Build your vocabulary – At the Job Centre
Please take a few minutes to think about the following questions:
1.
Are you unemployed? Or is a family member unemployed?
2.
3.
Do you know what the Job Centre is and how it can help you?
What do you think happens at the Job Centre?
If you and/or a family member are unemployed and you want to find out how the Job Centre can help,
then the following activities will be very useful for you.
Activity 1
Find the meaning of these words you will often use at the Job Centre. Match the words with the
correct meaning. Use a dictionary to help you.
Word
Meaning
a Jobseeker
Lessons where I can learn new skills to help
me find a job.
Benefits
I write down jobs I have applied for.
I sign on.
This is money and help I can get from the
government if I’m not working.
Training course
I answer questions to see if I am the right
person for the job.
I log my job searches.
I look for jobs, for example: at the Job
Centre, on the Internet or in newspapers.
a CV
A letter that says why I want the job.
a covering letter
A person who is unemployed and wants to
get a job.
an application form
When I find a job I can do, I try to get it.
I get an interview.
This is a list of the qualifications and jobs I
have done. The longer name is Curriculum
Vitae.
I apply for jobs.
A special form where I write about the
qualifications and the jobs I have done.
I am searching for a job.
I go to the Job Centre every 2 weeks and tell
them I am still looking for work.
© British Council 2012
Build your vocabulary – At the Job Centre
Activity 2
Read the text below. A Jobseeker called Sunita is explaining how the Job Centre works. She
uses the words you learnt in Activity 1.
Hi, my name is Sunita and I’m a Jobseeker.
I receive benefits from the government because I am not working so I need help. To receive benefits,
I need to do three things.
Firstly, every two weeks, on a Wednesday at 2pm, I go to my local Job Centre to sign on. I tell them I
am still looking for a job.
Secondly, I go on training courses to learn new skills. For example, I went on a course last month to
learn how to use a computer. The Job Centre also showed me how to write a CV and covering letter
and I learned how to prepare for an interview.
Thirdly, I need to prove I am looking for a job so I log my job searches. I have a special book for this.
It’s called a Log Book.
Then when I see a job I like and I can do, I need to apply for it.
To apply, I sometimes send a CV and I often write a covering letter to go with it, or I fill in an
application form. Applications forms can be completed on-line or using a pen.
At the end, hopefully I will get an interview … and a job of course!
I have an interview next week. Wish me luck!
Now, put the text away so you can’t see it.
Look at these sentences below.
They are in the wrong order.
You need to put them in the correct order.
To help you, the first sentence has number (1) in front of it.
Look at the punctuation and for words like First, Secondly, Thirdly, Then to help you.
_____
To apply, I sometimes send a CV and
_____
At the end, hopefully I will get an interview!
_____
Thirdly, I need to prove I am looking for a job, so I must log my job searches.
__(1)_
I’m a jobseeker. To receive my benefits, I need to do three things:
_____
Secondly, I go on training courses to improve my skills.
_____
I often write a covering leter to go with it,
_____
or I fill in an application form.
_____
First, I must sign on at the Job Centre every 2 weeks.
_____
Then, when I see a job I like, I need to apply for it.
When you have finished, look at the text on Page 2 to check your answers.
© British Council 2012
Build your vocabulary – At the Job Centre
Activity 3
Now that you know how the Job Centre works, learn the verbs that people often use at the Job
Centre.
Before you do Activity 3, read the transcript from Activity 2 again. Underline the verbs. This will help
you in this activity.
Now match a verb from column A with the words from column B.
A
B
sign
in an application form
receive
an interview
search
your job searches
apply
on
fill
a CV
send
for a job
write
for a job
go
benefits
log
a covering letter
get
on a training course
© British Council 2012
Build your vocabulary – At the Job Centre
Activity 4
Now, test your vocabulary! Read the sentences below that you will hear and use at the Job Centre.
Some words are missing. Can you fill them in?
Fill the gaps with the missing words. You can choose from:
apply
have logged
application form
training course
benefits
covering
CV
job searches
Jobseeker
interview
searched
sign on
1) I am a __________ and I want to find a job. I ________ at the Job Centre every 2 weeks so I
receive my ____________.
2) I ____________ for jobs this morning on the Internet and in the newspaper. I saw two jobs
that I like so I will ___________ for them.
3) To apply for the job at the supermarket, I need to fill in an __________________.
4) To apply for the job at the restaurant, I need to send a _______ and a _________ letter.
5) Next week I am going on a __________ to learn how to use a computer.
6) I _______ all my _____________ for this week in my log book.
7) I have got an __________________ for the job tomorrow. Wish me luck!
© British Council 2012
Build your vocabulary – At the Job Centre
Activity 5
Now that you have have found the missing words, put the sentences in the correct order in this next
activity.
am here to I sign on.
_________________________________________________________________________
for I am job searching a.
_________________________________________________________________________
Which do benefits receive you?
_________________________________________________________________________
I for a part-time applied job last week.
_________________________________________________________________________
I filled in form an application.
_________________________________________________________________________
Do CV I need to send my?
_________________________________________________________________________
You write a will need to letter too covering.
_________________________________________________________________________
I would like training course to go on a.
_________________________________________________________________________
for this Have logged your job searches week you?
_________________________________________________________________________
I’ve got for a job interview next an week.
_________________________________________________________________________
© British Council 2012
Build your vocabulary – At the Job Centre
Activity 6
You do this every 2 weeks at the Job Centre.
____ __
Money you receive from the Job Centre. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
You can _________ for a job in a newspaper. _ _ _ _ _ _
When you find a job you like, you ________ for it. _ _ _ _ _
You sometimes have to fill one of these in. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sometimes you have to send a ___.
__
With your CV, you often write a _______. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
You may go on a __________. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Remember to log your _________. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If you are lucky, you will get an ____________. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If you would like to find out more about the Job Centre and how it can help you or your family, go to
their website http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk
© British Council 2012