Jobs

 13. Tétel - Work and the individual - Munka és egyén

• working hours (part-time, casual work, shift work, several jobs)

• fashionable jobs / dream jobs

• ways of finding a job

• working abroad (advantages, disadvantages)

• career and/or family

Jobs are traditionally divided up into two large categories: blue collar and white collar. Blue collar jobs are generally the manual labour type, such as factory work, road crews, building and construction, etc. The white collar jobs are the office jobs such as bank clerks, office workers, teachers, computer operators, etc. They are called blue and white collar because of the colour of the shirt traditionally worn in those jobs. Wearing a uniform is still required for numerous jobs, such as police officers, hotel doormen, nurses and many others.

While many jobs have regular hours – typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and called “nine-to-five” jobs – some require shift work. There is usually a hierarchy in a work place, and at the top is employer, usually called the boss, who is generally a type of executive of manger. Below this are other supervisors and then the other employees. Sometimes there is a labour union in the work place to protect the rights of the workers. 

Full-time jobs mean that you work 8 hours a day. If you have a part-time job, you work less, usually 4 or 6 hours a day.

 

Employer can work more – two or three – shifts. There are day- or nighshift and swing shift too.

Odd job is valid to occasions or seasons, for example, snow scoop in winter or farmhand in summer.

Some people have more jobs called accumulation, such as the politicians. It’s possible that they have other functions beside the function of political.

Salaries are fixed monthly payments especially for professional employees or people working in an office.

These days a lot of young people would like to become lawyers or economists, or they would like to find a job in connection with computer science. The main reason why these jobs are so popular is that they are well-paid. Most young people would like to work for a big company and get a company car, a mobile phone and a laptop, and where they can travel abroad on business. There are some young people who choose a popular job, no matter whether they are interested in that field or not. Others try to find work that suits their abilities and interest. There are families where the parents tell their children what to become.

Nowadays it’s easier to gain admission to an institution of higher education, but it’s more difficult to find a lucrative job after graduation. There are many more students in higher education than some years ago, so the job market is getting full.

In my opinion, a good job must be challenging and motivating. I would like to work with people and help them. It’s very important for me to enjoy what I do and be a member of a good team.

Employee provides job security, good salary and fringe benefits, such as free health insurance, travel subsidies and sports facilities. A good employer constantly tries to motivate the employees and creates ideal working conditions. He or she should organize activities for the employees outside work, like sightseeing tours and evening programmes.

A good employee is efficient, loyal to the employer and reliable. He or she has to adapt to changing work conditions and has to be able to cooperate with others.

Women have become more career-oriented. They don’t have to stay at home and look after their children as there are crèches and nursery schools. They can take care of housework more easily because there are labour-saving household devices. Another reason why they go to work is that the family needs the money.

I think we don’t have to choose between family and career if we can map out and we have family support.

In my opinion the middle-aged and elderly people are at a disadvantage when they are looking for a job because most companies advertise jobs for people under 35. In turn these people can work very well and they don’t have to go on sick leave because they haven’t got little children.

According to the law, women and men get the same salary for the same job, but as far as I know, especially in blue-collar jobs, women are paid less because they are considered weaker than men.

Traditionally there are men’s jobs and women’s jobs. For example, turners are mostly men, and kindergarten teachers are mostly women.

The most frequent reason is that an employee is made redundant and has to find another job. He or she has to leave either because the firm goes bankrupt or closes down, or because the employer is not satisfied with his or her work. There might be family reasons as well. Some people have to change jobs because of their health. There are people who change for a better-paid job or a job with better benefits. Other change jobs just because their tasks have become monotonous and they need a change.

Unfortunately, in today’s economic hard times a lot of people don’t have jobs and can’t find the kind of work they were trained for. These people are unemployed, and it’s sad to say their numbers are growing.

If I’m search of a job I ask my friends whether they know about vacancies. I read job advertisement, surf the net and go to a job agent. I found all of my jobs by TopSec, so I’m pleased with them. Firstly I called this company, we made an appointment, and went to the office with my CV. I was done some exercises and talked a lot. They took on me to their database, and after a week they called me that I could go to an appraisal interview. It was successful.

A CV contains personal details, such as the candidate’s name, address, phone number, nationality, date of birth and marital status. You must give details of your education and qualifications, your previous experience, your language and other skills. You may also include a list of your interests. It’s advisable to add names of people who can provide references.

Some people think that their life will be easier and more interesting abroad. They also hope to earn much more money than in Hungary, but they might not consider that life is more expensive abroad.

The advantages of working abroad are that you can learn the local language, get to know interesting people, and acquire the most recent technologies. Probably you earn more, although your expenditures can be higher too. The disadvantages include that you might feel like an outsider, have language problems and find the people around you and their customs strange. You might often feel lonely as you are far from your family and friends.

14. Tétel - Work and society - Munka és társadalom

• job prestige

• unemployment, benefits

• telework

• graduates entering the labour market

Jobs are traditionally divided up into two large categories: blue collar and white collar. Blue collar jobs are generally the manual labour type, such as factory work, road crews, building and construction, etc. The white collar jobs are the office jobs such as bank clerks, office workers, teachers, computer operators, etc. They are called blue and white collar because of the colour of the shirt traditionally worn in those jobs. Wearing a uniform is still required for numerous jobs, such as police officers, hotel doormen, nurses and many others.

