Grammar in context : business letters - application letter (extract) 

Past, present and present perfect tenses

Reference text

I have been working as a senior sales manager for SuperPap (UK) Ltd for three years. I am currently responsible for all aspects of the company's business.

Over the period of my employment, I have increased sales by over 400 per cent and expanded the company's area of operations to include Asia, Africa, South America, and indeed, most of the world.

My work has included setting up branches in Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. I have also instituted new order processing procedures that have led to a 3000 per cent improvement in efficiency with the result that the company's annual expenditures are currently zero.

Prior to this I worked for MegaSales Inc as regional manager (Asia Pacfic) for three years from 2001 - 2004. I was responsible for single-handedly setting up the company's operations in the region and overseeing every aspect of activity from locating and purchasing suitable real estate to making tea and performing occasional cleaning duties when Doris, the cleaner, was sick or on holiday.  

I believe my work gave me a firm grasp of the issues facing companies in the region and a sound understanding of the day-to-day running of a large organization.

Jumbled text

Prior to this I worked for MegaSales Inc as regional manager (Asia Pacfic) for three years from 2001 - 2004.

My work has included setting up branches in Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. 

I was responsible for single-handedly setting up the company's operations in the region and overseeing every aspect of activity from locating and purchasing suitable real estate to making tea and performing occasional cleaning duties when Doris, the cleaner, was sick or on holiday.  

I have been working as a senior sales manager for SuperPap (UK) Ltd for three years. 

I am currently responsible for all aspects of the company's business.

Over the period of my employment, I have increased sales by over 400 per cent and expanded the company's area of operations to include Asia, Africa, South America, and indeed, most of the world.

I believe my work gave me a firm grasp of the issues facing companies in the region and a sound understanding of the day-to-day running of a large organization.

I have also instituted new order processing procedures that have led to a 3000 per cent improvement in efficiency with the result that the company's annual expenditures are currently zero.

Gapped text

I have ____________(work)  as a senior sales manager ________(prep) SuperPap (UK) Ltd ______ (prep) three years. I ________(be) currently responsible for all aspects of the company's business.

__________(prep)  the period of my employment, I ______________(increase) sales by over 400 per cent and ____________(expand) the company's area of operations to include Asia, Africa, South America, and indeed, most of the world.

My work__________ (include) _________(set up) branches in Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. I ____________(also /institute)  new order processing procedures that ______________(lead)  to a 3000 per cent improvement in efficiency with the result that the company's annual expenditures ________(be) currently zero.

Prior to this I __________(work) ________ (prep) MegaSales Inc as regional manager (Asia Pacific) _______(prep)  three years from 2001 - 2004. I _________(responsible)  for single-handedly _________(set up)  the company's operations in the region and ____________ (oversee) every aspect of activity from ____________(locate) and _________ (purchase) suitable real estate to _________(make)  tea and _________(perform) occasional cleaning duties when Doris, the cleaner, ________(be) sick or on holiday.  

I ___________(believe) my work __________(give)  me a firm grasp of the issues facing companies in the region and a sound understanding of the day-to-day running of a large organization.