Career choices 1

‘Be prepared to
develop attributes
that work across
sectors so you can
make the best moves
for your career.’
Ashley Hayward,
Careers Advisor

Unit overview
1.1 Transferable skills Video: Transferable skills
Lesson outcome: Learners can use vocabulary related to skills Vocabulary: Transferable skills
and personal qualities. Project: Writing a job description

1.2 Careers advice Listening: Careers advice programme

Lesson outcome: Learners can use a range of phrases for Grammar: Advice and suggestions
giving advice and making suggestions. Speaking: Advising how to improve an online profile

1.3 Communication skills: Building rapport Video: Building rapport

Lesson outcome: Learners are aware of simple ways to build Functional language: Asking questions to build rapport
rapport at first meetings and can use a range of appropriate Task: Building rapport during a short conversation
questions.

1.4 Business skills: Networking Listening: Advice on networking

Lesson outcome: Learners can use a range of expressions Functional language: Networking at a careers event
to start, close and show interest in simple, face-to-face Task: Meeting a recruiter at a careers event
conversations on familiar topics.

1.5 Writing: Emails – Introducing yourself Model text: Email introducing yourself
Lesson outcome: Learners can write an email introducing Functional language: Formal and informal language
themselves to work colleagues. Grammar: Adverbs of degree
Task: Write an introduction email
Business workshop 1: Review 1: Pronunciation: 1.1 Word stress 1.2 Voice range Grammar reference:
7
 1.1 Transferable skills
Lesson outcome Learners can use vocabulary related to skills and personal qualities.

Lead-in 1 Tick (✓) the three words or phrases that best describe you.
calm good with computers good with numbers good with people
good at problem-solving organised reliable resourceful

Life skills are abilities that are useful in

2 Work in pairs and compare your answers. Then discuss these questions.
daily tasks at home, work or in education. 1 Is there an expression in Exercise 1 that definitely doesn’t describe you?
2 Which is a) the most important b) the least important life skill in the box? Why?
VIDEO 3A Work in pairs or groups. Discuss the question.
According to the video you’re going to watch, employers want skills that can be applied
to a range of tasks and roles. What skills do you think this means? Give examples.
B 1.1.1 Watch the video. Were any of your ideas mentioned?
4A Watch the video again. Answer the questions.
1 What skills and personal qualities do the speakers talk about? Add them to the list
of skills you discussed in Exercise 3.
2 What five ways of communicating are mentioned in the video?
In person, …
3 What are the three main pieces of advice the video gives?
B Work in pairs and compare your answers. Then think of two or three words
to describe unsuccessful twenty-first-century workers.
5 Work in pairs or groups. Discuss these questions.
1 Choose one of the transferable skills or personal qualities you listed in Exercise 4A.
Think of at least two different situations where it might be useful.
T Teacher’s resources: 2 Which transferable skills are the most important in your current situation, either as
extra activities a student or a professional? Are there any that aren’t important?

Vocabulary Transferable skills

6 What do these words and phrases from the video mean? Match them with
the best situation (a–h).
You … You …
1 can think outside the box. a decided to save money for a holiday a year
2 have a can-do attitude. in the future.
3 can set goals. b did a difficult project without complaining.
4 use critical thinking. c carefully checked information you found on the
internet to make sure it was true.
d asked your teacher if you could make a short film
instead of handing in an essay.
You … You …
5 have a lot of determination. e found a wallet with a lot of money in it and
6 are a team player. returned it to the owner.
7 have integrity. f took four tries to pass your driving test, but never
8 have good communication gave up, and kept studying and practising.
skills. g worked with a group of friends to start a weekend
cycling club.
h spoke clearly when you gave a presentation and
really listened to questions from the audience.

