skills for success after graduation

Self- Exploration 51 Complete the following sentence using relative clause markers. 1. The new office building has a large hall ___________________________ presentations and meetings can be held. 2. We parachuted a new MD ___________________ experience our company will largely benefit. 3. German chancellor called for immediate action against the recent soaring prices ___________________ caused public unrest. 4. We made a shortlist of candidates ___________________ CVs were impressive. 5. The government needs a new health system ___________________ meets the union’s demands. 6. The report ___________________ prepared by the R&D Department caught the CEO’s attention. 7. We were the first group ___________________ submit the project before the deadline. 8. A subsidiary is a company ___________________ controlling interest is owned by another company. B. Non-Defining Relative Clauses simply give extra information. Here are some examples. 1. My father, who runs his own business, is considering retirement next year. 2. The company, (which was) established last year, is going through a rough patch. 3. The new security system cost the company a great deal of money, which is another breach in this year’s budget. 4. Mr. Collins, with whom I discussed the details of the project yesterday, would like to have another meeting next week. 5. The Louvre has millions of visitors each year, most of whom come to see the Mona Lisa 6. The Turkish Parliament, which consists of 550 MPs, passed the new bill yesterday. The Turkish Parliament, consisting of 550 MPs, passed the new bill yesterday. 7. The Istanbul Modern Art Museum, (which was) inaugurated on December 11, 2004, is located on the Bosphorus in a converted warehouse in the Tophane neighborhood and is the first of its kind in Turkey. *Relative clause markers in parentheses can be omitted.

52 Unit 1 Complete the following text adding the pieces of extra information provided after it. Use defining/non- defining relative clauses. Middle East Technical University (METU), (1)___ ________________________________________ , is a public technical university (2) ______________ _____________________________. The university puts special emphasis on research and education in engineering and natural sciences, (3)_____________ _________________________________ within 5 faculties, and 97 masters and 62 doctorate programs within 5 graduate schools. The main campus of METU spans an area of 11,100 acres, (4)_________________________________________ __________________________. METU, (5)__________________________ _________________________, has more than 95,000 alumni worldwide. Over one third of the 1,000 highest scoring students in the national university entrance examination choose to enroll in METU, (6)_____________________________ __________________ __________________________________ . METU had the greatest share in national research funding by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) in the last five years, and it is the leading university in Turkey in terms of the number of European Union Framework Programme (FP) projects participation. Over 40% of METU’s undergraduate alumni choose to pursue graduate studies. METU was founded under the name “ Middle East Institute of Technology ” on November 15, 1956, (7)____________ _______________________________________________, by creating a skilled workforce in the natural and social sciences. “Arrangements and Procedures as for the Foundation of METU, Law No 6213” was enacted on January 22, 1957, whereby the current name “ Middle East Technical University ” (METU) was adopted. Finally, the “Foundation Act No 7907”, (8)____________ ________________________ _________________, was enacted on May 27, 1959. In the early years immediately following its foundation, METU was temporarily hosted in a small building (9)­­­ ­__________________________________________________________ in Kızılay and another building near the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In 1963, the university moved to its current location west of Ankara city center, (10)_______ ________________________________________________________________. Adapted from: Retrieved on 29 November 2011 from www.metu.edu.tr

Self- Exploration 53 1. Middle East Technical University is commonly referred to as ODTÜ. 2. It is located in Ankara, Turkey. 3. It offers 40 undergraduate programs. 4. It comprises, in addition to academic and auxiliary facilities, a forest area of 7,500 acres, and the natural lake Eymir. 5. Its official language of instruction is English. 6. Most of METU’s departments accept the top 1% of the nearly 1.5 million applicants. 7. It aimed to contribute to the development of Turkey and the surrounding countries of the Middle East, Balkans, and Caucasus 8. The Foundation Act No 7907 set forth the particular standing of METU and established it as a juridical entity. 9. The small building previously belonged to the Social Security Office of Retirees. 10. It created the first university campus of Turkey. KEEP IN TOUCH In each unit, you will be asked to follow the newspapers and periodicals and bring a recent article that you find worth sharing with the class. The article can be about politics, science, arts, education, business, philosophy, social issues and so forth. Now your homework is to find such an article or piece of news. In the next hour, you will talk about: • Where you found it • When you found it • What it is about (short summary) • Why you wanted to share it with us (significance)

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. -Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” -Theodore Roosevelt

UNIT 2 CAREER PLANNING & APPLICATION



Career Planning & Application 57 WHAT IS CAREER PLANNING? Career planning is a lifelong process, which includes choosing an occupation, getting a job, growing in the job, possibly changing careers, and eventually retiring. A well-planned career helps us to achieve our goals and dreams. As time passes by, we grow and our needs change. Therefore, to keep pace with the future, we need to plan well ahead. It helps us to make many adjustments along the way as we keep learning throughout our lives. Career planning includes the task of laying down objectives and time-lines within which to achieve them, planning one’s post graduation or specialization studies, planning job changes to get the maximum benefit, planning shifts to grow professionally and developing expertise in a certain area gain much importance. Successful people are those who have adopted proper career planning. In the following text you will read how Steve Jobs planned his career. First match the following words with their definitions from the text. 1. for that matter a. a period of time spent doing something 2. launch b. tyrannical, despotic 3. conjure up c. special skill 4. knack d. abstain or keep away from 5. oust e. representing the high quality of a past time 6. in retrospect f. drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place 7. stint g. as far as that is concerned 8. vintage h. in looking back on past events 9. autocratic i. put (a new product) on the market 10. eschew j. bring into existence by or as if by magic

58 Unit 2 STEVE JOBS 1. NOBODY else in the computer industry, or any other industry for that matter, could put on a show like Steve Jobs. His product launches, at which he would stand alone on a black stage and conjure up a “magical” or “incredible” new electronic gadget in front of an awed crowd, were the performances of a master showman. All computers do is fetch and shuffle numbers, he once explained, but do it fast enough and “the results appear to be magic”. He spent his life packaging that magic into elegantly designed, easy to use products. 2. He had been among the first, back in the 1970s, to see the potential that lay in the idea of selling computers to ordinary people. In those days of green-on-black displays, when floppy discs were still floppy, the notion that computers might soon become ubiquitous seemed fanciful, but Mr Jobs was one of a handful of pioneers who saw what was coming. Crucially, he also had an unusual knack for looking at computers from the outside, as a user, not just from the inside, as an engineer—something he attributed to the experiences of his wayward youth. Mr Jobs caught the computing bug while growing up in Silicon Valley. As a teenager in the late 1960s he cold-called* his idol, Bill Hewlett, and talked his way into a summer job at Hewlett-Packard, but it was after dropping out of college, that Mr Jobs co-founded Apple in California, in his parents’ garage, on April Fools’ Day 1976. 3. Dropping out of his college course and attending calligraphy classes instead had, for example, given Mr Jobs an apparently useless love of typography. But support for a variety of fonts was to prove a key feature of the Macintosh, the pioneering mouse-driven, graphical computer that Apple launched in 1984. With its windows, icons and menus, it was sold as “the computer for the rest of us”. Having made a fortune from Apple’s initial success, Mr Jobs expected to sell “zillions” of his new machines. But the Mac was not the mass-market success Mr Jobs had hoped for, and he was ousted from Apple by its board.

