Job Hunting: Growing

Professionally
Part 2

1. Introduction: Looking for a Job

2. Professional Writing: Resumes (CVs) and Cover Letters
3. Getting Ready for a Job Interview
4. Pronunciation tips: How to sound more natural in English
5. Task 2: Professional Writing

Dr. Jorge Soto Almela ([Link]@[Link]). Dpto. de Lingüística

Aplicada. ETSAM.
1605. Comunicación oral y escrita en lengua inglesa – English for Professional and Academic Communication in
Architecture
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1. Introduction: Looking for a Job

 Researching yourself: strengths, weaknesses, qualifications, skills & experience

Before you look for the perfect job, write a CV or apply for a job, you need to do some
research. Researching yourself is the key to finding the job that is right for you.

Asking for some advice

Your strengths and weaknesses

The first thing you need to do when starting the job-hunting process is a self-
assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses. This process will help you
identify the skills, qualifications, experience, knowledge and personal
characteristics that employers are looking for.

1. Complete these sentences with your own strengths, weaknesses, and positive and negative
characteristics.

Now, share your answers with your classmates.

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Your qualifications

At all stages during the job application process you will need to be able to describe your
academic qualifications clearly.

2. Verbs used to talk about your qualifications. Complete the sentences using the
correct form of the verbs in the box. You will need to use some verbs more than once.

3. Prepositions. Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.

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Your skills and experience

Employers will ask for transferable skills or competencies – the skills, knowledge
and behaviour they consider necessary for a particular job. Reviewing your
previous experience will help you identify your transferable skills and recognise
jobs that you are qualified for.

4. Vocabulary: Transferable skills. Match the transferable skills (1-8) to the examples
of professional behaviour (a-h).

5. Write your own examples of behaviour for the following transferable skills. Then, share your
answers with your classmates.

a. Flexibility: __________________________________________________
b. Leadership skills: _____________________________________________
c. Organisational skills: ___________________________________________
d. Teamworking skills: ____________________________________________

6. Many job advertisements request familiarity with certain tools, skills or languages that are
relevant to the job. Put the expressions in bold in order of knowledge and experience
required.

1. 2. 3.
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- Now, write sentences about your knowledge and experience using the following expressions:
 I am proficient in __________________________________________________
 I have an excellent command of _________________________________________
 I have a good working knowledge of ______________________________________

7. Complete the phrases for demonstrating transferable skills using the correct verbs in
brackets.

1.3. Silvia talks to Sophie about her university and work experience. Listen to the conversation
and answer the following questions.

1. When did Silvia apply for her MA course?

__________________________________________________________
2. What was Silvia doing in Africa?
__________________________________________________________
3. What job did Silvia have at university?
__________________________________________________________

1.3. Complete the extracts from the conversation using the correct form of the verbs in the box.
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 Researching the market

Once you know yourself, it’s time to start researching the market – finding out
more about the type of job you want and the companies and organisations that have
similar posts. Doing this will help you make a short list of the placed where you’d
like to work.

1.4. Listen to 5 people discussing job hunting. Which job-hunting method does each speaker
recommend?

Job agencies/headhunters newspapers and magazines networking

the Internet cold calling/mailing

 Speaker 1: __________
 Speaker 2: __________
 Speaker 3: __________
 Speaker 4: __________
 Speaker 5: __________

Have you ever used any of these methods? Can you think of any other job-hunting methods?

RESEARCH THE MARKET AND FIND A JOB ADVERTISEMENT FOR A VACANCY

THAT MATCHES YOUR CRITERIA FOR WORK. IDENTIFY WHETHER YOU HAVE
THE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION.
SHARE THE ADVERT WITH YOUR CLASSMATES AND KEEP IT WITH YOU AS YOU
WILL NEED IT LATER IN THIS UNIT.

2. Professional Writing: Resumes (CVs) & Cover Letters

 Resumes (CVs)

1. What is a resume? YOU…ON A PAGE

A resume is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience.

Its purpose is to market the product (you) to the needs of the consumer (the employer). Although it
alone will not get you a job or internship, a good resume is an important element toward obtaining
an interview. The resume is usually sent together with a cover letter.
Remember your resume is your first impression on the employer so:
 Use appropriate spelling and grammar
 Tailor each resume to the specific job and employer
Before drafting your resume…
 Assess your values, goals, skills, and experiences (Researching yourself)
 Research the organization/company and position (Researching the market)
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2. Basic structure of a resume

RESUME SECTIONS: THE ESSENTIAL

Includes your full name, current and permanent (if applicable)
address (i.e. Street Address, City, State, Zip Code), phone number,
CONTACT
professional e-mail address, and your LinkedIn profile (optional
INFORMATION
but useful).

