Business English - Meeting People for Work (Beginner Level)

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

Think about this: Why is it good to meet people who work in jobs you like? How can talking to people help you find a job or learn about work?

Activity 2: New Words (Vocabulary)

Here are some new English words. These words will help us talk about meeting people to help with your job search.

Meet People (Networking): Talking to new people to make friends and connections for work.

Example: It's good to meet people at job events because they can help you.

Online Chat: Using websites like LinkedIn or email to talk to people about work topics.

Example: You can use online chat to ask people about their jobs or industry.

In Person: Meeting and talking to people in the same room, not on the internet.

Example: Job fairs are a good chance for in person meetings with company people.

Contacts: People you know who might be able to help you with your job search or give career advice.

Example: Keep a list of your work contacts and their email addresses.

Self Intro: A very short way to tell someone about yourself, your main skills, and what job you are looking for.

Example: Practice your self intro so you are ready to talk about yourself anytime you meet someone new.

Follow Up: Contacting someone again (like with an email) after you first meet or talk to them.

Example: A polite follow up email is good after you meet someone at a networking event.

Activity 3 (Reading)

Let's read about Anna. She is looking for a job in hotel management and is trying to meet people.

Anna is looking for a job in hotel management. She knows it's very important to meet people who work in the hotel business. First, she decides to try using online chat. She makes her profile on a job website look good. Then, she sends polite messages to managers of local hotels. In her messages, she asks for advice about jobs. Anna also joins online groups for people who work in hotels and reads their posts to learn more and find new ideas.

Next, Anna goes to a job fair in her city. This is a good chance for in person networking. Before she goes, she prepares a self intro. This is a short speech to say who she is and what kind of job she is looking for. At the job fair, she talks to three different hotel managers and gets their business cards. These people are now important contacts for her. She writes down their names and where they work. The very next day, Anna makes sure to do a follow up. She does this by sending a thank-you email to each manager she met. She thanks them for their time and reminds them she is looking for a job. Anna hopes these new connections will help her find a good hotel job very soon. She learned that meeting people both online and in person can open many new doors.

Think about the story:

What were the two main ways Anna tried to meet people for her job search?
What did Anna prepare before she went to the job fair for in person meetings?
What did Anna do as a follow up after meeting the managers, and why was this important?

Activity 4: Role Play

Read this dialogue with a partner. One person is Ben (a student looking for advice), and the other is Maria (a career advisor).

Ben: Maria, I need some help. How do I meet people who can help me find a job or give me advice about careers?

Maria: Hi Ben! That's a very good question. One way is to use online chat on professional job websites. You can find people in jobs you like.

Ben: Online? What should I say to them if I don't know them personally?

Maria: You can send a short, polite message introducing yourself. Also, don't forget about meeting people in person. Going to job events or industry talks can be very useful.

Ben: That sounds a bit scary, talking to strangers. What should I say when I meet them there?

Maria: It's a good idea to have a self intro ready. This is just a short and clear way to tell them about yourself and what kind of work you are interested in.

Ben: So, I talk to them, tell them my self intro, and then what? Is that all I need to do?

Maria: Well, try to get their contact information if you can, like an email address. Then they become useful contacts for you. And it's very important to do a follow up later.

Ben: A follow up? You mean like send them an email after I meet them at the event?

Maria: Yes, exactly! A short thank-you email is a great way to do it. So, using both online and in-person ways to meet people is very important for your job search.

After reading, discuss: What is one easy way to start an online chat with someone new that you want to connect with for work reasons?

Activity 5: Let's Practice

Objective: Practice using the new vocabulary about meeting people for work.

Scenario: Layla (the learner) is telling her friend, Omar, about how she is trying to find a new job in marketing.

Omar: Hi Layla! You said you're looking for a new job. How's it going? What are you doing to find one?

Layla: I'm trying many different things. I know it's very important to who already work in marketing, so I can learn from them.

Omar: That's true, talking to people in the field is helpful. Are you using the internet for that too?

Layla: Yes, I'm trying to do some on a big job website. I'm sending messages to marketing managers to ask for advice.

Omar: Are you also going to any job fairs or events where you can talk to people directly?

Layla: I went to a marketing event last week! It was really good for meetings and actually talking to people about their work.

Omar: That sounds useful! Did you know what to say when you met new people there?

Layla: I practiced a so I could tell them about myself and my interest in marketing quickly and clearly.

Omar: You were very prepared! Did you get any contact details from the people you met so you can add them to your list of professional people you know?

Layla: Yes, a few people gave me their business cards. They are now important for me.

Omar: That's great! What did you do after the event to keep in touch with them and remind them about your conversation?

Layla: I made sure to do a by sending a polite email the next day, just to thank them for their time.

Try to fill in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from this lesson!