Career Planning & Application 59 4. Yet this apparently disastrous turn of events turned out to be a blessing: “the best thing that could have ever happened to me”, Mr Jobs later called it. He co-founded a new firm, Pixar, which specialised in computer graphics, and NeXT, another computer-maker. His remarkable second act began in 1996 when Apple, having lost its way, acquired NeXT, and Mr Jobs returned to put its technology at the heart of a new range of Apple products. And the rest is history: Apple launched the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, and (briefly) became the world’s most valuable listed company. “I’m pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been fired from Apple,” Mr Jobs said in 2005. When his failing health forced him to step down as Apple’s boss in August, he was hailed as the greatest chief executive in history. Oh, and Pixar, his side project, produced a string of hugely successful animated movies. 5. In retrospect, Mr Jobs was a man ahead of his time during his first stint at Apple. Computing’s early years were dominated by technical types, but his emphasis on design and ease of use gave him the edge later on. Elegance, simplicity and an understanding of other fields came to matter in a world in which computers are fashion items, carried by everyone, that can do almost anything. “Technology alone is not enough,” said Mr Jobs at the end of his speech introducing the iPad 2, in March 2011. “It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with humanities, that yields the results that make our hearts sing.” It was an unusual statement for the head of a technology firm, but it was vintage Steve Jobs. 6. His interdisciplinary approach was backed up by an obsessive attention to detail. A carpenter making a fine chest of drawers will not use plywood on the back, even though nobody will see it, he said, and he applied the same approach to his products. “For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.” He insisted that the first Macintosh should have no internal cooling fan, so that it would be silent—putting user needs above engineering convenience. He called an engineer at Google one weekend with an urgent request: the colour of one letter of Google’s on- screen logo on the iPhone was not quite the right shade of yellow. He often wrote or rewrote the text of Apple’s advertisements himself. 7. His on-stage persona as a Zen-like mystic notwithstanding, Mr Jobs was an autocratic manager with a fierce temper. But his egomania was largely justified. He eschewed market researchers and focus groups, preferring to trust his own instincts when evaluating potential new products. “A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them,” he said. His judgment proved uncannily accurate: by the end of his career, the hits far outweighed the misses. Mr Jobs was said by an engineer in the early years of Apple to emit a “reality distortion field”, such were his powers of persuasion. But in the end, he changed reality, channelling the magic of computing into products that reshaped music, telecoms and media. The man who said in his youth that he wanted to “put a ding in the universe” did just that. *cold-called: a visit or telephone call to a prospective customer without an appointment or a previous introduction Adapted from: Economist. (2011). Obituary: Steve Jobs. Retrieved October 6, 2011 from http://www.economist.com/ node/21531456

60 Unit 2 1. What does “Mr Jobs caught the computing bug” mean? 2. What does “talked his way into a summer job” mean? 3. Why was Jobs fired from Apple? 4. After, his dismissal from Apple, Jobs _____________________________ . 5. Why was Jobs’ March 2011 speech for the introduction of iPad2 considered unusual? 6. Do you think “obssesive attention to detail” leads to success? 7. Steve Jobs is said to have ‘been among the first, back in the 1970s, to see the potential that lay in the idea of selling computers to ordinary people’ (Par. 2). He said ‘A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them,’ (Par. 7). Do you think Steve Jobs “saw” the need for personal computers or created this need for his own benefit? Why/ Why not? 8. What does “by the end of his career, the hits far outweighed the misses” mean? 9. What does “put a ding in the universe” mean? 10. What did Steve Jobs do in terms of planning his career? Sharing Views Would you be happy to work under such a manager as Steve Jobs? Why/why not?

Career Planning & Application 61 USING NETWORKING FOR APPLICATIONS & CAREER MOVES What are some ways to get information about job openings? Now listen to an interview withAlison Doyle on the Importance of Career Networking and do the tasks that follow. 1. Networking might come in handy while ______________ ___________________ and _____________________. 2. Who should be in your career network? List two of them. a. b. 3. Over __________% of job seekers say that their network has helped with their job search. 4. Two benefits of networking are that _______________________________ ____ and that ____________________________________. 5. Ms. Alison’s four golden rules: Rule Explanation 1. _______________________________ Even if it’s just a brief email to say hello and to ask how they are doing. People are _______________________________ more willing to help when they know who _______________________________ you are. 2. If you come across an interesting Reciprocate, whenever you can. article or a relevant job listing, ______________________________. ________________________________ ________________________________ 3. _______________________________ Whether it’s electronically or on paper, make sure you know ________________ _______________________________ ________________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________. 4. Do not underestimate the importance of Sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and a _______________________________ variety of other online networking _______________________________ websites can help you get in touch with other networkers at specific companies, _______________________________ with college affiliations or in a certain _______________________________ geographic area. Your institute may have _______________________________ an alumni career network you can access. 6. List two of Alison Doyle’s suggestions for job seekers: a. b. Taken from: Business English Pod. (2011). Socializing: networking. Retrieved March 23, 2012 from http://www. businessenglishpod.com/2010/03/07/bep-155-int-socializing-networking/

62 Unit 2 BUSINESS SKILL: TELEPHONING ACTING OUT! Susan Howard calls Bob Stevens to learn about the specifics of a job opening. Work on the following flow chart to produce this conversation. Make use of the language box that follows. CALLER Phone rings… CALLED PERSON (SUSAN HOWARD) (BOB STEVENS) (Greets and introduces (Picks up the phone and herself ) answers) (Tells the purpose of her call) (Greets and offers help) (Acknowledges. Signals (Acknowledges and explains) ending and thanks) (Responds to thanks) Final remark.

Career Planning & Application 63 LANGUAGE FOR TELEPHONING Greeting Caller Called Person Introducing yourself Good morning. Who you’d like to talk to Good morning. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Good day. The purpose of your call Good day. Hello, Ms/Mr X. How can I help you? This is... Speaking. My name is... X speaking. Yes, speaking. I’d like to speak to ... please. May I talk with...? (When no purpose stated) Could I speak to...? Could you tell me what it’s Am I speaking to...? about? What is it in connection The reason I’m calling is... with? The purpose of my call is... I see/I understand/I’ve got It’s in connection with... that now. It’s about... Yes, that’s right/correct. You’re welcome. Acknowledging I see/I understand/I’ve got Pleasure. that now. No problem. Confirmation Yes, that’s right/correct. Thanks for calling. Closing signals I think that covers everything. Goodbye. Thanking Thank you for the Ending information. Thank you for your help. Thank you for your time. Goodbye. Taken from: ESL Mania. (2006). Business English. ESL telephone talk. Retrieved November 12, 2011 from http://www. eslmania.com/students/business_english/Telephone.htm Now listen to the model telephone conversation to compare your answers.

64 Unit 2 EMAIL Using one of the sample letters in Appendix, write an email to a person whom you consider will provide useful information about a job opportunity/graduate program. ACTING OUT! Call your instructor’s office, who will act like an employer/ professor to obtain information about the job/graduate program you are interested in. Use the following outline. Do not forget to use the telephoning phrases. • Greet. • Introduce yourself. • Say who you’d like to talk to. • Say how you found the contact information. • Say why you are calling. • Explain the field you are interested in. • Ask how and why the person you have called entered this field/company/ department/ university. • Ask the pros and cons of working/studying in this field/company/department /university. • Ask whether he/she has any further suggestions. • Thank him/her. • End the conversation.

