T a s d I q L a y m a n

3. Read and retell the main idea of the topic 
VIRTUAL IMPRESSIONS
These days creating a good impression is more than just shaking hands and 
presenting a well-designed business card when you first meet someone. That’s because 
before you even attended a meeting with a prospective client or a potential employer, 
you can guarantee that they’ve already searched your name, checked to see if your 
company has a good reputation via online review sites and even searched your personal 
online history.

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To manage your online profile, start with your company’s website. According to 
researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, it takes under three 
seconds for an online visitor to start to form an opinion of your brand from the website. 
The researchers also tracked eye movements and discovered that visitors tend to gain 
their first impressions from the logo, photographs, menus and, in particular, the 
opportunity to make contact via social media. In other words, projecting the right kind 
of online image is not just about looking good, but companies should also make sure 
their customers can interact with them and start building a relationship.
Individuals such as freelancers and job-seekers also need to think carefully about 
their social media image before posting photos and comments online. A recent survey 
of 450 employers showed that more than 40% had taken a dislike to a potential 
employee as soon as they’d checked the persons Facebook page. One typical reason 
for rejection was finding out that the information on the CV didn't match the applicant’s 
online profile. It’s a good idea for anyone who is self- employed or looking for a job 
to think about how they come across to people and to make sure their online profile 
promotes a positive and truthful image.
INTERNSHIPS: 
A STEP ON THE CAREER LADDER OR UNPAID
LABOUR?
The internship is a well-known starting point for any new graduate looking for 
their first step onto the career ladder.
It’s a good way to get hands-on work experience and a sure sign to any future 
employer that you have plenty of self-motivation. Many global companies now offer 
internship programmes: In the USA, Google recruits 3,000 interns in the summer, 
promising the chance to ‘do cool things that matter’. The Bank of China runs an eight- 
week programme.
In Japan, one software company runs a four-day internship with a cash incentive 
of ¥100,000. And the ‘Big Four’ audit companies - Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG 
and PWC - employ more than 30,000 interns per year in offices in different countries, 
which may lead to a full-time position later on.
It is true that the majority of internships do not come with a cash reward or the 
promise of a job offer.
For many, an internship can mean some unpaid hours spent making coffee and 
doing someone’s photocopying. However, you have to start somewhere and in most 
cases, it will benefit you in the long-run. Alongside some menial tasks, you’ll be 
learning about the professional work environment and meeting future contacts. One 
key piece of advice when you begin is to let the company know your areas of interest; 
find out if they can help you improve your performance in certain skills. Companies 
appreciate it when interns show interest in this way and they will reward your

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enthusiasm with a reference full of praise and recognition of your achievements. This 
could make all the difference at your first interview for a paid job.