3. The job
Objetives
- For students to learn vocabulary and expressions about jobs and company departments.
- For students to learn vocabulary and grammatical expressions to basically describe different types of jobs and company departments.
- For students to learn essential vocabulary and grammar in order to ask and provide information about jobs and company departments.
3.1. Responsibilities
It is important for any company, institution or job to have an official document that describes the work requirements of a position or a job and which contains all the information needed to evaluate the work using the appropriate classification standards.
In job descriptions, one of the most important sections is the Job Responsibilities/Essential Functions/Competencies section. The purpose of this section is to define the work that needs to be performed in the role and the things an employee in the job will be accountable for. It represents the most vital information to management processes since it defines the criteria that should be used for assessment and development.
This section often ends up being an exceedingly long and detailed list of tasks that is tough to maintain, but even tougher for employees to remember and apply in their day-to-day work. Further, a lengthy task list is often not very usable when it comes time to create a job requirments, evaluate an employee's performance, address development needs, define learning paths or compare jobs for classification/pay scale creation.
As a minimum, every work description should include identifying information such as:
- Position number and title;
- Authorized group and level;
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) code;
- Effective date;
- Department;
- Branch/Division;
- Location;
- Job/Generic number; and
- Supervisor’s Position Number, Group & Level. N
Figure 11 shows a section of Hilton Company
-
- Watch the following video and identify how the woman expresses her job responsibilities.
- Write down what you understand.
- Watch the following video and read how they describe the job. Identify responsibilities and compare them with the previous one.
Here are some more videos for you to continue learning about jobs responsibilities.
3.2. Departments
Departments are specialized functional areas within a company, organization or institution. Depending on the type of organization departments vary in number and commitment. Some examples of departments are: accounting, marketing, planning and human resources. In general, every department has its own manager and chain of command. N
Figure 12 shows a company’s departments
Figure 13 shows a screen capture from Toyota Company
Figure 14 shows another screen capture from Toyota Company
Figure 15 shows another company´s departments
- Study the following departments and their definition
- Now try solving these exercises:
-
- Watch the following video and identify different departments and their functions.
- Write down what you understand.
3.3. Employment
Any service performed for payment or compensation is called employment. It is settled by any hiring contract, whether written, oral or implied. There are four essential elements involved in employment. They are service, wages, and direction and control.
A contract of hire is a document by which a person agrees to perform a service. Employment lasts from the moment the service starts until it is stopped by discharge, death, resignation or any alteration of the terms of the employment agreement.
A person is employed when he or she receives wages or any kind of compensation for services performed.
The person or organization who pays wages to another who performs a service for him/her/it is known as the employer. He/She/It controls the manner and means by which the work is performed or has the right to do so.
There are three main types of employment. First, regular employment which includes occupations that are not domestic or agricultural. Second, domestic employment that applies to work in the home such as nannies, gardeners, housekeepers or personal care staff. Finally, agricultural employment is about working with livestock and crop production, or the operation, management, conservation or maintenance of a farm or ranch. N
- Analyze what this person says about employment. Discuss his ideas about clarity.
Figure 16 shows an online article about companies activities to raise money for charity
3.4. Present continuous
The present continuous tense is also called present progressive. It is formed by the present simple of the verb to be + verb-ing.
The present continuous tense is used for things that are happening at the moment of speaking.
Examples:
- I'm working at the moment.
- Please, call back later because we are having dinner now.
- Julie is working.
- You are studying the present continuous.
The present continuous tense is also used for temporary situations, when, apparently, something will not continue for a long time.
Examples:
- She's staying with her friend for a week.
- I'm living in London for a few months.
- John's working in a bar until he finds a job in his field.
- I'm reading a really great book.
The present continuous tense is sometimes used for habits but they have to be temporary or new habits (for normal habits that continue for a long time, the present simple applies).
Examples:
- He's working a lot these days.
- She's working every morning (she didn't use to do this).
- You're working too much.
- They're working late every night. N
Figure 17 shows the uses of the present continuous
The present continuous tense is sometimes used for annoying habits, to show that something happens too often and it bothers the other person. In this case an adverb like 'always', 'forever' or 'constantly' is also used.
Examples:
- You're always losing your keys!
- She's constantly missing the train.
- He's always working in.
- They're forever being late.
Another instance in which the present continuous tense is sometimes used is for definite future arrangements (with a future time word). In this case a plan is already arranged and it is pretty sure that the event will happen in the future.
Examples:
- I'm meeting my father tomorrow.
- We're going to the new venue at the weekend.
- I'm leaving at three.
- They're coming to the headquarters next week.
Finally, the present continuous tense is sometimes used to talk about a situation which is slowly changing.
Examples:
- I'm getting better at managing the office work.
- Our sales are improving.
NOTE: this tense cannot be used with stative verbs.
