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Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the most suitable words about Work and Jobs.
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11. Sara _____ because the company no longer required an assistant receptionist.
a.was made redundant
b.was sacked
c.got promoted
d.clocked in
22. Gary and his colleagues are always _____, even when they’re not at work.
a.clock in
b.being laid off
c.being snowed under
d.talking shop
33. Jerry has been on _____ ever since his car accident last month.
a.maternity leave
b.early retirement
c.sick leave
d.paternity leave
44. Pablo plans to _____ and stop working when he turns 55.
a.clock in
b.get promoted
c.do work experience
d.take early retirement
55. The doctor was tired because he’d just finished a 12-hour _____.
a.bonus
b.leave
c.shift
d.apprenticeship
Exercise 2
Bonus, benefits, clocked off, vacancy, qualifications, leave,
dead-end, security, were laid off, got promoted
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Choose the most suitable options to complete these sentences. You can use each
option ONLY ONCE.
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1. I see there’s a job _______ at the bank. You should apply for it.
2. As soon as I ________ work, I caught the bus home.
3.I know it’s a ________ job, so I’m looking for something else.
4. Sara ________ last week. Now she’s an area manager.
5. Many people ________ when the factory closed down.
6. All Alice’s _______ were listed on her CV.
7. Signing a contract with the company will provide you with greater job _______.
8. Last year, I received a generous _______ for helping to boost sales.
9. Jean gave birth to twins last month, so is currently on maternity _______.
10. As well as a decent salary, the job comes with excellent perks and
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences with the words from the box. Use each word ONLY ONCE.
apprenticeship – burnout – clocked off – demanding job – got promoted – meet
deadlines – perks – resign – steady job – switch off
Ever since I was a child, I'd dreamt of finding a job in the travel industry, and when I
was 20 years old, I got an 1 ________ with a national airline. I really enjoyed the
experience, and when that came to an end, the company offered me a 2 _______ as
a travel rep, booking holidays for customers. The job came with a decent salary and
some great 3 _______ , such as two free flights a year and first-class tickets to
certain destinations, so I was absolutely delighted. My employers were obviously
impressed with my performance, as after just six months, I 4 ________ to head of
my department. Although I enjoyed this position, it was a 5 ________ , and with
very few staff to help me, I was often snowed under with work and struggled
to _______ .I rarely 7 ________ before midnight, and on the rare occasions that I
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did, I found it impossible to 8 _______ .It wasn’t long before I started suffering from 9
_______ ,and my husband urged me to 10 ______. I did, and it turned out to be a
good decision, as soon after that, we became parents to a beautiful baby boy. I’m
sure I’ll return to work one day, but for now, I’m happy just watching my son grow
up and enjoy a stress-free life.
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B2 Reading Test
You are going to read an article about what NOT TO DO when starting a new job. The
title of each of the paragraphs has been removed from the article. Choose from the
titles (a-k) the one which best fits each gap (1-10). Use each letter only ONCE. There is
ONE extra title you DO NOT need to use.
10 things you should never do when starting a new job
Congratulations! You’ve finally secured a new job, and now you want to start off on the right foot.
You want to be careful not to make any career-ending mistakes. So, what should you NEVER do
when starting a new job?
Title1 ____
You learned this in first grade, when the teacher began keeping track of tardies: Being on time
matters. Factor in extra time if there’s traffic, construction, or other reasons to expect a delay.
Title 2 ____
Before starting your job, talk with the hiring manager or human resources professional to make
sure you understand what constitutes acceptable outfit for your new workplace. There’s nothing
more embarrassing than showing up wearing something that doesn’t fly with your supervisors.
Title 3 ____
Many companies require new employees to go through a training process before starting a new
position. While it may be tempting to skip these sessions or treat them lightly, don’t do it. Even if
your training managers won’t be your direct supervisors, they are watching you.
Title 4 ____
No matter where you’re working, there are certain processes, tools, and forms that make up the
standard operating procedures of your company. You may have been introduced to these through
a very organized, systematic orientation, or you may feel like you’re expected to absorb them by
osmosis. If you were formally informed, consider yourself fortunate, if not, don’t feel
shortchanged or frustrated. Instead, take initiative and master the basics on your own.
