Looking for a job
In cerca di un lavoro
- Create and send your curriculum.
- Use job portals to search for a job.
This lesson focuses on job hunting in Italian, teaching key vocabulary like curriculum (resume), esperienza lavorativa (work experience), and competenze (skills). You'll practice dialogues for creating a CV, navigating job portals, and asking about job offers, using practical phrases such as 'Devo aggiornare il mio curriculum' and 'Ho trovato un lavoro part-time.'
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Esercizio 1: Conversation exercise
Istruzione:
- How long did you have to look for a job last time? (How long did you have to look for a job last time?)
- What is important when applying? (What is important when applying?)
- How does your CV look like? (How does your CV look like?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Ho cercato lavoro per tre mesi. È stato un po' difficile, ma ne ho trovato uno buono. I looked for a job for three months. It was a bit hard, but I found a good one. |
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Ho trovato un lavoro dopo un mese. Ho utilizzato siti web e inviato molti CV. I found a job after one month. I used websites and sent many CVs. |
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È molto importante inviare il tuo CV e lettera di presentazione via email. It is very important to send your CV and Cover letter via email. |
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È positivo dire che hai già esperienza nella posizione lavorativa per cui ti stai candidando. It is good to say that you already have experience in the job position you are applying for. |
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Il mio CV è semplice e breve. Ho scritto le mie competenze e l'ultimo lavoro. My CV is simple and short. I wrote my skills and last job. |
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Il mio CV include la mia foto, i miei dati di contatto e la mia esperienza lavorativa. My CV has my photo, my contact details, and my work history. |
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Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Per trovare un lavoro, è importante che tu ______ bene nei portali online.
(To find a job, it is important that you ______ well on online portals.)2. Ti suggerisco di ______ il tuo curriculum prima di inviare le candidature.
(I suggest you ______ your resume before sending applications.)3. Se ______ un'offerta interessante, la contatterei subito.
(If ______ an interesting offer, I would contact her immediately.)4. Non dubitare, ______ subito la domanda!
(Don't hesitate, ______ the application immediately!)Exercise 4: Looking for a job
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Cercare - Cercare
Presente
- io cerco
- tu cerchi
- lui/lei cerca
- noi cerchiamo
- voi cercate
- loro cercano
Inviare - Inviare
Passato Prossimo
- io ho inviato
- tu hai inviato
- lui/lei ha inviato
- noi abbiamo inviato
- voi avete inviato
- loro hanno inviato
Dare - Dare
Presente
- io do
- tu dai
- lui/lei dà
- noi diamo
- voi date
- loro danno
Parlare - Parlare
Presente
- io parlo
- tu parli
- lui/lei parla
- noi parliamo
- voi parlate
- loro parlano
Ricevere - Ricevere
Presente
- io ricevo
- tu ricevi
- lui/lei riceve
- noi riceviamo
- voi ricevete
- loro ricevono
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Looking for a Job: Italian Lesson Overview
This lesson, designed for A2 learners, helps you navigate the practical language needed when searching for jobs in Italian. It covers creating and updating your curriculum vitae (CV), using online job portals, inquiring about job offers, and making professional contacts.
Key Language Functions
- Preparing a CV: Learn how to express your personal details, work experience, and computer skills. Common phrases include "Devo aggiornare il mio curriculum" (I need to update my CV) and "Ho lavorato come assistente amministrativo per due anni" (I worked as an administrative assistant for two years).
- Applying for Jobs Online: Practice searching and selecting appropriate job listings, creating profiles, and submitting applications digitally. Useful sentences are "Sto cercando un lavoro come segretaria" (I'm looking for a job as a secretary) and "Invia il curriculum direttamente da qui" (Send the CV directly from here).
- Requesting Job Information: Gain confidence in asking about job requirements, working hours, contract types, and preparing for interviews. Example dialogues include questions like "Sai se chiedono esperienza?" (Do you know if they require experience?) and "Quali sono gli orari di lavoro?" (What are the working hours?).
Verb Practice: Essential Conjugations
Focus is given to key verbs relevant to job hunting with their conjugations in important tenses, including:
- Cercare (to look for) in the present tense: io cerco, tu cerchi, lui/lei cerca...
- Inviare (to send) in the passato prossimo: io ho inviato, tu hai inviato...
- Dare (to give) in the present: io do, tu dai...
- Parlare (to speak) in the present: io parlo, tu parli...
- Ricevere (to receive) in the present: io ricevo, tu ricevi...
Mini Story and Fill-in Exercises
The lesson includes a short story "Cercando lavoro" demonstrating how to use these verbs and vocabulary in context, helping learners practice comprehension and form. For example:
Io cerco sempre nuove opportunità di lavoro sui siti specializzati.
If you see words in bold with verb tense indicated, these guide you to understand verb usage in context.
Differences Between Italian and English in This Context
Italian and English approaches to job applications differ slightly. For example, Italian relies heavily on formal, polite language when inquiring about jobs or sending your CV. Expressions such as "Buongiorno, allego il mio curriculum per la posizione disponibile. Grazie." are succinct and courteous. Also, Italian uses the passato prossimo tense (compound past) extensively to discuss recent actions—like ho inviato (I have sent)—whereas English often uses simple past.
Some useful phrases include:
- Curriculum / Curriculum vitae – the resume or CV.
- Allegare – to attach (used for documents or emails).
- Posizione disponibile – available position or job vacancy.
- Cercare lavoro – to look for work.
- Esperienza lavorativa – work experience.
- Competenze informatiche – computer skills.
Understanding these vocabulary and phrases will equip you for real-world job applications in Italy or Italian-speaking environments.
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