Work Vocabulary

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: What do you do?

Sasha: I do a job-share with a friend in a boutique … I enjoy it … I like working with
customers … unfortunately it’s only temporary work but one of the perks of the job is I
get a discount on the clothes …

Examiner: Do you have any career plans yet?

Carly: Yes … I’d like to be my own boss one day … I’m interested in programming and I’d
like to create apps for myself or for other companies … I know being self employed would
be a challenge but the idea of doing a nine-to-five job doesn’t appeal to me at all …

Examiner: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years time?

Marie: I’d hope to be working … not a high-powered job … but I’m quite a creative person
so something where I can work with my hands would be nice … as long as I’m not stuck
behind a desk doing something boring  in a dead-end job I’ll be happy …

Part 2-style task

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.

Max:  I’ve always loved watching wildlife programmes on TV and often thought how much
I’d enjoy working with animals … perhaps in a safari park … something like that … you’d
probably need a degree to have any chance of being called for an interview and whether
there are many full-time jobs I don’t know … I’m sure a lot of parks rely on voluntary
work so it might not be easy … and it probably wouldn’t be well-paid either but money isn’t
everything … I’d get so much job satisfaction … I can’t imagine it being the kind of job
where you get stuck in a rut … and I think I’d be good at it as well … I’d love to work with
animals I enjoy manual work and I’m a good team player … so even though the working
conditions might not be the best I think that would be my ideal job …

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: If there are a limited number of jobs available who should be given priority,
young people or older people with more experience?
Anna: Things are so different these days … a few years ago older employees would
often take early retirement or go onto part-time contracts and there were always
opportunities for younger people but now jobs are so scarce … I think younger people need
to be given the chance whenever possible …
Examiner: What are some of the important things a candidate should find out before
accepting a job?
Ali: Well  … you’d need to know about your area of responsibility … and your salary of
course and then there are things like holiday entitlement … maternity or paternity
leave … if you’re thinking of having children … and what the situation is regarding sick
leave … that kind of thing …

Examiner: What are the advantages of having your own business rather than working
for someone else?
Julie: Well … unfortunately being an employee at the moment is very stressful … people
have very heavy workloads … they’re always under pressure to meet deadlines … running
your own business isn’t easy … but I do think it would be far more satisfying …

Definitions

 to be called for an interview: to be invited to attend an interview

 to be your own boss: to have your own business
 a dead-end job: a job with no promotional opportunities
 to do a job-share: to share the weekly hours of work with another person
 a good team player: somebody who can work well with other people
 full-time: the number of hours that people usually work in a complete week
 a heavy workload: to have a lot of work to do
 a high-powered job: an important or powerful job
 holiday entitlement: the number of days holiday allowed
 job satisfaction: the feeling of enjoying a job
 manual work: work that requires physical activity
 maternity leave: time off work given to a woman about to have a baby
 to meet a deadline: to finish a job by an agreed time
 a nine-to-five job: a normal job that consists of an 8 hour day (approximately)
 one of the perks of the job: an extra benefit you get from a job
 part-time: working less than full-time
 to run your own business: see ‘to be your own boss’
 to be self-employed: see ‘to be your own boss’
 sick leave: time allowed off work when sick
 to be stuck behind a desk: to be unhappy in an office job
 to be/get stuck in a rut: to be in a boring job that is hard to leave
 to take early retirement: to retire early (retire: to reach an age when you are allowed
to stop working for a living)
 temporary work: work done for a limited time only
 voluntary work: to work without pay
 to be well paid: to earn a good salary
 working conditions: the hours, salary and other entitlements that comes with the job
 to work with your hands: to do manual work

