INT Jobs Careers and Occupations
INT Jobs Careers and Occupations
Notes: •
Resources needed: • ‘Various handouts’ concerning jobs, careers and occupations.
Game for fun (5-10 mins.): •
Games for Educational •
Value:
Stage: Warm Up Aim: Students will be more relaxed and ready to learn.
Page: N/A Method:
Time: 5 to 10 • Re-Introductions both ways. Ask them how they’ve been, what they’ve been doing
Min etc.
• CCQs Check correct use of past tense.
• Distribute student list for checking, and for any additions.
Comments
Stage: Present Aim: Students will be introduced to the ‘vocabulary of careers, jobs and occupations’.
Page: N/A Method:
Time: 10 to 15 • Using explanations and meanings, elicit some of the ‘careers, jobs and
Min occupations’ vocabulary from the Ss, (there is too much to ask for all).
• CCQs Check for understanding of words and pronunciation.
• Once enough words are out, ask Ss in rotation “If you could have any job you
wanted, what would it be?” (List a few of the jobs on the board.)
• CCQs Check realistic jobs, humour, full sentences, grammar and pronunciation.
• Once there is a good cross section of jobs on the board, move to next stage.
Comments
Stage: Practice Aim: Students will be further familiarised with ‘advantages and disadvantages of various
Page: N/A jobs’.
Time: 10 to 15 Method:
Min • Using the list on the board, ask the Ss who chose the job to give some advantages.
• CCQs Check correct use of language and pronunciation.
• Ask remainder of class if they can think of disadvantages of that job.
• CCQs Check correct use of language and pronunciation.
• Repeat for a few more jobs.
Comments
Stage: Practice Aim: Students will be further familiarised with ‘hiring and firing’.
Page: N/A Method:
Time: 10 to 15 • Ask Ss what they understand by ‘hiring and firing’.
Min • CCQs Check knowledge, use of language and pronunciation.
• Ask Ss why companies hire.
• CCQs Check ‘company expansion’, ‘long term’, ‘short term’ etc.
• Ask Ss why companies fire people.
• CCQs Check ‘breaking company rules’, ‘stealing’, ‘company downsizing’,
‘company mergers’ etc.
• Ask Ss how they would feel having to ‘fire’ someone.
• CCQs Check ‘feelings’, use of language and pronunciation.
Comments
Stage: Practice Aim: Students will be further familiarised with ‘the top jobs’.
Page: N/A Method:
Time: 10 to 15 • Ask Ss if they know what were the top jobs of the last 10 years.
Min • CCQs Check awareness (bearing in mind my list is American).
• Ask Ss if they can ‘guess’ what the top jobs over the next few years will be.
• CCQs Check awareness (bearing in mind my list is American).
• Ask Ss how these two lists compare with what they’ve been told, and with the
situation in China.
• CCQs Check correct use of language and pronunciation.
Comments
Stage: Practice Aim: Students will be further familiarised with ‘writing a CV and a cover letter’.
Page: N/A Method:
Time: 10 to 15 • Ask Ss what they understand by CV/resume.
Min • CCQs Check knowledge, use of language and pronunciation.
• Go through the handouts explaining the different points to Ss with Q and Q.
• CCQs Check understanding, correct use of language and pronunciation.
Comments
There are certain topics that everyone should be able to talk about. One of those topics is jobs.
No mater what your job is, you should be able to talk about it in English. To help you, I have
compiled a list of common job names along with a short description of each job.
Accountant Jeweller
Actor Journalist
Architect Lawyer
Assistant Lecturer
Author Musician
Baker news reader / news presenter
Builder Optician
Butcher photographer
Caretaker Pilot
Chef Plumber
Clerk Politician
Cook Printer
Dentist receptionist
Designer Sailor
Director salesman / saleswoman /salesperson
Doctor Soldier
Economist Tailor
Editor Teacher
Electrician Telephonist
Fisherman TV cameraman
fishmonger TV presenter
Hairdresser Waiter
Conversation Topic: Work Advantages/Disadvantages
1. If you could have any job in the world, what would you like to be? Why?
2. Do you think it's fair for your boss to ask you to work overtime for no extra pay? Why
or why not?
3. If you are paid for your overtime, would you prefer to be paid in money or in "time off."
4. Which of the following benefits is most important to you in a job and why?
A high salary
Good working conditions
A boss you enjoy working for
Co-workers you like
Little or no overtime
Good opportunities for advancement
The opportunity to use the training and skills you have acquired
A job near where you live
The opportunity to travel
Flexible working hours
o Are there any of these not important to you?
o Are there any benefits not on the list that you would like to have?