Title 5 ____
It’s understandable that you may need help or guidance during your first few weeks at a new job,
and asking co-workers for assistance or just to answer questions can be perfectly acceptable. But
remember, you were hired because managers believed in your ability to get the job done. Ask for
help if you need it, but believe in yourself and prove that you can do the work yourself.
Title 6 ____
Your employer isn’t paying you to chat with your girlfriend or even your kids’ babysitter. Make a
personal policy of limiting personal phone calls and texts to your lunch break, except for
emergencies.
Title 7 ____
Most likely, you and your employer agreed to a certain salary during the hiring process. So don’t
change your mind before you even show up at work. Don’t expect more money until you’ve
worked long enough to prove your value to the employer.
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Title 8 ____
Of course you want to make a good impression as soon as you arrive at a new job, and show your
new employer they made the right choice in hiring you. However, be cautious of suggesting new
policies or strategies during your first few weeks, as it may not be the best way to demonstrate
you are a team player. At first, take time to really understand and learn your job, then over time,
you can make suggestions and changes as situations arise, and as your input and expertise is called
upon.
Title 9 ____
In a new job, there will always be a learning curve, and effective supervisors understand that.
Inevitably, you’ll be asked to do something or expected to know something that you don’t yet
know or know how to do. Rather than saying you can complete the task on your own, tell the truth
and “don’t be afraid to say, ‘I don’t know,’
Title 10 ____
You may be so eager to start your new job that you don’t want to stop and ask questions. But by
skipping even the most basic questions, you are setting yourself up for failure.
a.Don’t show up late
b.Don’t be dishonest
c.Don’t try to change things
d.Don’t dress unprofessionally
e.Don’t be afraid to ask for help
f.Don’t avoid the job orientation
g.Don’t demand a higher income
h.Don’t lose confidence in yourself
i.Don’t spend time on private matters
j.Don’t take too long before you start work
k.Don’t feel disappointed if you are not given total support
A varied career – B2
You are going to read an article about a woman’s career. For questions 1-6, choose the
answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
A varied career
Chloe Kelling, a successful model and singer-songwriter, now has a new venture
I arrive for my interview with Chloe Kelling and I’m asked to wait in the garden. I hardly
have time to start looking round at the carefully tended flowerbeds when Chloe appears.
Every bit as tall and striking as I’d expected. Chloe emerges from the house wearing an
oversized man’s jacket, a delicately patterned top and jeans. Chloe is known for her
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slightly quirky sense of fashion and, of course, she looks great as she makes her way
towards me through the flowerbeds.
‘Let’s talk in my office,’ she says, leading the way not back to the house, but instead to
an ancient caravan parked up next to it. As we climb inside the compact little van, the
smell of fresh baking greets us. A tiny table is piled high with cupcakes, each iced in a
different colour. Chloe’s been busy, and there’s a real sense of playing tea parties in a
secret den! But what else should I have expected from a woman with such a varied and
interesting career?
Chloe originally trained as a make-up artist, having left her home in the country at
nineteen to try and make her name as a model in London, and soon got work in adverts
and the fashion business. ‘I went to Japan to work for a short period, but felt very
homesick at first,’ she recalls. ‘It was very demanding work and, though I met loads of nice
people, it was too much to take in at nineteen. If I’d stayed longer, I might have settled in
better.’
Alongside the modelling, Chloe was also beginning to make contacts in the music
business. ‘I’d been the typical kid, singing with a hairbrush in front of the mirror, dreaming
of being a star one day,’ she laughs. She joined a girl band which ‘broke up before we got
anywhere’, before becoming the lead singer with the band Whoosh, which features on a
best-selling clubbing album. Unusually though, Chloe also sings with two other bands, one
based in Sweden and another in London, and each of these has a distinct style.
It was her work with Whoosh that originally led to Chloe’s link with Sweden. She was
offered a song-writing job there with a team that was responsible for songs for some major
stars, but gradually became more involved in writing music for her own band.