Career Planning & Application 65 CAREER BENEFITS TO STUDYING ABROAD List advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. Disadvantages Advantages Listen to an interview with Lissy Schlotz, Associate Director of Career Services and answer the following questions: 1. What are the general benefits of studying abroad? 2. Making career plans helps you to: a. _____________________ b. _____________________ 3. Name two of the skills one can pick up from studying abroad? a. _____________________ b. _____________________

66 Unit 2 4. __________________ is a major emotional challenge when studying abroad. 5. How would these acquired skills reflect on one’s personality and be attractive for an employer? 6. How can one show the skills gained abroad during a job application process? Taken from: Arizona University. (2010). Career services. This week @ career services. Retrieved December 21, 2011 from http://www.career.arizona.edu/RSS/rss_Podcasts.aspx?1

Career Planning & Application 67 LANGUAGE STUDY ACTION VERBS The following verbs are widely used in formal applications. Work on the list and use the appropriate ones in your application process. Management skills Communication skills Clerical or detailed skills administered improved addressed lectured approved operated analyzed increased arbitrated mediated arranged organized assigned organized arranged moderated catalogued prepared attained oversaw authored motivated classified processed chaired planned corresponded negotiated collected purchased contracted prioritized developed persuaded compiled recorded consolidated produced directed promoted dispatched retrieved coordinated recommended drafted publicized executed screened delegated reviewed edited reconciled generated specified developed scheduled enlisted recruited implemented systematized directed strengthened formulated spoke inspected tabulated evaluated supervised influenced translated monitored validated executed interpreted wrote Research skills Technical skills Teaching skills clarified interpreted assembled operated adapted explained collected interviewed built overhauled advised facilitated critiqued investigated calculated programmed clarified guided diagnosed organized computed remodeled coached informed evaluated reviewed designed repaired communicated initiated examined summarized devised solved coordinated instructed extracted surveyed engineered trained developed persuaded identified systematized fabricated upgraded enabled set goals inspected maintained encouraged stimulated evaluated Financial skills Creative skills Helping skills acted assessed administered computed conceptualized instituted assisted expedited allocated developed created integrated clarified facilitated analyzed forecasted designed introduced coached familiarized appraised managed developed invented counseled guided audited marketed directed originated demonstrated referred balanced planned established performed diagnosed rehabilitated budgeted projected fashioned planned educated represented calculated researched founded revitalized illustrated shaped Adapted from: Boston College. (2010). Resume action verbs. Retrieved November 15, 2011 from http://www.bc.edu/ offices/careers/skills/resumes/verbs.html

68 Unit 2 I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box. The word/s in parentheses have been provided as clues. facilitate acted allocate represent counseled stimulate fabricate projecting initiating overhaul 1. My psychologist __________________ (suggested) me to take a short break from work. 2. Two lawyers will __________________ (act on behalf of ) us at the meeting. 3. I __________________ (took action) right away on my professors feedback. 4. By __________________ (estimating) the benefits of using an already available programming language instead of writing a new one, I saved the group an extra week. 5. At the board meeting, we decided to __________________ (use) 500 TL for the posters of our next event. 6. The government is __________________ (starting) major social reforms. 7. After a major setback in the planning project, the manager put new incentives to __________________ (increase the activity of ) the employees. 8. The company is purchasing a new computer program to __________________ (help) sharing information over the internet. 9. There is growing support for giving the European Parliament greater powers to __________________ (thoroughly examine and improve) all the community’s decision-making institutions. 10. It should prove an efficient means of probing microcrystalline grain structure, properties of alloys and the surface texture of materials used to __________________ (produce) electronic components. II. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box. The word/s in parentheses have been provided as clues. screened diagnose mediate dispatch recruit monitored negotiate enlist implement compile 1. The inability to speedily and correctly __________________ (spot) aircraft system and component failures because good diagnostic skills are in short supply leads to departure delays and possible compromises in safety.

Career Planning & Application 69 2. Job applicants were __________________ (evaluated and selected) by the personnel department. 3. The project manager has __________________ (observed) the effectiveness of the new action plan. 4. Such a structure not only enables staff to organize and __________________ (use) initiatives effectively but also enables them to generate, develop and share their own ideas, practice, problems and solutions. 5. The reason for his __________________ (sending) to Siberia was to clear up the situation after the Civil War and to deal with Siberian peasant revolts. 6. Unfortunately, encyclopedias are very expensive to __________________ (put together) and publish so one cannot hope for a new edition every year and the information in them is thus often very dated. 7. She argues that it is often in the employers’ interest to __________________ (employ) someone on a relative’s recommendation, since this gives employers more control over their workforce. 8. He saw an opportunity to __________________ (pull off ) an agreement which could have resolved a number of problems. 9. To act as a/an __________________ (intermediary) in such a dispute was the dreariest occupation of a chairperson. 10. To realize the full potential of his team, a leader must provide conditions in which they will thrive and __________________ (solicit) the support of any source. III. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box. The word/s in parentheses have been provided as clues. address delegate assigned corresponded chair arbitrate in supervise consolidate executed prioritize 1. The professor and I __________________ (exchanged emails) for more than four months to shape my finishing project. 2. There was also general agreement that there should be an international authority operating on the lines of a domestic regulatory board, with the power to regulate routes, __________________ (mediate) disputes, and set technical standards. 3. The chairman failed to __________________ (focus on) the problems of subsidiaries.

70 Unit 2 4. As he only had one experienced officer left, Stirling had no option but to tell Paddy Mayne, newly promoted to captain, that he would have to stay behind to __________________ (oversee) the training of the new recruits. 5. But in this contradiction between productivity and safety, between speed and conformity to regulations, which does the corporation __________________ (put first)? 6. The corporation __________________ (carried out) a series of financial deals. 7. A good manager should __________________ (hand over) routine tasks (to others) instead of doing everything by herself. 8. This review process should result in an agreement of action to be taken at the next meeting to __________________ (secure) and celebrate strengths and to overcome weaknesses. 9. She will __________________ (preside over) the economic committee. 10. She has been __________________ (appointed) to a new job.

Career Planning & Application 71 B. RECRUITMENT VOCABULARY The following are business-related words. You may use them in your application process. I. Match the words with their definitions. 1. vacancy a. the ability to do something successfully or efficiently 2. fringe benefit b. one of two or more recurring periods in which different groups of workers do the same jobs in relay 3. superior c. an unoccupied position or job 4. shift d. a person or thing higher in rank, status, or quality, esp. a colleague in a higher position; opposite of subordinate 5. notice e. an extra benefit supplementing an employee’s salary, for example, a company car, subsidized meals, health insurance, etc 6. competence f. a formal declaration of one’s intention to end an agreement, typically one concerning employment or tenancy, at a specified time II. Complete the following sentences with: vacancy fringe benefits competence superiors shifts notice 1. There are three _______________ in this plant: 8:00-14:00, 14:00-20:00, and 20:00-02:00. 2. The CEO handed in his _______________ after a serious dispute with the company shareholders over policy decisions. 3. The interns displayed varying degrees of _______________ in teaching. Some were highly accomplished whereas others struggled.