Indicates the schools/universities you attended. If you attended

multiple academic institutions, list them in reverse chronological
order. You must include the location of each institution as well as
EDUCATION
your majors, degrees, and academic honours and awards if
applicable.

Indicates the positions you have held including paid, volunteer,

part-time, seasonal, and internships. Outline your responsibilities,
projects you have worked on, goals achieved and the skills you
utilized to achieve them. Begin each statement with a strong action
verb. Quantify as much as possible and show how your skills and
EXPERIENCE
ideas lead to positive results for the organization. Highlight
transferable skills and key words associated with the industry/field
you are applying to. Make sure you tell the reader the organization
name, job title, location, employment dates, and strategic duties.

Showcases your language ability, laboratory, computer, and other

technical skills. Make sure you accurately describe skill level using
SKILLS
key words and phrases associated with the field or industry.

RESUME SECTIONS: THE OPTIONAL

This is typically applicable when your resume might be seen by
many different recruiters from a variety of industries or areas
within an organization. For instance, if you are sending your
resume to an architecture practice, you might want to use your
OBJECTIVE
objective statement to point out that you are interested in
opportunities in interior design, but not landscaping. As a
recently graduated, it is advisable to omit this section.

Usually a sub-section of education that includes merit-based

HONOURS AND
special certificates and academic achievements.
AWARDS
Includes on and off-campus organizations, clubs, student
publications and charitable groups you belong to. Be sure to
include the name of all organizations, your job/position title (if
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
applicable), and date of duration and brief description of what you
did.

Showcases professional organizations that are affiliated with your

PROFESSIONAL
career and field of interest.
ORGANISATIONS
Incorporating your study abroad academic experiences or
internships on your resume is an opportunity to demonstrate to
STUDY ABROAD
potential employers your flexibility, global knowledge, and facility
EXPERIENCE
to adapt to new surroundings. Your study abroad experience may
be included on your resume as a sub-section of education or as a
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separate category, depending on the extent of your international
experiences.

Campus activities, community service, committee involvement,

and club memberships are great ways to communicate your
LEADERSHIP
leadership skills to potential employers.

3. Types of resumes

Chronological resume
• This is the most widely used and acceptable resume style. Content is organized in time
sequences with the most recent listed first. This style is particularly effective for students
whose education and experience correlate with their professional interests.

Functional (Skills-based) resume

• Although this style is less common among college students, it is ideal for those who have
significant gaps in their work history, have held numerous unrelated jobs, and whose work
experience is not directly related to their career path. It highlights specific skills, personal
qualities, and combines duties and accomplishments from an array of jobs to address the
employer’s needs. This format is sometimes used by those with little or no work experience,
or those who are career changers.

4. Resume language and formatting

LANGUAGE

 Specific rather than general

 Written to express not impress
 Articulate rather than “flowery”
 Fact-based
 Written for people who scan quickly
 Don’t use a narrative style
 Don’t use abbreviations
 Check spelling and grammar mistakes
 Use “action” verbs and be direct (you have to communicate all your best-selling attributes in
a small space). See samples of action verbs for your resume on the next page:
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Source: [Link]
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FORMATTING

 There is no one absolute format. Create a format that best represents you.
 Be consistent in format and content.
 Make it easy to read and follow, balancing white space.
 Use consistent spacing, underlining, italics, bold, and capitalisation for emphasis.

5. Examples of resumes

 Read the following examples of resumes and identify the type of resume and their sections.
In which section are the “action” verbs mostly used? Discuss the positive and/or negative
points of each resume, when applicable.

EXAMPLE 1
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EXAMPLE 2
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EXAMPLE 3
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EXAMPLE 4
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EXAMPLE 5

 What makes Example 5 different from the previous examples?

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6. Activities

2.1. Listen to Silvia and her friend, Sophie, discussing CVs. Complete the following CV
structures.

2.2. A German student, Alex Mencken, has recently decided to apply for two administrative
assistant jobs in London. Listen to Alex discussing common mistakes people make with CVs with
his friend Ella, an HR officer, and answer the following questions.

