Talking about your job

The following paragraphs contain some common vocabulary to describe jobs and responsibilities.

Technical tasks

You will assemble and operate the machinery and be responsible for maintaining all the equipment. Where necessary you will advise on new upgrades of the computer facilities. In addition you will repair minor faults.

Financial tasks

You are responsible for developing the budgets and forecasts for each department. With the auditing department, you will be responsible for checking the statements and for projecting figures. You are good at analysing figures as well as calculating the profit margins.

Administrative tasks

You input all the data into the system. This data should be filed under certain categories so that records of transactions can easily be retrieved. In addition, you will assist the Human Resources Director by collecting information on all employees. This information will then be processed into personnel reports.

Sales and marketing tasks

You will develop marketing plans for a range of products and oversee the publicity for these products. Supervising a national sales team, you will negotiate terms and conditions for key accounts and clients. You will have excellent persuasion skills.

Communication skills

You are able to summarise clearly the recommendations made to clients. Where necessary, you can clarify areas which are ambiguous and you will have excellent communication skills. You will also be responsible for specifying the company's aims and objectives and you will explain these objectives to employees in writing.

Management tasks

As a member of the management team, your tasks are varied. You will be able to evaluate options and identify opportunities. You are a problem-solver and you can advise employees and clients on possible solutions to problems and allocate resources where necessary. You will assign tasks to people within the company and you will then review the progress of the tasks that you have delegated. Monitoring these tasks will be vital and you will be expected to keep the management team informed of progress. You are a top organiser, able to interpret strategy and plan for success, as well as being able to assess and investigate new market trends.

You will also be able to initiate and implement new policy and co-ordinate the team effort. You are a confident communicator and are happy to make recommendations and set goals outside your own area of responsibility.

Human Resources tasks

You are expected to recruit new employees and coach them in their roles. You will be able to encourage and motivate staff so that employees can develop their skills. You are also responsible for a training and a coaching / mentoring programme which will strengthen the skills of staff.