Texts b. People and their Jobs

Read and translate the following texts. Do the after-text exercises.

Lucy works in a travel agency. Her salary is very low. She only gets three weeks’ holiday a year and she works long hours. But Lucy doesn’t mind, because she enjoys her work. She has a nice boss and she meets a lot of people during the day. Her work is interesting and varied. Also, every year her company gives her a free two-week holiday in Europe.

Imagine you meet Lucy. Ask her questions about her job.

Think and answer: What are good working conditions?

Paul works on a car assembly line in a factory. He is a skilled worker and he does a lot of overtime; so at the end of each week he takes home quite a good wage. However, he doesn’t enjoy his work. He finds it boring and monotonous. He gets four weeks’ holiday a year, but because there are several public holidays and sometimes strikes in the factory, he doesn’t usually work 48 weeks a year.

Imagine you meet Paul. Ask him questions about his job.

Think and answer: Would you like to work in a factory? Why? Why not?

Tom is unemployed. He is a university graduate and he has a degree in sociology. However, Tom cannot find a good job. Each week he receives some money from the government called “Social Security”. With this money he pays the rent and buys his food, but at the end of the week he is always “broke”.

Imagine you meet Tom. Ask him questions about his life.

Think and answer: Does your government give money to the unemployed? Are there many unemployed graduates in your country?

Mr. Charles is a successful businessman. He is a company director. He earns a lot of money, and also pays a lot of income tax. He is 64 and next year he is going to retire. He will get a good pension from his company and also an old age pension from the state. He is looking forward to his retirement. He wants to read a lot and go fishing.

Ask Mr. Charles some questions.

Think and answer:

What is usual retirement age in your country? Can you talk about pension schemes in your country?

John: The job that I have recently started is as a sales representative with a company that produces garden furniture. The company, called “Sunnosit”, is based in Thornton, a small town in the Midlands. The area manager, who has been with the company for over 30 years, is due to retire next year, which means I might get this job if I do well. One great advantage is having a company car, which I have to have, because the job involves visiting different parts of the country. My colleagues, who I get on well with, are quite ambitious, which means the atmosphere at work is rather competitive. I don’t mind. Apart from that, the job is fine.

Tell about your mother’s (father’s, friend’s) job. Say whether she/he likes it or not. Say why. Is he/she ambitious? What are her/his colleagues like? Does she/he like her/his boss?

Discuss in pairs or in groups.

1. What are you seeking?

a) job with full-time employment? b) job with part-time employment?

2. Which of these is most important for you?

a) money? b) people? c) security? d) job satisfaction? e) an interesting job?

3. Do you like?

a) meeting people? b) working alone? c) working with other people?

d) working with your hands? e) travelling?

4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

5. Is it easy or difficult for a graduate to find a job in your country?

6. Who or what will help you with job hunting?