1. Ella mentions the importance of correct spelling. Look at the following extracts from CVs.
Identify and correct the spelling mistakes (the number of mistakes is given in brackets). You
can use a dictionary if necessary.

2. Writing a personal statement for your CV (profile). A well-written personal

statement usually includes answers to the following questions:

 What sort of person am I?

 What is my area of professional expertise?
 What is my most important qualification?
 What is my most relevant skill for the job?
 What am I doing at the moment?

The beginning of a personal statement usually follows this structure:

Modifier + Adjective 1 + Sort of person + Adjective 2 + Experience/Skills

For example: Highly results-focused architect with excellent communication skills.

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 Complete the table using the words in the box. Then, write at least 3 true personal statements
about you.

a)
b)
c)

3. Your work experience: using ‘action’ verbs. Rewrite the following sentences using the
verbs in brackets. Leave out any information that is implied by the verb itself or is simply
irrelevant. Remember that ‘action’ verbs are used in the past simple without a
personal pronoun.
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 Cover Letters

1. What is a cover letter?

Your cover letter is the first impression employers have of your writing skills. It is a brief (one-page)
well-written letter that complements your resume. A cover letter, also known as letter of application
or application letter, usually shows your skills, knowledge of the organization, motivation, and
passion. Be sure to connect your attributes to the needs of the employer by specifically
tailoring your letter to the position for which you are applying. No resume should be
sent without a cover letter unless you are explicitly told not to do so.

2. Structure of a cover letter

Include also your telephone number and email

address.

Address your letter to a specific person if you can

(Mr. Taylor), but if you don’t know the recipient’s
name, you can use a generic greeting (Dear
Hiring/Recruitment Manager or Dear Sir/Madam).

Express your
interest

Match your skills

to the needs of
the employer.
Demonstrate
your experience
and
accomplishments
with concrete
examples.

Convince the
employer to
grant you an
interview.

Use “Yours faithfully” when you don’t know the

recipient’s name.
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3. Cover letter language and tips

a) Keep your letter concise, no more than a single page. Avoid flowery language.
b) Give examples that support your skills and qualifications.
c) Don’t overuse the pronoun “I”.
d) Avoid contractions as they make the letter seem too informal.
e) Emotive words (wonderful, great, terrible) should be avoided.
f) Be assertive not aggressive.

4. Cover letter example

Mark Harris
120, Made Up Street
Birmingham, B1 1AA
T: 0044 121 638 0026
E: info@[Link]

8th September 2019

Mathew Gordon
Hiring Manager
Dayjob Ltd
120, Vyse Street
Birmingham, B18 6NF

Dear Mr. Gordon:

I am writing to express my interest in the architect position with your company. I am also very excited
about the possibility of working for a reputable and growing company like yours where I will have the
opportunity to work on architectural design and planning in a professional setting. With my degree in
Architecture and my hands-on experience in this field, I am confident that I have those specific qualities
that you are looking for in a candidate.

Over the past two years I have been employed by Rayners Building Consultants where I have worked on
a variety of residential, commercial, and retail mixed-use projects in the education, and healthcare sectors.
Since working for this company I have managed projects from the initial design stage right through to
completion. My enclosed CV clearly shows my knowledge of structural design, material resolution and
building economics, as well as my ability to utilise Auto CAD, Microsoft Office, Adobe and other graphics
communication programs.

I am a dynamic and ambitious architect who possesses the design and development flair needed to plan,
coordinate and be involved in all phases of an architectural project. On top of all of this I have superb
communication skills and client liaison ability as well as a strong technical understanding of UK Building
Regulations.

I appreciate your consideration of my application and look forward to further discussing this opportunity
with you in person. Please feel free to contact me anytime to arrange an interview.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Harris
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5. Activities

Improving your grammar.

Prepositions

1. Complete these sample sentences typically used in cover letters with a preposition.

a) I am writing _____ you with regard _____ the voluntary work placement.
b) I am planning _____ doing a degree _____ Architecture _____ university.
c) As you will see _____ my CV, I have always shown an interest _____ working _____
multidisciplinary team.
d) _____ this position, I was responsible _____ presenting reports.
e) Undertaking a degree _____ Architecture confirms my interest _____ and commitment
_____ the field.

Word Formation

2. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets.

…-ing clauses

If you are talking about two actions that

happen one after the other, you can use a
perfect participle for the first one. Use a
comma between the actions. For example:

Having studied Architecture, she is now a

renowned interior designer.
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3.