1. Jobs:
Accountant /ə’kauntənt/:  someone who keeps or examines the records of money
received, paid, and owend by a company or person.
Actor /‘æktə/: someone who pretends to be someone else while performing in a film,
play, or television or radio programme.
Actress /‘æktris/: a female actor.
Architect /‘ɑ:kitekt/ : someone who design new buildings and make certain that they
are built correctly.
Artist /‘ɑ:tist/: someone who paints, draws, or makes sculptures.
Assembler /ə’semblə:/: someone who assembles a machine or its parts
Babysitter /‘beibi,sitə/:someone who takes care of your baby or child while you are
out.
Baker /’beikə/:someone who makes bread and cakes for sale, or sell bread and
cakes.
Barber /‘bɑ:bə/: a man whose job is cutting men’s hair.
Businessman /’biznismən/: a man who works in business, especially one who has a
high position in a company.
Businesswoman /‘bizniswumən/: a woman who works in business, especially one
who has a high position in a company.
Butcher /ˈbʊtʃ.ər/: someone who sells meat in a shop.
Carpenter /ˈkɑː.pɪn.tər/: someone who make and repair wooden objects and
structures.
Cashier /kæʃˈɪər/: someone who receive and pay out money in a shop, bank,
restaurant, etc.
Chef  /ʃef/- Cook /kʊk/: a skilled and trained cook who works in a hotel or restaurant.
Computer software engineer  /kəmˈpjuː.tər ˈsɒft.weər ˌen.dʒɪˈnɪər/: someone
whose job is to create computer programs.
Construction worker /kənˈstrʌk.ʃən ˈwɜː.kər/: someone who works in construction.
Custodian /kʌsˈtəʊ.di.ən/-  Janitor /ˈdʒæn.ɪ.tər/: someone who with responsibility for
protecting or taking care of something or keep something in good condition.
Customer service representative /ˈkʌs.tə.mər ˈsɜː.vɪs ˌrep.rɪˈzen.tə.tɪv/: a person
whose job is to deal with a business’s customers.
Data entry clerk /ˈdeɪ.tə ˈen.tri klɑːk/: someone who put information into a computer
database.
Delivery person /dɪˈlɪv.ər.i ˈpɜː.sən/: a person who delivers goods to people’s
houses or places of work.
Dockworker /ˈdɒkwɜːkər/: a person whose job is putting goods on and taking goods
off ships in a port.
Engineer /ˌen.dʒɪˈnɪər/: a person whose job is to repair or control machines,
engines, or electrical equipment.
Factory worker /ˈfæk.tər.i ˈwɜː.kər/: someone who works in a factory.
Farmer /ˈfɑː.mər/: someone who owns or takes care of a farm.
Fireman /ˈfaɪə.mən/-  Firefighter /ˈfaɪəˌfaɪ.tər/: a man whose job is to stop unwanted
fires from burning.
Fisherman /ˈfɪʃ.ə.mən/: someone whose job is to catch fish.
Food–service worker /fuːd – ˈsɜː.vɪs ˈwɜː.kər/: someone whose jobs is to prepare
and serve food to people in schools, hospitals, companies, etc.
Foreman /ˈfɔː.mən/: a skilled person who is in charge of and watches over a group
of workers.
Gardener /ˈɡɑː.dən.ər/: someone who works in a garden, growing and taking care of
plants.
Journalist – Reporter: a person who writes stories or articles for a newspaper or
magazine or broadcasts them on radio or television.
Lawyer: someone whose job is to give advice to people about the law and speak for
them in court.
Manager: the person who is responsible for managing an organization.
Musician: a skilled person in playing music.
Pharmacist: a trained person who prepare and give out medicines in a hospital or
shop.
Pilot: a person who flies an aircraft.
Policeman: a male member of a police force.
Secretary: someone who works in an office, writting letters, making phone call, and
arranging meetings for a person or for an organization.
Tailor: someone whose job is to repair, make, and adjust clothes.
Teacher/ Instructor: someone whose job is to teach in a school or college.
Waiter/ Server: a man whose job is to bring the food to customers at their tables in a
restaurant.
Waitress: a woman whose job is to bring the food to customers at their tables in a
restaurant.
Judge: a person who is in charge of a trial in a court and decides how a person who
is guilty of a crime should be punished, or who makes decision on legal matters.
Miner: a person who works in a mine.
Doctor: a person with a medical degree whose job is to treat people who are ill or
hurt.
Dentist: a person whose job is treating people’s teeth.
Electrician: a person who puts in, checks, and repairs electrical wires and electrical
equipment.
Nurse: a person whose job is to care for people who are ill or injured, especially in a
hospital.

2. Works
CV (Curriculum Vitae): a short written description of your education, qualifications,
previous jobs, and your personal interests, that you send to an employer when you
are trying to get a job.
application form 
interview 
job 
part-time 
full-time: 
appointment 
ad or advert 
contract 
notice period: 
holiday entitlement: 
sick pay: 
holiday pay: 
overtime 
redundancy 
redundant 
to apply for a job: 
to hire: 
salary 
wages 
scheme 
health insurance: 
company car: 
to fire 
working conditions: 
qualifications: 
offer of employment: 
to accept an offer: 
starting date: 
leaving date: 
to get the sack (colloquial):
working hours: 
maternity leave: 
promotion 
salary increase: 
training scheme: 
part-time education: 
meeting 
travel expenses: 
security 
reception 
health and safety: 
director 
owner 
manager /
boss /
colleague /
trainee 
timekeeping: 
job description: 
department 

Topic: Work
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 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
Morning/Night Shift
Example: Many industries rely heavily on shift work, and millions of people work in
jobs that require shift schedules.
16. Tempting offer 
Example: After graduating in economics, I got a very tempting offer from an
investment bank and accepted it.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Carve a niche for myself: make a special position for myself
Example: After graduating, I practised medicine for a number of years in London. I
managed to carve a niche for myself as a specialist in dermatology.
21. Job swap: 
Example: I want to take up some fresh challenges so I did a job swap for a year.
22. 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.
23. 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
24. Volume of work: workload
25. 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
26. Fast-track scheme: a system for rapid training and promotion of talented staff
27. Move up the ladder: being promoted
Example: I was put on a fast-track scheme and was moving up the ladder fast
28. 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
29. Get the sack: be dismissed
Example: I want to take one week off from work but I’m afraid of getting the sack

