Basic skills for life

Job skills
Our flagship range of photocopiable teaching materials equips students with the
skills they need for a successful job search. Packed full of essential and practical W H AT T E AC H E R S S AY
information Job skills engages learners using real-life topics, clear layout and
straightforward language – the average reading age is 8.8 years. Most activities are at “We use Job skills with Year 10/11 pupils
Entry Level 3. of lower ability for a Preparation
for Working Life course. These titles
practically cover the entire syllabus.
WHY JOB SKILLS? Our pupils like the clear layout and
the structured tasks. For teachers,
The series provides you with comprehensive, versatile resource to tackle every they are good to use and very
aspect of job hunting. Use it as the basis of an employability/work-readiness course accessible.”
or dip in and out according to student need/interest. The free Job skills website
ensures that Speaking and Listening skills are realistic and offers an easy way to Lousie Winn
integrate ICT in your lessons. Activities help you build and apply Functional Skills Thomas Bennett Community College
and include matching, classification, sequencing, comprehension, basic numeracy, Crawley
crosswords, proofreading, quizzes and more.

Three titles cover all aspects of the job search process: “The material is relevant, informative
and interesting because it tackles
Job hunting Shows students all the ways in which they can look for basic skills through real-life situations.
work. I believe that anyone can learn from
it.”
Job applications Helps learners apply for jobs in person, by telephone,
online and by post. Pete Fricker
Guidance Services Manager
Job interviews Arms your students with the full range of skills needed to Shropshire Connexions Service
prepare for all aspects of a job interview.

W H AT D O I G E T ?
™ An average of 68 photocopiable
worksheets per book to boost life
skills as well as day-to-day literacy
and numeracy.
™ Clearly set out worksheets in a
step-by-step format.
™ Resources that offer you evidence
for qualifications in personal
development and employability
skills.
™ A vast range of realistic activities
that maintain student motivation.
WHO IS IT FOR?
™ Foundation learning
™ Adult literacy students
™ Students doing employability and
life skills qualifications
™ Functional Skills students from
Entry Level 3 to Level 2
™ Students with SEN including SpLD,
MLD, EBD, ADHD and ASD.
D I G I TA L R E S O U RC E S
™ For an additional £5 per title get
electronic versions of Job skills on
CDROM.
™ Use on interactive whiteboards.
™ Copy to a network or VLE.
™ Print and copy for students to
make planning and preparation
easy.

T RY I T N O W H O W TO O R D E R
Use the attached worksheets to see how the 3 Job skills Job skills titles are only £49.95 per title. To order call
titles will motivate your students. 0800 389 7129 or buy online at: www.axiseducation.co.uk.

Read every page of every book and download

more FREE resources at: www.axiseducation.co.uk.
 Maximise your social life!
Maximise you social life! This doesn’t mean going partying every night! Making the most of the
people you know socially can really help when you’re looking for work. When you meet with
friends, try to ask about any jobs that may be coming up with their employer.

This passage gives you some ideas about how you can make the most of your social
contacts. It contains five spelling mistakes and five grammar mistakes. Proofread the
passage, highlight the errors then write your corrections in the box.

Your frends and family are a good source of information about jobs. When you see
them, make sure that they all knew you’re looking for work and the sort of work that
you wants. Word of mowth is one of the best way to find out about jobs. Your contacts
might hear about vacancies not yet filled or even ones that haven’t been advertised yet.
If you can get an interview before a job is advertised, your chance of getting the job
will probably be quite high.

Not everyone will be able to help you, but they can tells you about what it’s like to work
for there employer. This should help you focus your ideas and job serch tactics. Don’t
forget that all your contacts know lots of other people who they may be able to put you
in touch with. The moor people you meet, the better your chance of find a job to suit
you. It is a good idea to ask your contacts to do a specific task - such as pass on your
CV to the personnel section.
BASIC SKILLS FOR LIFE > JOB SKILLS > JOB HUNTING

Mistake Correction

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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 Continue on a separate sheet
Many application forms have a section where you are asked to write extra information in support
of your application. Never leave this section blank. There are lots of reasons why the employer
should consider you for the job. This is the place to convince the employer that you deserve an
interview. This section often asks you to write about particular knowledge, training, experience etc.
you may have that you would like to be taken into consideration. This section usually ends with a
statement such as ‘Continue on a separate sheet if necessary’.
Do you know what information you should include and what is not appropriate? The key is to get to
the point and say all the things you want to say in a direct and convincing manner. Sunita is
applying for the job of admin. assistant in the pharmacy department of a hospital.

