Discussing job applicants
Guy: So which of these applicants do you think we should interview?
They all seem to fit the job description quite well to me. It’s quite a daunting task to narrow the list down to just one person.
Lisa: I agree. So, lets start by taking up references for these ten people.
Guy: OK. So why did you pick these ten out of the fifty who applied?
Lisa: Well, these ten all seem to be people who realise the importance of working as a team. They’ve all shown that they are capable of mastering new skills. And they’re all clearly comfortable with taking on responsibility.
Guy: Did you automatically eliminate the two who’d previously taken industrial action(1)?
Lisa: One of them – I’d also heard rumours about his involvement in a professional misconduct case. He was certainly relieved of his duties(2) at ARG under mysterious circumstances. But the other was standing up for a woman who’d been wrongfully dismissed(3), even though he knew he might lose his own job. So he sounded good to me.
Guy: Fair enough. He must have strength of character to risk losing his own livelihood.
Lisa: That’s right. So could we pencil in a meeting for considering the references? And then I’d better leave you and go and clear my desk(4) before I go home.
Guy: Yes, sure. How about Friday at 10?
1 gone on strike
2 (formal) dismissed
3 (formal, legal) unfairly dismissed
4 deal with all the papers on one’s desk (also used when someone is clearing their desk because they are leaving their job)Common mistakes
If workers refuse to work, they go on strike or stage a strike, NOT make a strike.
Conversation about a new job
Alexa: I hear your brother’s landed a fantastic new job(1).
David: Actually it’s not as good as he hoped. He’s got a terribly heavy workload and that means working some very unsocial hours. He also complains about having to do lots of menial tasks around the office, running errands for his boss.
Alexa: But he’s paid well?
David: Not really. He just about gets a living wage(2). And all the overtime is unpaid.
Alexa: He’ll just have to throw a sickie(3) from time to time.
David: Yes, I suggested he did that too, but he says he’s afraid of getting the sack(4) if he does. He feels there might be some prospects for him there eventually, even if he is just being used as sweated labour(5) at the moment.
Alexa: Well, with any luck he’ll eventually find that he can realise his potential(6) there.
David: I hope so. But they have a very high turnover of staff and it won’t be easy for him to stay the course(7).
Alexa: No, but he’s very determined, isn’t he? So let’s hope it all works out.
1 (informal) got a new (and usually a good) job
2 enough money to live on
3 (informal) take a day off work pretending to be sick
4 (informal) being dismissed
5 workers who are paid very little and work in very bad conditions
6 achieve all that he is capable of
7 remain there until he is successful
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