Useful Phrases and Expressions in
IELTS Speaking
WORK topic is ubiquitous these days, which means that you not only face it in the
IELTS test but also in some daily life conversations, especially when you have to
attend an interview at work, then it is suggested that preparing yourself for vocabulary
about work will be a wise decision. I hope that these phrases and collocations below
could help you.
Common Phrases and Idioms
1. To be called for an interview: to be invited to attend an interview
Example: Although he has been called for an interview, he hasn’t got a job yet.
2. To be your own boss/run your business/be self-employed: to have your own
business
Example: It has been my dream to be my own boss because I can do everything in my
way if I run my own business.
3. A nine-to-five job: a normal job that consists of an 8 hour a day
Example: The idea of doing a nine-to-five job is quite arduous for a few people.
4. To be stuck behind a desk: to be unhappy in an office job
Example: Working full-time in an office can lead to being stuck behind a desk.
5. One of the perks of the job: an extra benefit you get from a job
Example: Extra meal is one of the perks of the job, which make employees more
satisfied
6. Job satisfaction: the feeling of enjoying a job
Example: Job satisfaction is the most important factor when a person chooses a job.
7. Manual work: work that requires physical activities
Example: Many people have manual work that requires them to work in a dangerous
environment.
8. Temporary work: work done for a limited time only
Example: Taxi driving is just my temporary work, I am applying for a better job.
9. Voluntary work: to work without pay
Example: In my free time, I join in voluntary work to help society.
10. To be well paid: to earn a good salary
Example: Working in the auditing area will be well paid.
11. Working conditions: the hours, salary and other entitlements that come with the
job
Example: Employer should spend more money on improving the working conditions.
12. To meet a deadline: to finish a job on time
Example: Last week she was really stressed because she had to work too hard to meet
the deadlines.
13. To take early retirement: to retire early
Example: Recently, a large number of older worker tend to take early retirement, then
they will have more time to travel.
14. A heavy workload: to have a lot of work to do
Example: Many workers are complaining about the heavy workload, and they are
asking for a higher salary.
15. Shift work: a system in which different groups of workers work somewhere at
different times of the day and night
Example: The company I’m working in currently has different shift work. I can
choose either day or night.
16. Morning/Night Shift
Example: Many industries rely heavily on shift work, and millions of people work in
jobs that require shift schedules.
17. Tempting offer
Example: After graduating in economics, I got a very tempting offer from an
investment bank and accepted it.
18. Land a new job: get a new (and usually a good) job
Example: After graduating, I did the usual things of putting together my CV &
applying for jobs. Luckily, I landed a fantastic new job at a tourism company.
19. Living wage: enough money to live on
Example: After doing a job swap, I just got a living wage which didn’t commensurate
with my experience & ability.
20. Take up the post: start work
Example: After being laid off, I went back to my old job and took up the post of editor
of a leading fashion journal.
21. Carve a niche for myself: make a special position for myself
Example: After graduating, I practiced medicine for a number of years in London. I
managed to carve a niche for myself as a specialist in dermatology.
22. Job swap:
Example: I want to take up some fresh challenges so I did a job swap for a year.
23. Do a job-share: a situation where 2 people share equal parts of the same job
Example: I decided to go part-time and do a job-share with my friend after returning
from maternity leave.
24. Lay off staff: dismiss staff because there is no work for them to do
Example: My start-up went through a difficult period and had to lay off staff.
25. Volume of work: workload
Example: I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got a volume of work to finish.
26. Earn a good living
Example: I had a substantial volume of work – private students and marking exams –
and was able to earn a good living.
27. Fast-track scheme: a system for rapid training and promotion of talented staff
Example: This year 29 police took recruits from the fast track scheme.
28. Move up the ladder: being promoted
Example: I was put on a fast-track scheme and was moving up the ladder fast.
29. Throw a sickie: take a day off work pretending to be sick
Example: I don’t like my job so I throw a sickie from time to time.
30. Get the sack: be dismissed
Example: I want to take one week off from work but I’m afraid of getting sacked.
PRACTICE
IELTS Speaking Part 1
What do you do?
At the moment, I am a student, but I also do some voluntary work at my university,
where I can gain a lot of precious experience.
Do you have any career plan yet?
Yes, I have. I would like to be self-employed down the road because I am not fond
of a nine-to-five job. I hope that I can run something concerning sales of clothes and
accessories.
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Describe your ideal job.
You should say
What this job is?
Whether you would need any qualifications?
Whether it would be easy to find work?
and say why you would enjoy this job in particular?
BAND 8.0 SAMPLE ANSWER
Everyone has their dream job, and I am no exception. Since I was a little boy, it has
been my dream to work as a human resources manager in a multinational company.
What makes me want to have the job is that I am fond of interacting with other
people, then working in the workplace will give me the chance to deal withhuman
relationships, not to mention that a teacher from my university complimented my
leadership skillsand he said that I can organize people to work together and lead
them to boost the productivity, which is one of the reasons driving me to the job.
Generally, working in human resources field is likely to be well paid, besides it is
also challenging for me to find work in the area because the position will require a
high level of qualification and a large amount of experience. Thus, to prepare for my
career, I have gained a bachelor in business administration, and I am about to do a
master degree in the field, in which I will specialize in human resources management.
Apart from my studies, at the time I was doing my bachelor, I also took part in
several voluntary work. By doing that, I have got plenty of valuable experience such
as social skills and business knowledge as well. I hope that all of this can help me to
take my ideal job easier.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
If there are a limited number of jobs available who should be given priority,
young people or older people with more experience?
I believe that it should be a young worker, Although young people cannot possess a
rich source of knowledge like the older people do, they are full of energy, they can
motivate other coworkers to work harder, which could have a good effect on the
company. Additionally, lately, older workers tend to take early retirement, then the
job vacancies are always available for young people.
What are the disadvantages of working for someone else?
The first things is, people working for someone else will be put under a lot of
pressure. For instance, the workers will have heavy workload and always have to
work to meet the deadlines, which is stressful. In addition, working for someone
means you will have less time to relax and be with your family.
