Subject file APPLYING for a JOB

Employability

Definition 

Employability is the combination of skills, knowledge, and personal attributes that makes an individual attractive to employers and capable of securing, maintaining, and advancing in fulfilling work. 

Ex. 1: Identify the difference between hard and soft skills.

Ex. 2: Soft skills 

a) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nBgcoZBuiQ

b) List three soft skills you have and illustrate them with concrete examples from your work life.

Ex. 3: Documenting your hard skills in a CV.

The Application Process

Ex. 4: Put the steps into a logical order.

1. _____ preparing a written application containing a letter of application, a CV, reports/references etc. (copies)
2. _____ reflecting one's own interests, education, training, skills, etc.
3. _____  researching supply and demand in the job market
4. _____ preparing the job interview
5. _____ searching for job offers/vacancies (online, newspapers, company websites, friends, submitting an unsolicited/initiative application
6. _____ job interview

Possible questions to consider:

1. What are important considerations when searching for a job?
2. What are the most important/difficult/easiest aspects of a job search?
3. Which of those aspects have been relevant to you so far?

KEY

Ex. 4: 4 - 1 - 2 - 5 - 3 - 6

Job Advertisements

Reading job adverts is a crucial, strategic step in a successful job search, going far beyond simply seeing if a job is open. A thorough analysis of an advert allows you to customize your application, prepare for interviews, and determine if the role and company are a good fit for you.

Ex. 1: Study the job advert for a teacher of history below and consider the following questions while looking at it. Then compare your findings with the KEY.

• What job is advertised?
• What are the overall responsibilities?
• What are the daily duties and routines?
• What is offered by the employer?
• What perks and incentives are offered?
• What hard and soft skills are required?
• What additional qualifications and experience are required?

KEY: 

The vacancy advertised in this job ad is that of a teacher of history. 

Overall responsibilities comprise teaching history and cover supervision.

Daily duties are: teaching history across all stages, teaching cover lessons, arranging the cover timetable for absent staff, and deploying and managing cover staff;

The employer, a school, offers a permanent position and a teacher's salary according to the salary scale for teachers in Inner London.

Additional perks are not mentioned, but the incentives include working for a successful school and becoming a member of a strong team. 

In terms of hard skills, qualifications, and experience, the school requires the qualifications for teaching history (usually a university degree) and a lot of teaching experience. 

Regarding soft skills, the school expects the applicant to be skilled and a good teacher with a lot of enthusiasm, prepared to work in teams, and the dedication to promote the school's future success. 

Ex. 2: Learn more about job adverts by completing the online exercises. 

British Council Learn English: Job Adverts

Job interviews

Ex. 1: Common questions in job interviews

Presentation Practice

Situation: You work for the National Employment Agency AMS and many of your clients struggle with finding a job. Today you are having a workshop on different aspects of a job search. You should 

• outline the concept of employability and point to the importance of soft skills
• explain the different steps to take when searching for a job
• talk about the do's and don'ts in a job interview