Although she now divides her time between London and Sweden, her first stay there
turned out to be much longer than she’d bargained for. ‘The rooms are very tall over there
and so people have these rather high beds that you climb up to,’ she explains. ‘I fell as I
climbed up the ladder and cracked three ribs. Although the people at the hospital were
very kind, I was stuck there for a while, which was very frustrating. Sneezing and laughing
were so painful at first, let alone singing!’
It was while recovering from her injuries that Chloe hit upon the idea of staging what
she calls vintage fairs. ‘It was snowing in Sweden and I wanted something nice to look
forward to.’ Chloe had always loved vintage clothes, particularly from the 1950s, and
decided to stage an event for others who shared her passion. The first fair was held in her
home village and featured stalls selling all sorts of clothes and crafts dating back to the
1950s. It was a huge hit, with 300 people turning up.
‘When I had the idea of the first fair, it was only meant to be a one-off, but we had so
many compliments, I decided to go ahead with more,’ says Chloe. ‘There’s something for
all ages and people find old things have more character than stuff you buy in modern
shops. It also fits perfectly with the idea of recycling.’ Looking round Chloe’s caravan, I can
see what she means.
1 In the first paragraph, the writer suggests that Chloe
A usually keeps people waiting.
B is much taller than he expected.
C lives up to her stylish reputation.
D is surprisingly interested in flowers.
2 What do we learn about Chloe in the second paragraph?
A She’s cooked something for her guest.
B She’s expecting some other visitors today.
C She has no room in her house for an office.
D She invites very few people into her caravan.
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3 What does Chloe say about her trip to Japan?
A She soon got used to her life there.
B She felt lonely most of the time there.
C She wishes she’d done the work better.
D She wasn’t old enough to appreciate it fully.
4 In the fourth paragraph, we find out that Chloe
A gave up modelling to become a singer.
B had always had ambitions to be a singer.
C has now left the first successful band she joined.
D sings in three bands that have a very similar sound.
5 Chloe ended up in hospital in Sweden after
A breaking a rib whilst trying to move her bed.
B hurting her leg in a fall from her bed.
C falling off a ladder in her bedroom.
D tripping over in her room at night.
6 What does Chloe say about her ‘vintage fairs’?
A Her main aim is to raise awareness of environmental issues.
B She has responded to positive feedback from customers.
C Certain shops are now showing interest in the idea.
D They are mostly popular with older people.
Dream jobs
You are going to read an article where four students talk about their dream jobs. For questions 1-
10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.
Which student
1. has done a lot of research into something closely connected to a job?
2. wants to do the same thing that someone she is close to does?
3. does not know how to get into her chosen profession?
4. understands that she is unlikely to be widely recognised for work she might do?
5. likes expressing her feelings through what she does?
6. enjoys researching details related to the job?
7. hopes to encourage others to take an interest in her subject?
8. became interested in a subject when she was taught about it?
9. enjoys sharing her knowledge of a subject with other people?
10. says the reason she would like to do a job is not what people might expect?
Dream jobs
We asked four young people what their dream job would be and why. Here are their
answers.
A Ava
‘A pilot. That would be my absolute dream job. It isn’t because I want to see the world,
which everyone immediately thinks when I say what I want to do, though it would be a
bonus if I got to spend time on the ground somewhere exotic. I don’t think that happens
much in reality, though. I don’t even like flying that much when I’m stuck in a passenger
seat staring out of a tiny window at the clouds. I’d rather be up front taking charge! One of
my hobbies is making model aeroplanes with my dad. I know they can’t fly, and I know
they’re nothing like the real thing, but every time we bring a new one home to build, I go
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online and took up everything I can about it. I’ve not only built hundreds of models but I’ve
built up my knowledge about planes, too. I’m also really into physics at school and I just
think flying is really interesting.’
B Emily
‘I’ve had hearing difficulties since I was really young, and I often just zone out and stop
trying to keep up with things when there’s a lot of background noise – it can be tricky trying
to keep up with my friends’ conversations. My parents are both deaf, so I’ve been able to
use sign language for as long as I can remember. I’m teaching my friends now, so we can
communicate more easily if we’re somewhere noisy. They love it and I’ve discovered how
much I love teaching them. We have a laugh when one of them gets it wrong and signs
something funny by mistake. So my aim is to be a sign language teacher. I’m unsure about
how to go about it yet and it’s still a pretty new idea but I’m determined to find out what I
can about it and make sure I get the right qualifications.’