Should in formal writing

In formal writing, should is often used to mean if. For example: Please do not hesitate
to contact me, should you require any further information.

4. From 1 to 3, use the words in brackets to report these formal sentences as if you were talking.
Do the opposite in sentences 4 and 5.

*PA =Personal Assistant

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Vocabulary. Useful expressions/phrases for writing cover letters.

5. Classify the phrases from the box into the most appropriate section below.

Experience and Reasons for

Opening Closing the letter
Qualifications applying

6. Complete the following opening paragraphs using the words in the box.
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7. Complete this letter using the following phrases.
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Formal language to create a more professional impression

Whether applying online or sending your cover letter through the post, it is important
to write using appropriate language. Although informal language may sometimes be
acceptable in cover letters, more formal alternatives will create a more professional
impression.

8. Complete the following table using the words in the box.

9. Complete the following sentences using the formal words in Exercise 8.

10. Rewrite the underlined sections of the following sentences using more appropriate formal
language. Use the words in brackets.
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3. Getting Ready for a Job Interview

If you have been invited to an interview, you have passed a significant test. Your
CV and cover letter have made a strong first impression. You have been selected in
front of your rivals, and made it to the short list. The interview is your opportunity
to prove you are the best candidate for the job.

4.1. Silvia has been invited for an interview. Before her interview, she meets Nina, a human
resources manager, for some interview preparation tips. Listen to the conversation and make a list
of the tips given by Nina.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Small talk. Look at the following examples of interview small talk. Match the beginnings (1-10) to
the endings (a-j). Would you say these to the receptionist (R), the interviewer (I) or both (B)?
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Interview questions. Look at the following interview questions. Write the type of question (a-c)
next to each question (1-12).

Which questions would you welcome in an interview? Which questions would you not like to
be asked? Which questions are easiest to answer? Which are the most difficult?

4.10. Listen to two recruitment experts, Grace and Oliver, sharing tips on effective ways to
answer the following questions. According to them, what is the best way to answer these questions?

 Now, in pairs, take turns to ask and answer them.

Architecture interview questions. In addition to the interview questions that can be asked for
any position, architects should be ready to answer role-specific questions related to the projects they
have designed and their portfolio. Some examples are:

1. Which is the project in your portfolio you’re most proud of? Could you describe it shortly?
2. What architecture or other magazines do you read?
3. Do you have experience in working with different materials like metal, wood, etc.?
4. What are some criteria you’d use for choosing materials?
5. What’s your experience with AutoCAD and 3D modelling?
6. What do you like to do most? Modelling, graphic design, working just on one stage of a
project…?
7. Give me an example of a creative idea you had that resulted in an improvement.

 Now, in pairs, take turns to ask and answer them. Read ‘Extra material’ for real sample
questions and answers.

For further information on how to get ready for a job interview in Architecture, watch this
video: Architecture Career Tips - [Link]
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Extra material
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4. Pronunciation tips: How to sound more natural in English

 Linking (connected speech)

When we say a sentence in English, we join or "link" words to each other. Because of this linking,
the words in a sentence do not always sound the same as when we say them individually. Linking is
very important in English. If you recognize and use linking, two things will happen:

- You will understand other people more easily.

- Other people will understand you more easily.

There are basically two main types of linking:

1. consonant ⇔ vowel
We link words ending with a consonant sound to words beginning with a vowel sound. When a
word ends in a consonant sound, we often move the consonant sound to the beginning of the next
word if it starts with a vowel sound. For example, we write turn_off, but we say tur-noff [ˈt3ːr-nɒf].
Remember that the sound is what is linked, so don’t get confused by the spelling: believe_it [bɪˈ-liː-
vɪt]. More examples: Book_on_architecture, Please_omit her name
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2. consonant ⇔ consonant
We link words ending with a consonant sound to words beginning with a consonant sound.
When the final consonant sound in the first word is the same as the first sound in the second word,
the sound is held for extra time, then released. Compare “big game” with “big aim” and “start time”
with “star time.” So, for “start time” you do this by holding your tongue in the “t” position, and then
releasing the “t” after the second “t” in “time” and remember to hold it for extra time. For example,
good_day, at_ten, that_time, help_pay, big_garden, black_car, same_message, some_money,
this_city, real_life, more_room, both_things.