8
 1.1 Transferable skills

7 Complete the tables with the correct words.

Adjective Noun Adjective Noun
1 adaptability 7 independence
flexible 2 ambitious 8
3 motivation 9 passion
confident 4 enthusiastic 10
5 dependability 11 honesty
resourceful 6 authentic 12

8 Work in pairs or small groups.

1 Think of three or four more transferable skills. Use your dictionary if necessary.
2 For each skill, think of a way that a student could develop or demonstrate the skill.
T Teacher’s resources:
extra activities page 114 See Pronunciation bank: Word stress

PROJECT: Writing a job description

9 Look at the jobs below. Discuss how some of the transferable skills from Exercises 6
and 7 are necessary for each job.
accountant construction worker factory worker journalist personal trainer
politician professional athlete salesperson teacher
10A Work in pairs. Think of a job: one from Exercise 9, one you know about or one you
would like to do.
• Write down the name of the job, e.g. personal trainer, accountant, salesperson, etc.
• List 3–5 things the person needs to do, e.g. lead classes, take care
of company money, meet customers, etc.
• Identify skills that the person needs to have to take care of the
responsibilities you’ve listed. Use skills from Exercises 6 and 7,
or your own ideas.
B Write a job description based on
your research.
C Work with another pair and
read each other’s job description.
Does your partner’s description:
• list 3–5 things the person needs
to do?
• identify skills that the person
needs to have to take care of the
responsibilities you’ve listed?
D Circle any skills or personal
qualities that you think
have been used incorrectly.
Would you like to apply for
the job? Why / Why not?

• How successfully have you achieved the lesson outcome? Give yourself a score
Self-assessment from 0 (I need more practice) to 5 (I know this well).
• Go to My Self-assessment in MyEnglishLab to reflect on what you have learnt. 9
 1.2 Careers advice
Lesson outcome Learners can use a range of phrases for giving advice and making suggestions.

Lead-in 1 Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss the questions.

1 Can you name three or four different social media platforms?
2 What role does social media play in finding a new job?
3 What information does an online profile on a professional networking site usually have?
4 Is there anything you should avoid putting in an online profile? What? Why?
2 Have you ever received any advice about your career? Talk about:
• who gave it to you.
• what he/she said.
• if the advice was useful in any way.
Listening 3 Work in pairs or small groups. Read the situation and answer the questions.
A recent graduate has phoned a careers advice programme to ask how he can
make his online profile more noticeable to employers.

1 What advice do you think he gets? 2 What advice would you give?
4 1.01 Listen to the programme. Were any of your ideas from Exercise 3
mentioned? What advice did the host give?
5 Listen to the programme again. Decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F).
1 The caller has recently had a job interview.
2 He doesn’t know how to make contacts in his industry.
3 The host doesn’t recommend using professional networking sites.
4 The caller wants advice about how to improve his online profile.
5 The host asks the caller for specific examples that show his qualities.
6 The caller has experience in web design.
7 He has experience as an outdoor skills instructor.
8 He liked the host’s advice.

Teacher’s resources:
6 How could you follow the host’s advice? What activities do you do that show
T transferable skills?
extra activities I enjoy repairing my car. That show’s that I’m good with my hands.

Grammar Advice and suggestions

7A Complete the sentences from the programme using the words and phrases in the box.
could How ought should Why don’t you Why not try
1 deleting everything you’ve written about yourself?
2 take your description of yourself … and for each word, think of an example
from your own experience that shows who you are?
3 about telling me about something creative that you’ve done?
4 You really put that on your social media profile – you designed and built
a website.
5 You consider putting something about that on your profile.
6 You to think outside the box.
B What three different verb forms are used after the expressions of advice
or suggestion?

10
 1.2 Careers advice

C Choose the correct option in italics to complete the sentences.

1 Why don’t you send / to send an email to some companies?
2 How about to set up / setting up your own website?
3 You should to research / research the companies you’re interested in.
4 Why not try make / making a video for YouTube?
5 You ought to spend / spending some time improving your online profile.
6 You could think / to think about meeting some people who work in the industry.
7 What about asking / to ask your teacher for some help?
page 118 See Grammar reference: Advice and suggestions
8 Correct the errors in these sentences.
1 You shouldn’t to use words that explain the obvious – like hard-working.
2 Why don’t you trying giving more details about your IT skills?
3 Should you show your transferable skills rather than explaining them.
4 What about join some online groups to make more contacts?
5 Why not to try writing a blog about your experience?
6 You could doing some volunteer work, then add it to your profile.
T Teacher’s resources: 7 How about to include more information about your hobbies?
extra activities 8 You ought give some information about the languages you speak.

