Practice Listening Business English Exercises for A2 – Employment

1

Possible answers

Speaker 1 only saw the advertisement at the last minute. Because she was the last person to apply, she was the first candidate that they looked at.

After a bad interview in one company, Speaker 2 went for a drink and met an ex-teacher who needed technicians for his own company.

2

1 advertisement   2 application   3 qualified

4 shortlisted   5 interviewed   6 skilled

7 experienced   8 recruitment

Audioscript

1

I was lucky. I only saw the advertisement for my job at the last minute. It was on the company’s website, and the deadline was at midnight the same day. I only had about four hours to prepare my application. I sent it at about two minutes before midnight. I really wanted the job, but I wasn’t really qualified for it, because I didn’t have a Masters degree.  So I didn’t think I would be shortlisted, but I was. Why? Well, I was the last person to send my CV, so I was the first candidate on their list the next morning, and the first one they looked at. It’s always useful to be at the top of the pile.

2

It all started with a job interview in another company. I could see that the person who interviewed me didn’t like me. He wasn’t interested in my answers. The company wanted a highly-skilled technician, preferably with three years working in the industry. I had the qualifications, but I wasn’t at all experienced as this was my first real job. Anyway, I decided to go for a drink after my interview, and there I met one of my old teachers from technical school. He had a new job working for a company installing wind turbines. He was responsible for the recruitment of service technicians. I think you can imagine the rest. That was so lucky!

1

Possible answer

She has work experience with three small organizations that have operations in Africa. She has worked in Tanzania on the construction of a new school.

2

1 did you start   2 left   3 Have you ever worked

4 ’ve never had   5 Have you been   6 ’ve spent

7 did you do

Audioscript

Interviewer   So when did you start working in this field?

Naomi   Well, I left university in 2009 and I got my first job immediately after that.

Interviewer   And have you ever worked for a big organization?

Naomi   No, I’ve never had the chance. But I’ve worked for three smaller ones, all with operations in Africa.

Interviewer   I see. And have you been to Africa?

Naomi   Yes, I have. I’ve spent some time in Tanzania.

Interviewer   Oh really? What did you do there?

Naomi   I was there to help with the construction of a new school.

1

2   How long did you stay there?

3   What other projects have you worked on?

4   Have you ever managed a team?

5   Why did you decide to work in this field?

2

Possible answers

1   last year in March

2   four months

3   construction projects, and organization of training programmes

4   not yet

5   My mother lived in Africa when she was a child.

Audioscript

Interviewer   So when did you go to Tanzania?

Naomi   Last year, in March. They asked me to go there for the start of construction.

Interviewer   And how long did you stay there?

Naomi   For four months. I came back in July, when the school was ready.

Interviewer   So it went well.

Naomi   Yes, we finished two months early. And we saved $10,000 on construction costs.

Interviewer   That’s great. So what other projects have you worked on?

Naomi   I’ve done a lot of construction projects, but I’ve also helped to set up training programmes, giving local people the skills they need to manage their lives: farming, for example, or construction work.

Interviewer   And have you ever managed a team?

Naomi   No, not yet, but I’ve had very good bosses and I’ve learnt a lot about managing people. I know I’m ready to do this job.

Interviewer   Yes, I’m sure you are. Tell me – why did you decide to work in this field?

Naomi   My mother lived in Africa when she was a child. She’s often talked to me about her life there. I wanted to discover it for myself.

1

Possible answers

1   need somebody with more experience or with special skills, nobody interested or right for post inside company, want younger people to join company (who are maybe cheaper!)

2   encourage good employees to stay with company, not necessary for other employees to get to know new manager, no additional recruitment costs

2

Possible solutions: recruit somebody from outside for the Japanese customer, but offer Project Manager training courses to younger engineers to keep them happy. Alternatively, use a more senior in-house project manager (if there is one) for the Japanese customer and promote a young engineer to do the work of the senior project manager.

3

1 d   2 i   3 g   4 f   5 h   6 b   7 a   8 c   9 e

Audioscript

A   So here are the two options. We can either promote one of our existing engineers or advertise for a new project manager outside. I know we have some good candidates inside the company but I’d like to hear your views.

B   I prefer to recruit internally. We have a lot of young engineers who want to progress in the company. I like the idea that we send them a positive message. They will see that there is a future for them here.

C   Well, I understand that we have to give opportunities to younger employees. But are there really any good candidates? I’m not sure that our engineers have enough experience. Most of them joined the company just two or three years ago. I’d go for somebody with more experience from outside.

B   Well, I think that would be a mistake. We don’t want good engineers to leave to work for our competitors. And another disadvantage is that we don’t have time to recruit outside the company. We need a project manager next month. That’s not long to find the right person.

A   Yes, and one other issue is the cost of finding someone. And then we will have to pay them a lot more. If we promote someone, a key advantage is that we save money … and of course we show our junior engineers that they are important for the company.

C   OK, but we need this project manager for our biggest Japanese customer. I really think internal promotion is too risky. The Japanese prefer to work with more experienced project managers. No, we need somebody with more experience of managing big customers.

A   Well, it’s true that experience is an issue here. But then the internal option is attractive because it’s quicker and cheaper. Let me think about this and we’ll talk about it again tomorrow.