UNIT 10
Enriching Vocabulary in
Talking about Jobs and Companies
General Objective : To review some functions in talking about jobs and companies
Specific Objectives : To use vocabulary related to jobs and a company profile
To use simple past tense in talking about past events
To use present continuous tense in talking about current projects
To use simple present tense in talking about leisure time activities
Grammar Points : Present, Past and Perfect Tense
When we talk about or describe a job, we need to use certain vocabularies that can
precisely explain what some does and what responsibilities someone has in a particular
job.
❖ Responsibilities ❖ Qualifications for the job
A : So, what exactly do you do in the A : I hear you studied in Finland.
company? B : That’s right. I did a degree in
B : I’m responsible for new product Engineering at Tampere Technical
development. I report directly to the University and then I worked in a
CEO. small software company in Helsinki.
A : What does that involve? A : Why did you decide to stay in
B : I supervise a team of designers. We Finland?
all have to think of ideas, test them B : I was very interested in the job. I
and develop the ones that we think wanted to put my training into
will succeed. practice. The experience was very
A : It sounds challenging. good and certainly helped me to get
B : It is and I really enjoy it. this job.
A typical day
A : What time do you start in the mornings?
B : I am to get to work by 8 a.m. that means leaving home at 7:30. I usually cycle to
work.
A : Are the hours flexible?
B : In theory, yes, but I normally finish at 4 p.m. I sometimes finish earlier if I take a
very short lunch break.
A : Do you go out for lunch?
B : Occasionally, but I like eating in the company canteen. It’s more efficient.
Discussing a new appointment
A : What kind of person are we looking for?
B : I think someone who is already working as a Project Manager in a software house.
He or she should have at least three years experience.
A : What kind of skills are needed?
B : Excellent communication skills are essential. The person we appoint will have
a lot of direct contact with clients – we need someone who can present the company
clearly.
A : Absolutely. So where can we find this person?
B : I think we should advertise with an on-line recruitment agency but we may
have to use a respectable firm.
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Working condition
A : Are you pleased you moved to the Bangkok office?
B : Yes I am. The atmosphere is very relaxed and I have a good group of colleagues.
There’s a great mix of nationalities and we often go out for dinner or for a drink
after work. Everyone is on first name terms.
A : Don’t you find it very hot there?
B : Bangkok is hot, yes, but the offices are very comfortable. All the buildings and
cars are air-conditioned. I have no regrets about moving.
Financial rewards
A : What kind of salary do you think we should offer for the new sales manager’s job
in Singapore?
B : It’s difficult to say. We would normally pay $50 000 a year plus commission for
a job with these responsibilities, but I don’t know about the cost of living in
Singapore and I have no idea about the level of local salaries.
A : Neither have I. I’ll talk to Mr. Chen about it. He’s originally from Singapore –
I think he’s working in our Delhi office at the moment.
Job benefits
A : How’s your new job?
B : I’m very happy with it. The salary is reasonable – not quite as good as in my previous
job but the company really looks after its people.
A : What do you mean?
B : Well, I have free use of the company’s gym and health club, they pay for all my
phone calls and I get excellent medical insurance. Sickness pay and holidays are
very good and the promotion prospects are excellent.
A : You are lucky.
B : Yes, I am – they even give us a season ticket for the local football team!
Retirement and redundancy
A : How has the takeover affected the company?
B : Well, the new owners are going to close down a plant in Manila and another in
Dubai. About 300 people are going to lose their jobs.
A : That’s terrible.
B : Actually it’s not quite as bad as it seems. Most of the staff will be offered jobs
in other plants and quite a few want to take early retirement.
A : So there are no compulsory redundancies?
B : Very few.
A : That’s good news.
• Notice the use of different tense in the text below.
When do you use the Present Perfect Tense and the Simple Past Tense?
I think I have had an interesting career. I studied at Oxford University from 1997 to
2000. Then I applied for jobs abroad. I worked in Hong Kong for a year and then I
went to Japan in 2001. I have done a number of different jobs. I sold computer
software in Hong Kong. I taught English in Japan. I wrote a book, and so far I have
run my own business.
Compare : I have had an interesting career.
I had an interesting career.
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• Notice the use Simple Present Tense to describe leisure activities:
A : What do you do at the weekend?
B : I’m keen on sport. I really like karate, and love playing football. But I’m not
really interested in watching sport on TV. I don’t enjoy professional football
matches.
• Compare the passages below
What tenses are used?
Text 1 Text 2 Text 3
The Inditex Group owns six Lisa Roseleaf worked in The number of Pret a manger
fashion chains including Zara. public relations in New York. (PaM) shops is increasing not
It has around 1,500 stores A year ago, she was laid off only in London but also in
worldwide. It operates in 44 from her job. She thought that other parts of the UK. At
countries. Inditex employs she would find a new job present PaM is expanding its
27,000 people and has more quickly but she had the same overseas business, particularly
than 200 fashion designers. problem with her two friends. in China. Currently it is
Currently the fashion They were also unemployed. translating its advertising
designers are working on next material into Chinese. PaM is
year’s designs. The Inditex exporting its winning formula
Group is doing very well at to Hong Kong and Japan. PaM
the moment and it is trying to is planning to open new shops
become a global fashion in New York.
leader. Amancio Ortega,
founder of Inditex, also
invests in property and hotels.
Most of this year’s investment
is staying in Spain
Note :
Pret creates handmade natural food avoiding the obscure chemicals, additives and
preservatives common to so much of the 'prepared' and 'fast' food on the market
today. The name comes from the French –pret a manger meaning “ready to eat”
Pret a manger shop
Products of Pret a manger Sandwich of Pret a manger
shop shop
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