Listening 9 1.02 Listen to the second programme. Answer the questions.

1 Was the expert’s advice in the first programme useful or not? How do we know?
2 What problem does the caller have now?
10A Match the halves of the host’s questions. Then listen again and check.
1 What can I a what was your problem?
2 Can you remind me – b right?
3 Why don’t you tell me c help you with today?
4 You’re a recent graduate, d no kids?
5 And you’re single – e which is more important: money or excitement?
6 Why not try asking yourself f about the two jobs?
B Match the answers with questions 1–6 in Exercise 10A. Listen again and check.
a One looks very interesting, but not very well paid. The e Yep, that’s me.
other is probably a bit boring, but the money is good. f Yes, that’s right.
b We spoke a few weeks ago … and I still have a problem.
c That’s the problem, Jenny – I really can’t decide!
d My professional networking profile – it wasn’t working.
11A At the end of the recording, Jenny says Let me ask you a few more questions.
Work in pairs and think of 3–5 more questions that Jenny might ask the caller.
B Work in pairs. Act out a continuation of the dialogue. Then present your
dialogue to another group and compare ideas.
page 114 See Pronunciation bank: Voice range

Speaking 12 Read the online profile and other information on page 126. With a partner, give
advice to the person who wrote the profile, so he/she can improve it.
13A You are going to roleplay helping a friend set up a profile on a professional
networking website. Student A: Turn to page 126. Student B: Turn to page 128.
B When you have finished, change partners and do the roleplay one more time.

• How successfully have you achieved the lesson outcome? Give yourself a score
Self-assessment from 0 (I need more practice) to 5 (I know this well).
• Go to My Self-assessment in MyEnglishLab to reflect on what you have learnt. 11
 1.3 COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Building rapport
Lesson outcome Learners are aware of simple ways to build rapport at first meetings and can
use a range of appropriate questions.

Lead-in 1A Read the definition of building rapport. Discuss how you can build rapport
with someone you meet for the first time.

Building rapport is about developing a shared understanding with another person

or group of people that facilitates and improves communication.

B In small groups, think of two examples of spoken and non-verbal (body language)
techniques for building rapport with new colleagues or students in your class.
spoken: asking questions, non-verbal: lean forward slightly (if sitting)
VIDEO 2 1.3.1 Watch the video as Daniel and Alex prepare for the graduate trainees’
induction meeting and answer the questions.
1 How does Daniel describe Beata?
2 What is Jessica looking for in an employee?
3 What do we learn about Alex?
4 What does Alex do to try to build rapport with Beata?
3A In small groups, discuss which is the best approach (Option A or B) for Beata
to take as she meets members of the team for the first time. As a class, decide
L Go to MyEnglishLab for which video to watch first.
extra video activities. Option A – Beata tries to build rapport by listening to her new colleagues.
Option B – Beata tries to build rapport by demonstrating her knowledge of the product
and the company.
B Watch the videos in the sequence the class has decided and answer the same
questions for each video.
Option A 1.3.2 1 How does Beata try to build rapport with Alex/Jessica?
Option B 1.3.3 2 Is she successful? Why / Why not?
3 What will be the long-term effect of this?
4 In pairs, discuss what you have learnt from the two options about building rapport.
5 1.3.4 Watch the Conclusions section of the video and compare what the
speaker says with your answers in Exercise 4. Note down the main learning points
about building rapport.
Reflection 6 Reflect on how you build rapport when you meet someone for the first time.
Then work in pairs and discuss these questions.
1 Which of the verbal techniques mentioned in Exercise 1B do you use in your language?
2 Which of the non-verbal techniques do you use?
3 Which of the techniques you have seen would you like to learn or start using? Which
do you consider especially useful?