72 Unit 2 4. Besides the high salary, the company offers attractive _______________. 5. The HR department put an ad in the national newspaper to fill the _______________ for executive PA. 6. I suggest you show more respect to your _______________ as the lowest ranking employee. III. Match the verbs with their definitions. 1. recruit a. continue or proceed along a path or route 2. pursue b. be entitled to a particular benefit or privilege by fulfilling a necessary condition 3. qualify c. enroll someone as a member or worker in an organization or as a supporter of a cause; hire, employ 4. shortlist d. (usually passive) advance or raise someone to a higher position or rank 5. promote e. assign a job or role to someone 6. fire f. move to a new place and establish one’s home or business there 7. appoint g. after a selection, put someone on a list of fewer candidates 8. relocate h. dismiss an employee from a job, discharge, give someone their notice, lay off, let go, sack, make redundant IV. Complete the following sentences with the above verbs. You may have to change tenses. 1. Having successfully completed the project, she was _______________ to Bursa subsidiary as personnel manager. 2. He failed to _______________ for the management team as he lacked the required certification. 3. After the first one, he was _______________ for the second interview. 4. The newly employed staff will not be stationed here in Ankara; instead they will _______________ to Bursa. 5. After the signing of the project, there are plans to _______________ more staff later this year. 6. They had to _______________ him after the embezzlement rumors. 7. After years of hardwork, he was _______________ and became general manager. 8. Upon graduation from the university, she decided to _______________ an academic career.

Career Planning & Application 73 V. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions: 1. His internship in the bank gained him experience ___________ accounting. 2. Her energy and enthusiasm ___________ work were reflected on the other group members. 3. He shows great potential ___________ developing new projects. 4. He is talented ___________ marketing new products. 5. Jane’s application to the MBA program was rejected due to her lack of competence ___________ the English language. 6. He is interested ___________ writing short stories. 7. Tom is keen ___________ overseeing his own team on this project. 8. He was not too fond ___________ dancing. 9. I was attracted ___________ the idea of working for an auditing company. 10. He is eager ___________ take a trip to Switzerland. 11. After graduation, she took ___________ a career in PR. 12. After graduation, she embarked ___________ a career in PR. 13. The workers have to work ___________ shifts in that factory.

74 Unit 2 Now that you have decided on a career path and position/program, you are to submit some formal documents to the organization some of which are CV, cover letter, statement of purpose, application form, transcript, portfolio, and exam results. BUSINESS SKILL: CV WRITING The first of these documents is the CV. It stands for ‘Curriculum Vitae’, which means the course of one’s life. A CV is a structured written outline of a person’s education and employment history as well as skills and capabilities. GETTING IN THE DOOR WITH A CV QUICK! You have got around 30 seconds to impress the employer. Most employers do not take more time to go through applicants’ CVs. What you have to do is to present a written outline of your education and employment history together with your skills and capabilities in the shortest possible way. Lay out information in a logical order so that it is easy for the employer to grasp the most important aspects about yourself. Do not forget; the CV can just let you get in the door. Although previously different, a ‘resumé’ is synonymous to a CV these days.

Career Planning & Application 75 THERE ARE DIFFERENT CV TYPES: CHRONOLOGICAL CV, FUNCTIONAL CV, INVENTORY CV AND TARGETED CV. IN THIS BOOK WE WILL USE A COMBINATION OF CHRONOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL, WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON. PARTS OF A CV The following are the common parts of a CV. Depending on your background, you may add or omit some parts. • Personal Information • Personal Profile/Summary • Objective • Major Achievements • Education • Experience/Career History • Further Skills • Other Details • References You are expected to use ‘reverse chronological order’ within each part. That is, when you list a series of events, schools attended, certificates received, you should start with the most recent information followed by older. Now let’s continue with the parts of your CV respectively. 1. Personal Information: Your name should appear at the beginning and centered. It should have a larger font size than the rest of your CV (16 points). Your address should appear under your name and should not be translated into English. Write your telephone number under the address. Make sure that you can be reached when called. Do not forget country and regional codes (+90 for Turkey, 0312 for Ankara). Finally, write your email address. Avoid inappropriate email addresses. If you do not have one, open a new email account to use for professional purposes. Look at the following sample Personal Information:

76 Unit 2 AHMET ÖZTÜRK Çigdem Mah. Çayır Sok. No:116/3 34610 Levent, Istanbul, Turkey Telephone: (Home) +90 212 5555555; (Mobile) +90 533 3333333 Email: [email protected] You do not need to write your date or place of birth or marital status. However, in almost all application forms these are required. 2. Professional Profile or Summary: This is a brief statement at the beginning of your CV which informs the reader of your key personal and professional characteristics. This part also demonstrates your ability to summarize. It should be 4 to 8 lines. Do not use bullet points. Write in the third person and avoid pronouns. Use action verbs and positive adjectives. The following example will give you an idea: AHMET ÖZTÜRK Çigdem Mah. Çayır Sok. No:116/3 34610 Levent, Istanbul, Turkey Telephone: (Home) +90 212 5555555; (Mobile) +90 533 3333333 Email: [email protected] SUMMARY An enthusiastic and dedicated prospective chemical engineer. Enjoys being part of a successful and productive team. A persevered and organized researcher with quality laboratory skills. Can easily work under stress. A confident and articulate communicator with a professional manner. Has the ability to conduct impressive and persuasive presentations. Possesses excellent leadership skills. Goal-oriented and self-motivated with a proven background at Middle East Technical University (METU). Ability to communicate professionally with customers and encourage colleagues, building and maintaining productive working relationships. Here are some useful words and phrases you can use in the summary part: dedicated, enthusiastic, positive, proactive, dynamic, versatile, professional, enjoys being part of a team, enjoys both being part and leading a team, proven track record in laboratory work, passionate about delivering an outstanding service, a commitment to achieving and exceeding targets, attentive to detail, quick to grasp new ideas and concepts, displays excellent problem-solving skills, possesses excellent interpersonal skills, a confident communicator, can demonstrate high levels of professionalism. 3. Objective: This is an optional part which explains the position you are looking for. For new graduates or graduates to be, it is not advised to include such a part. Here are two examples:

Career Planning & Application 77 OBJECTIVE Currently looking for a new and challenging role as a QA engineer, one who will make best use of valuable academic background and extraordinary personal skills to enable further personal and professional development. OBJECTIVE Having successfully completed a BA (Hons) in Physics, now looking to enter the nano- technology sector in a suitably challenging role. Keen to make best use of broad laboratory experience and strong theoretical knowlegde. 4. Major Achivements: This is another part where your summary skills are tested. However, this time you should list your achievements. Again, use the third person and avoid pronouns. Because you are a prospective graduate with relatively little or no experience, your options are limited. The following example will give you an idea: MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS • Entered METU History Department in 2009 with a high degree in the University Entrance Exam • Successfully completed a research project on the 16th century European feudalism • Published an article on the collapse of Byzantine Empire in World History Journal • Translated an 18th century book on ... 5. Education: In this part, you should use the ‘reverse chronological order’ technique. Start with the most recent one. In your case, it is university and then high school. You should not include information related to your education before high school. Look at the following example: EDUCATION Masters in Business Administration ( June 2011) MBA Bilkent University, Ankara BA Economics ( July 2009) METU, Ankara High School Mathematics and Turkish Nişantaşı Anatolian High School ( June 2005)

78 Unit 2 6. Further Skills: This part includes skills such as Information Technologies (IT) skills, language skills, computer skills or any other skill. Here is an example: FURTHER SKILLS MS Office including PowerPoint & Access, Quark Xpress and IT Skills PhotoShop Advanced English, Intermediate German Languages 7. Experience/Career History: As a new graduate or graduate-to-be, you are very limited in this part. If you have no job experience at all, do not include this part. If you have only internship experiences, then you can name this part as ‘Internships’. Again, you should use a reverse chronological order. At this early period of your professional life, any experience whether relevant to your application or not should be written here as each will make a difference from other newly graduated applicants. You should write the name of the company, dates, and in the third person responsibilities held and skills learned or developed. Here is an example: EXPERIENCE METU College, Ankara 2011 September-date Intern • Teaching Mathematics to 5th graders • Preparing classroom material • Preparing a midterm exam • Organizing a Math Contest among 5th graders 2010-2011 Private Tutoring • Tutored an 8th grader • Taught Mathematics and Science • Developed interpersonal skills 8. Other details: These are optional parts. They can be Professional Memberships, Academic Interests, Interests and Activities, Seminars and Conferences, Publications, Voluntary Work... You simply list the activities using the above mentioned rules where necessary. 9. References: At this stage, you can write ‘Referees are available on request.’ When your application progresses and there is serious talk of a job offer, it is the time to provide the details – title, full name, address, email, and phone number. Never forget to inform your referee and get his/her consent before mentioning him/her to your prospective employers.