Watch these videos for further information:

1. How to link words (Oxford Online English):
[Link]
2. Consonant-vowel linking (BBC Learning English):
[Link]

Linking R sound

The linking R sound in English is an extra sound that we use between two words when we are
connecting these two words together. If we pronounce the two words separately, we do not use an R
sound between them but if we pronounce them together, we say an R sound between the words
because it makes the words easier to pronounce quickly. For example, four_apples, here_and_now,
where_are you?, The car_is mine, Where_is the fire_exit?, I saw_/r/_a cat.

Watch this video for further information:

1. The intrusive /r/ and the linking /r/: [Link]

Pronunciation practice

1. With a partner, take turns reading each phrase.

2. With a partner, find the hidden words in the quotes. Then, take turns saying the quotes.
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3. Practice saying these phrases.

4. With a partner, discuss and underline where you think sounds may be linked. Then, take
turns saying each sentence.
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 Sound/minimal pairs (2)
Exercises taken from: Hancock, Mark (2003). English Pronunciation in Use. UK: Cambridge University Press.
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5. Task 2: Professional Writing

Task 2 is divided into two parts: ‘My resume’ and ‘My cover letter’.

IMPORTANT!!! Before doing Task 2 you will have to find a job advertisement or an
internship offer of your interest. The job advertisement/internship offer must be
submitted together with your resume and cover letter.

My resume

Title ‘MY RESUME’

Aim(s)  To write your own resume (CV) in order to apply for a job/internship
in your field of work.

Type of task Individually

Procedure Write your own chronological resume including, at least, the following
essential sections: contact information, education, experience, and
skills. If it is necessary, you can add optional sections such as awards,
volunteer activities or leadership (see pages 7-8 “Basic structure of a
resume” for +info).

Format guidelines The only strict format guideline for this task is that it should NOT exceed
ONE PAGE.
Students should be aware of the following recommendations:
 Create a format that best represents you.
 Be consistent in format and content.
 Make it easy to read and follow, balancing white space.
 Use consistent spacing, underlining, italics, bold, and capitalisation
for emphasis.
 Be aware of the language you use (see page 8 “Resume language and
formatting” for +info).
 Use action verbs in the past simple to describe your responsibilities
and experience.
 Plagiarism will be penalized to the fullest extent.

Assessment ‘My resume’ is worth 10% of the total mark.

My cover letter

Title ‘MY COVER LETTER’

Aim(s)  To write your own cover letter in order to apply for a job/internship
in your field of work.

Type of task Individually

Procedure Write your own cover letter in response to a job advertisement/internship

of your interest. Remember to tailor your letter to the position you are
applying for. You are supposed to strictly follow the structure of a
cover letter (see page 17 “Structure of a cover letter” for +info):
- Firstly, express your interest.
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- Secondly, match your skills to the needs of the employer.
- Thirdly, demonstrate your experience and accomplishments with
concrete examples.
- Finally, convince the employer to grant you an interview.

Format guidelines The only strict format guideline for this task is that it should NOT exceed
ONE PAGE (please, write NO MORE THAN 280 words).
Students should be aware of the following recommendations:
 Keep your letter concise. Avoid flowery language.
 Give examples that support your skills and qualifications.
 Don’t overuse the pronoun “I”.
 Avoid contractions as they make the letter seem too informal.
 Emotive words (wonderful, great, terrible) should be avoided.
 Be assertive, not aggressive.
 Plagiarism will be penalized to the fullest extent.

Assessment ‘My cover letter’ is worth 10% of the total mark.

HOW TO SUBMIT TASK 2:

Students should upload to Moodle (English for Professional and Academic Communication in
Architecture > Task 2: Professional Writing) a SINGLE PDF file (only 1 file per person). The
file should include 3 DOCUMENTS (in one file!!!) in this order:
1. The JOB ADVERTISEMENT/INTERNSHIP you chose.
2. Your ONE-PAGE RESUME.
3. Your ONE-PAGE COVER LETTER.

The deadline will be Thursday, 19 March 2020 at 23.55.

When naming your file, please use the following convention: TASK2_YOUR FULL NAME (e.g.
TASK2_JORGE SOTO ALMELA).

Job advert One-page

One-page
cover
= Internship
+ resume + letter

TASK2_YOUR FULL NAME

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Relevant bibliography

Downes, C. (2008). Cambridge English for Job-hunting. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press.
Hancock, M. (2003). English Pronunciation in Use. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Office of Career Services (2019). Resumes and Cover Letters. An Extension School Resource.
Harvard University. Retrieved from [Link]
[Link]