Practice Listening Business English Exercises for B1 – Career choices

A

The host recommends that the caller avoid overused adjectives to describe himself, and instead show what’s special about himself by giving details of experience.

B

1 F   2 F   3 F   4 T   5 T   6 T   7 F   8 T

Audioscript

A:   Hello, caller …

B:   Hello?

A:   Yes, hi. Welcome to the show. What can I help you with today?

B:   Hi, Jenny. I’m a recent graduate – I have a good degree. The problem is, I’m ­finding it hard to get a job interview. I mean, forget getting a job … I can’t even get an interview.

A:   OK …

B:   I’m using social media – a professional-networking website – and I have a few contacts in the industry I want to work in …

A:   That sounds good so far … using these sites is a great idea.

B:   But honestly, I don’t think there’s anything on my pro­file that’s special. I mean – I use all the right words – I’m creative, I’m good at problem-solving, I’m hard-working …

A:   … but everyone says that.

B:   Exactly. Everyone says employers want those things, so everyone uses the same description of themselves! So my question is: How can I make myself stand out from the crowd on social media?

A:   That’s a great question, caller, and I’m here to help. So ­first, why not try deleting everything you’ve written about yourself?

B:   Delete everything?

A:   Yep. And after that, why don’t you take your description of yourself – creative, good at problem-solving and so on, and for each word, think of an example from your own experience that shows who you are?

B:   Er … OK, like …

A:   You said you’re creative. How about telling me about something creative that you’ve done?

B:   Sure, OK. Er … when I did my degree, I created a website for one of my projects. I designed it and took the photographs for it and everything.

A:   That’s great! So you really should put that on your social media pro­ le – you designed and built a website. What’s next? Did you say you’re good at problem solving?

B:   Yeah …

A:   So how can you show me that?

B:   Problem solving?

A:   Right.

B:   Well, this isn’t related to school or work, but I do a lot of hiking and camping. A few times, I’ve had serious issues with weather or broken equipment, and I’ve had to ­figure out what to do.

A:   OK, you could consider putting something about that on your pro­file. Explain your love of the outdoors and how you deal with the challenges in your hiking and camping.

B:   I’ve never thought of putting that on my pro­file …

A:   Well, you ought to think outside the box – and you need to show employers who you are instead of just saying who you are.

B:   Yeah, I understand – I get it. That’s really helpful. Thank you so much.

A:   No problem. Good luck with your new pro­file and with getting some job interviews!

B:   Thanks!

A

1   Yes, it was useful. The caller got four job interviews and two job offers.

2   He can’t decide which job offer to accept.

B

1 c   2 a   3 f   4 b   5 d   6 e

C

1 b   2 d   3 a   4 f   5 e   6 c

Audioscript

A:   Hello, caller …

B:   Hello?

A:   Yes, hi. Welcome to the show. What can I help you with today?

B:   Hi, Jenny. We spoke a few weeks ago …

A:   OK …

B:   And I just wanted to let you know … I still have a problem.

A:   Really? So can you remind me – what was your problem?

B:   My professional networking pro­ le – it wasn’t working.

A:   Oh, sure, OK, I remember. So … my advice wasn’t useful?

B:   Well, not exactly. I mean it was useful … Maybe a bit too useful.

A:   Ha, ha – OK, I see. So what’s the problem now?

B:   Too many choices! I followed your advice, and soon after, when I applied for six jobs, I got four interviews.

A:   Well, congratulations!

B:   And after four interviews, I got two job offers. And my problem now is that I can’t decide which job to take.

A:   OK, well, why don’t you tell me about the two jobs?

B:   Basically, one looks very interesting but not very well paid. The other, honestly, is probably a bit boring, but the money is good.

A:   And you’re a recent graduate, right?

B:   Yes, that’s right.

A:   And you’re single – no kids?

B:   Yep, that’s me.

A:   OK, I think you should follow your heart. Why not try asking yourself which is more important: money or excitement?

B:   That’s the problem, Jenny – I really can’t decide! University cost a lot of money, and I want to pay back my loans. That will take a lot longer with a low-paying job.