12
 1.3 Communication skills: Building rapport

Functional Asking questions to build rapport

language 7A Complete this extract from the conversation between Alex and Beata using
the phrases in the box.
One way of building rapport do you know how long what did you (x 2) when were where exactly
is to try to find something in
common with the other Alex: I hear you lived in Tokyo. 1 did you live?
person, then use follow-up
questions to continue Beata: Suidobashi. 2 it?
building rapport. Alex: Ah, yes, near the baseball park. I lived there myself for a while. Loved it.
3 were you in Japan for?
Beata: Five years. 4 you in Tokyo?
Alex: 2013 to 2015. About eighteen months.
Beata: 5 do there?
Alex: Teaching English, mainly.
Beata: Teaching. Interesting. 6 like best about it?
Alex: Mainly the food!
B Match a question from Exercise 7A to each category, to ask about:
a duration b likes c location d timing e purpose
C Match the questions to the categories in Exercise 7B.
1 Which places did you visit? 5 What were you doing there?
2 What did you like about it? 6 Did you stay long?
3 How long did you stay? 7 What did you and your partner do
4 So when did you go to Berlin? while you were there?

8A Work in pairs and read the scenario below. Student A: Read the information on
page 126. Student B: Read the information on page 128. Note down questions
you can ask to build rapport with your partner.
Scenario
You attend a networking/birthday party and you start chatting to another colleague/guest.
You introduce yourself. As you chat, you realise you have both been to Barcelona.
T Teacher’s resources:
extra activities B Practise asking and answering the questions you noted down in Exercise 8A.

9A Work in small groups. Choose one of the situations TASK

below to practise building rapport.
1 Your experience of learning English, in your home town
or abroad.
2 A meeting, conference or other event that you attended
at your place of work or study.
3 A city or country you have visited or lived in.
4 Your last holiday.
B Have a conversation for about two minutes and try to build rapport.
Before you start, think about:
• questions you can ask to find out about your partner’s experience (location,
duration, timing, purpose, likes).
• your own experience and the information you will need to answer your partner’s questions.
C At the end, tell the class what you learnt about the members of your group.
How successful were you at building rapport?
D In your groups, discuss which questions you used to build rapport and what you found difficult.

• How successfully have you achieved the lesson outcome? Give yourself a score
Self-assessment from 0 (I need more practice) to 5 (I know this well).
• Go to My Self-assessment in MyEnglishLab to reflect on what you have learnt. 13
 1.4 BUSINESS SKILLS
Networking
Lesson outcome Learners can use a range of expressions to start, close and show interest in
simple, face-to-face conversations on familiar topics.

Lead-in 1A In pairs, discuss these questions.

1 Why do people attend careers events?
2 What are employers looking for at a careers event?
3 Have you ever attended a careers event? What was your experience?
B Work in pairs. Look at these tips on how to prepare for a careers event. Choose
the three most important tips for you. Explain your choices to another pair.
1 Look at the list of attending companies and target those that interest you most.
2 Update your CV and bring several copies.
3 Take a file to collect business cards and brochures.
4 Research your target employers and prepare a list of questions you want to ask.
5 Write an online profile.
6 Prepare a short, professional introduction (your experience, strengths, career interests
and goals).
7 Dress professionally, as if you were going to an interview.
8 Arrive early, and plan extra time for locating your target employers.
Listening 2A 1.03 Listen and complete the advice on networking at a careers event.
1 Before the event Research, …
2 On the day of the event Dress professionally, …
3 After the event Email, …

B In small groups, discuss what you think of the advice the recruiter gave.
3A 1.04 Ella and Jamie are attending a careers event. They both speak to Ben,
a recruiter from a large specialised travel agency. Listen to the two conversations.
Who was better prepared, Ella or Jamie?
B Listen again and answer the questions.
1 How did Ella prepare for the careers event?
2 What relevant skills and qualifications can Ella offer the company?
3 What was the outcome of the conversation with Ben for Ella?
4 What relevant skills can Jamie offer the company?
5 How did Jamie prepare for the careers event?
6 What was the outcome of the conversation with Ben for Jamie?
7 How could Ella and Jamie have been better prepared?
C Work in pairs and discuss the questions.
1 How easy or difficult would it be for you to network at a careers event?
2 What could you do to prepare for this type of event?