Career Planning & Application 79 CV OUTLINE Before creating your own CV, go through the following checklist/questions. 1. Personal achievements - List 3 personal/professional achievements you are proud of. Achievement Skills I gained/improved 2. Educational preparation – List the most beneficial courses you attended and projects you took part in. Course/Project I learned 3. Work experience (if any) – What were your responsibilities? Institution Responsibility Skills I gained 4. Extracurricular activities

80 Unit 2 APPEARANCE It is the most important point in a CV. Some HR managers even claim that the appearance of a CV is more important than the information itself. Typeface and Your CV should be word-processed. It should have a professional font: typeface such as Times New Roman, Arial or Verdana. Font: a. Bold: It should be used sparingly – to highlight headings and sections. Color: It can also be used to draw the reader’s attention to key information. If White space: you want to highlight a certain part of the text, you should use bold. b. Italic: it is used to quote the names of publicaitons, i.e. books, Photographs: newspapers, magazines, journals, etc. c. Size: Try to keep to 11 or 12 point. Do not use different font types or sizes. Use black ink. Use a lot of white space. It is also called ‘empty space’ or ‘breathing space’. The purpose of ‘white space’ is to provide breathing space for the reader, so that they are not overwhelmed with a solid block of hard-to-read text and to group together related content. White space includes margins (top: 2-2,5cm, bottom: 1-2 cm, left&right: 1,5-2,5 cm), line-spacing (between text: single-line, between sections: 16 point), and justification (fully justified) Whether to use a photograph or not may change from culture to culture. For example, in the US, you should not, and in Turkey you may. If you are to include a photograph of yours, just be sure that it is a formal/ serious one. CONTENT AND STYLE • Use numbers when possible. Compare the following sentences: Helped the company income increase significantly last year. Helped the company income increase 45% last year. • Spell check your CV. It should be free of spelling errors. • Avoid unnecessary spaces between words. E.g. ‘spaces between words’ • Do not make punctuation mistakes. Leave a space after the full stop, comma, semi-colon, colon... Leave a space outside the parentheses, not inside. E.g. Middle East Technical University (METU). Moreover, bullet points do not need full stops at the end. • If you are going to use an abbreviation such as METU, use the long form and the short as in the previous example. Then throughout the text, you can use the abbreviation. Adapted from: Innes, J. (2009). The CV book. Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited.

Career Planning & Application 81 SAMPLE ACADEMIC CV E-mail: SEVİM KOÇ 70 82 seAvdidmr_eksos:[email protected]/il1.c7omI 0I6M52o5biÇleaPnhkoanyae/: (A0N5K07A)R7A00 EDUCATION 2006-2012 Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara B.S. History 2004-2008 Anadolu University, Open Education Faculty 2001-2004 B.S.Business Administration Vocational High School, Kırklareli WORK EXPERIENCE 2009-2011 The Red Crescent, Ankara Office Assistant Duties: Translation of prisoner documents from Ottoman Language to Turkish 2002-2006 Yüksel Construction Co., ANKARA Administrative Assistant Duties: Coordinated workflow Kept projects on schedule Organized and chaired meetings with a well coordination LANGUAGE SKILLS English- Full Fluency in writing and speech Ottoman Turkish- Full Fluency in reading and writing Italian- Intermediate Persian –Intermediate COMPUTER SKILLS Working Knowledge of Microsoft Office Package CERTIFICATES & AWARDS 2010-2011 Dean’s Honor List: (Spring),2009-2010 (Fall) and 2009-2010 (Spring) February 2011 Certificate of Italian Courses from Societa Dante Alighieri, in Rome, Italy December 2011 Participation of “Fast Read and Multi-thinking Symposium”, METU February 2010 Training in Team Spirit, organized by Lycian Human Resources, METU March 2010 Organization of Campus Development Days, METU March 2010 Certificate of “European Union and International Project Management”, Educational Consultancy Congress, METU March 2010 Certificate of “ Fundamental International Trade” Educational Consultancy Congress, METU Mart 2009 Certificate of “ Individual Development Program” METU April 2009 Activity of “Discover Your Genius” organized by KOÇ Holding, METU Spring 2008 Certificate of “Self-Knowledge Group” by Psychological Counselor Unit, METU ACADEMIC INTERESTS: Red Crescent (Active Member of Red Crescent) METU History Club METU Motor Sports Club (MOST) REFERENCES: Available upon request

82 Unit 2 Esta Morris 1 Errington Road, Essex AN1 1 CV Telephone: 07700 900 362 Email: [email protected] PROFESSIONAL PROFILE___________________________________________ ctstcrdoAaoaoaoeurfdnmggrtstsewairetgcpsaartaoonrsssner.mupedaahrCmincennpnoednduegamfsnwucodiaivblkpc,eeciaiadtvnhaigtcdeeeaedealaosroescldcspam,o,iu-wmmndnimtceeocaeaecmibrngnshnktaeioantinanolcnloygygtkfsiltogoatidercagnrtaqiaongiatuealiudinlitslannapgdlddnalmeed,tanvhredaedenenpilpdctsrgc.mao.ooaoPtrfoenetonostdcsaidsvseaslEaiopepsoltgstueinrssoubeca,enetqllarsicouaacneainipndrxrtiedcipccoidusersnoo.iltElsrsaeErkgn,ecnxigalPchtplineoLpneCwidresrrdieaieeictsnhtraniierocnaacennednuxtardidcratsteeiinipoPgqnllgrhnenuodeyniisgrfsatiekoirctciidafanalalmistntnelpotmadrSrpeonmucixencdiseepregtrsences,yottsar-iUnsiisdnnetatHaegnpwlnmFc,srdieeakitasahipninlrnlqadasddurintanehiHcgneFkd OBJECTIVE__________________________________________________ Now looking for a new and challenging position, one that will make best use of existing skills and experience and provide opportunity for further responsibility and professional development. 2C0A0R7EE-dRaStUe MMARY_P_os_td_o_ct_or_al_R_e_se_ar_ch_A_s_si_st_an_t,_U_n_iv_er_si_ty_o_f _Re_a_di_n_g _______________ Undertaking enzyme engineering, including cloning, mutagenesis, fermentation, expression, purification and characterisation Developing a novel expression system to increase the productivity of Putidaredoxin Reductase ten- fold and transferring the entire production procedure to a commercial basis Synthesising fine chemicals by biotransformation using recombinant cells with cytochrome P450 enzymes Producing a dehydrogenase end-point reaction platform for further development into a biochemical analysis kit aEiDnMnecdvlIuTeEd,loLiwnIpSgrmAitoienpngttimoafsisseaaletyicoptnrroooctfhoHecmoDlisLcaachlnebdmiociassetrrrnyysioanrngsdofoduret tvpoertloaotlpecimnheomnletosodtefifraiocnla, tiHimoDnmL,ulanynoodp-shetoinltisasoalrttircoigonml,ycibmeinrmiedudenswo,aitshsay 2002-2005 Research Assistant, Department of Communications Systems, Basingstoke University Undertaking programming and ensuring the effective operation of UHF radars and HF transmitters in remote sensing research Carrying out detailed and cutting-edge signal and image processing activities in order to investigate HF-induced artificial auroras Supervising and providing guidance on a number of MSc projects covering RF circuit design, digital signal processing and satellite systems

