RECRUITMENT

Job Ads

 Key vocabulary:
When a company needs to recruit or employ (= hire) new people, it may decide to
advertise the opening or vacancy (= vacant job) in the appointments (= job offers)
section of a newspaper or website. People who are interested can then apply for the
position (= job), by sending in a letter of application or cover(ing) letter (US) and a
Curriculum Vitae (US résumé), containing details of their education and work
experience. In some cases, a company may prefer to do this initial selection after
asking candidates to fill in / out (= complete) a standard application form. The
company’s Human Resources (or Personnel) Department will then select the most
suitable applications and prepare a shortlist (= final selection) of candidates or
applicants, who are invited to attend an interview.
Another way for a company to employ or hire is by using the services of a
recruitment / employment agency (US search firm) or headhunters (= executive
search firms), who will provide them with a list of suitable candidates from their
databases.

1 The two most important aspects to notice when reading and interpreting a job
advert(isement) are the job requirements (which the successful applicant is expected to
meet) and the benefits (i.e what the job offers). Read through the job advertisements
below and write in the chart the words and expressions used to describe the two
categories of information:

Requirements Benefits
educated to degree level … competitive salary …………

1
1 2
We are a leading firm of Chartered
Accountants (CPAs) and presently seeking a SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Electronic and optical equipment

The successful candidate will be educated to Are you a qualified engineer with several years’
degree level and have a minimum of 3 years’ experience of computer-assisted technology and
experience in a similar position. design? Your proven managerial skills and
Responsibilities will include: commitment to quality will enable this expanding
 developing personnel policies and company to reach its full potential.
procedures; Excellent salary plus sales-related bonus and
 advising on aspects of employment law; company car.
 coordinating training programmes;
 recruitment and selection. Please send full CV to:
In return, we offer competitive salary and John Hart
hartj@thorpe.org.uk
generous benefits, including a non-
contributory pension, 25 days’ paid holiday,
private health insurance and relocation
assistance where appropriate.
Apply with CV and covering letter to:
Ms. Sally Fraser, Director of Human Resources
sarahfraser@thorntonbooks.org.uk

3 4 5
OPERATIONS OFFICER MEDICAL DESK CUSTOMER
EDITOR SERVICES
International children’s charity with ASSISTANT
headquarters in New York and offices Science graduate (BSc)
throughout the world has an opening for required to work on a Are you highly efficient,
an operations officer to fill a position in medical journal. with good communication
Mali. The successful applicant will be Editorial experience and interpersonal skills?
responsible for all aspects of the desirable, but not We are a leading
management of this subsidiary. mandatory, as full hardware manufacturer
He / she should possess an advanced training provided. and are looking for
university degree in business Excellent prospects. someone with good
administration or a related qualification Subsidised staff administrative and
and should have at least 5 years’ canteen. secretarial abilities to join
experience in office management at our very busy Customer
international level. Fluency in English and Apply to: Services Department.
French is essential. Willingness to travel Jonathan Shepherd, Salary dependent on age
and live and work under difficult Editorial Director and experience.
conditions. jonshepherd@yahoo.com
Apply to:
Benefits include a competitive Brenda Howarth
international salary and overseas brendahowarth@gmail.com
allowances.

Please write with your CV and stating current

salary to: careers@theguardian.uk

2
2 Match the five job ads above with the following extracts from application letters, which
people have sent in response to these ads. Match each letter fragment (a-e) with the
corresponding advert (1-5):

a
The management experience that I acquired during my six years with the
Council for Economic Affairs has equipped me to deal with the various
demands of an international organization. During my time with the
Council, I was in charge of the finance, accounts and administration of
our Asian operations.

b
During my time at Manchester, I worked on a number of university magazines and this has made me
keen to pursue a career in publishing.

c
I have good office and word-processing skills, which I would like to put to use in a more interesting
and challenging environment. I enjoy working in a team and dealing with the public as well.

d
My current position involves me in all aspects of personnel, with particular
emphasis on interviewing, induction and organizing training courses.

e
As you will see from the attached CV, I am presently responsible for managing a
sophisticated manufacturing site, with a staff of thirty.

3 Group Discussion (Expressing your opinions)

Discuss the following statements. Which ones do you agree or disagree with? Present
your views to the class.

 “Married men with children and financial obligations make the best job candidates.”
 “Married women with children make the best job candidates.”
 “Women are less reliable than men and may cause problems in managerial positions.”
 “Candidates who have frequently changed jobs are always valuable from an
employer’s point of view, because of their extensive professional experience.”
 “A good salary is the best way to get people interested in their jobs.”
 “Tarot card readings and astrologers’ reports (e.g. horoscopes) can play a useful role
in the recruitment process.”

3
Vocabulary (Job advertisements)
Complete the advert below (for the Swiss company Swatch) with words from the box:

competitive ______________ plus _________________

degree __________________ resources _____________
experienced ______________ responsibility ____ d ____
manager _________________ successful _____________
market __________________

swatch
Become an important part of our winning team! We are
presently seeking __ a __ sales professionals who are:
 Dedicated  Dynamic
 Professional  Energetic

MARKETING ___ b ____

_____ c _____ candidates will develop and execute overall

marketing strategy, work with key accounts and take hands-on
____ d ____ for small profit centre. Qualified candidates must
have 5+ years’ sales / marketing experience dealing with this
kind of ____ e ___.
BA ___ f ___ in marketing and familiarity with children’s
market is a ___ g ___.
We offer ____ h _____ compensation and a comprehensive
benefits package.

For consideration, please send confidential résumé (with sales

history) to: Ms. Clarke, Human ____ i ____

SMH (US) Inc.

35 East 21st St., New York, N.Y. 10010

An equal opportunity employer

 Which expression in the advertisement above means that the company employs
people regardless of (= irrespective of), gender (sex), race, nationality or religion?