Exam. Choosing A Career

Choosing a Career

1.     Let’s talk about your future career. What would you like to become?

The problem of choosing the future profession has always been very important. The profession a person chooses in many ways determines his future life. For most people choosing a career is not an easy task. It is one of the most important decisions one makes in life. The properly chosen career makes a person happy and successful for the rest of his life.

In my childhood I wanted to become a very important person such as a famous musician or a president. But now I understand that it’s impossible for me because these profes­sions require certain qualities and abilities that I don’t possess. But I also understand that there are a lot of other prestigious jobs. And among them are the jobs in economic, tourist or computer fields.

A lot of people work in these areas and get a lot of money. Take the profession of a manager, for example. In my opinion, it’s a very interesting job because it involves working with people. But to work as a manager you need to be creative, flexible and possess initiative. If you cope with all the challenges of this job, you can be promoted to the position of a director. This job is very responsible. You must be a leader and have administrative skills.

As for me, I would like to become a tourist agent or a holiday representative, because a lot of people travel nowadays. Today tourism is one of the world’s largest industries. You will have to deal with the problems and needs of holidaymakers, but you’ll also have to know the area you are working in and plan trips and tours that will please everyone.

I think it’s a very interesting job. Besides, this profession is highlypaid and I want to be able to buy everything I want with my salary. What’s more, the benefits of this job include free travel and living abroad. But this job requires you to be tactful and to stay calm under pressure.

I can say that I’m very communicative and I like working with people. Besides, I’m very organized and hard-working. What’s more, I like travelling and I’m ready to go where the company will send me. So I think I can become a good tourist agent or a tourist manager.

I understand that to make a good specialist in this field, I should have good education, extensive knowledge of the world and experience of travel. And, of course, I must know several foreign languages. So after finishing school I will try to enter a university or a college and to continue my education.

Possible answers:

- This year I'm leaving school. I have already decided what career to choose. I would like to be a psychologist. I want to help people to solve their problems. I want to help them to understand their inside world, to help them to be confident. I love working with people and children. I think it's a difficult job, because one should love people, take care of them, support them. This profession is rather new and hence very interesting. Psychologists work with people from different layers of society. I realize that my dream can come true only if I work hard.

- I want to become a computer programmer. I am interested in computers. My favourite subjects in school are mathematics, physics and, of course, computer science. My hobby is computer games and computer programming. I have a computer at home and can spend hours working at it. It is much easier to do things on computer, for example to write a composition. I think that the profession of programmer can give many opportunities. Computers are the most rapidly changing sphere of modern technology. We are living in the age of information. So after I finish school I want to enter the university and study computer science.

2.    Does a person need to possess special qualities to become a good specialist in this or that particular field? Why?

If you are an employee who has just started out a career and joined a company, working/improving the right traits can help you in the long run. Knowing the best qualities of employees, may help you find a stronger foothold in the company and increase your chances of getting promotions and success.

Learn how to be a good employee from the very beginning of your career!

Here are the top employee qualities:

1. Communicator: Employers love to hire employees who have the ability to communicate well and express themselves in a clear manner, whether in writing or speaking.

2. Self-Motivated: A good employee never hesitates of taking responsibility or a more responsible position. She also ready to work beyond the call of duty in order to meet goals or to solve problems, even if the job in discussion is not one of the regular works she is usually assigned.

3. Hard worker: There is no substitute to hard work.

4. Decisive and effective learner: Employees who know how to adjust themselves to new environment, willing to learn new things (quick learners) and perform their best in changes are likely to be the best performers in any organization.

5. Team Player: Many companies consist of teams. Any company requires an effective team effort.

6. Helping others: everyone appreciates a helping hand every now and then.

7. Honesty: A good employee is honest about his/her work and qualifications.

8. Polite: Being friendly and approachable will never harm.

9. Disciplined and punctual: Every boss loves a punctual and disciplined employee. Time is money.

10. Avoid gossip: The person should always remember that she came to the office to work, to make a career. Do not spread office gossip or rumors. Respect the privacy of the co-workers.

3.    What questions will you ask your future employer at a job interview?

1. What are the working hours?

2. How much is the salary?

3. Do I have to travel on business?

4. Do you provide your employees with accommodation?

5. Is there any dress-code in your office?

4.   Give some advice on how to create a positive impression on the employer.

A job interview is designed to find out more about you and to see if you are suitable for the job. The interviewer will do this by asking you questions. The way you answer will show what kind of person you are and if your education, skills and experience match what they are looking for.

Follow these tips and you will be hired 100%:

1. Be yourself;

2. Try to answer every question the interviewer asks;

3. Show enthusiasm when the job is explained to you;

4. Ask questions at the close of the interview;

5. "Sell" yourself.

Good luck!

5.    Some people think that having computer skills is necessary to get a good job. Do you agree with this?

Nowadays it is important for people to have basic knowledge about IT because computers are used practically everywhere. It happens very often that employers hire people who are able to use PCs and may reject those who don’t have at least basic computer skills. As a result, it is becoming more and more significant to develop your computer skills.  It is important to know not only how to type but also how to edit PDF or how to install software on their PCs.

Firstly, it is essential to be able to work with printable material and use at least Microsoft Office Word and Excel.

Secondly,  it is very useful to be able to surf the web which may help to complete a lot of tasks such as to find valuable information, to use online programs, to send and receive documents or to load software.

Moreover, it may also be interesting to study Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator for people who want to know more about computers. These programs worth studying as they may give a lot of opportunities: to modify images, to create pictures or vector graphics and so on.

To sum it up, it may be not only valuable but also entertaining to develop computer skills.

References:

• Your English Exam Support: Подготовка к экзамену по английскому языку: пособие для учащихся учреждений общего среднего образования / [сост. Н.А. Сергиенко]. – Мозырь: Белый Ветер, 2015. – 97, [3] с.

• Английский язык: билеты для подготовки к выпускному экзамену / Л.В. Данилович. – Минск: Экоперспектива, 2015. – 67 с.

• Английский язык. Все устные темы для подготовки к выпускному экзамену и ЕГЭ. 11 класс

• The Qualities of a Good Employee