5. Suppose you are in charge of hiring a new employee for your firm. You have to decide
between two persons. One is a person with many years of experience in a company very
similar to yours who has only a high school education. The other person is a recent
university graduate with a degree in a field closely related to your company's business.
Which person would you choose?
6. Most business in North America compensate their employees according to the "merit
principle." Businesses in many other parts of the world have traditionally relied on
seniority to determine how much pay and other benefits a worker should receive. Which
do you think is the better system? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Benefits and Qualifications:
A benefit is something you receive from a job
A qualification is something you need to do a job.
__________________ promotion
__________________ work experience
__________________ medical insurance
__________________ vacation
__________________ bachelor/masters/doctor degree
__________________ references
__________________ salary
__________________ wage
__________________ housing
__________________ license
__________________ commissions
__________________ tips
__________________ bonus
__________________ being well-spoken
__________________ being hardworking
__________________ discount on goods
__________________ training courses
__________________ dental insurance
__________________ creativity
__________________ report card/transcript
__________________ raise
__________________ neat appearance/dress
In a group, decide what the most important qualifications and benefits are?
Most Important Benefits Most Important Qualifications
The 10 Fastest Growing Occupations
1998-2008
Top Jobs - Fastest Growing Occupations (Occupations With the Most Growth)
The fastest growing occupations for projected growth between now and 2014 are concentrated in the
health and technology sectors.
Home health aides lead the list, with a 56% increase. Next on the list is network systems analyst at 55%,
followed by medical assistants with a 52% projected increase. Physician assistants can expect a 50%
increase in job openings, while physical therapy assistant jobs are at 44%. Dental hygienists, computer
software engineers, and dental assistant jobs are all projected to increase by 43%. Last on the list of the
top ten fastest growing occupations are personal and home care aides at 41%.
Top Jobs: Top Ten Largest Growth Occupations (Occupations That Need the Most Workers)
There are not all the most prestigious jobs, but, they are the ones with the highest number of projected
new workers.
There isn't any one category that will contain the most growth, rather the list is a cross-section of
industries, including education, hospitality, and health. Retail leads the list with an increase of 736,000 new
jobs by 2014. 703,000 registered nurses will be needed, along with 524,000 post-secondary teachers.
Retail salespersons
Registered nurses
Postsecondary teachers
Customer service representatives
Janitors and cleaners
Waiters and waitresses
Combined food preparation and serving workers
Home health aides
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants
General and operations managers
How To Write a CV
If you are looking for a job, you may have noticed that some employers request a CV instead of a resume.
Many jobseekers assume that a CV and a resume are different terms for the same thing, but this is not
necessarily true. CVs and resumes are similar, true, but the differences are important. If you submit a
resume instead of a CV, you will risk appearing inexperienced and naïve - definitely not qualities that will
scream, "Hire me!" to prospective employers.
What is a CV? "CV" is an abbreviation for "Curriculum Vitae," which roughly translates to "This is my life."
In other words, your curriculum vitae or CV is meant to draw a picture of your life for prospective
employers. A CV is more than just a listing of past employers: It is a resource that describes everything
you have done in life pertaining to your career.
The main difference in the content of a CV as opposed to a resume is that the CV is usually expected to
include more detail, and therefore be a little longer. In general, a CV is expected to be one or two pages
for a professional just entering the workforce, two to four pages for a professional with some experience,
and as many as seven pages for an experienced professional. No matter how experienced you are, however,
your CV should not exceed ten pages.
When is a CV Usually Required? You will probably have noticed that some job ads request a curriculum
vitae, while others simply ask for a resume. Usually, academic positions are the ones that require CVs. You
should expect to be asked to provide a CV anytime you are applying for a(n):
• Teaching position
• Professorship
• Science position
• Research position
• International job
• Fellowship
• Grant
What Should a CV Include? Your CV should always start with your personal information and end with your
references, if you have any. However, the order of the sections in between is entirely up to you. Remember,
your curriculum vitae is meant to represent your life as a whole, so it is probably best to list your
strongest sections before your weaker ones. For example, if you are a recent graduate or only have a few
years of experience yet, or if your academic record is quite impressive, you can list the education section
first.
In addition, every CV you send out should be tailored for the specific position you are applying for. This
means that you should only list experience that is related to the position. You can also change the order of
the sections in your resume, so that experience that is more closely related to the job is listed earlier in
your CV.
