A5003/Unit 2

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ENGLISH FOR TECHNICAL PURPOSES 5

A5003

UNIT 2

Making Enquiries About Jobs

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UNIT 2

Making Enquiries About Jobs

GENERAL AIM
At the end of the unit you should be able to make enquires to enable you to get a job.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
At the end of the unit, you should be able to :
1. make a list of appropriate questions to elicit information about jobs, such as
job vacancies and job specifications.
2. make enquiries on the telephone or in person about jobs, such as job vacancies
and job specifications.
3. make an appointment for an interview via the telephone or in person.
4. negotiate qualifications, pay, etc.
5. respond to enquiries

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BEFORE YOU CONTINUE

Have you worked before?
If you have, how did you get the job?
What are the various ways you can get a job?

Complete the web below

Write in

Job

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Bazlis friend has informed him that there are job vacancies at the firm in which she
works. She has asked him to contact Encik Abdul Bin Rahman to find out more.

Task 2.1

Listening
Listen to the conversation between Encik
Abdul Bin Rahman and Bazli and answer
the questions which follow.

1. What is the name of the company Bazli is calling?

A. Toshiba Sdn Bhd
B. Canon Electronics
C. Senawang Electronics
2. Encik Abdul Bin Rahman works in the
A. Personal Department
B. Personnel Department
C. Research and Development Department
3. What post is Bazli applying for?
A. Electrician
B. Electrical Technician
C. Electronics Technician
4. How did Bazli come to know about the job vacancy?
A. From a friend
B. From a relative
C. From a job advertisement
5. What is Bazlis qualification?
A. A university degree
B. A diploma from a polytechnic
C. A certificate from a polytechnic
6. When is the appointment made between Bazli and Abdul Bin Rahman ?
A. 3rd April
B. 30th April
C. 13th April

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Now listen again and fill in the blanks to complete the dialogue.
Operator

Good morning, Toshiba Sdn. Bhd., may I help you?

Bazli

Good morning. __________________________________

Encik Abdul Bin Rahman, please?

Operator

May I know whos calling, please?

Bazli

My name is Bazli. I am phoning _______________________

whether you have any job vacancies.

Operator

One moment please, Ill ___________________________

Encik Abdul, the Personnel Officer who deals with recruitment.

Encik Abdul :

Hello, personnel department, Abdul here.

Bazli

Good morning Encik Abdul. Im Bazli bin Mohammad. A

friend of mine, Suzana, informed me that you may want to hire
an electronics technician.

Encik Abdul :

We do have some vacancies at the moment. Can you tell me

something about your background?

Bazli

I have a Diploma in Electronic Engineering from the Ungku

Omar Polytechnic.

Encik Abdul :

___________________________________________?

Bazli

Two years ago.

Encik Abdul :

What have you been doing since then?

Bazli

I worked with two companies. The first was with Hock Loong
Electronics, I left the company a year ago. Since then I have
been with Senawang Electronics.

Encik Abdul :

Encik Bazli, why do you want to leave Senawang Electronics?

Its a well-established company and Im sure they pay you well.

Bazli

Yes, thats true, but since working there, I have had only very
routine work. I have not learned anything new.

Encik Abdul :

Encik Bazli, Id be interested to meet you. But before we

arrange for an appointment, is there anything you would like to
ask me?

Bazli

Yes. Could you tell me a bit ___________________________?

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Encik Abdul :

Well, basically you will have to troubleshoot and maintain the

electronic equipment that we have. Besides that you may be
required to assist in special projects done by our Research and
Development Department. I think youll enjoy the challenge.

Bazli

Thats interesting. I ___________________________________

what the salary is like.

Encik Abdul :

We offer a very competitive remuneration package. However, I

think its best we discuss it when we meet.

Bazli

__________________________ to discuss the position further?

Would you be able to come in to see me tomorrow 3rd of

April, say at nine in the morning? Were on the first floor of
Wisma Perak, Jalan Duta. You shouldnt have any problem
finding the place.

