Business English - Understanding Job Offers and Employment Contracts

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

Think about this: What happens when a company wants to hire you? What kind of paper or information do they give you? Why is it important to read papers carefully before you sign them?

Activity 2: New Words (Vocabulary)

Here are some new English words. These words will help us talk about what happens when a company offers you a job.

Job Offer: When a company tells you that they want to hire you for a job.

Example: I was so happy when I got a job offer from the company today!

Work Paper (Contract): An important paper with all the rules and details about your job, like your work hours and what you get paid.

Example: You should always read your work paper very carefully before you agree to the job.

Pay (Salary): The money a company gives you regularly (like every month or every two weeks) for doing your job.

Example: The job offer letter will usually tell you about your starting pay.

Extras (Benefits): Good things your company gives you with your job, besides your pay, like help with health costs or paid holidays.

Example: Some jobs offer good extras like free lunch or help with travel costs.

Job Rules (Terms/Conditions): The important rules, details, and agreements written in your work paper that you must follow.

Example: It is important to understand all the job rules before you start working.

Sign (verb): To write your name on an official paper to show that you agree to what it says.

Example: Do not sign the work paper if you do not understand something in it; ask questions first.

Activity 3 (Reading)

Let's read about Maria. She just got a job offer and needs to understand the papers.

Maria was very happy this morning! She received a job offer by email from 'Bright Future Company.' This was the job she really wanted. The email had a letter saying they wanted to hire her. It also had an important work paper, which is also called a contract, attached to it. Before Maria got too excited and replied, she remembered it was very important to read everything very carefully.

She opened the work paper and first looked at the section about her pay. This told her how much money she would get each month for her work. Then, she checked to see if there were any extras mentioned, like health insurance or how many vacation days she would get. Maria also read all the other job rules in the work paper. These rules talked about her work hours, what she would do each day, and other important details. She compared these details to what they talked about in her interview. Most things looked good, but she had one small question about her start date. Maria decided to call the HR person to ask her question before she would sign the work paper. Maria knew it was important to understand everything first. She felt good about being careful and professional.

Think about the story:

What good news did Maria receive in her email (the job offer)?
What are two important things Maria looked for in the work paper (like her pay and any extras)?
Why did Maria decide to ask a question before she would sign the work paper? What does this show about her?

Activity 4: Role Play

Read this dialogue with a partner. One person is Ben (who just received a job offer), and the other is Lisa (his friend giving him advice).

Ben: Lisa, great news! I got a job offer today from that tech company! I'm so excited!

Lisa: That's fantastic, Ben! Congratulations! Did they send you a work paper, like a contract, with all the details of the job?

Ben: Yes, they did. It's a long paper with lots of information. What should I look for first when I read it?

Lisa: Well, definitely check what your pay will be, of course! And also see what kind of extras they offer, like paid holidays or health plans.

Ben: Okay, I'll check my pay and the extras. What else is really important to understand in that work paper?

Lisa: You should read all the job rules very carefully – things like your working hours, what your main tasks will be, and how much notice you need to give if you leave.

Ben: That's a lot to check. What if I don't understand some of the job rules they wrote down?

Lisa: It's always okay to ask questions before you sign it. Make sure you understand everything. It's an important agreement.

Ben: So, I shouldn't just sign it quickly because I'm happy about the job offer?

Lisa: No, definitely take your time and read it all. It’s an important paper. But again, congrats on the job offer! That's wonderful news.

After reading, discuss: Why is it very important to read every part of a work paper (contract) carefully before you sign it with your name?

Activity 5: Let's Practice

Objective: Practice using the new vocabulary about job offers and work papers.

Scenario: Anna (the learner) is telling her dad about a job she has been offered and the papers she received.

Dad: Hi Anna, you look very happy today! Do you have some good news about the job you interviewed for last week?

Anna: Yes, Dad! They sent me an email this morning with a ! They want me to start working there next month.

Dad: That's wonderful news, sweetheart! Did they send you the employment contract, the main document with all the details about the job?

Anna: Yes, I have the right here. It's a few pages long, so I need to read it carefully.

Dad: Absolutely. Make sure you check the salary information very carefully. What does the paper say about your for the job?

Anna: It looks good, about what I expected. And they also offer some good like paid sick days and a chance to take some training courses.

Dad: That's nice to hear. Did you read all the conditions and important information in it, like your responsibilities?

Anna: I'm reading all the now to make sure I understand everything clearly before I agree to anything.

Dad: That's very smart, Anna. Never rush that part. Only when you are happy with everything and understand it all should you your name on that paper.

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