These days a lot of young people would like to become lawyers or economists, or they would like to find a job in connection with computer science. The main reason why these jobs are so popular is that they are well-paid. Most young people would like to work for a big company and get a company car, a mobile phone and a laptop, and where they can travel abroad on business. There are some young people who choose a popular job, no matter whether they are interested in that field or not. Others try to find work that suits their abilities and interest. There are families where the parents tell their children what to become.

Nowadays it’s easier to gain admission to an institution of higher education, but it’s more difficult to find a lucrative job after graduation. There are many more students in higher education than some years ago, so the job market is getting full.

I think the middle-aged and elderly people are at a disadvantage when they are looking for a job because most companies advertise jobs for people under 35. In turn these people can work very well and they don’t have to go on sick leave because they haven’t got little children.

According to the law, women and men get the same salary for the same job, but as far as I know, especially in blue-collar jobs, women are paid less because they are considered weaker than men.

Traditionally there are men’s jobs and women’s jobs. For example, turners are mostly men, and kindergarten teachers are mostly women.

The most frequent reason is that an employee is made redundant and has to find another job. He or she has to leave either because the firm goes bankrupt or closes down, or because the employer is not satisfied with his or her work. There might be family reasons as well. Some people have to change jobs because of their health. There are people who change for a better-paid job or a job with better benefits. Other change jobs just because their tasks have become monotonous and they need a change.

Unfortunately, in today’s economic hard times a lot of people don’t have jobs and can’t find the kind of work they were trained for. These people are unemployed, and it’s sad to say their numbers are growing.

Unemployment is a serious social problem all over the world. Unemployed means that somebody hasn’t worked for a month, and he or she’s looking for a job. I think most of them are middle-aged and elder. Of course there are entrant unemployed too, because lots of employee want a young, well-educated but well-practised employers.

The state and the government assure social supplies to the indigents. For example, pensioners get pension, parents get family allowance, everybody get medical assurance and unemployed people get dole. Of course, therefore people have to pay several taxes when they work.

In my opinion the state has to solve the problem, for example, with free re-trainings and odd job or jobs of public utility. Of course, people have to change their habits. Change of residence and workplace or profession may be often a good resolution.

15. Tétel - Sports - Sport

• sports facilities

• candidate’s sporting activities, favourite sports

• mass sports

• sports events, professionals

• extreme sports

Sport includes the healthy lifestyle, crowdsports, racingsports, popular- and extreme sports and so on.

The healthy lifestyle contains eating healthy food, regular movement and free from stress.

I try to live healthy as I know. I eat lots of vegetable dishes, fruits, yoghurts and cereals. 

I like sports, especially handball, tennis and Formula 1. I used to go to fitness centres and play handball for years but nowadays I only watch handball games on TV. I like this sport because of the hardness and team playing. We won several awards, for example, silver medal in the competition of Budapest. Nowadays I take exercises at home with a step machine because I can’t go out from my daughter. My employer pays the season tickets of a fitness centre so the managing director help us to keep our fit.

Crowdsports are played by several people, so crowdsport means the game of the crowds. For example, football, running, basketball, etc.

Racingsports are the sports which are played in functional competitions and the winners get medals. For example, motorsports, ice-skating, football, athletics, etc.

As far as I know, the English like playing golf and cricket, and there are quite a few soccer fans among them.

Some Americans go to baseball and basketball games regularly to support their teams. But there are others who prefer staying at home and watching these games on TV while eating snacks. 

If we considered a sport that many people pursue popular, the most popular sport in Hungary are football, handball, hiking and aerobics. If a popular sport means a sport that many people watch, besides football and handball, the most popular sports are Formula 1 racing, water polo, swimming and boxing.

Although it’s said that extreme sports are dangerous, many young people try them. These sports are gliding, white-water rafting, snowboarding, bungee jumping and so on. I think extreme sports are nice and exciting but I don’t want to try them. Once I was parachuted with my husband by a motor-boat above the Mediterranean sea in Tunesia and it was wonderful but I was afraid because I have agoraphobic.

16. Tétel - Health - Egészség

• characteristics of a healthy lifestyle

• healthy and unhealthy diet/dishes

• healthcare

The word health really means good health, when you feel fine. But it also possible to speak about poor health, when you feel out of sorts, do not feel up to the mark.

A regular way of life is very important to good health. Have your meals at regular times, devote enough time to recreation, sports in the fresh air and sunshine. Many people who feel unwell or nervous are just exhausted, overworked and need a good rest.

To be healthy you should eat healthy food, such as chicken and fish, vegetables, fruits, cheese, yoghurt and cereals, exercise regularly and try to avoid stress.

I try to live in the healthiest way possible. I eat healthy food, that is, little fat and sugar and lots of vegetables and fruit. I take exercises at home three times a week and walk a lot with my daughter every day.

Health cares are cover all people and they’re nearly free. Of course, it’s not free because employees and employers pay social security contributions to the state to cover their health cares. From 15th February we pay visit fee at doctors and bed fee in the hospitals per day. Health cares may be benefit in kind and monetary allocation.

Benefit in kind may be the price of medicine support. Monetary allocation are sick-pay and child care allowance and fee. 

There are private medical cares but they’re so expensive.

Important institute is the sick-pay what is paid by the employees and social insurance. When an employer is sick, go to the doctor and stay at home, he or she gets the 70 per cent of his or her salary as sick-pay.

Some employees pay the medical examinations for the employers, especially the multinational companies.