What challenges do young graduates face in finding a job today?

(3-5 sentences)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Why might many young people have to change careers multiple times in their lifetime?
(3-5 sentences)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

How do today's most valued jobs differ from those considered prestigious in the past? (3-
5 sentences)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Read the extracts from a text giving advice to young people about choosing their career.
Then match the headings (A-J) with the right part of the text (11-18). There are two extra
headings which you do not need to use.

Getting to know yourself will help you work out what's going to make you stick to a career for
the rest of your life - or at least for a couple of years! Think about the following points:

(11) ......................

Those are the things that are important to you and that you look for in your life and relationships.
They can include; family, money, the environment, independence, ambition or honesty. If a job
matches things you care about, it's going to be a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning. It's
important to set your goals in line with your values, otherwise you may end up where you
thought you wanted to be only to be disappointed.

(12) ......................

Now you've taken a look at what motivates you, it's time to work out where you are now and
what you've got going for you. You have to think seriously about your strengths, weaknesses
opportunities and threats. You should try to identify areas for improvement which can be the
start of a personal plan for success.

(13) ......................

This will give you focus and direction which is the first step to success. You can't set goals
without deciding what you're ultimately aiming at. Look into the future. What sort of work
would you do? The following checklist will help you give yourself goals you have a chance of
reaching.

(14) ......................

Be as clear as you can. State exactly what you want, in detail.

(15) ......................

You need to know when you've reached your goal by having measures. If your goal was to
become a journalist then your measure could be having an article published in your local paper.

(16) ......................

Don't set yourself a goal that's so high that you want to give up before you've even started.

(17) ......................

You want it to challenge you but not to be impossible. Be prepared to take “one step at a time".

(18) ......................

This is very important, otherwise you could dream forever. Set yourself some time limits. It
could be in six months or even ten years, depending on how big your goal is. Make sure your
goals fit in with your values, check that they're smart and then write them down somewhere
safe. It sounds strange, but having your goals written down makes them seem more real, and
achievable.

A Measurable goals F Being specific

B Setting goals G Achievable

C Being accurate H Time bound

D Personal values I Revision

E Planning progress J Present position

Post-reading speaking

Say who helped you to choose your future career and how. (3-5 sentences)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Speak about you goals and values. (3-5 sentences)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Read the text about a day in the life of a teacher. For questions 19-32, choose one of the
alternatives A, B, C or D to fill in the gaps. There is an example at the beginning (00).
Example: (00) A

Watching these children make progress is (00) ……… rewarding

Teachers have long holidays, but they (19) ……… them after being shut them after being shut
up with 30 screaming kids for days on end, jokes Clare Cook.

"You've got to like children (20) ………a teacher. I have a great relationship with my class, but
looking (21) ………them takes it out of them takes it out of you," she says

"You are responsible (22) ………everything that happens in the classroom - even looking for
a child's (23) ……… anorak."

Clare, 28, teaches 10 to 11-year-olds in Islington, North London. "(24) ……… my first class
was a bit scary," she says, but she (25) ……… that most children are keen to learn.

"Of course, some days things go (26) ……… than others but that's what makes teaching (27)
……… challenge. And to watch a child who (28) ……… not be academically gifted make
progress is so rewarding."

Her day (29) ……… begins at 8am and doesn't end until about 5pm, but the 14 weeks' annual
holiday compensates for the hard work.

(30) ……… for a newly-qualified teacher starts at around £12,250, and (31) ……… is a London
weighting allowance of nearly £2,000 for (32) ……… in the city centre.

Career prospects for women are bright and Clare's ambition is to be the head teacher of a
primary school.

(00) A so B such as C like D so that

(19) A like B have C must D need
(20) A be B been C to be D being
(21) A up B at C for D after
(22) A of B for C with D on
(23) A missing B finding C looking D lacking
(24) A Taking B Taken C Take D Being taken
(25) A finds B will find C has found D found
(26) A better B best C well D good
(27) A so B that C like D such
(28) A should B can C must D may
 (29) A hardly B usually C never D lately
(30) A Pay B Wage C Expense D Cost
(31) A there B it C that D this
(32) A ones B these C those D whom

Read the letter of application. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to
form a word that fits in the gaps (33-40) in the same line. There is an example at the
beginning (00).

Example: (00) advertisement

Dear Mr Boyd,

I saw your (00) …………. in the magazine Youth and Work, and I wonder if ADVERTISE

you would (33) …………. me for a job as a waiter this summer. I am 17 years CONSIDERATION

old and at present am studying for my 'A' levels in English and (34) …………. ECONOMY

When I leave school I hope to do a course in hotel (35) …………. During the MANAGE

school holidays last summer, I worked as a waiter at the Sport Hotel. The
head waiter there, Mr Carlisle will be (36) …………. to provide you with a PLEASURE

REFER
(37) …………. for me.

I would prefer to work in your Hotel Hiley because it is near my home.

However, if there are no (38) …………. there, perhaps you could consider VACANT

me for the Wildborough Hotel. I would be pleased if you would send me an

APPLY
(39) …………. form with details of the wages and terms

of (40) …………. . I am free to begin work in the second week of July when EMPLOY

the school holidays start.