A:   Yes, I see what you mean. OK, well, let me ask you a few more questions. What …

1   research the companies that will be interested in you; prepare a brief, thirty-second introduction; update your CV; think of questions for the recruiters

2   dress professionally / look professional; network; introduce yourself; shake hands; make eye contact; speak clearly and confidently; show communication skills; show you are adaptable, resourceful, ambitious, passionate; don’t oversell yourself – be honest if you don’t know something; ask for contact details

3   email recruiters / company representatives and thank them for their time; do this within five days; send an updated CV if necessary

Audioscript

My ­first piece of advice is, be prepared. Find out which companies will be attending the careers event, choose ­five or six that might be interested in your pro­ le and research them online. Visit their careers pages and ­find out which ones are hiring or offering internship programmes.

Update your CV and make several copies. Then, prepare an ‘elevator pitch’, or brief introduction – let’s say 30 seconds – to talk about yourself: who you are, what you do and your past experiences. Be prepared to explain how your skills can be useful to their company. Also, think of questions to ask such as: What is the training programme for new recruits? What do you look for in a candidate?

On the day of the careers event, make sure you dress as you would for an interview – look professional. Choose your company, then network, don’t interview; your aim is not to get a job interview immediately – in fact this rarely happens. Instead, introduce yourself, shake hands and make good eye contact. First impressions are important, so speak clearly and con­fidently and demonstrate your ability to interact professionally. Recruiters are looking for people who are adaptable and resourceful, but also ambitious and passionate.

Be honest. If you don’t know something, say you don’t know, but show the recruiter you can learn and learn quickly. Most importantly, don’t forget to get the recruiter’s contact details so you can follow up afterwards.

After the event, email the recruiters or company reps you met and thank them for their time. Remind them of the conversation you had and repeat your interest in their company. Send an updated CV if necessary. Ideally, you should do this within ­five days after the event.

A

Jamie

B

1   Ella brought copies of her CV.

2   degree in marketing, enjoys travelling

3   The recruiter invited her to contact him with questions if necessary.

4   developed a marketing plan to promote UK tourism in Spain; presented the plan; speaks Italian

5   brought business cards, researched the company and the posts available, prepared questions for the recruiter

6   The recruiter will put him in touch with the person in charge of marketing projects.

7   Ella could have researched the company in more detail, thought about what department she would like to work in, prepared some questions for the recruiter. Jamie could have brought more copies of his CV, practised his introduction – he speaks a little too fast.

Audioscript

1

E = Ella   R = Recruiter

E:   Hi, I’m Ella, I’d like to ask you a few questions, if possible.

R:   Yes, of course. How can I help you today?

E:   I heard you were taking on new recruits. Can I give you my CV?

R:   Yes, of course. Which department are you interested in, Ella?

E:   Oh, anything in marketing, I don’t really mind. I’ve just always wanted to work in the tourism industry. I have a degree in marketing and I enjoy travelling.

R:   Well, OK, that’s a good start.

E:   Can I take a brochure? I’d like to learn more about what you do.

R:   Sure. Here you are. And here’s my card. If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.

E:   That’s great. Thanks for your help. Sorry, what was your name?

R:   Ben Richardson. I’m the Assistant Recruitment Manager.

2

R = Recruiter   J = Jamie

R:   Good morning. How are you enjoying the fair?

J:   I’ve only just arrived to be honest, but there are a lot of very interesting companies present though. Sorry, could I just ask you a few questions about Travelogue?

R:   Yes, of course. Have a seat. What’s your name? I’m Ben Richardson and I’m the Assistant Recruitment Manager.

J:   My name’s Jamie, Jamie Mitchell .

R:   Good to meet you, Jamie. So, what can I do for you?

J:   I’ve just graduated from the University of Manchester with a marketing degree, specialising in tourism. I know you’re busy, but I’d like to talk to you about my skills. I think they might be useful to your company.

R:   Congratulations on getting your degree.

J:   Thank you. I understand you’re looking for Junior Marketing Associates.

R:   We are, Jamie, that’s right. What kind of practical experience do you have?

