.
⑴ Dress right,Don’t wear anything too flashy; neat and clean are more important than the latest fashion.
⑵ Feel comfortable,Being worried about your appearance during the interview will make you nervous and you will quickly lose confidence.
Tip3
Work out what to take with you.
⑴ Prepare a copy of your resume,originals and copies of your qualification papers,copies of references,and samples of your work.
⑵ Make sure everything is well organized and neatly presented.
Discussion
SAMPLE
A,After listening to the career officer’s talk,I’ve now realizes the importance of getting prepared for an interview.
B,Quite true,First of all,we should never be late for an interview,If you’re not punctual,they’ll suspect that you’ll be late for work in future.
A,Before going to the interview,we had better pay attention to our dress,We must look professional without overdoing it,Careless clothes will lead them into thinking that you’re likely to do your job carelessly.
B,During the interview,it is important to look confident without being too pushy,It’s necessary to maintain eye contact,This shows your interest in the conversation,and helps to maintain the communication between you and the interviewer.
A,Many employers attach importance to the education you’ve received,We need to highlight those courses especially valuable to the company.
B,Book knowledge is not enough,We must show them we have practical experience in the field,Tell them about our internship,and emphasize the skills that are useful in the job we’re seeking.
A,How clever you are! These days many students want to tell the prospective employer that they have a good command of English and have obtained a College English Test Band 4 Certificate,
B,They’re also eager to tell interviewer about their computer skills with PowerPoint,office automation,and so on,Students from non-key universities especially need certificates to shoe they’ve acquired those skills before they can hope to compete against students from prestigious universities.
A,Character is considered an important factor in contemporary society,where teamwork is a must.
B,But too many students are saying more or less the same thing,If everybody says,“I’m warm-hearted and cooperative,get along well with my classmates,and have good team spirit,” the boss will soon get fed up.
A,Perhaps we should let the work we’ve done shoe our character.
B,Right on,Participation is important,If you can show them you’re an important official of the Student Union of the university or the department,or you’ve organized a singing competition and won an award,obviously you’re a good team player.
VI,Further Listening and Speaking
Task1,The Role Memory Plays in Our Life
Script
Your resume,or CV in British English,has one mission and one mission only,to get you a job interview,Your resume is usually the first impression an employer has of you,And as,you never get a second chance to make a first impression”,you‘d better get it right firs time,Here’re some suggestions that may be of use in preparing a resume,First,use a design that demands attention,Employers don’t have time to read through each of your job descriptions to know if you have the skills they need,The design of your resume must do it for them,Your resume should be concise,well-organized and relevant,It should emphasized the most important and relevant points about your experience,skills and education.
Second,put important information first,List important information at the beginning of your job descriptions,Put statements in your resume in order of importance and relevance to the job you want,A powerful statement with exact numbers influences every statement that follows.
Third,target the job,You will have more success if you adjust your resume and cover letter for the specific skills another job,In other words,you need to,re-package” yourself,In that way,an employer will see immediately that you correspond to the job description,It is not dishonest to,re-package” yourself,You are simply pressing yourself and your skills in the best light for a particular employer,This will help you to get more interviews and allow you to apply for a wider range o jobs.
Why does the speaker say the resume is important?
According to the passage,why should you emphasize the most important point about yourself?
Where does the speaker advise putting the important information in your job description?
How many resumes would the speaker advise you to write if you applied for three jobs?
5,Which of the following makes a good title for the passage?
Keys,1.C 2.A 3.A 4.C 5.B
Task 2,Two Essential Factors in an Interview
Script
When applying for a job,especially a job you really want,It’s not usually to feel nervous and anxious,Sometimes it’s this anxiety,not our qualifications,that keeps us from obtaining our dream job,
So you must overcome your nervousness and build up confidence,This often involves two factors,one mental and the other physical,Mentally,it’s important to prepare yourself for the interview without obsessing over it,Remember,it might be your dream job,but it won’t be the end of the world if you don’t get it,Tell yourself that the company would be lucky to get you; and if they choose someone else,it will be their loss,In essence,you need to build your self-confidence,Your ability to answer all questions without hesitation will certainly impress the interviewer.
Now that you are mentally ready for any question that might be thrown your way,it’s time to work on your physical presentation,No matter what position you are applying for,your physical appearance at the interview will be a big factor in the final determination,It’s always a good idea to wear a suit; it doesn’t have to be a designer suit,but something plain and conservative,Do not dress too informally,For example,don’t wear a red fashionable jacket for your interview,Make sure,too,that it is clean and pressed,This may seem like common sense,but you’d be surprised how careless some applicants are,While it’s not necessary to visit the beauty salon before your interview,make sure that your nail are well-manicured,and your hair is styled carefully and neatly.
Task3,An Interview That Upsets the Boss
Script
John was in a terrible accident at work and lost both of his ears,Since he was permanently disfigured,he settled with the company for a fairly large compensation and decided to invest the money in a small but growing telecom business,After weeks of negotiations,he bought the company,Then he realized that he knew nothing about running such a business and quickly set out to hire someone who could do that for him.
So he set up three job interviewers,The first guy was great,He knew everything the company needed and was very interesting,At the end of the interview,John asked him,”Do you notice anything different about me?” And the gentleman answered,“Why yes,I couldn’t help notice you have no ears.” John got very upset and threw him out.
The second interview was with a woman,and she was even better than the first guy,He asked her the same question,“Do you notice anything usually about me?” and the she replied,“Well,you have no ears.” Again John got furious and tossed her out.
The third and the last interview was the best of all three,It was with a very young man who was fresh out of college,He was smart and handsome,And he seemed to be a better businessman than the firs two put together,John was anxious to employ him,but asked him the same question,“Do you notice anything different about me?”
And to his surprise,the young man answered,“Yes,you wear contact lenses.”
John was amazed,and said,“What an incredibly observant young man! How in the world did you know that?”
The young man laughed and replied,“Well,it’s pretty hard to wear glasses with no ears!”
For Reference
He lost both of his ears.
Because he realized that he knew nothing about running the business after he bought it.
Because the interviewee said he noticed that John had no ears,and John got upset.
He said he noticed John wore contact lenses.
He thought it was pretty difficult to wear glasses with no ears.
News Report
A Galaxy of Film Prize Winners
Script
The European Film Awards—First Hollywood,then Cannes,and now Pairs?
The European Film Awards ceremony was held in Pairs in early December,honoring the best in European and world films.
Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark was the overall winner of the evening,receiving awards for the best European film and best actress—Bjork.
.The audiences was disappointed,however,as neither von Trier,Bjork,nor the Oscar-winning Italian director Roberto Benigni showed up to accept awards.
Still,other prize winners did come,The Irish actor Richard Harris,who was given an award for lifetime achievement,gave a humorous thank-you speech that was the high point of the evening.
Another internationally known actor,Jean Reno,also gave an enthusiastic thank-you speech,The French actor received an award for European achievement in world cinema,for his international firm career.
Other VIPs from around Europe also attended,But most of the prizes at the ceremony,which people have been calling,the European Oscars”,went to French films.
There was one international film award,which went to a French-Hong Kong co-production,Wong Karwai’s In the Mood for Love.
