Vocabulary

SHORT TOPIC

People in Spain can look for jobs in the Situations Vacant column of national or local newspapers. National newspapers such as "The ABC " focus on different areas of employment such us media, education, social work and information technology on different days. Job vacancies are also displayed at Job Centres and other Employment Agencies in towns and cities and on the Internet.

Before applying for a job, you should check that you meet the requirements. These are usually specified in terms of previous experience, qualifications and personality. To show that you are a suitable candidate for the post, it is usual to enclose a curriculum vitae with your letter of application. There are many computer programs that will help you produce a well designed and professional-looking curriculum vitae, available both from computer software retailers and as freeware on the web.

If you make the right impression, you will be invited to an interview; otherwise you will probably receive a letter saying: "we regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful." The successful applicant will probably be given a contract of employment which will contain the job description and the terms and conditions. You show your acceptance of these by signing the contract.

On your first day of work, you may be invited to join a trade union. If so, you will probably be introduced to your shop steward, the trade union official who will represent you and your colleagues in negotiations with management. Sooner or later, you will meet your boss. The person who you report to, could also be called a line manager or director. In factories, workers often take their orders from a team-leader or foreman, who is an intermediary between the employer and the employees.

SUGGESTED TOPIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

A: Do people in Spain work hard? 

B: I'd say they do. Jobs are so hard to get that if you're lucky enough to have one,you know that you're expected to pull your weight. 

A: What are the conditions of work like? 

B: They vary tremendously between jobs. You can see what they're like for people working in supermarket check-outs. They have to keep up or else shoppers or their supervisors get angry. 

A: How about in schools? 

B: School-teachers have plenty to do now that they have to administer tests as part of the National Curriculum. In many cases, they've had to stop running clubs and societies after school. They used to do this voluntarily, but now they're much too exhausted. 

A: Do you think that public sector workers such as teachers, doctors, nurses and fire fighters should be allowed to strike? 

B: Not if they're properly rewarded. Their unions should come together with theemployers and negotiate no-strike agreements. 

A: What if the employers decide to introduce new working practices? After all, things can't remain the same for ever. 

B: Any change in conditions should be negotiated as well. 

A: And what happens if the two sides can't agree? 

B: Then the dispute should go to arbitration. What's needed is an independent body to mediate in industrial disputes. It might sometimes have to impose a settlement. 

A: Surely, nobody can force people to go to work, if they really don't want to. 

B: Then they risk losing their jobs. It is wrong to leave hospital patients withoutdoctors and nurses. Likewise, strikes among teachers can severely disrupt the education of our children.  

A: So you don't think everybody should have the right to strike? 

B: Well, I think everybody should have the right to join a trade union. This allows free collective bargaining. You can't have every worker making separate deals with management. The strike weapon should only be used as a last resort if arbitration fails. Employees should know that management may impose a lock-out.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. What ratio of work to leisure would be your ideal? Answer using percentages. 

2. Are the people in your country famous for working hard or for having a good social life? 

3. What jobs would you most and least like to do? 

4. What jobs have you done in your life and what did you like and dislike about them? 

5. Which age-groups are worst affected by unemployment in your country? Should people who have never worked before be entitled to unemployment benefit? 

6. What are the causes of unemployment and how is the problem solved in your country? 

7. Do women in your country have equality of job opportunities?Are they paid as well as men? 

8. Are there many migrant workers in your country? If so, what kind of jobs do they do?What are their working conditions like?

 9. Do people leave your country to find work in other countries? Where do they go?What sort of jobs do they get? Are they made welcome? 

10. Do workers in your country pay a lot of income tax to the government?Do people with large salaries pay a much higher rate of tax than other workers?Do you think they should? 

11. Do you think that every worker should have the right to join a Trade Union? 

12. Do you think that every worker, (including doctors, nurses, teachers, the police, ambulance crews and fire fighters), should have the right to go on strike?