[08:56.16]F:Er,good afternoon,Mr Cast.Thank you for coming_do take a seat.
[09:00.32]M:Oh,thank you.
[09:01.36]F:Right...I've looked through your letter of application and your curriculum vitae...mm.interesting.
[09:08.10]I see you're nearly28...Well,I think I better tell you generally about the job we have on offer here.
[09:14.61]It's an important position.It's an Assistant Managership reporting directly to the Store Manageer.
[09:20.46]It covers several of the aspects of our business...supervising the purchasing of goods and deliveries,pricing,special offers and so on...Anyway,...
[09:29.60]I see you have some experience with one of our main rivals_can you tell me something about that?
[09:34.98]M:Yes,well...After I left school,I joined Tesco stores as a trainee,er,I was 18 then.
[09:41.43]F:Yes?
[09:42.64]M:Er...after the initial six months'trial period,they sent me to their retail training centre for a month...then I went back to the branch in Sima.
[09:50.81]I then went to night school for two years to get a Diploma in Commerce...and I did a short computer studies course at the University last summer as well.
[09:59.07]Anyway,I worked in the Sima branch for another couple of years.
[10:02.51]I really enjoyed it there.
[10:04.21]But then Tesco moved me to the city centre branch and it wasn't quite so good,I'm afraid.
[10:08.65]F:Why was that?
[10:09.65]M:Well...I'm afraid the General Manager and I had different opinions...there was a terrific downturn in retail sales six years ago...shoppers weren't spending much.
[10:19.00]Anyway,I thought we ought to advertise the goods in our store more widely,to draw in more customers.
[10:24.90]I had a few ideas but we couldn't agree on a policy.
[10:27.96]It was a shame.
[10:29.50]I had hoped to move up to Deputy Assistant there,but the job was given to someone else,so I thought it was time to move on.
[10:35.79]F:I see.Well,could you tell me what you do in your current job...at Town and Country Stores,isn't it?
[10:41.91]M:Yes...I've been there for nearly two years now.
[10:45.36]I help with store displays and promotions,and I have also been in complete charge from time to when the proprietor is away at trade fairs and so on.
[10:53.53]But my main job is to do with the shop assistants_there are nearly 40,mostly part_timers.
[10:59.33]I used to supervise the cleaners and also the typists at one time too,but it became too much.
[11:04.90]F:So why are you looking for another job,Mr Cast?
[11:08.40]M:Well,I expect you know it's family firm and there's really no chance of getting ahead...the proprietor's son will take over when Mr Richards retires in two year.
[11:16.99]So I'd like to get back into a big chain,with a number of stores,
[11:20.15]where there are more opportunities for training and promotion,thought I must say the working conditions at Town and Country are pretty good.
[11:26.11]F:Right,well,thank you,Mr Cast.
[11:28.54]I expect you realise that our company moves its staff to different branches just like Tesco.
[11:33.76]Now how would you feel about that?
[11:35.69]M:Sure,that's all right for me.I was going to ask you something about that,if I may?
[11:39.59]F:Yes,of course...
[11:41.13]M:Well,I understand from the press that you have recently opened stores in three American cities_is there any possibility of...uh...being moved into one of those,after a time?
[11:50.66]F:Well,not really.All shop staff are recruited locally in America though the stores are being managed at present directly from our Head Office in Britain.
[11:59.31]The plan is for total independence,with locally recruited managers,within five years.
[12:04.25]M:I see...and another question is to do with this position here again.
[12:09.08]Does it involve much contact with customers?
[12:11.69]I really enjoy getting to know what is selling well,how to give the best service and so on...
[12:16.68]F:Yes,well,not a great deal really.That's generally dealt with by Customers Services.
[12:22.58]As I said,it's mostly dealing with our producers,checking that orders are delivered on time,checking product quality,that sort of thing.
[12:29.71]The General Manager is the one who tries to understand the sales figures.
[12:33.32]M:OK.
[12:34.47]F:Anyway...if you were offered the job,Mr Cast,when would you be able to start?
[12:39.54]M:Well,I am on four weeks'notice at Town and Country...but the proprietor is away for two weeks,
[12:44.94]so I wouldn't be able to see him until the beginning of next week...so it would take about six week,probably.
[12:51.00]F:Right,I see.Well,I think we should discuss now the terms and conditions we could offer you here.
[12:56.41]As you know,we have different salary scales based on...(fade).