Aims
This lesson helps students to learn about work through the context of a subject, in this case, English, with the emphasis on accurate and neat communication and on interpreting difficult words. The lesson could also be used in ICT.

Preparation
Students need paper, writing instruments. They may also need access to poster paper and ICT.

Differentiated target
By the end of the lesson:

• All students will understand the stages of recruitment.
• Most students will understand the qualities which businesses want in recruits.
• Some students will understand why different businesses may need different qualities.

Activities
Students use a Case Study to learn about how a business recruits candidates for jobs. They learn how to construct an accurate pen portrait. In order to complete the worksheet you will need to download the following case studies:

Arcadia Ed 10 | Cummins Ed 9

Thought starter
(10 minutes)

List the number of different ways a business could advertise a job. List the number of different ways a person can apply for a job. This could be conducted as a general question and answer session or as a group discussion, reporting back to the rest of the class. You could divide the class into two teams to compete over the number of ways they can suggest.

Introduction
(15 minutes)

Read the Arcadia Case Study. Pay particular attention to paragraph 04. What are the main qualities Arcadia wants of its staff? Read the Cummins Case Study. Explain why good recruitment is important to each business.

Students should work on this with a partner or in a small group. Groups can then report back to the rest of the class. You may wish to record suggestions on the whiteboard or interactive whiteboard to act as a reminder throughout the lesson. The qualities are very much in company-speak, so you should allow time for dictionary work and discussion of terms.

Development
(25 minutes)

Draw up a pen portrait of a 'good recruit' for each organisation. This should include all the qualities which the organisation would want in its recruits.

Students could work on poster paper with a partner. They draw the 'applicant' first and then, for each business, add leader lines to statements of what the business is seeking in a candidate. As with an application, all writing should be neat and accurate. You could also carry out this exercise using a word processing package.

Plenary
(10 minutes)

One of the ways each business tries out applicants is by giving them assessments, or tests. Write down one way in which you could test for each quality you have listed. Students should work on this with a partner. They can then develop the tests for homework and try them out on another pair in a subsequent lesson.

Homework
Develop one of the tests that you have suggested and write it up in detail.

Extension Work
Arcadia recruits through an online form. Students could draw up an online form to go with the pen portrait that they have created. This form could then be completed by a partner student as if they were applying for a job. There should be an emphasis on neatness and accuracy.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES
(a) (5 minutes)
Suggestions for advertising vacancies should include:

1. newspapers
2. internal notice boards
3. the internet
4. cards in retail outlets
5. boards outside premises
6. in the job centre.

Suggestions for applications should include:

1. letters
2. CVs
3. application forms (paper)
4. application forms (online)
5. telephone
6. personal visit
   
   

(b) (15 minutes)
Arcadia wants staff who can:

1. work with people
2. put customers first
3. maximise their own impact
4. perform in an inspiring way
5. drive the business forward
6. make the right choices.

Cummins wants staff who are:

1. technically competent
2. have appropriate experience
3. loyal and committed to the organisation
4. well informed
5. capable of showing good judgement todrive the business forward
   
   

(c) (25 minutes)
This is an independent exercise to test comprehension and understanding. Students should produce either a poster, or a word processed page.

(d) (10 minutes)
Test could include:

• role plays of customer complaints or decision making
• written tests to check communications competency
• practical tests to assess skills.