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 1.4 Business skills: Networking

Functional Networking at a careers event

language 4A Complete the questions and phrases from the two conversations in Exercise 3
with the words and phrases in the box. Then listen again to check your answers.
ask you a few questions been nice talking could I just ask for your time
how are you in charge of in touch with really see tell me more sounds
1 Can you put me the person your marketing projects?
2 Can you about that?
3 I’d like to , if possible.
4 Good morning. enjoying the fair?
5 It’s to you.
6 That interesting.
7 I , wonderful.
8 Sorry, you a few questions about Travelogue?
9 Thank you , Ben. I really appreciate it.
10 Oh, ?
B Put the phrases from Exercise 4A into the correct category in the table below.
Starting a conversation Showing interest Closing a conversation

C Here are more phrases that you might use during a conversation. Put them into
the correct category in the table above.
1 That’s interesting. 5 Uh-huh.
2 Do you have a few minutes to explain … ? 6 Right.
3 I really appreciate your time, thank you. 7 Can I talk to you for a minute?
T Teacher’s resources: 4 Could I give you a call next week to discuss
extra activities this in more detail?

5A Work in groups of three. Roleplay a meeting at a careers event between

a recruiter for a web design company, Your World, and a candidate
for a job. There are three candidate profiles: each TASK
person will take the roles of recruiter, candidate
and observer once.
Student A (recruiter): Read the information about
Your World on page 126.
Student B (candidate): Choose one of the candidates
on page 128 and read his/her online profile.
Student C (observer): Look at your instructions on
page 130.
B Take a few minutes to prepare, then roleplay your
meetings. Remember to show interest and close
the conversation when appropriate.
C When you have finished, listen to the observer’s
feedback. Discuss how easy or difficult it is to
participate in a conversation with someone you
have just met. Share your group’s ideas with
the class.

• How successfully have you achieved the lesson outcome? Give yourself a score
Self-assessment from 0 (I need more practice) to 5 (I know this well).
• Go to My Self-assessment in MyEnglishLab to reflect on what you have learnt. 15
 1.5 WRITING
Emails – Introducing yourself
Lesson outcome Learners can write an email introducing themselves to work colleagues.

Lead-in Functional language

1A Read the two emails below and choose the correct 2A Look at the emails again. Put the phrases in blue
options in italics. from Exercise 1 into the correct place in this table.
A To: Marketing staff More formal Less formal
From: Elenor Rinna Greeting
Subject: Good morning!
Opening
1Dear / Welcome colleagues,
I would like to introduce 2me / myself as the new New job
Account Executive in your department.
Before I 3joined / join this company, I was working Previous job
in a similar position in a very small company in
Sweden. However, I 4wanted / am wanting to work for Invitation
a larger company so I am really excited to be working
5by / for this company.
Closing
Please feel free to contact me by email or phone
6if / so you have any questions.
Sign off
I very much look forward to 7meet / meeting you all
in person.
8Kind / Truly regards, B Write these words and phrases in the correct place
in the table above. Some phrases may be used in
both formal and informal emails.
B To: All staff Best wishes, Good morning Helen,
From: Alexis Pinar
Subject: Good morning! I have been appointed as the new Marketing Manager
I hope to meet you all soon
Hi everyone, I’m sending this email to introduce myself
I’m Alexis Pinar and I want to introduce myself to I’ve just got the job of IT Supervisor
you. I’ve just started work here as the new Assistant I was a Store Manager before
Designer. I finished 9study / studying business finance
at university in June, and I’m excited to be working My previous job was as Customer Services Manager
here. It’s a bit 10scary / afraid as it’s my first job, but Perhaps we can meet up over lunch today. Yours,
I’m sure I’ll soon fit in OK.
I’m looking forward to working with you 11all /
everyone. T Teacher’s resources: extra activities
Bye for now, The email contains examples of adverbs of degree. Go to
L MyEnglishLab for optional grammar work.
B Which of these emails do you think is more formal?
page 118 See Grammar reference: Adverbs of degree

3A Work in pairs. Turn to page 126 and read an email from a new HR Manager to all
company staff. Discuss whether the email needs to be formal or informal and how you
could improve it.
TASK B You are the new HR Manager. Write your own introduction email in around 80 words.
C Exchange emails with your partner. Did you both write formal or informal emails?
How many phrases from the functional language section did your partner use? What
did you like about your partner’s email?

• How successfully have you achieved the lesson outcome? Give yourself a score
Self-assessment from 0 (I need more practice) to 5 (I know this well).
16 • Go to My Self-assessment in MyEnglishLab to reflect on what you have learnt.