C Sophia
‘I want to be a poet. I’ve been writing my own poems for a couple of years. The kind of
stuff I do is called ‘slam’ poetry. It’s where you reflect on life experiences. It’s emotional
and passionate and comes straight from the heart. I got interested in it when a poet came
to school and gave us a workshop on it. He taught us about how to make the words flow
and how to say it aloud. Slam poetry’s performed in competitions and I’ve won two now. I
was so nervous the first time I stood up but then I focussed on the message I wanted to
get across to the audience and then it just seemed easy. I’d love to get my poems
published and carry on giving performances. People overlook poetry a bit but this is the
kind of style that gets noticed!’
D Mia
‘My mum’s a research scientist and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I’m pretty good at
science at school and I love biology. I think I’d like to work on developing medicines. That’s
something that can really change the world, make a big difference to people’s lives. I’m
fairly realistic about it, though. I know I’ll have to do years of study and groundwork before
I get to any of the really exciting stuff. Even then, I’m probably not going to be a world-
famous scientist, like Einstein. I know I’ll just be a tiny part of the whole process but I still
think it would be amazing to work on the next big discovery, the next big cure. Imagine
that! I also want to get more girls into science. A lot of the girls in my class want to be
actors or singers but that’s not very practical, is it?’
For each question, choose the correct answer.The people below are all looking for a job.
There are descriptions of eight jobs.Decide which jobs would be the most suitable for the
people below.
1. Sandra is doing a four-year degree in hair and beauty and wants to work as a
volunteer for her third-year work experience. She likes to be part of a team and would
enjoy dealing with customers.
2. Manuela is from Spain and is looking for work to support herself financially while she
studies English at a local college. She can only work on Saturdays and Sundays and some
evenings.
3. Stella is looking for work during the holidays. She’s studying business at college and
would love somewhere she can gain experience in a business environment and put her IT
skills into practice.
4. John is looking for a job where he can work with customers. He recently completed a
course in this area of work and is keen to find a job that would offer support in developing
skills in managing staff.
5. Simon has a job but wants to work with teenagers during the weekend. He is planning
a career change and is happy to work without pay in order to gain experience.
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Jobs Available
A ABC Computer Specialists
Do you have customer service skills? ABC Computer Specialists are looking for sales
advisers to join our growing customer service team. This is a full-time post, 37 hours a
week, with great opportunities for the right person.
B Mansion House Hotel
An exciting opportunity for students wanting work experience in the Mansion House Hotel
on a part-time basis. You will be dealing with international customers and a second
language would be an advantage. Hours of work can be agreed to suit your needs though
you would be required to work some weekends.
C Susie’s Hairdressing
We are a new hairdresser’s and we want a young, hard-working volunteer to manage our
reception desk. You will take calls, make bookings and help build a relationship with our
customers. Suitable candidates will be offered a one-year contract.
D The Daily News
Our business is growing and we need an assistant for our customer service team. The
successful person will assist in managing our sales staff and be responsible for reporting
on sales. The successful person will receive training.
E Amega
Would you like to work in a modern office environment, building relationships with
customers, and working with our excellent team? If you’ve recently completed your studies
at university and are looking for a career in the beauty industry, then please get in contact.
F Peterfield Forum
We are looking for keen volunteers to help run our summer school. You will have
experience in working with young people and be prepared to accompany them on trips.
The school is open from Monday to Friday and we need volunteers for at least two of
these days.
G Hall Green Community Centre
This is a great opportunity to gain experience in youth work. We are looking for a volunteer
with work experience to support our young people as they begin to enter employment. You
would be expected to work on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional Sunday
sessions.
H Lucas Media
Are you a student looking for work from Monday to Friday over the vacation period? We
are offering a short-term contract to a keen young person to work with our sales team. You
will get an idea of how a modern company operates, deal with customer enquiries and
have the chance to help develop our website.