Career Planning & Application 83 EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS_______________________________________ 2002–2006: Lancaster University PhD, Space Plasma Environment and Radio Science Thesis ‘Radio and Optical Observations of Natural and Artificially Stimulated Geo-space Plasmas’ 1996–2001: University of Essex BSc Electronics/Communications Engineering Systems and Automation, Circuits, Electronics, Logic Circuits, Control Microwave Circuits Modules include Electrical and Circuits, Electromagnetism, Antennas, Telecommunication Theory Final Year Project ‘Design and construction of wireless multi-channel handsets for voice and data communication’ AWARDS____________________________________________________ Royal Astronomical Society prize for best presentation in National Astronomy Meeting (2009) TECHNICAL SKILLS_______________________________________________ • Fermentation engineering • Enzyme engineering • Bioanalysis development • Biosynthesis development • Biosensor Development • HPLC, FPLC, GC, MS • PCR, UV/VIS, SDS-PAGE • EMIT, ELISA • AUTOLAB • Lyophilisation PUBLICATIONS_________________________________________________ E.A. Bentley, Y. Astier, E. Morris, S.G. Bell, L.L. Wong, H.A.O. Hill. Inorgania Chimica Acta. 2005; 356 (347–348) of Cholesterol Oxidase from Brevibacterium. The 4th E. Morris, C. Yili, and W. Wu. Properties and Technology, Wuxi, China. 2004; 10 (79–80) International Conference of Food Science SHyemcphuonsiuamndfoWr N. Watiuo.nPaul rYifoicuantgioMn aicnrodbPiroolopgeirstite. sWouf xCi,hColheisntear.oMl Oayxi2da9s,e2f0ro0m4 E. Morris, C. Yili, Z, Brevibacterium. 3rd E. Morris, C. Yili, Z, Hechun and W. Wu. Colorimetric Determination of the Activity of Cholesterol Oxidase. University of Light Industry. 2003 PERSONALDETAILS_______________________________________________ Driving Licence : Full/Clean Health : Excellent; non-smoker Work Permit : Full UK work permit REFERENCES__________________________________________________ Available on request. Taken from: Innes, J. (2009). The CV book. Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited. WRITING Using the above information and examining the sample CVs both in the unit and in the appendix, write your own CV.

84 Unit 2 BUSINESS SKILL: COVER LETTER WRITING The cover letter is another formal document required for job applications. It serves as introduction to the CV and provides additional information to other documents. It is also called ‘covering letter’. The purpose of the type of covering letter we will focus on in this book is for job application. There are two types of letters in this category: speculative letter and advert-response letter. In the speculative letter there is not an openly stated specific vacancy to fill. You simply write to enquire whether they have opprtunities for someone with your qualifications and experience. In the advert-response letter, however, as the name suggests, there is a specific opening to be filled. The format is almost the same for both types of letters. Format Cover letters are generally one page at most in length, divided into a header, introduction, body, and closing. Header: Cover letters use standard business letter style, with the sender’s address and other information, the recipient’s contact information, and the date sent after either the sender’s or the recipient’s address. Following that is an optional reference section (e.g. “RE: Internship Opportunity at Global Corporation”). The final part of the header is a salutation (e.g., “Dear Hiring Managers” or “Dear Ms. Simmons”). Introduction: The introduction briefly states the specific position desired, and should be designed to catch the employer’s immediate interest. In more detail, your introduction must answer the following questions: what prompted you to apply, which position you are applying for, why you want to work for them, what you are looking for and what you are offering. Body: The body highlights or amplifies on material in the resume or job application, and explains why the job seeker is interested in the job and would be of value to the employer. Also, matters discussed typically include skills, qualifications, and past experience. It is suggested that a signicant skill/experience/ability... be stated in this part to get the attention of the reader. Closing: A closing sums up the letter and indicates the next step the applicant expects to take. It may indicate that the applicant intends to contact the employer, although many favor the more indirect approach of simply saying that the applicant will look forward to hearing from or speaking with the employer. After the closing is a valediction (“Sincerely”), and then a signature line. Finally, the abbreviation “Enc.” is used to indicate that there is a CV enclosed.

Career Planning & Application 85 Reminders: • The appearance of your covering letter is vital. It should look professional. It should have enough white space with suitable margins and line-spacing. (Use CV margins and line-spacing). Do not use any indentations. • It should be free of any spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes. • Do not overuse the pronoun ‘I’, ‘me’. • Use positive adjectives and action verbs. • Avoid clichés. • Write one or two of your qualifications that stand out or are unique. • Sign your letter. • Know who you are writing your covering letter to. If not, address ‘Dear Sir/Madam:’ • Do not mention the salary if not required. • Do not sound arrogant, flattering or pleading. Adapted from: Innes, J. (2009). Brilliant cover letters. Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited.

86 Unit 2 Sample Speculative Letter: Richard Wolf 24 South Hampton Road, London AN63RE Telephone: 07700 900 532 Email: [email protected] Mr Gareth Hobson IT Director Corporate Giant 38 River Road Birmingham AN5 4RE 10 June 2009 Dear Mr Hobson, NETWORK SUPPORT VACANCIES eoI xrrgepcaeenrniiestlnayctieaotntwewnhdiictehhdywtohoueurlgdcroamlldeauakagetuemersee.caIruavimatmluceaonbntlsefeaqairudaedtnitEtiloyanrwlstorCitiyonougurrttoanneodtuwtlsoipnreekntsthuespopamoceratdttieemamemicd.ibscaucsksginroguynoduar nd EfArnosgmyinoDeuuewrrhiniallgmn–oUtwenhifvreoerremsiItmyw,yahesanavcimnlogosnepgdrseCtvtiVho,euIstolhypaavtcehhrjeiueesvtesgtdurdaaednfuitrasstteincdlathwsesithwdihaponloleMmcaSocilnleingCeCo.ommppuuteter rSNcieentwceorakns d I have complemented my formal studies by gaining valuable ainntedrninfothreCprruocviaisiToenchonf ohlaorgdyw. aIreamanidnvaoplvpeldicaintioinnstsaulplinpgorat.nd hands-on industry experience as an maintaining LAN and cable networks eeHxnapgveiinnreigeencrcionemgapwnledhteecrdoenmItrcyibaMuntSemItaoakmethethneosmwvoeloroytohmkaionngsdt foeoffrfmiacyiecsnhttaroollnepgnegraainctiagodnpeoomsfiitycioobunaricnIkTgnirneoftwruanosdrtrkuacsnutduprpep.orartcaticnadl You can contact me at 07700 900 532 so application. Thank you for your time. I look we can arrange an interview to further discuss my forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Richard Wolf Richard Wolf enc.: CV