Encik Abdul :

Bazli

Sure, Ill be there.

Encik Abdul :

Please bring a copy of your Diploma, your _______________

and a recent _____________________.

Bazli

No problem.

Encik Abdul :

O.K. then, Ill see you tomorrow.

Bazli

Thank you very much Encik Abdul. Im really _____________

______________________________ you.

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS
Task 2.2

Below are some of the language functions used in the conversation between Bazli and
Abdul. Match the functions with the expressions used in the conversation. The first
one has been done for you.
To greet Good morning, Toshiba Sdn. Bhd., may I help you?
To introduce
To enquire

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To inform
To request
To instruct
To confirm
To thank

Making Enquiries about Job Vacancy

Task 2.3

.
The following questions were asked by Bazli during the telephone conversation. Use
the question structure and the key words in brackets to make similar questions. The
first one has been done for you.
1.

Could you tell me about the nature of the job?

(qualifications)
Could you tell me about the qualifications needed for the job?
Now you do it
1a

(background of company)

________________________________________________________________
1b

(fringe benefits)

________________________________________________________________
2. When can we meet to discuss the position further?
2a

(report for duty)

_______________________________________________________________

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2b

(submit application)

_______________________________________________________________
3. I hope you wont mind telling me what the salary is like.
3a

(postpone interview)

_______________________________________________________________
3b

(send me an application form)

_______________________________________________________________

Special Note:
When you use mind, youll have to add -ing to the verb which follows it.
For example, I hope you wont mind telling me

More useful expressions for asking for information

I would like to know more about the position.

Would you mind telling me more about the position?
Would it be all right if I ask you about the position?
May I know if the company has branches in East Malaysia?

Task 2.4

Work in pairs. Use the polite expressions to form questions to ask for job-related
information.
a) ___________________________________________________________________
b) ___________________________________________________________________
c) ___________________________________________________________________

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d) ___________________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE
INPUT
In the conversation, the Simple Past Tense and the Simple Present Tense are used.
When do we use these tenses?
The Simple Present Tense
This tense is used when we want to talk about happenings in the present situation.
Examples:
I have a Diploma in Electronic Engineering.
I work at Toshiba Sdn Bhd.
I know where the company is located.
The Simple Past Tense
This tense is used when we want to talk about our past experience or something which
we did at a certain time in the past.
Examples:
I worked with two companies.
I left the company a year ago.

Using the tenses in making and answering enquiries

Simple Past Tense
Question:
When did you graduate from the polytechnic?
(Note: did is used when you ask a question about something which occurred at a
certain time in the past)
Answer:

I graduated in 1999.

Simple Present Tense

Question:
How many branches does the company have in South East Asia?
(You use do or does when you want to ask questions about the present situation.
Use does when the subject is singular and do when the subject is
plural.)
Answer:

We have 12 branches.

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Task 2.5

Answer the following questions using the above two tenses to talk about your own
background.
1. What did you do after you completed your SPM?
____________________________________________________________________
2. Where do you live?
____________________________________________________________________
3. Why did you choose to study Electronics (or the course you are doing now)?
____________________________________________________________________
4. What did you learn during your industrial training?
____________________________________________________________________
5. Why do you want to join our company?
____________________________________________________________________
6. What do you do in your free time?
____________________________________________________________________

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Task 2.6

Making Telephone Enquiries about

Job Vacancies

Classified advertisement
INSURANCE TRAINEE
RM15,000.00 per annum plus bonus plus luncheon
vouchers.
We are seeking a young ambitious person with
mathematical ability, to be trained in all aspects of
marine insurance. Full training will be given.

Work in pairs. One of you be the job applicant and the other Cik Zuraida. The person
playing Zuraida should complete the form on the next page.
Zuraida:

Good morning, JD and SONS Insurance, may I help you?

Job Applicant: Good morning. Could I speak to Cik Zuraida please?

