UNIT 2:
2.1
-What does a successful job application usually lead to? An interview
-What does “probationary period” mean?
A trial period before becoming a permanent employee
-What is a covering letter? A letter explaining why you are applying for a job
-What is a psychometric test used for? Measuring personality and mental ability
-What is a “curriculum vitae” (CV)? A summary of a person’s education and work experience
-What is another name for a CV in American English? Resume
-What is the main goal of a covering letter? To highlight why you are suitable for the job
-What is typically discussed during a job interview? The applicant’s skills and qualifications
-Which document is often required alongside a CV? A covering letter
-Who decides the length of a probationary period? The employer
2.2
Read the passage and answer the following questions: What does the text say about
women in leadership roles in the NISSAN?
'Since 2004, Nissan’s ‘Women in the Driver's Seat’ initiative has more than doubled
recruitment of female engineering graduates to 17 per cent this year and recruitment of
female salespeople has jumped from 15 per cent to 34 per cent. The number of women
managers at Nissan, while still tiny, has risen from 2 per cent to 5 per cent. ‘In an ideal
situation, we should mirror the market we serve — 50 per cent — but there is a long way to
go,’ says Miyuki Takahashi, General Manager of the Diversity Development Office that runs
the initiative to woo female employees and customers.
At a conference organised by Catalyst, which researches and campaigns for the
advancement of women in business, Nissan was one of this year’s two award winners, not
least for having hit its initial target of women making up 5 per cent of its managers in an
industry in which the average is just 0.6 per cent'.
Women managers account for only 0.6%
-What does “negotiable salary” mean? Can be discussed and adjusted
-What is an application form used for? Providing personal and professional details to apply
for a job
-What is the purpose of a recommendation letter? To support an applicant’s skills and
character
-What is the purpose of an interview? To evaluate if the candidate is a good fit for the role
-What is typically discussed during a job negotiation? Salary and benefits
-What kind of skill is "demonstrating good judgment"? Soft skill
-What percentage of the workforce in the service sector are women in Vietnam?
'When Nguyen Thu Hang was a child, her mother was a housewife in a small village whose
women residents had no say in decision-making, either at home or in the community. Now a
mother herself, Hang not only shares her husband's burden of earning money for the family
and bringing up children, but also has a career and social ambitions.
‘Women are much happier than before. They have a good education and careers of their
own,’ says the 39-year-old who lives and works in Hanoi. ‘ And, of course, they are more
respected in the family and society. Hang, who carries a sleek laptop in her hand, gets out of
an elegant black Mercedes and enters a building where she works as the General Director of
Viet Hoang Trade and Investment Company, which specialises in construction and real
estate. Like Hang, many other Vietnamese women also pursue careers these days and have
stormed the corporate boardroom to affirm their increasingly important roles. Whether in
remote farms or in companies, they have become much more self-confident and are
discovering their worth and fulfilling their potential.
Women account for nearly 52 percent of the workforce in the service sector, 50 percent in
the agricultural and fisheries sector, and 37 percent in industry and construction. Almost a
quarter of all companies are run by women, many of whom are also the driving forces
behind them. As for their status in the family, Hang says that women’s position has improved
remarkably. ‘We jointly decide important issues in our life, such as work or education for our
children. My husband always respects my opinions.’
52%
-What qualification is typically required for most professional roles?
Bachelor’s degree
Read the passage and answer the following questions: Why are mothers more attracted to
family-focused advertisements for cars?
'Nissan says that getting more women engineers into the company, in which 80 per cent of
employees are engineers, is important to its success. ‘Males are attracted by big pictures of
cars and specifications about performance,’ says Ms Takahashi, who was previously
Marketing Director in Japan. ‘We found most mothers were attracted by pictures of a family
having a great time with the car.’
To prioritise female customers, three years ago Nissan launched the Serena people carrier,
which was designed by and for women. Last year, it won the top-selling spot in Japan. Ms
Takahashi says, ‘I am convinced that this hit is closely related to women’s advancement in
Nissan in terms of marketing and sales.’
They show families having a great time
