TALK ABOUT IT
What are some tasks or duties you have done at your job(s)? What words do you know that describe some tasks you do at work?
READ ABOUT IT
Most job listings include a job description—information about the duties, or responsibilities of the job. If the listing has headings, you can find job duties under these words.
Description
Duties
Responsibilities
Tasks
It is important for you to learn the keywords for the duties of your job. You will also need these keywords to describe your work experience when you write your
resume, fill out applications and interview for jobs. Look at the job listing for a lab assistant below. The keywords for job duties are highlighted in yellow.
Lab Assistant (Downtown / Civic Center / Van Ness)
Date: July 23, 2007
ABCD Management Solutions invite applications for the position of laboratory assistant for the HIV Research Section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health AIDS Office.
Job Duties
Under the direction of the Asst. Director of Vaccine Studies, the lab assistant is responsible for daily job operations and lab maintenance.
Primary responsibilities include:
Collecting specimens
Scheduling , processing and shipping of specimens to various labs
Coordinating efforts with local and national laboratories
Tracking inventory and ordering lab supplies
Stocking and cleaning the lab and exam rooms
Assisting in the development of laboratory protocols
Minimum Qualifications
One year experience working in a lab or clinic/research setting
Good communications skills; proven experience working without direct supervision as well as working well with other staff.
Highly organized with strengths in attention to detail and timely follow-up
Job descriptions usually start with these phrases:
Is responsible for …
Responsibilities include: …
You will …
Duties include …
The position is responsible for …
Keywords for job descriptions are usually simple verbs, nouns and gerunds (verbs that end in ing and are used as nouns).
Look at the example below. The phrases are highlighted in green,
simple verbs in turquoise, and gerunds and nouns in yellow.
Facilities Technician
Job Code: 78785-BAJ
Hellogen is looking for an entry-level technician to support our technical groups.
Description:
This position is responsible for repairs,
maintenance, and basic
trouble shooting of equipment. You will
maintain equipment logs,
clean water systems,
assist in setting up meeting rooms and oversee contractors/vendors as necessary to complete projects.
Other duties include, but are not limited to:
Supporting reception, shipping and receiving
Responding to emergency facilities calls
FIGURE IT OUT
Look at the example for the facilities technician and click on the correct answer to the questions. When you finish, click on check answers
1. What kind of words follow is responsible for?
Nouns/Gerunds Simple verbs
2. What kind of words follow you will?
Nouns/Gerunds Simple verbs
3. What kind of words follow other duties include?
Nouns/Gerunds Simple verbs
It takes time to learn the meanings of the verbs and nouns related to the job you want. One way to begin is to find words in the job description that relate to the job title.
Use the words you know first to help you figure out the words you don’t know.
First ask yourself some basic questions, for example, where does the person work? Look at the listing for a shipping assistant below. Look for a place name, a noun.
You can see the word,
warehouse, which is a place where merchandize is received and sent out. The words
shipping and receiving relate to warehouse work.
Job Title: Shipping Assistant
Job Description:
Picks and packs orders, receives supplies and products.
Stocks and helps maintain
warehouse.
Next, find the verbs in the job description. Verbs that don’t have a subject, but have objects that follow them are called verb phrases.
TRY IT
Activity A
Copy and paste the verb phrases from the shipping assistant job description to the boxes below. Then underline the verbs. A verb phrase can have one or more verbs.
Activity B
1. Work with a partner. Match the job titles and the job descriptions. Copy the title and paste it into the box next to the correct job description.
2. On a piece of paper, list the keywords in the job descriptions that helped you match the job titles and descriptions.
Job Titles:
mail associate
pharmacy clerk
maintenance engineer
security guard
care giver
food runner
Job Descriptions:
1. Cleans and maintains an assigned area and performs a variety of environmental duties in and around the medical center to maintain a neat,
orderly, sanitary and safe environment.
2. Includes opening and closing duties, bus tables, run food when busy. This is a very fast paced job.
3. - Provides in-person and telephone reception
- Receives and directs new and refill prescriptions
- Produces computerized prescription labels
- Assists pharmacy personnel with clerical functions
4.
Patrols and guards area on foot to protect property and personnel against fire, theft, vandalism, illegal entry or other hazards
5.
Assist disabled woman with bathing, dressing, cooking, shopping, light cleaning and clerical duties.
6. - Sort and distribute U.S. mail and special mails (Fed Ex, UPS, etc.)
- Maintain files, logs and records on all incoming mail
- Deliver special and rush packages
- Deliver mail to each department or person, as required by the client
Activity C
Match the verbs on the right with the words on the left to make a verb phrase. Type the letter of the correct answer on the line. Then click check answers.