Welcome to Your TOEIC Success Journey: Personnel and Hiring
Hello there! Whether you are just starting your English journey or you are aiming for a perfect 990 score, understanding the vocabulary of Personnel and Hiring is essential. In the TOEIC exam, business isn't just about selling products; it’s about the people who do the work. This chapter will help you master the words and phrases that describe how companies find, interview, and choose new employees.
Why does this matter? In Listening Parts 3 and 4 and Reading Part 7, you will often hear or read about job openings and hiring decisions. If you know these words, you won’t have to "guess" the meaning—you will see the answer clearly!
1. The Search Phase: Finding the Right People
Before a company hires someone, they must look for them. This is called recruitment.
Key Vocabulary:
• Vacancy / Opening: An available job position that is not currently filled.
• To Recruit: The action of looking for new employees.
• Candidate / Applicant: A person who is trying to get a job.
• Job Description: A document explaining the duties and responsibilities of a role.
Strategy: Understanding "Position" in Context
In the TOEIC, the word position is very common. In a Part 5 grammar question, you might be tempted to think it means "location," but in a hiring context, it almost always means "job title."
Weak Understanding: "We have a position available in the corner." (Confusing job with location)
Improved Understanding: "We are seeking to fill a managerial position in our marketing department." (Correct professional usage)
2. The Application Phase: Paperwork and Profiles
To get marks in Reading Part 6 (Text Completion), you must know which verbs go with which nouns. These are called collocations.
Common Collocations to Memorize:
• Submit an application (Not "give" or "send" usually in formal contexts)
• Meet the requirements (To have the necessary skills)
• Review a resume (What the boss does with your CV)
• Provide references (Giving names of people who know your work)
Did You Know?
In the TOEIC, a resume and a CV (Curriculum Vitae) are used interchangeably. They both mean the document that lists your work history. Don't let the different words confuse you!
3. The Selection Phase: Interviews and Decisions
This is where many students lose marks in Listening Part 3 because they miss "signals" in the conversation.
Key Vocabulary:
• To Shortlist: To choose a small group of the best candidates from a large list.
• Background Check: Researching a candidate's past to ensure they are honest.
• Probationary Period: A "trial" time (usually 3–6 months) where a new worker is watched to see if they are a good fit.
• Credentials: A person's qualities, experience, or status (like degrees or certifications).
Identifying High-Value Sentence Patterns
In Part 5 (Incomplete Sentences), the exam tests your ability to use the right word form. Look at this contrast:
Weak: "The manager is hiring for the job." (Too simple, rarely the answer)
Improved: "The hiring committee is currently evaluating the qualifications of all applicants." (This uses the high-level nouns that earn top marks).
4. Common Traps and Mistakes to Avoid
Trap 1: Confusing "Personnel" and "Personal"
• Personnel (Noun): The people who work for a company (The Staff).
• Personal (Adjective): Something that belongs to you privately.
TOEIC Tip: If you see "Human Resources," think "Personnel."
Trap 2: "Apply to" vs. "Apply for"
• You apply to a company (the place).
• You apply for a job (the position).
Example: "He applied to IBM for the role of lead engineer."
5. Timing and Pacing Reality
In Reading Part 7, you will often see a "Double Passage." One passage might be a Job Advertisement and the second might be an Email from an Applicant. To save time, don't read every word. Look for keywords like "requirements," "salary," "deadline," and "experience." If the ad asks for 5 years of experience and the email says the person has 10 years, you have found a likely answer to a question!
Quick Review Box
• Recruit/Hire: To find new workers.
• Requirements: What you MUST have to get the job.
• References: People who recommend you.
• Onboarding: The process of starting the new job.
• Competitive Salary: A good pay rate that is similar to other companies.
6. Summary: Key Takeaways for Your Score
To maximize your score in the Personnel and Hiring chapter, remember these three steps:
1. Focus on Collocations: Don't just learn "apply"; learn "apply for a position."
2. Identify Context: If you hear words like "interview" or "resume," you are in a hiring context. Use that to predict what happens next (an offer, a rejection, or a follow-up).
3. Watch Word Forms: Be careful with qualify (verb), qualified (adjective), and qualification (noun). The TOEIC loves to test these in Part 5!
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Business English uses very specific patterns. The more you see these words used together, the more "natural" the correct answer will look to you. Keep practicing, and you will see your score climb!