The following chart shows how the affirmative present continuous is formed:
|
Affirmative |
Affirmative Short Form |
|
I am working. |
I'm working. |
|
You are working. |
You're working. |
|
He is working. |
He's working. |
|
She is working. |
She's working. |
|
It is working. |
It's working. |
|
We are working. |
We're working. |
|
They are working. |
They're working. |
The negative present continuous is formed as follows:
|
Negative |
Negative Short Form |
|
I am not... |
I'm not working... |
|
You are not selling... |
You aren't selling... |
|
He is not applying... |
He isn't applyding... |
|
She is not working... |
She isn't working... |
|
It is not working... |
It isn't working... |
|
We are not purchasing... |
We aren't purchasing... |
|
They are not listening... |
They aren't listening... |
Questions in present continuous are made just like the way in which the question with 'be' in the present simple is fromed. So, 'am', 'is', or 'are' is put before the subject to make a 'yes / no' question:
|
Yes / No Questions |
|
Am I selling this place? |
|
Are you studying now? |
|
Is he working? |
|
Is she doing her officework? |
|
Is it raining? |
|
Are we meeting at six? |
|
Are they coming? |
For 'wh' questions, or questions that request certain kind of information, the question word or phrase us just put at the front:
|
Wh Questions |
|
Why am I selling this place? |
|
What are you studying now? |
|
When is he working? |
|
What is she doing? |
|
Why is it raining? |
|
Who are we meeting? |
|
How are they travelling? N |
- Here you have a video to review the present continuous tense.
Watch this video to review the present continuous tense and its comparison to the present simple:
3.5. The time
The time is very important when arranging business meetings, working hours, job timetables and professional schedules. There are two common ways of telling the time.
First way of telling the time
In the first way of saying the time the hours are mentioned first and then the minutes.
Example: 7:45 - seven forty-five
For minutes 01 through 09, '0' can be pronounced as oh.
Example: 11:06 - eleven (oh) six
Second way of telling the time
In the second way of saying the time the minutes are mentioned first and then the hours.
Use past and the preceding hour for minutes 01 through 30.
Use to and the forthcoming hour for minutes 31 through 59, but.
Examples: 7.15 - fifteen (minutes) past seven
7.45 - fifteen (minutes) to eight
Figure 18 shows the divisions of a clock in order to say the time
- Another possibility of saying '15 minutes past' is: a quarter past
- Another possibility of saying '15 minutes to' is: a quarter to
- Another possibility of saying '30 minutes past' is: half past
- Use o'clock only at the full hour.
- Usually the twelve-hour clock is used.
- For times around midnight or midday you can use the expressions midnight or midday / noon instead of the number 12.
- To make clear (where necessary) whether you mean a time before 12 o'clock noon or after, you can use in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night.
- Use in the morning before 12 o'clock noon, after 12 o'clock noon use in the afternoon.
- More formal expressions to indicate whether a time is before noon or after are a.m. (also: am - ante meridiem, before noon) and p.m. (also: pm - post meridiem, after noon).
- Use these expressions only with the formal way of telling the time.
- Instead of past Americans often use after.
- But: in time expressions with half past it is not usual to replace past by after.
- Beside to Americans often use before, of or till.
Example: 5:30 - half past five
Example: 7:00 - seven o'clock (but 7:10 - ten past seven)
Example: 17:20 is said twenty past five pm
Examples: 00:00 - midnight
12:00 - midday or noon
Example: 3:15 - a quarter past three in the morning OR a quarter past three at night
Example: 3:15 - three fifteen a.m.
Example: 3:15 - fifteen minutes past three OR a quarter past three
American english
Example: 06:10 - ten past/after six
Example: 05:50 - ten to/before/of/till six N
Watch this video to review the time:
3.6. Comparatives and superlatives
Comparative
Comparative is a grammar structure used when comparing two elements. One way of comparing is by using as + adjective + as. When comparing with as + adjective + as, the adjective does not change.
Examples:
- This company is twice as old as its competitors.
- The manager is not as organized as he looks!
- I'm almost as good in maths as in language.
- This book is not as interesting as the last one.
- The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.
- Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.
Another way of comparing between two elements is through the use of “than”. When comparing with than some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables the adjective has. Consequently, they follow the following rules:
- This computer is better than that one.
- She's stronger at chess than I am.
- It's much colder today than it was yesterday.
- Our car is bigger than your car.
- This grammar topic is easier than most others.
- I find science more difficult than mathematics.
- Today's ESL lesson was more interesting than usual.
For one-syllable adjectives the suffix –er is added to the adjective.
Example:
- The secretary is much taller than the boss.
- It's colder today than it was yesterday.
Note: if the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the comparative.
Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.
For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: the –y is changed to –ier.
Example:
- She's looking happier today.
- This grammar topic is easier than the last one.
- Why is everyone else luckier than me?
For other other two-syllable adjectives, more is used with the unchanged adjective
Example:
- The shops are always more crowded just before Christmas.
- Is there anything more boring than reading about grammar?
- The manager is more careful with his writing than his secretary.
