English lesson: Job fairs

5 czerwca 2014

The topic for today is ‘’career expoes’’.

Lekcje angielskiego przygotowuje firma

Task 1.
Read the text below to get the general idea:

If you are looking for a new employment, a job fair might be a good option to consider. Nowadays job seekers have an opportunity either to attend conventional career fairs in real life or, more modern online career expoes. Regardless the option, career fairs are the best place to meet prospective employers, professional recruiters or specialized head-hunters. Such mass events are usually held in huge conference centers and they include organization tables where resumes can be submitted and business cards exchanged. On the other hand, online job fairs aim at recruiting candidates through virtual platforms or advanced internet applications.
Job fairs are really good places to personally meet a lot of company representatives from various fields, to exchange information, to obtain contact details, to practice job interview skills face-to-face, or just to perfect networking. Career expoes offer a unique opportunity for university graduates to find their first occupation, but they also give a chance to those who have lost their jobs because of tough economy or a world-wide crisis.
Before you visit a job fair, review some tips on participating in one, which will certainly help you to make the most of them and make your experience truly successful.
1. Dress professionally and wear comfortable shoes.
2. Exhibit a positive attitude and be open-minded.
3. Have your updated resume and a set of business cards with you.
4. Show initiative and be assertive.
5. Discuss your career goals, experience you have gained and qualifications you have.
6. Be self-assured and enthusiastic.
7. Remain optimistic and believe that the success will come sooner or later.

Task 2.
Decide whether the sentences below are true (T) or false (F):

1. Taking part in a career fair is a good opportunity to find a job. ……
2. There are two types of job fairs: traditional and modern. ……
3. Conventional fairs offer more chances of meeting employers. ……
4. Head-hunters hardly ever attend virtual fairs. ……
5. Most job seekers prefer to apply online. ……
6. Internet connection is a necessity to participate in online expoes. ……
7. Face-to-face interviews are best for first time job seekers. ……
8. Job fairs are open to everybody seeking new careers. ……
9. Career fairs also serve those who have suffered from tough economy. …..
10. Knowing a few useful tips will be helpful for expo participants. …….

Task 3.
Watch the video ‘’How to stand out …‘’ and answer the questions and gap fill some of the statements below:

1. Which town are the career workshops held?
…………………………………………………………………………..
2. What did participants learn yesterday?
…………………………………………………………………………..
3. What is meant by ‘’differentiating yourself’’?
…………………………………………………………………………..
4. How can you stand out at job fairs?
…………………………………………………………………………..
5. How many job seekers have their business cards with them?
…………………………………………………………………………..
6. What are the top things to remember at career fairs?
a) dress for …………………………………………
b) be ……………………………………………….
c) greet with a solid ……………………………….
d) be …………………………to introduce yourself
e) prepare a ………… minute ……………………..
f) have a ……………… of your ………………………… ready
g) take a ………………………………… with you
h) demonstrate the ………………………… of the ……………………..
i) if possible ……………… your ……………………….. with the employer’s ………………………….
7. How much time on average does each candidate have to make an impression?
…………………………………………………………………………..
8. Why do middle managers have tough times now?
…………………………………………………………………………..

Job fairs! KEY TO EXERCISES

Task 2.
1. Taking part in a career fair is a good opportunity to find a job. .T..
2. There are two types of job fairs: traditional and modern. .T..
3. Conventional fairs offer more chances of meeting employers. .F..
4. Head-hunters hardly ever attend virtual fairs. .F..
5. Most job seekers prefer to apply online. .F..
6. Internet connection is a necessity to participate in online expoes. .T..
7. Face-to-face interviews are best for first time job seekers. .F..
8. Job fairs are open to everybody seeking new careers. .T..
9. Career fairs also serve those who have suffered from tough economy. .T.
10. Knowing a few useful tips will be helpful for expo participants. .T..

Task 3.
1. Which town are the career workshops held?
……Winston Salem………………..
2. What did participants learn yesterday?
……How to improve their resumes and they got tips on financial planning ………..
3. What is meant by ‘’differentiating yourself’’?
……Mostly standing out in the crowd by greeting people with a firm handshake, having a business card with them and doing a 30-minute commercial………..
4. How can you stand out at job fairs?
……Apart from the above, it is also important to orient yourself to company representatives and make them remember you actively…………………………..
5. How many job seekers have their business cards with them?
…………2 or 3 out of 10…………..
6. What are the top things to remember at career fairs?
a) dress for ………SUCCESS………………
b) be …………PATIENT………………….
c) greet with a solid ………HANDSHAKE…………….
d) be ………WILLING………to introduce yourself
e) prepare a …30…… minute ………COMMERCIAL……..
f) have a ……COPY……of your ……RESUME…… ready
g) take a ……BUSINESS CARD…………… with you
h) demonstrate the ……KNOWLEDGE… of the ……ORGANIZATION…..
i) if possible …MATCH…… your ……ABILITIES….. with the employer’s …NEEDS…….
7. How much time on average does each candidate have to make an impression?
……………30 SECONDS…………………………………..
8. Why do middle managers have tough times now?
……………DUE TO DOWNSIZINGS AND CONSOLIDATIONS THEY ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS………………..