1. Labour productivity
Meaning: the rate at which a worker, a company or a country produces goods, and
the amount produced, compared with how much time, work and money is needed to
produce them
Example: Wage rates depend on levels of labour productivity.
2. Unemployment benefits
Meaning: money paid by the government to somebody who is unemployed
Example: In times of economic crisis, the amount paid in unemployment benefits is
an added burden on the government budget.
3. To acquire experience/knowledge/skill:
Meaning: to gain experience/knowledge/skill by your own efforts or behaviour
Example: Some school leavers prefer to acquire experience working in an chosen
profession rather than entering university.
4. Put knowledge gained into practice
Meaning: to put to practical use the knowledge that you have acquired
Example: Vocational training courses enable students to put the knowledge gained
during their studies into practice.
5. Minimum wage
Meaning: the lowest wage that an employer is allowed to pay by law
Example: A minimum wage is necessary in order to ensure a decent standard of
living for low-paid workers.
6. To job-share
Meaning: to share the hours of work and the pay of one job between two people
Example: Many employers are willing to employ people part-time or allow them to
job-share, as long as the duties of each person are clear.
7. Flexible working hours
Meaning: hours of work that can be changed by agreement between the employer
and the employee
Example: For some employees, flexible working hours are more important even than
a high salary.

8. Health and safety in the workplace

Meaning: Conditions which are safe and are not a danger to health in factories,
offices or other places where people work
Example: Government inspectors should regularly monitor companies to ensure that
standards of health and safety in the workplace are observed.
9. Working mothers
Meaning: Mothers who have to go out to work as well as to look after children
Example: Workplace practices such as job-sharing and flexible working hours have
made life easier for working mothers.
10.To take early retirement
Meaning: to stop working before reaching the age at which people usually stop
working
Example: Older employees should take early retirement to give young people a
better chance to find work.
11.Ar etirement package
Meaning: the money or other benefits that you receive from a company or
organization when you stop working there because of your age
Example: Companies who value their employees should offer a generous retirement
package.
13. Sick leave
Meaning: permission to stay away from work because of illness or injury
Example: Important factors when choosing a job include holiday entitlement, sick
leave and a company pension scheme.
14. Annual leave
Meaning: a period of time when you are allowed to be away from work for a
holiday/vacation
Example: Parents often take their annual leave at the same time as the long school
holidays.
15. Job prospects
Meaning: the chances of being successful and having more opportunities at work
Example: People with qualifications and experience usually have the best job
prospects.
16. Promotion opportunities
Meaning: chances to move to a more important position in a company or
organization
Example: Perhaps the most important factor when choosing a job are the promotion
opportunities/promotion prospects.
17. To move up the career ladder
Meaning: a series of stages by which you can make progress in your career
Example: Ambitious employees look for a job in which there is a chance to move up
the career ladder.
18. To pursue a successful career
Meaning: to have a series of jobs in a particular area of work, with more
responsibility as time passes
Example: While many people wish to pursue a successful career, for others it is
more important to find work which is interesting and enjoyable.
19. To take a career break
Meaning: a period of time when you do not do your usual job, for example because
you have children to care for
Example: Some companies offer female employees the opportunity to take a career
break for a few years if they have young children to care for.
20. To have no career ambitions
Meaning: to have no desire to be successful or to move up the career ladder
Example: Those who are content to do the same job and have no career ambitions
are often happier in their work and do not suffer from stress.
21. Job satisfaction
Meaning: the good feeling that you get when you have a job that you enjoy
Example: A high salary is not necessarily the most important factor in job
satisfaction.
22. Working environment
Meaning: the conditions that you work in
Example: If work is to be enjoyable, then a friendly working environment is essential.
23. Supportive work colleagues
Meaning: people that you work with who give you help and encouragement
Example: A very important aspect of job satisfaction is having supportive work
colleagues.
24. To be a good team player
Meaning: to be cooperative and work well as a member of a team
Example: In the modern working environment, it is important to be a good team
player and communicate with colleagues.
25. A heavy workload
Meaning: a lot of work that an individual employee has to perform
Example: While some people enjoy the challenge of a heavy workload, others find
too much work very stressful.
26. Labour-intensive
Meaning: (of work) needing a lot of people to do it
Example: New technology has replaced the need for workers to do many labour-
intensive jobs, such as producing cars.
27. An internship
Meaning: a period of time in which a student or new graduate gets practical
experience in a job
Example: In order to gain essential professional experience, graduates should do an
internship if they have the opportunity.
28. A desk job
Meaning: a job in an office, where you sit and work all day at a table or desk
Example: Many young people enjoy the excitement of a dangerous profession to the
boring routine of a desk job.
29. To have a steady job
Meaning: to have a job which you are unlikely to lose, but which is usually the same
routine
Example: Although some people prefer to change jobs, others prefer to have a
steady job and a set daily routine at work.
30. To dismiss somebody (from something)
Meaning: to officially remove somebody from their job
Example: Employment legislation prevents employers from dismissingan employee
without a good reason.