J:   Well, I did my internship with a team that developed a marketing plan to promote UK tourism for a small village in Spain.

R:   That sounds interesting. Can you tell me more about that?

J:   It was for a small village in the south of the country. As I said, we created this marketing plan and then presented it to the local tourist board and it was adopted.

R:   I see, wonderful. It sounds impressive. As you probably know we do a lot of work in Italy.

J:   Oh, really? I speak a little Italian.

R:   OK, that might be useful. Do you have a CV?

J:   Sorry, I just gave away my last one, but I’ve got a business card. There’s a link on there to the village website that I helped create.

R:   Thank you very much. And here’s my card.

J:   I’d like to know more about the work you do in Italy. Can you put me in touch with the person in charge of your marketing projects? I’d like to ask them some questions if possible.

R:   If you send me an email, I’ll do that.

J:   Can I take a brochure?

R:   Here you are. It’s been nice talking to you. Enjoy the rest of the event.

J:   Thank you for your time, Ben. I really appreciate it.

A

1 b, c   2 a, d   3 e, f

B

Possible answers

Agata’s study of economics would be useful in the insurance business. Her interest in sports shows that she’s a team player. She has medical experience through her volunteer job in the hospital.

Taro’s writing experience would be useful in the job.

Maria’s medical experience and experience managing a clinic both would be useful in the insurance job.

Audioscript

JN = JobNow representative   M = Maria   A = Agata   T = Taro

1   Maria

JN:  Tell me a bit about yourself, Maria.

M:   I’m forty-two years old, and I’ve been a doctor for about ­fifteen years, managing my own clinic. I feel very tired – exhausted – all the time. I think I want a completely new career. I’m considering going back to university for another degree, but I don’t like the idea of being the oldest person on the course.

2   Agata

JN:  Hi, Agata. Could you give me a little background information about yourself?

A:   I’m twenty-two and in my ­final year of studying economics at university. I’d like to ­find a job in the ­finance sector, but I’ve never had any kind of paid job. I play football and volunteer at a hospital, but those are not related to ­ nance.

3   Taro

JN:  Thanks for coming in, Taro. Could you give me a quick summary of what you’re hoping for?

T:   I’m thirty-two. I’ve worked for ten years writing travel magazine articles as a freelance writer. I’ve seen the world, but I haven’t made very much money. I want to continue writing, but in a secure job in a company.

1 a   2 b   3 b   4 c   5 a

Audioscript

1   I lived in Cairo.

      a   When were you there?

      b   Do you know Cairo?

      c   How long have you been living there?

2   I spent three years in London.

      a   How long were you there?

      b   What did you like best about it?

      c   Did you spend much time there?

3   I worked in Madrid a few years ago.

      a   When were you there?

      b   How long were you there?

      c   Do you know Madrid?

4   I really liked the nightlife in Madrid.

      a   What did you like best in Madrid?

      b   Do you know Madrid?

      c   Where did you go out?

5   I was in South America last week.

      a   What did you do there?

      b   Where exactly did you live?

      c   When did you live there?

1 a   2 c   3 b   4 b   5 c   6 b   7 a   8 b

Audioscript

1   What does Gordon think he’s good at?

A:   Do you think you have good communication skills?

B:   I don’t know. I like people and I’ve got lots of friends. They seem to like me.

A:   What about in a work environment? Are you a team player?

B:   Definitely. I love playing team sports such as football and basketball. And it’s great to work together to achieve goals in any kind of job as well.

A:   What about dealing with problems?

B:   Mmm, er, I sometimes have difficulty knowing what to do when there’s a problem. It’s not my best skill.

2   Which job is the company advertising?

We’re a large engineering company and we employ more than a thousand engineers. Because we’re so large, we’ve got our own company doctor and nurses. There’s also a team of chefs and other kitchen staff who run the company restaurant. We’re looking for another doctor at the moment and will soon be advertising for two new chefs.

3   What did John forget to put on his CV?

A:   How was the interview, John?

B:   They went through my CV and asked me about my IT skills and experience working in a team.

A:   Did they ask you about the internship with that German company? That was perfect experience for the job.