Zuraida:

Yes, speaking. What can I do for you?

Job Applicant: Im phoning about

Now you continue. Try to arrange for an appointment for an interview.

Useful Expressions
Could you repeat that, please?
Let me spell that for you. / My name is spelt .
Let me repeat that for you. / I repeat ..
Would Monday 2.00 pm be all right? / How about .
Im very sorry, Im afraid I cant make it on that day. How about .
Thatll be fine with me. / Sure, no problem.
Thinking Aloud
What will Zuraida say if she doesnt want to give the applicant even an interview?

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JD and SONS Insurance

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES JOB APPLICATIONS
Name:
Address:
Highest Qualification:
Present employer:
Position in firm:
Work experience:
Reason for leaving present job:
Applicants manner:
Polite
Articulate
Interested
Confident

[
[
[
[

]
]
]
]

Action Taken:
Rejected
Asked to call back

Rude
Inarticulate
Bored
Nervous
[
[

]
]

[
[
[
[

]
]
]
]

Interview arranged
Application form sent

[
[

More Practice
Try practising the following situations with someone:
1. Phoning the company to follow-up on a job application.
2. Walking-in to enquire about job vacancies.
Try a variety of possible scenarios:
For example,
- the manager is not in
- the manager never received your job application
- you are invited for an interview fix an appointment
- the post has already been filled
- no vacancies yet (for unsolicited applications), but will keep in view your
application

]
]

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SELF-TEST
The following telephone conversation contains phrases (underlined) which are not
appropriate. Identify and correct them.
Ring! Ring!
Sheila: Hello. Trendy Fashion. What do you want (1)?
Khalil: Hello, good morning. My name is Khalil. I want to know (2) if you have any
job vacancy for a graphic designer.
Sheila: In that case youll need to speak to our Personal Manager (3), Pn. Siti. Hold
the line please. Ill put you through to her.
Khalil: Thank you for your kind assistance.
Siti:

Hello. Siti speaking.

Khalil: Hello, Im Khalil . Im a diploma holder in graphic design from the Johor
Bahru Polytechnic. I want to work (4) in Trendy Fashion. Tell me (5) if there
are any vacancies that would be suitable for me.
Siti:

As a matter of fact, we have two vacancies for the position of graphic

designer.

Khalil: Tell me about the job (6).

Siti:

Basically the job involves designing magazine covers and web sites for our
clients.

Khalil: Very good. I want you to make an appointment for an interview with me (7).
Siti:

What about this Friday at 3 p.m.?

Khalil: That will be a problem, but Ill try to make it (8).

Siti:

If thats so, please let me note down your full name and contact number.

Khalil: My full name is Khalil b Harun.

Siti:

I dont know how you spell your name (9).

Khalil: It is k-h-a-l-i-l bin h-a-r-u-n.

Siti:

Give me your phone number (10).

Khalil: It is 05-3125555.
Siti:

Right. See you then. Bye.

Khalil: Thank you very much. Bye.

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SELF-TEST ANSWERS
1. May I help you? / What can I do for you? / Can I be of assistance?
2. I would like to know if / Could you please tell me / Would you mind telling
me
3. Personnel Manager
4. I would like to apply for a job
5. Could you tell me if / I hope you wont mind telling me if
6. Would you mind telling me about the nature of the job? / I would appreciate it
if you could give me some information about the job.
7. Thats very good news. Could I make an appointment for an interview?
8. Thatll be fine. Ill be there on time.
9. How do you spell that, please?
10. Could I have your phone number, please?
Other answers may be possible. Please check with your lecturer if youre not sure.

How well did you do in the self-test?

You have just completed 10 questions. Use the following guide to see how well you
have understood the unit:
More than 8 correct Well done!
5 7 correct

Good! You have understood most of the unit. Still, you

should try to find out why you got the answers wrong.

Fewer than 5 correct Well, you should talk to your lecturer about the problems you
face in understanding the unit.