IV. Careers in Business

I. Go through the following vocabulary notes to avoid difficulties in understanding and find these words in the text.

II. Match the words in the left column with the definitions in the right column.

III. Read the text except Case 1 and define the difference between a career and a job.

Business is an increasingly important activity throughout the world today. Consequently, the opportunities for a business career have grown in variety and number. There are now five broad fields or areas of business that offer exciting careers: management, marketing, accounting, finance and data processing. Within each of these fields there are specific jobs in which you can specialize. For example, within the field of marketing you can specialize in market research, advertising, buying, selling, or distribution. The figure below gives an idea of the general career opportunities that are available in the various fields of business

Fig. 1. Business Fields and Careers

In choosing a business career, there are several questions you may want to ask. For instance, does the work interest you? Are there any areas of business for which you have an aptitude or special capability? What are the opportunities involved, such as demand (or need) for the job, salary, and chance for advancement? Answers to these kinds of questions and careful planning will help in choosing a suitable and successful career in business.

What does it mean to have a career? Most people do not want to just "go to work"; they want to "pursue a career." To some people, having a career requires successful movement up the corporate ladder, marked by boosts in salary and status. To others, a career means having a profession—doctors and professors have careers, whereas secretaries and blue-collar workers have jobs. Still others will tell you that no matter what the occupation, the difference between a career and a job is about 20 hours a week—that is, people who have careers are so involved in their work that they extend beyond its requirements. For these people, it is psychological involvement in their work that defines a career.

A job is a specific task performed for an organization. A career is the sequence of jobs a person holds over a life span and the person's attitudes toward involvement in those job experiences. A career has a long-term perspective and includes a series of jobs. Moreover, to understand careers we must look not only at people’s work histories or resumes but also at their attitudes toward their work. People may have more or less money or power, be professional or blue collar, and vary in the importance they place on the work in relation to the rest of their lives - yet all may have careers.

Individual career planning normally entails five steps—self-assessment, exploring opportunities, making decisions and setting goals, action planning, and follow-up. Individual careers follow predictable stages that include exploration and trial, establishment and advancement, mid-career, and disengagement. Other issues of concern to individual career planning are mentors and coping with stress.

Productivity satisfaction, retention, and commitment of valued employees, stress reduction, and a flexible work force will help the organization remain competitive in the global economy.

Case 1

Kim Jackson's love of politics, hard work, and excellent research and writing skills placed her on a career track to becoming a political correspondent on Capitol Hill. When her interests and enthusiasm for the job waned, Jackson wondered if she should make a career change. Before making a major move, she discussed her concerns with her editor and a member of the human resource management office. The newspaper, which was reluctant to lose a reporter of Jackson's talents and background, provided an opportunity for her to undergo testing and experimentation in other potential areas of career interest. Eventually, a simple solution emerged: Jackson was moved to the international desk. Covering international political events renewed her enthusiasm and her years on Capitol Hill gave her special insight into U.S. reaction to global events.

IV. Answer these questions using the active vocabulary of the text.

1. What careers does business offer?

2. What questions should you answer while choosing a business career?

3. What will help you in choosing a suitable and successful career in business?

4. What does it mean to have a career?

5. How does a career characterize people?

6. What are the steps of individual career planning?

7. What will help the organization remain competitive in our global economy?

8. Read Case 1 and explain how Jackson was moved to the international desk.

9. What other examples of successful career paths can you give?

V. Read the text again and decide whether these statements are true (T) or

false (F).

1. Nowadays the opportunities for a business career have declined in variety and number.

2. Kim Jackson became a political correspondent on Capitol Hill of her love politics, hard work, excellent research and writing skills.

3. The newspaper didn’t provide an opportunity for Kim Jackson to move to the international desk and she left the job.

4. Most people do not want to pursue a career; they want just to go to work.

5. The difference between a career and a job is about 20 hours a week.

6. To understand careers we must look only at people’s work histories or resumes.

7. Individual career planning normally entails four steps.

VI. Find Russian equivalents to the following phrases in the second column.

VII. Choose the appropriate translation of the following sentences.

1. There are now five broad fields or areas of business that offer exciting careers.

a) Есть теперь пять широких полей или области бизнеса, которые предлагают захватывающие карьеры.

b) В бизнесе существует пять широких областей или сфер, предлагающих захватывающую карьеру

2. To some people, having a career requires successful movement up the corporate ladder, marked by boosts in salary and status.

a) Для некоторых людей карьера – это успешное продвижение вверх по корпоративной лестнице с повышением в заработке и статусе.

b) Некоторым людям, имея карьеру требует успешного движения корпоративная лестница, отмеченная повышениями в заработке и статусе.

3. A career is the sequence of jobs a person holds over a life span and the person's attitudes toward involvement in those job experiences.

a) Карьера – последовательность рабочих мест, занимаемых человеком в течение жизни, и его отношение к вовлеченности в рабочий процесс.

b) Карьера - последовательность рабочих мест, человек держит за продолжительность жизни и отношения человека к причастности в тех опытах работы.

4. Other issues of concern to individual career planning are mentors and coping with stress.

a) Другие проблемы беспокойства к индивидуальному планированию карьеры - наставники и справляющийся с напряжением.

b) Другие проблемные моменты в планировании личной карьеры связаны с наставниками и преодолением стресса.

VIII. Make an outline of the text consisting of 5-8 sentences.

IX. Retell the text according to its outline.

Date: 2014-12-21; view: 1629