How do I do it?

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 497.

Part 1

II. READING

I. PRE-READING

UNIT 8. WHY NETWORKING ISN'T SLEAZY?

III. AFTER READING

v Answer the following questions:

1. What are the “seven deadly skills” committed by first-time job hunters? Which is the worst in your opinion?

2. Which “sin” would you overlook if you were a hiring manager?

v Work with your partner. Make up a dialogue between a hiring manager and an applicant for a teaching position at the university.

v Imagine that your contacts helped you to win an interview invitation. Get ready for the interview. Think of the questions you might be asked and the ones you should ask. Make use of the questions asked by applicants on page 103.

v Read top interview tips from the best professionals of different trades on page 104.

o Answer the following questions:

1. Is it good when somebody is offered a job due to someone else's recommendation? Why?

2. Whom would you prefer to see as your colleague: a person whom you know and trust or some stranger?

3. What are the bad things about working with friends?

v Active vocabulary

o Study the following vocabulary items and collocations:

To build relationships

A referral

To have a seal of approval

An integral part

Movers and shakers

Long-time family friends

To be pre-screened

To make one's goals known

To happen to be

v Cultural note

Network – an association of individuals having a common interest and often providing mutual assistance, information, etc.

Board -an official group of persons who direct or supervise some activities, e.g. a board of directors.

o Read the text. Do the comprehension check below:

Schmoozing, sucking up, being fake, political or cheesy. These images

often come to mind when students are asked what they think of networking. Many picture a used-car salesman in a polyester suit, a flesh-pressing, baby-kissing politician or the superficial rush chairman in Animal House: "Hi! I'm Eric Stratton. Damn glad to meet you."

Sure, there are people like that, but they're the exception. When done properly, networking isn't sleazy at all. It's simply building relationships.

Think of networking as a referral or recommendation. If someone you know and trust suggests that you try a particular restaurant or see a new movie, you're likely to try it because you respect that person's judgment. Your friend has already pre-screened the movie or restaurant for you and given it a seal of approval. It's no different with people. Meeting someone through a mutual contact or referral is like having a seal of approval.

These "pre-approved" contacts are what the professional world revolves around. Think about it. People do business with, buy goods and services from and hire people they know, like and trust because they're recommended by someone else they know, like and trust. Almost 80% of all positions are found through some type of networking, personal relationship or connection. Like it or not, networking is an integral part of how business really operates.

Are you saying to yourself, "Wait a minute. I'm still in school. I don't have an inner circle of movers and shakers. I don't know many people, and my parents don't even know their neighbors. How can I be connected?" Well, believe it or not, you already have a network in place.

POFs and FOPs are parents of friends and friends of parents. These two groups are often overlooked when thinking about professional contacts. You might view these people as no more than a long-time family friend or your roommate's mom, and fail to think of them as having professional lives or being potential business contacts. Yet they may have great contacts that you aren't aware of. And since you already have a relationship with these people, you have an instant advantage. You're pre-screened. Sometimes, all you have to do is make your goals known, and these folks will be happy to help you. That isn't sleazy. It's just what friends do.

Meredith Jamison, a senior at Iowa State University, wanted to work in a museum, but was having a hard time getting interviews. Jamison was at a friend's house talking about her difficulty, when the friend's mother overheard, and said, "Meredith, why don't we call Aunt Jackie?" Aunt Jackie happened to be a family friend who sat on the board of a local museum. One phone call and two weeks later, Jamison was interviewing with the museum.

v Comprehension check

o Explain what is meant by:

Schmoozing

Being political

Being cheesy

A flesh-pressing politician

o Answer the following questions using information from the article to support your ideas. Remember to use the article vocabulary to the maximum:

1. What is networking?

2. How does the professional world work?

3. What people can be of assistance when job searching and why?