Career Planning & Application 87 Sample Advert-Response Letter: David O’Connor address: 73 Kingston Street, Reading telephone: 01632 960 623 mobile: 07700 900 487 email: [email protected] Ms Gill Smith Human Resources Manager Technical Supplies Limited Horris Hill Business Park Cambridge AN9 9DD 10 January 2012 ELECTRICAL ENGINEER VACANCY – REF. MOZ947 Dear Ms. Smith, bEaleccktgrircoaulnEdngainndeeerxapterwiewnwce.temcahkneicmalesuappsuliietaslbtdle.ccoamndciaduagtehtfmory Your advertisement for the position of attention. I believe that my academic this position. WyepsIpkoxrnoiopuiolstljhesiwewt,ricaotiatwlnsalB.kidntsSoevohcIeitscaetnitoenrmifecrdaEyotaenlemedwvdceefaotmaglrorriduyecpdiladiCtenmhlateVaaayns,tniclcadyceaaoonEntrnudoeldseehibccdraauutermfvsdourtegaornctembrihocetleaemsecrrreEmsfyanineiwntcgtlltdydoehin-ndirbaleeseamttelroosdraeictednihdanlgeeittvseelrieI.edvxrpfepioItnoreoripgsnerosilgaeeilsnonrsstgsohsceteekesaesri.lxnhlapstgiIetgtrrinheoofhosamnneirvvg,sieseatrefesaatsntepaueacpanlwthnridronfdiaaviancraendndandmdislnaasgomkubcfeaiauiteclainmiunntbdysteetltyonoidnnmiacamaphnengaracrdonkel,sloveeeiasndratsvigicniicngeg. major contribution to a successful and growing company. WgWtoeinhatheiclerhraietelhglyveaeirsndaavlotpaolorvyyesiootsiuonarnlaorewrffyqehurpiecwahsctilkofloafnfrgeoemrtssnynbeeecexaetwprseseeracerttnehildye£bh2saie5glaKhthryeae,nndtddheeco£if3dot0iphnpKigsoasfractnuacdntloeiItriae–ismnaImcpaoyammcckfchoauorgritraceeebnw,ltelIhyawicpmihuthrnbstauehitsiunst rgrarealflnlyegcketes.en my worth. for an interview during the weekdays. Please do not we can arrange an interview to discuss my application I would like to confirm that I am available in hesitate to call me on 07700 900 487 so greater depth. Yours faithfully, David O’Connor David O’Connor enc.: CV WRITING Using the above information and the sample cover letters, write a cover letter either speculative or advert-response and submit it to your teacher.

88 Unit 2 BUSINESS SKILL: APPLICATION FORMS When you apply for a job, you may be asked to complete a job application form even if you have already submitted a CV and cover letter. That way, the employer has a record of the applicant’s personal and employment history, verified and signed by himself. It is important for your job applications to be complete, correct and accurate. Here is the information you will need to complete an application for employment and tips and suggestions for completing application forms that will make a good impression. Before you start • Read the whole form and the instructions carefully. • Photocopy the form several times to draft out your answers. • Make sure that you have all the information you need to hand in. The straightforward parts • Personal details • Examination results • Employment • Medical questions • Referees - usually two referees are required. One is likely to be one of your professors; the other might be a person you did relevant work experience with, or who knows you well personally. • Personal declaration and signature – do not forget to sign the form! Tricky questions: Some application forms may include analytical questions to get more information about you before the job interview. Employers use them to find out: • whether you have the personal qualities and skills required • whether you understand yourself and are able to self-reflect • how you cope in a variety of situations • whether you are able to demonstrate that you and the job or organisation are a good match

Career Planning & Application 89 Remember: • There are usually no right or wrong answers. • Give specific examples and evidence – do not generalise. • Answer the question that has been asked, not the question you would like it to be. • Vary your use of examples, and draw from different areas of your life. • Draw on your most recent experiences and achievements wherever possible. • Keep within the word limit. Sample Tricky Questions : Read the four questions, their tips and examples; then write your own answer in the provided boxes. 1. Describe any aspect of your course of particular interest to you and/or of relevance to your application. TIPS: Re-read the job description and person specification, if available. Identify parts of your course that have provided you with relevant skills. Employers will typically be looking for evidence that you can meet deadlines, work in team situations and rise to new challenges. EXAMPLE: I have found most aspects of my X course interesting and rewarding. The highlight has been my final-year project, which involved interviewing academics and members of the general public to find out their views on the role of science in today’s society. I derived great satisfaction from successfully and effectively completing the project within the timescale set and enjoyed the challenge of presenting my findings to my department. YOUR ANSWER:

90 Unit 2 2. Identify the qualities you possess which make you suitable for a career in. TIPS: You must reassure the selector that you have given your choice of career careful thought and made a match between you and the post that you are applying for. EXAMPLE: I decided on a career in teaching because I am a gregarious and well- organised person who thrives on working with and motivating other people. My flexibility and ability to think on my feet were invaluable during my time as a classroom assistant and will enable me to rise to the challenge of teaching. I love chemistry and am excited at the prospect of encouraging others to learn about it. YOUR ANSWER: 3. What is your greatest achievement? Explain the steps you took to achieve it. TIPS: Think about the attributes the selector is looking for. Identify where in your life you have demonstrated them. EXAMPLE: Until last summer there were no recycling facilities available in the village where I live. I got together with a group of friends with the aim of getting some installed. We lobbied the local council and wrote to local newspapers and to several local firms asking for sponsorship and help. Having researched an appropriate site, the four of us cleared a patch of waste ground on the edge of the village, and the recycling facilities were installed. YOUR ANSWER:

Career Planning & Application 91 4. Identify a key event or experience that you consider to have been instrumental in shaping who you are. TIPS: Choose an event or experience that is relevant to the job description. EXAMPLE: My interest in other cultures has encouraged me to travel widely during my vacations most recently in the Far East. I managed this by working as a part-time waitress during my second year, and, through hard work and careful time management, was able to save enough money to fund six weeks’ travel. The experience broadened my horizons, and brought home to me the enormous diversity of opinion and culture that exists in the world, increased my self-confidence, and convinced me of the importance of planning and perseverance if I was to achieve my goals.    YOUR ANSWER: Completing the form • Be accurate and plan how to use the space available. • Use bullet points to summarize key points. • Keep sentences short; use action words. • Check it carefully, and ask someone else to look it over. • Keep a copy, and re-read it if you are asked for interview.

