Getting a job in Britain

Part one: unskilled labour

Here are some phrases that might be useful if you are going to Britain to work during the summer.  This week the focus is on the sort of temporary work that is available on farms, in factories and similar working environments.

Phrases in bold are things you could here from an employer.

Looking for work:

Are you looking for any temporary workers?

Is there any work going?

Are you short of staff at the moment?

Do you have any job vacancies at the moment?

I'm looking for work for the summer.

Do you need anyone to work in the kitchens?

Do you need any farmhands at the moment?

Being interviewed for a job:

What sort of work are you looking for?

Any work at all.

When can you start?

I can start the day after tomorrow.

I can start any time at all.

I can start right away.

Could you fill in this form?

You'll have to fill in one of these forms.

What does DOB stand for?

It stands for Date Of Birth.

Have you been given an NI number?

Have you been given a National Insurance number?

A National Insurance number (NI Number) is given to all employees in the United Kingdom.  It does the same thing as your NIP in Poland.  If you haven't got one, and an employer doesn't ask for one, you are in trouble.  It means that the employer wants to hire you illegally.  That would make you an illegal worker and you would not have any protection if your boss decided not to pay you or to fire you without any reason.  Remember there are plenty of legal jobs available.

Do I need to bring my own uniform?

No, we'll provide one for you, but you'll have to pay a deposit for it.

You'll get the deposit back with your last paycheque.

Are you fit?

Are you good at getting up in the mornings?

Do you have any disabilities?

Remember that you must tell an employer if you have a bad back, if you are colour blind, if you are allergic to anything and anything else that would affect the way you do a job.  If you hide this from an employer, you cannot get any form of compensation if you are injured and you might be taken to court.

Should I bring a packed lunch or is there a canteen?

On the job/At work:

Excuse me, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.

Where should I put these?

Where do you want these?

I've finished.  What should I do next?

Put them over there.

Put them in the bucket.

Use a ladder for the higher branches.

Take out the rotten ones and leave the fresh ones.

You'll have to wear protective eyewear for this part of the factory.

Make sure you know where the first aid boxes are.

Exercises

Rearrange the words these people are saying.  Note: some of the phrases are slightly different from the phrases above.

Hello.  some I'm summer for for employment looking the.  Do you have any vacancies?

Here's in for form you a fill to.

We can away who people start need right.

uniform a You need don't.

early you In job this to up have very get.

problem back I've a bad.  a that Will got be? (This one is two phrases)

the here for whole I'm summer.  can long work I for How here? (Another two phrases)

KEY

I'm looking for some employment for the summer.

We need people who can start right away.

Here's a form for you to fill in.

You don't need a uniform.

In this job you have to get up very early.

I've got a bad back.  Will that be a problem?

I'm here for the whole summer.  How long can I work here for?

Next week

Working in the hotel trade and the tourist industry is another way of earning some money over the summer holidays.  We'll have a look at some useful phrases for this.