B:   They didn’t ask, which I thought was strange. Then, later, I discovered I hadn’t put it on my CV. They did ask me about my problem-solving skills and seemed happy with those.

A:   So you got the job?

B:   Maybe, I’m not sure.

4   Where did the man find the documents?

I lost some documents this morning. I took them out of my briefcase and went to make copies for a meeting. Lisa and I chatted while I photocopied the documents, then she threw some papers into the bin. When I got to the meeting some pages were missing. I went back and found them in the bin, not the photocopier. I don’t know how they got there.

5   How did the woman find out about the job?

A:   How did you hear about the job?

B:   A colleague told me to look at job sites online, but I wanted something local so I searched local newspapers and magazines.

A:   And you saw the advert?

B:   Not exactly. I also saw an ad for a researcher on the online library noticeboard in my local library. I telephoned, got an interview and now I work for the local newspaper.

A:   That’s great!

6   How much will they pay for each office chair?

A:   Mike, we need some new office chairs. Here’s the catalogue.

B:   How many do we need?

A:   Fifteen. This one looks good.

B:   How much is it?

A:   150 euros, but if we buy more than ten, then it’s only 130 euros each.

B:   Is there anything cheaper?

A:   This one’s only 100 euros but it’s not very good quality.

B:   Okay then, we’ll order fifteen of the first one.

7   Why didn’t Suzanna get the job?

I think the best candidate’s José. He’s got most of the skills we need and he seemed really passionate about working for us. I know he doesn’t have as much experience as Suzanna, but she didn’t seem very excited about working here. It’s a shame because she’s got all the necessary skills. But without the passion, I think she’ll get bored quickly.

8   Why didn’t the man accept the job offer?

A:   Why didn’t you take the job? I thought it was what you wanted.

B:   Me too. The money was really good and the there was an opportunity to move up the career ladder.

A:   So, what was the problem?

B:   When we talked about the job it sounded so boring. I couldn’t sit in an office all day looking at a computer screen.

A:   You ought to think about this carefully. It matches your skills perfectly.

1 a   2 b   3 a   4 c   5 b   6 c   7 a

Audioscript

Listen to a young man asking Maria Staten, an expert in graduate recruitment, for some advice.

A:   Hi, thanks for seeing me today. I’d like some advice about getting a job. I’ve applied to over fifty companies. I only got five replies, and only two of those offered me an interview. The other three said I didn’t have enough experience.

B:   What kind of jobs have you applied for? Assistant manager? Trainee manager?

A:   Oh no, vacancies for managers. I mean with my degree in Business management I should apply for management positions, shouldn’t I?

B:   Well, it’s not as easy as that. If a company’s looking for a manager, then they want someone with management experience.

A:   Mmm, I guess you’re right. But how do I get experience?

B:   Did you have a part-time job while you were studying?

A:   Yes, I worked in a restaurant.

B:   What job did you do there?

A:   First I washed the dishes and then I was a waiter. I really wanted to be the bar manager but the restaurant owner, who was also the chef, didn’t like me very much.

B:   Did any of the tasks use management skills? You just need to know how to explain how these skills can be transferred to other jobs. Another way of getting more experience and skills is to do volunteer work while you’re job-hunting. Employers like to see this on your CV to show how you’re able to use your skills.

A:   But I won’t earn any money while I do that.

B:   That’s true, but it’s a good use of your time. You should never stop learning. It’s important to find ways of developing the skills you’ve already got and learning new ones. Employers like to see that their new recruits are willing to learn new things.

A:   I see.

B:   The next thing to remember is to only apply for jobs which you really feel you could do. Look for entry-level jobs, which don’t require as much experience. Think about what makes you the ideal person for the job that’s advertised. Then, when a potential employer interviews you, you’ll be able to explain why you feel you are the right person for their company.

A:   Right.

B:   And finally, a CV doesn’t need to have lots of personal information – just enough to make it relevant to the job. It should match the job requirements as closely as possible. Your CV is also the first impression a company usually has of you, so it definitely shouldn’t have any mistakes. There are a few on yours. Let’s look at it in more detail.