92 Unit 2 LANGUAGE STUDY A. COLLOCATIONS VERB + ADJECTIVE + NOUN COMBINATIONS a. Choose an adjective and a noun from the boxes below that collocate with the following verbs. Some adjectives may be used more than once. The first one is done for you. NOUN conflict targets benefits presentation business success fieldwork ADJECTIVE extensive unprecedented wholesale serious formal realistic mutual VERB ADJECTIVE NOUN achieve ______unprecedented_____ _________success________ resolve ______________________ ______________________ participate in ______________________ ______________________ offer ______________________ ______________________ deliver ______________________ ______________________ go into ______________________ ______________________ set ______________________ ______________________ b. Rewrite the following statements using the words in parantheses in correct order. The first one is done for you. 1. She is an extrovert. (outgoing / have / personality) She has an outgoing personality. 2. Previous experience of applicants should involve outsanding customer service. (possess / proven / track record) __________________________________________________________ 3. Science has gained much from his work. (contribution / valuable / make) __________________________________________________________

Career Planning & Application 93 4. She is very much keen on arts. (display / interest / considerable) ___________________________________________________________ 5. As a result of her extraordinary accomplishments in software design, she earned a prize. (give prize / impressive / achievements) __________________________________________________________ 6. Sam was able to develop himself intellectually owing to his deep interest in reading. (fulfillment / obtain / intellectual) __________________________________________________________ 7. Jack’s report appears to be quite meticulously prepared. (unusually detailed / prepare / report) __________________________________________________________ B. ADVERB CLAUSES & RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IDEAS A. TIME: when, while, before, after, once, no sooner...than, as, until, as soon as, every time, since, hardly...when Examples: 1. The committee will start (future) working on the report after they receive (simple present) all the necessary data. 2. As soon as he printed out (simple past) the document, he submitted (simple past)it to the manager. 3. The meeting had already started (past perfect) when Sam arrived (simple past). 4. The two companies have decided (present perfect) to act together on environmental issues since they received (simple past) a formal warning. B. CAUSE-EFFECT: because, since, as, inasmuch as, now that, for, because of, due to, owing to, so, consequently, therefore, hence, thus, as a result, that’s why Examples: 1. Because the company could not find the necessary funds, they decided to postpone the project till next spring. 2. Due to lack of necessary funding, the company decided to postpone the project till next spring. 3. The company could not find the necessary funds, so they decided to postpone the project till next spring.

94 Unit 2 C. PURPOSE: so that, in order that, lest, in order to, so as to Examples: 1. Tilda attended an NLP course last year so that she could improve her managerial skills. 2. Tilda attended an NLP course last year so as to improve her managerial skills. D. CONTRAST: although, even though, in case, in the event that, unless, in spite of, despite, in case of, in the event of, nevertheless, yet, on the other hand, still, but, however, in contrast Examples: 1. Although the country was going through a serious recession, the firm increased its revenue by 10%. 2. In spite of the serious recession in the country, the firm increased its revenue by 10%. 3. The country was going through a serious recession; nevertheless, the firm increased its revenue by 10%. E. MANNER: as if, as though, as Example: Our director repeatedly asked us the reason for late submission of goods as if he had been unaware of the railway strike going on for over a week. F: INVERSION: No sooner...than, Hardly/Scarcely...when, Never, Seldom, Only when, Only if Examples: 1. Only when he started making job applications, did he realize the importance of having a solid academic background. 2. No sooner had she arrived at her office than she received a call from their subsidiary in Bursa. REDUCTION: Full Clause Reduced Clause As this handbook explains the company culture in Explaining the company culture in detail, it will be a good guide for the new employees. detail, this handbook will be a good guide for the new employees. Because the school management thought peer Having found out peer learning worked learning worked well, they decided to run a well, the school management decided workshop for teachers last semester. to run a workshop for teachers last semester. Although the plan was rejected by the committee, it Although rejected by the committee, seems to be the most effective one among others. the plan seems to be the most effective one among others. If the content is illustrated through pictures and If illustrated through pictures and graphs, it will be more clearly understood. graphs, the content will be more clearly understood.

Career Planning & Application 95 Complete the following paragraph using the word(s) from the below list. when starting after having before thinking so that if in the event that although however unless while as (1) ____________ you start marketing your new business, you first need to determine your target market. Some people do not limit the scope of their pool of potential customers (2) ____________ that they should sell to everybody, which, in the end, may work against their aim. Therefore, you should define your market (3) ____________ you can increase the effectiveness of your promotional activities. (4) ____________ defined your market, you should ensure right timing. (5) ____________ you may have a brilliant idea, if the market is not ready for your products, the venture will fall by the wayside. (6) ____________ you have a product that is so new in the market, be prepared to take on the cost of informing the buyers. (7) ____________ they are not familiar with your products, it is better to show them how it will benefit their lives and demonstrate how they can use it. Infomercials, (8) ____________ costly, are very good vehicles for very new products. Moreover, (9) ____________ a new business, you need to consider the expenses. Sure, you can start a business even with little cash; (10) ____________ , you need to be extremely creative in stretching your money and be prepared to compromise the growth of your business. Another point to bear in mind is to have a business plan, which will let you test your planning assumptions and create fall-back measures (11) ____________ real life proves to be vastly different from your initial visions. Finally, you need to market your product. (12) ____________ you are a nationally known name, you need to promote customer awareness for your business. That is, inform and persuade customers to buy your product. KEEP IN TOUCH You will find an article or a news item as you did in Unit 1. You will talk about: • Where you found it • When you found it • What it is about (short summary) • Why you wanted to share it with us (significance)

“There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.“ -Dale Carnegie “Every man’s work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.” -Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh

UNIT 3 INTERVIEWS



Interviews 99 a. Which of the following documents/tasks (that you have studied in the previous two units) are you required to submit for your prospective job/graduate program application? Transcript/Diploma b. Has preparing these documents helped you in any way to prepare for the job/ graduate program interview? If so, how? Sharing Views 1. Have you ever been interviewed before? 2. If yes, what was the biggest challenge for you? If no, what sort of challenges do you expect to encounter in a job/graduate program interview?

100 Unit 3 AN APPLICATION STORY Read the following account of a job interview and answer the questions that follow. When I was a college senior, I had hopes of becoming a popular radio announcer. One day, my wish was nearly granted when my cell rang -- it was a mysterious caller with a Los Angeles area code. “This is Miles from Cyber Entertainment. I received your resume today and I wanted to know what position you were interested in?” I paused. I had applied for an X Production Assistant job through my uncle’s friend. I had also responded to an International Marketing Assistant Position on the website. And the week prior, I had found a recruiter for Comcast on LinkedIn.com; I also sent him my resume. Which one of these places had Miles gotten my information from? Companies want to know that you are eager to work there. They do not, however, want you to seem uncertain about your field. I had no idea which department this man is recruited for; if I let him know I had applied to three totally different jobs at Cyber EntertainmenT, he would lose interest. Therefore, I had to take a guess. “I’m interested in Production Assistant positions,” I finally said, surprised by the confidence in my voice. “Oh, well I don’t recruit for that department, but I can pass your resume along…” I was such a bad guesser. I quickly tried to patch up my blunder. “Ah, I applied to a marketing job on the website today, are you calling in reference to that?” “Um, no…You said you were interested in Production Assistant jobs?” He paused. “Those are very different from marketing assistant positions...” Oh, no. I was officially the world’s worst guesser. Now he knew exactly what I didn’t want him to know: that I was desperate for a job and I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. “Well,” I stammered, trying to cover my tracks. “I know, it’s just that I love your company and, with my previous internship experiences, I feel I could be well-suited in numerous capacities within X” “Ok,” he didn’t sound convinced. “So, when are you coming out to LA?” “I’ll be there the second week of May,” I replied, happy to switch subjects. It was April. “Hmm…nothing that’s available now will be available then, but let me give you my number and call me when you’re in the area to set up a meeting.” “Great!” I exclaimed, grabbing a pen. Thanks so much Mike.” “Actually, it’s Miles.” I had been so flustered when he called that I forgot to listen for his name. In my defense, I didn’t know it would be someone important on the other line. Miles never picked up when I called him the next month, and my dreams were dashed. Taken from: Business Insider. (2011). Fourteen job interview disasters. Retrieved November 08, 2011 from http://www. businessinsider.com/nightmare-interview-tales-2010-11