1. Personal Information. Like a resume, your CV should start with your name and contact information.
Also like a resume, you do not need a subject heading for this section. Some jobseekers and
employers feel that since a curriculum vitae is supposed to be a representation of your life as a
whole, this section should include personal details, such as your date and place of birth, your
marriage status, and the number of kids you have. However, others feel this is unprofessional, not
to mention damaging to your chances of getting the job. Whether you decide to put these personal
details in your CV is up to you, but you should definitely never do so if you feel it could prejudice
the employer against you.
2. Statement of Purpose. If you include a statement of purpose, also known as a personal mission
statement, in your CV, it should immediately follow your personal information. This section should
only be a sentence or two long, and should do two things: State where you are in your career, and
what you are looking for in your next job. (Note: Because you are tailoring your CV to the specific
job, your goals in your personal mission statement should match the position you are applying for.)
3. Summary of Qualifications. Just like in a resume, your summary of qualifications should provide
an employer with a bulleted list of your most important qualifications. This section should include a
handful of bullet points at most, but each one should quantify your achievements with numbers, as
this will make a bigger impression on a potential employer.
4. Education. Like a resume, a CV features an education section that lists your degrees in reverse
chronological order. Each listing should include the school, city and state where it is located, your
degree and focus of study, and the date you graduated. Most professionals in academic fields have
impressive educations, which is why this section often comes next in a curriculum vitae. However,
if you feel another section is stronger or more relevant to the position you are applying for, you
can rearrange your CV accordingly.
5. Awards. Although some resumes include sections for awards and honors, these sections are short
and may be lumped in with achievements. In the academic world, however, experienced
professionals often have a long list of awards to their name. For this reason, a CV can be laid out
with a separate awards section.
6. Grants. If you have applied for and received important grants, these can be considered "bragging
rights" as well. However, not all academic professionals have done so, making this section optional.
7. Employment History. Another section the resume and the CV have in common is the employment
section. As in a resume, your employment history should be listed in reverse chronological order.
8. Publications. Most jobseekers who use resumes would never have use for a publications section,
but many researchers, professors, and scientists have published their work in academic
publications. This section provides an opportunity to list all of the publishing credits you have
achieved.
9. Research. Many academic professionals have dedicated some part of their education and/or
career to research. The format of the curriculum vitae allows these professionals the option of
giving these efforts special attention.
10. Professional Memberships. Another notable difference between a CV and a resume is the need for
a "Professional Memberships" section. Most non-academic professionals do not belong to any
professional organizations. Academic professionals, on the other hand, often belong to several.
Because professional memberships are regarded highly in traditional academia, this section can be
used to include them in the curriculum vitae.
11. Volunteer Work. Having donated your work for the good of the community is an advantage and
should always be included on your CV. Volunteer work can also be used to demonstrate experience
and skills, even if you have not acquired them through paid work. In addition, you may want to
include any relevant experience you have gained while pursuing your hobbies or personal interests.
12. References. Just like in any other industry, ads for academic positions may ask for references.
This should always be the last section in your CV, and should include three to five professional
references. Your references should be able to speak knowledgably and positively about your work,
so if possible, you should choose colleagues who have known you for at least several years.
As you can see, one of the main benefits of a CV is its flexibility. If you have never written a curriculum
vitae before, you may find the many optional sections to be rather overwhelming. However, it is important
to remember that a CV is designed to allow you to represent yourself to your best advantage. Your CV
should always be written and organized in a way that you feel best reflects your unique personality and
your qualifications for the specific job.
How To Write a Cover Letter
Your cover letter is the first thing a prospective employer sees, so it’s crucial that it grab his or her
attention and never let go. There are two schools of thought on a cover letter’s opening remark: some
advocate opening with a rhetorical question or a funny remark as an attention grabber, while others find
that sort of thing unprofessional. It isn't a good tactic for most people, because it can come off wrong.
Only consider this approach if you’re applying for a very creative position. Otherwise, stick with the
obvious; describe what job you’re applying for and where you saw it advertised, if applicable. That way,
there’s no guessing game for the person reading your letter.
In the next couple of paragraphs, highlight the points that make you perfect for this job. That could be
your job history, your degrees or certifications, your skills, or a combination of those things. But if you’re
applying for a teaching position, for example, the cover letter isn’t the place to note that you’re a certified
welder—unless you’ll be teaching welding.
Your closing should make it clear that you are very interested in talking with the prospective employee
further about how you can help his or her company. One mistake many job seekers make is forgetting the
purpose of a cover letter and resume. It isn’t to secure the job; rather, its purpose is to secure an
interview. So be sure to ask for an interview!
1. Address it to a specific person. If possible, research who is reviewing the resumes and making
the hiring decision for the job you want. Sometimes that information will be in the ad, but if not,
don’t be afraid to do a little detective work. It’s often as easy as calling the company and simply
asking!