1. Read the information she has written and use a highlighter pen to mark all the
unnecessary information.
2. Now use a different coloured pen to highlight all the sentences that you think
could be written more convincingly.
3. Choose two of the sentences you have highlighted for 2. above, and re-write
them on a separate piece of paper.

Further information. Give as much information as necessary to demonstrate the

skills, experience and knowledge you have that are relevant for this position.
Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

I got my secretarial and administrative qualifications at college. I have been

working in clerical and admin. roles since I started work in 1996 and so have
BASIC SKILLS FOR LIFE > JOB SKILLS > JOB APPLICATIONS

a lot of relevant experience. I have never worked for a health authority or

hospital, but my favourite television programme is Casualty and I would really
like to work in an exciting place like a hospital. I have experience of doing
voluntary work in hospital – I am a voluntary DJ at Hartshorne Hospital every
Sunday afternoon.

The best bit about being a DJ in hospital is that you can play your favourite
songs and make dedications for sick people – I think it means a lot to them. I
like helping people and I work well under pressure. I am used to working to
tight deadlines.

Organisational skills are a strong point and I have created procedures and
systems in my current job that help the whole office run smoothly. I am keen
to work in an environment like a hospital where my admin. skills can be put to
use helping people get better.

I am hardworking and reliable – I have only had one day off sick in the past
two years. I believe that my skills and experience would be an asset to your
pharmacy department.

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 Calling for an application form
Talking on the phone can be tricky if you’re not used to it. Lisa is used to chatting to her friends on
the phone, but she doesn’t make many formal calls.

Read the job advert below and look at what Lisa said when she called each one. Did
she make a mistake? Could she have expressed herself more clearly? Use the spaces
to say what she has done wrong.

1. Full-time office clerk. Hopkin and Farrow

Solicitors need a well-organised clerk to keep
their legal library in order. Call Personnel on
01738 929082 for further details.

2. Jones Garage, Tooting needs a full-time

Forecourt Cashier to work Mon–Fri
7am–3pm. Pay £4.75 per hour. Must enjoy
being busy and working in a small team. Call
John on 0208 683 8909 for an application
form.

BASIC SKILLS FOR LIFE > JOB SKILLS > JOB APPLICATIONS
3. Printers need Saturday workers only. £4.90
per hour, packing magazines for a national
newsagents. Transport to and from your
home. Tel 0208 445 2390 after 2pm.

4. Storeperson/Packer needed. Immediate start.

Must be able to work on own initiative. Phone
0207 239 3001 and quote reference 0234/01
for an application form.

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 Surf around
You will be able to find out information about a limited company in your reference library’s trade
directories. Trade directories are large and can be difficult to use. They may also contain lots of
data you don’t need. Many companies now have their own website that is usually easy to read.
If you can find a website it will be well worth a visit, you will find lots of information that the
company chooses to make public.

John has an interview for a job driving a delivery van for Jack Scaife Butchers. The
company has a website – www.jackscaife.co.uk. Go online to look at the site,
then answer these questions.

1. What is the company trademark?

2. What is their slogan?

3. When was the butcher shop established?

4. What are their main products

5. Who do they sell to?

6. Who are the bosses?

BASIC SKILLS FOR LIFE > JOB SKILLS > JOB INTERVIEWS

7. What can’t be sold outside of the UK?

8. What impression do you think the website gives of the company?

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Ww/E3.2; Ww/E3.3
 On arrival
By the time you arrive at the company you may be feeling a little tense. It’s normal to want to
make a good impression. You can start right away.

These sentences about how to deal with arriving at the company have been muddled
up. Use an arrow to join the right beginnings and endings.

1. Before you enter the building go straight to the reception desk.

have a final check to
look the receptionist in the eye.
2. Open the door firmly and
make sure you look okay – no open
3. Take a deep breath before you
flies or spinach in your teeth!
speak – this will

make you feel a bit calmer.

4. Stand up straight and

the employer thinks you have a

5. Be polite to the receptionist;
good chance of getting the job.
6. Be clear about who you are there
to see and they might be asked what they
thought of you.
7. Don’t sit down
BASIC SKILLS FOR LIFE > JOB SKILLS > JOB INTERVIEWS

unless the receptionist asks you to.

8. Think positively – you have been
asked to interview because what time your appointment is.

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