Study Notes: The Employment Chapter - Focusing on Verbs

Hello future professionals! Welcome to the "Employment" chapter. This is a super important topic because mastering the verbs used in job contexts will help you understand applications, job interviews, and workplace conversations. Since we are focusing on the Verbs section of the curriculum, we will learn how to use the right action words, two-part verbs, and 'helper' verbs to talk about working life!

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; English uses many specific verbs when talking about careers, but we will break them down into simple steps.


Section 1: Action Verbs – The Language of Getting the Job

Action verbs describe what people do. In the employment world, these verbs define every stage of your career, from searching to succeeding.

1.1 Verbs for Seeking and Starting a Job

Here are the key action verbs you need to know when looking for a role:

  • To Apply (for a job): This means formally requesting the job, usually by filling out a form or sending a CV.
    Example: I need to apply for the assistant position before the deadline.
  • To Interview: To attend a formal meeting where an employer assesses if you are suitable.
    Example: She will interview for the manager role next Tuesday.
  • To Hire / To Employ: This is what the company does when they decide to give you the job.
    Example: The company plans to hire three new IT specialists this month.
  • To Start (Work): The first day you begin your job.
    Example: We start work at 9:00 AM every day.

1.2 Verbs for Daily Work and Responsibility

These verbs describe your duties and achievements once you have the job:

  • To Manage: To be in charge of or supervise staff, projects, or tasks.
    Example: My boss manages a team of twenty people.
  • To Train: To teach a specific skill or behavior to someone.
    Example: Experienced workers often train the new employees.
  • To Earn: The verb we use for receiving money for your work (your salary or wage).
    Example: I earn $15 per hour at my current job.
  • To Achieve: To successfully complete or reach a goal.
    Example: I hope to achieve all my sales targets this quarter.

Quick Takeaway: Action verbs tell the story of your career. Use strong verbs like managed, trained, and achieved on your CV!


Section 2: Phrasal Verbs in the Workplace (Two-Part Power)

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with a small word (a preposition or adverb, like on, off, up, down) that completely changes the meaning. They are very common in English conversations about employment!

2.1 Understanding Phrasal Verbs: The Partner System

Imagine the small word (the particle) is a "partner" that turns a simple verb into a new, specialized verb.

Key Phrasal Verbs for Employment:
  • Look for: To search for something.
    Example: I am actively looking for a new job.
  • Take on: 1) To accept a new responsibility or 2) To hire someone.
    Example: She took on the difficult project. / The company will take on two new graduates.
  • Hand in: To submit something (like a report or resignation).
    Example: You must hand in your time sheet every Friday.
  • Lay off: When a company ends someone's job because they don't have enough work or money (it's not the employee's fault).
    Example: Due to low sales, the factory had to lay off fifty workers.
  • Clock in / Clock out: To officially record the time you arrive and leave work (often using a machine).
    Example: Please remember to clock in when you arrive.

2.2 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Struggling students often confuse the phrasal verb with the literal meaning of the words:

❌ Incorrect: The boss fired me because I finished my duties. (Fired means dismissed for a reason, usually poor behavior.)
✅ Correct: The company had to lay me off because they closed the department.

Memory Trick: Think of Hand In as physically moving your document into the hands of your manager.

Quick Takeaway: Phrasal verbs are essential for natural-sounding English. Memorize their combined meaning, not just the individual words!


Section 3: Modal Verbs – Rules, Requirements, and Possibilities

Modal verbs (like can, must, should) are "helper" verbs that tell us about the attitude, possibility, or necessity of the main action verb. They are crucial for writing job descriptions and contracts.

3.1 Modals for Obligation and Necessity (The Rules)

When something is required in a job, we use must or have to.

  • Must: Used for strong necessity or strict rules (often internal to the company).
    Example: All employees must wear a uniform. (A strict company rule.)
  • Have to: Used for external necessity or standard obligations.
    Example: You have to pay taxes on your salary. (A legal requirement.)
  • Must not / Cannot: Prohibition (Do not do this!).
    Example: Employees must not use social media during working hours.

3.2 Modals for Advice and Recommendation (Suggestions)

When providing advice about performance or behavior, we use should or ought to.

  • Should / Ought to: Used to recommend the best course of action.
    Example: You should arrive fifteen minutes early for your interview.
  • Should not: Used for negative advice.
    Example: You should not interrupt your colleagues.

Did You Know? Job descriptions often use "Must have" for essential requirements (e.g., Must have five years of experience) and "Should have" for desirable but non-essential requirements.

3.3 Modals for Possibility (Uncertainty)

When discussing future outcomes or uncertainty, we use might or could.

  • Might / Could: Used to suggest something is possible, but not certain.
    Example: We might offer him the job tomorrow if the reference checks are positive.

Quick Takeaway: If a rule is non-negotiable, use must or have to. If it's advice, use should.


Section 4: Verb Tenses for Professional Communication (Time Traveling)

When discussing employment, especially on a CV or during an interview, you need to be very accurate with the verb tense to show when the action happened.

4.1 Simple Past Tense: Completed Past Jobs and Actions

The Simple Past Tense (e.g., worked, managed, achieved) is used for actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past. This is ideal for listing old jobs or specific tasks that are now complete.

  • When to use it: When a specific date or period is mentioned, and the job is finished.
  • Example: I worked at TechCorp from 2018 to 2021.
  • Example: Last year, I successfully completed a major project.

4.2 Present Perfect Tense: Experience and Achievements Connected to Now

The Present Perfect Tense (e.g., have worked, has managed, have been doing) is used for experience that started in the past and continues to the present, or for general achievements in your life/career up until this moment.

This tense is crucial for your CV when you talk about your ongoing skills and current employment.

  • When to use it:
    1. To describe your current job/role. (I have worked here since 2021.)
    2. To describe accumulated experience. (I have trained over fifty colleagues in software development.)

Accessibility Tip: Simple Past vs. Present Perfect
If you can answer the question "When did this happen?" with a specific date (e.g., in 2019, yesterday), use Simple Past.
If the action is continuous or the specific time doesn't matter (e.g., ever, since 2019), use Present Perfect.


Quick Review: Verb Focus in Employment

Action Verbs: Tell us what you did (apply, manage).
Phrasal Verbs: Specific verbs for workplace scenarios (look for, lay off, hand in).
Modal Verbs: Communicate rules and expectations (must, should, might).
Tenses: Ensure accuracy when detailing your history (Simple Past for finished jobs, Present Perfect for current experience).