2. Don’t print off a one-size-fits-all cover letter. You must personalize your letter completely for
the company and the job you’re seeking.
3. Focus on them. It’s tempting to describe in your cover letter what you want out of the job or the
company—to advance your career, to enhance your skill set, or to secure a better title. But
companies want to know what you can do for them. Structure your letter so that it lists the
talents and experience that you bring to the table. There will be time later to talk about what
you’ll be getting out of the deal.
4. Let them know you’ve done your homework. Weave in at least one fact about the company
somewhere in your letter. For example: “Though Company X had an impressive $5 million in sales
during the last quarter, I believe my marketing skills could help Company X achieve even better
results in the next quarter.”
5. Limit your words. Very few cover letters should run more than one page. Prospective employers
are just like everybody else: they’re more likely to read a concise four-paragraph letter than a
daunting eight-paragraph letter.
6. Don’t rehash the contents of your resume. Assuming your cover letter is put together well, the
potential employer or hiring manager will get to your resume. At most, highlight the two or three
most impressive aspects of your resume to give the employer a taste of what’s to come.
7. Aesthetics are important. Print off your cover letter on high-quality paper in white or off-white
(make sure it matches your resume), and don’t staple or fold it.
8. Proof and proof again. Nothing turns off a potential employer or hiring manager like a cover
letter with spelling or grammatical errors. You might think you’re in the clear if you use your
computer’s spell check, but that doesn’t save you from mistakes such as confusing “affect” and
“effect,” for example. After you’ve proofed your letter twice, ask a grammar geek friend to look it
over too.
9. Don’t make them guess. At the bottom of your letter, include the number(s) where you can be
reached if they need more information—or if they want to (hopefully!) schedule an interview. You’ll
undoubtedly include your phone number on your resume, but you want to make it as easy as
possible for the company to reach you.
Job Fair - A Role-play Line-up
Time: 1 hour
Focus:
The purpose of this lesson is to give false beginners some practice at job interviews in English. This lesson
is intended more for adults or college students. Although, a real job interview will be much more complex,
this lesson should give students a look at the vocabulary that is necessary for doing a job interview in
English.
Preparation:
The teacher will need to print off and photocopy three MS word documents:
Benefits and Qualifications
Employers Activity Sheets
Job Seekers Activity Sheets
Note: The Employer Sheets and the Job Seeker Sheets are both seven pages long. There are seven
different employers and seven different job seekers. Also, you might want to consider editing the
information to suit your particular class.
Tell the students that you will be talking about job interviews today. Define the words benefit and
qualification on the board.
Make a chart with the headings benefits and qualifications on the board and ask the students to come up
with some examples. Write the examples under the appropriate headings.
Now hand out the worksheet titled Benefits and Qualifications. Go over it as a class. In groups decide what
the most important benefits and qualifications are. Ask a few students what benefits they want. Then ask
a few students what qualifications they have.
There are a lot of vocabulary items related to benefits and qualifications so you may have to do a lot of
defining for the students. For example, what is the difference between a wage and a salary?
Now, comes the real focus of the class: a role-play activity to practice doing job interviews in English.
Divide the class into two groups: companies seeking to hire employees and people seeking to find jobs.
The companies line up in row. And the job seekers go from company to company and ask about the jobs. The
job seekers are primarily interested in what benefits they can get. The companies are primarily interested
in the qualifications of potential employess.
Before you let the students go at it, you should probably model an example interview with one student. You
may also want to discuss the questions that each party will want to ask (though I've found it is not
necessary).
Both groups should fill out the table on their activity worksheet. And when they are done and if time
permits, you can ask the employers who they would like to hire and why.
Target Language:
Vocabulary Items:
Questions:
Where is it located?
Major:
Skills:
Good Points
Bad Points
Major:
Skills:
Good Points
Bad Points
Major:
Skills:
Good Points
Bad Points
Major:
Skills:
Good Points
Bad Points
Major:
Skills:
Good Points
Bad Points
Major:
Skills:
Good Points
Bad Points
Major:
Skills:
Good Points
Bad Points
Salary
Location
Benefits
Incentives
Promotions
Raises
Salary
Location
Benefits
Incentives
Promotions
Raises
Salary
Location
Benefits
Incentives
Promotions
Raises
Salary
Location
Benefits
Incentives
Promotions
Raises
Salary
Location
Benefits
Incentives
Promotions
Raises
Salary
Location
Benefits
Incentives
Promotions
Raises
Salary
Location
Benefits
Incentives
Promotions
Raises