Note: the comparative of some shorter two-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples: simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which comparative method to use, to consult a good dictionary will be necessary.
For adjectives with three or more syllables, more with the unchanged adjective is used.
Example:
- Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar.
- My secretary is much more intelligent than me.
- I find maths problems more enjoyable than language problems.
- The older you get, the more irritating you become.
Superlative
The superlative is a gramatical structure to refer to one thing in comparison to the rest of an established set or group.
For one-syllable adjectives, -est is added to the adjective plus the definite article preceding the adjective.
Example:
- The manager is the tallest in our company.
- Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.
Note: in case the adjective ends in consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the superlative.
Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.
For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y the -y changes into -iest (plus the)
Examples:
- The richest people are not always the happiest.
- Which do you think is the easiest language to learn?
- She's the luckiest person I know.
For other two-syllable adjectives, "the most" with the unchanged adjective is used.
Examples:
- The most boring thing in an office is doing the paperwork.
- The secretary at my office is the most careful person I know.
Exception: the superlative of some two-syllable adjectives can be formed with -est.
Examples: simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest.
For adjectives with three or more syllables, the most with the unchanged adjective is used.
Examples:
- Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language.
- Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history.
- My most enjoyable office work is coffee breaks.
- You are the most irritating person I have ever met!
There are also some frequent irregular comaparative/superlative forms:
- good-better-the best
- bad-worse-the worst
- Windows is older than Python.
- Windows is the most popular.
About comparative and superlative use
|
Comparatives |
Superlatives |
|
Comparatives are used to compare two things or two people: |
Superlatives are used to compare more than two things or two people. Superlative sentences usually use 'the': |
Irregular comparatives and superlatives
|
Adjectives |
Comparatives |
Superlatives |
|
bad |
worse |
worst |
|
far(distance) |
farther |
farthest |
|
far(extent) |
further |
furthest |
|
good |
better |
best |
|
little |
less |
least |
|
many |
more |
most |
|
much |
more |
most N |
Watch these videos to review comparatives and superlatives:
- Now try doing the following exercises:
- Analyze this web page to review how much you know about comparatives and superlatives.
- Try doing the exercises.
3.7. Money and prices
Figure 19 shows different currencies
Vocabulary related to Money
|
account |
n. a record of money a person deposits into a bank |
|
ATM |
n. Automatic Teller Machine |
|
balance |
n. the difference between credits and debits in an account |
|
bank charges |
n. money paid to a bank for the bank's services |
|
barter |
v. to trade without using money. |
|
borrow |
v. to ask for the temporary use of money on the condition of repayment and at a set rate of interest. |
|
branch |
n. local office or bureau of a bank |
|
cashier |
n. an employee of a bank or building society who receives and pays out money. |
|
chequebook |
n. book containing detachable cheques |
|
cheque |
n. written order to a bank to pay the stated sum from one's account |
|
credit |
n. money in a bank account; sum added to a bank account; money lent by a bank - also v. |
|
credit card |
n. (plastic) card from a bank authorising the purchasing of goods on credit |
|
currency |
n. money that is used by a country |
|
current account |
n. bank a/c from which money may be drawn at any time; checking account US |
|
debit |
n. a sum deducted from a bank account, as for a cheque - also v. |
|
debit card |
n. you use a debit card in much the same way as a credit card but instead of receiving credit after making your purchase, the funds are automatically (within a few days usually) withdrawn from your bank account. |
|
debt |
n. the state of owing something (especially money). |
|
deposit |
n. an amount of money placed with a bank |
|
foreign exchange |
n. used to describe the currency of other countries and the system for dealing in such currency (often shortened to Forex). |
|
interest |
n. money paid for borrowing money, or money that a bank or building society pays a customer for putting money into their bank. |
|
interest rate |
n. the percentage of an amount of money which is paid for the use of that money over a period of time. |
|
lend |
v. to give the temporary use of money on the condition of repayment and at a set rate of interest. |
|
loan |
n. money lent by a bank and that must be repaid with interest - also v. |
|
overdraft |
n. deficit in a bank account caused by withdrawing more money than is paid in |
|
pay |
v. to give (someone) money that is due for work done, goods received, or a debt incurred. |
|
pay |
n. money paid to someone for regular work. |
|
pay in |
v. to deposit or put money in to a bank account |
|
payee |
n. person to whom money is paid |
|
paying-in slip |
n. small document recording money that you pay in to a bank account |
|
pension |
n. a regular payment made during a person's retirement (when they become too old to work) from an investment fund to which that person or their employer has contributed. |
|
salary |
n. a fixed regular payment, typically paid on a monthly or biweekly basis made by an employer to an employee. |
|
standing order |
n. an instruction to a bank to make regular payments |
|
statement |
n. a record of transactions in a bank account |
|
withdraw |
v. to take money out of a bank account N |
For verbs related to money, watch this video:
To learn about money related to the stock exchange, watch this video: