Job

lose your job

Max had better be careful. If he’s late for work again, he might lose his job.

look for a job

I’ve been looking for a job for 3 months, but I haven’t had much success so far.

apply for a job

I’ve applied for a job with a company in Berlin. The interview is next week.

hold down a job

Brian left after only a week. He never manages to hold down a job for long.

get a job

I finally got a temporary job, washing dishes in a hotel, but it’s only for a month.

a responsible job

I don’t think doctors are paid enough for doing such a responsible job.

a stressful job

Pilots are well-paid, but it’s a very stressful job. I’d rather have my health.

a rewarding job

Helping sick people is very satisfying. For me, it’s a very rewarding job.

a boring job

My job is so routine that I hate it. Filing papers all day is such a boring job.

a challenging job

The job isn’t challenging enough for me – I want something more creative.

the perks of the job

I get five free flights a year. It’s one of the perks of the job.

qualifications for the job

Well, there’s no doubt that you’ve got the right qualifications for the job, but your lack of experience might count against you.

the pressures of the job

He resigned when he realized that the pressures of the job were making him ill.

Notes   

We talk about ‘full-time’ and ‘part-time’ jobs, ‘temporary’ and ‘permanent’ jobs:

• While studying at university I also had a part-time job in a supermarket.
• After years of temporary employment, he landed a permanent job with a local newspaper.

Note the different verbs that we use to describe jobs:

• What exactly does the job entail? Does it involve a lot of paperwork?

Note the way we describe the qualities needed for a job:

• This job requires good mental skills.
• The job demands good eyesight and a high level of concentration.

Note these job + noun phrases:

• Lots of people are more interested in job satisfaction than in earning high salaries.
• There’s hardly any job security in acting. You are only employed for short periods of time.

Career

wreck your career

This scandal has wrecked his career as a politician. It’s now in ruins.

begin a career

He’s the owner of a chain of hotels, but he began his career as a porter.

further your career

Getting more qualifications is probably the best way to further your career.

choose a career

I think money is a big factor for most people when it comes to choosing a career.

pursue a career

I graduate from university soon and I’m hoping to pursue a career in business.

a worthwhile career

She considers teaching a worthwhile career. It is very satisfying to feel that you are helping people to develop.

a brilliant career

He had a brilliant career in politics, becoming Prime Minster at the young age of 46.

a promising career

He had a promising career ahead of him in football until a knee injury put him out of the game at the age of 21.

the height/pinnacle of your career

She is now the managing director of the organization. At the age of only thirty, she has reached the height of her career.

a change of career

At 50 he felt like a change of career. So he gave up his job as a lawyer and went into teaching.

your choice of career

Parents should advise and support their children in their choice of career. However, it’s important that they don’t try to influence their choice.

the greatest performance of your

At a concert in front of 40,000 people, Gabriella gave the greatest performance of her career so far.

a turning point in your career

Moving to a new company marked a turning point in my career. I’m much happier in my new job.

Note   

Note the following career + verb collocations:

• Her singing career took off after her appearance on the Chris Evans show. (became successful)
• George Mackay played more than 700 games in a career spanning 20 years.

Note these expressions:

• Most working women manage to successfully combine family life with a career.
• She wants to get ahead in her career. She’s eager to climb the career ladder.

Note these two ways of saying the same thing:

• Have you ever thought of teaching as a career / a career in teaching?

Staff and duty

lay off staff

Because of falling orders, the company has been forced to lay off staff. At least 50 will have to go.

train staff

All our sales staff are trained to handle difficult customers.

employ staff

Our embassy in Paris employs around twenty full-time staff.

recruit/take on staff

I hear the bank is recruiting staff at the moment. I believe they are taking on about a hundred people.

vacancies for staff

There are always plenty of vacancies for staff in bars and hotels.

the dedication of the staff

This project has been a great success, thanks to the dedication of the staff. I’d like to thank you for all the hard work you’ve put into it.

the turnover of staff

There is a high turnover of staff in the catering trade. Most restaurants find it difficult to hold onto staff.

a member of staff

The police suspect that a member of staff tipped off the thieves who stole the computers last night.

report for duty

You should report for duty at seven o’clock on Monday morning.

carry out your duties

She is a hard-working employee who carries out all her duties conscientiously.

be suspended from duty

The police officer has been suspended from duty until the claims of corruption against him have been investigated.

your duties include (tasks)

Your duties will include opening and answering the mail every morning.

fail in your duties

The social worker is accused of failing in her professional duties and she is facing dismissal as a result.

Notes   

Note these adjective collocations with ‘staff’:

• The company has a large workforce of permanent and temporary staff.
• Our hard-working and dedicated staff provide excellent service to our customers.
• We only have a skeleton staff over the Christmas period so service will be slower than usual.

Note these expressions with ‘duty’:

• What time are you on duty / off duty? (when do you start work / when do you finish work?)
• Firefighters worked above and beyond the call of duty during the disaster.
• Two police officers were killed in the line of duty. (while doing their job)

Qualification and interview

courses lead to a qualification

The course leads to a professional qualification in business administration.

get/obtain a qualification

Sadly, some children leave without getting/obtaining a single qualification.

have a qualification

You’ll never get a good job if you don’t have any qualifications.

study for a qualification

Studying for further qualifications is one way of getting a promotion.

an academic qualification

For employers, practical experience is as important as academic qualifications.

a recognized qualification

You must have a university degree or a recognized qualification of equal status.

a further qualification

Some graduates go on to take further qualifications – e.g. a master’s degree.

have an interview

I’ve had a lot of job interviews since I graduated, but not one job offer yet.

be invited to an interview

Candidates who are successful in the written test will be invited to an interview.

prepare for the interview

The best way to prepare for an interview is to find out all you can about the job.

hold an interview

Interviews will be held in London next week.

dread the interview

I’m dreading my interview later today. I’m already a bundle of nerves.

make a good impression at the interview

He made a good impression at the interview. They offered him a job straight away!

come across badly at the interview

He came across very badly in the interview. He never looked at them!

don’t do yourself justice at the interview

He didn’t do himself justice in the interview. They want to interview him again.

Notes   

Note that ‘qualification’ is often followed by ‘in’:

• She has qualifications in mathematics and chemistry.

Note these expressions with ‘interview’:

• Initial interviews will be conducted by telephone.
• They gave me a really hard time at the interview.
• My whole future is riding on this interview.
• I blew my chances of getting the job by arriving late for the interview.

Skill

test skills

The aim of the examination is to test your problem-solving skills.

learn a skill

The company is looking for staff who are willing to learn new skills.

update your skills

This weekend refresher course is designed for staff wishing to update their computer skills.

hand down skills

These traditional skills have been handed down from generation.

equip someone with skills

The introductory course aims to equip students with good study skills.

basic skills

In schools, all children are taught the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic.

practical skills

At present, there is a shortage of people with practical skills like joinery and bricklaying.

communication skills

To be an effective teacher, you must have good communication skills.

computer skills

Nowadays, you need basic computer skills for most office jobs.

social skills

The job involves organizing and attending receptions and conferences. We’re looking for someone with good social skills – the sort of person who is equally at home talking to a duchess or a refuse collector.

test of your skills

Keeping control of the car on the ice was a real test of my skill as a driver.

degree of skill

Brain operations are complicated and the surgeon needs a high degree of skill.

use of your skills

Nurses used to complain that they are given menial tasks to do, which made little use of their professional skills.

Notes   

Notes the verbs we use to describe the skill needed to do something:

• It takes great skill to build one of these tiny machines.
• The job requires / demands / calls for great skill and an eye for detail.

Note the following prepositional phrases:

• He performed the task with great skill.
• She has excellent / no skills in map-reading.

Note these expressions:

• The staff development program provides opportunities for you to acquire new skills.
• A good manager requires a number of highly specialized skills.
• These exercises will develop the student’s speaking and listening skills.

Training

provide training

We provide online training and support in the use of all our software packages.

require training

Please note that the operation of this equipment requires special training.

receive training

All employees of this bank receive special training in dealing with armed robbers.

complete your training

Although my sister has completed her medical training, she has no intention of becoming a doctor. What a waste of time, effort, and money!

basic training

All new recruits undergo six weeks basic training at the army camp.

proper training

No one must operate this machine without proper training.

formal training

His paintings sell for thousands of pounds, but he’s had no formal training as an artist. He’s completely self-taught.

regular training

As technology changes so quickly these days, it is essential that all employees receive regular training.

intensive training

Last year I took a course in learning how to fly, and after a period of three months of intensive training, I qualified as a pilot.

Notes   

Note the prepositions that follow ‘training’:

• We received training in several different teaching methods.
• We’ll need to provide training for the new members of staff.

Note that ‘in-service training’ is training that you do while you have a job.

• The college runs a number of academic courses and also provides in-service training for secretaries, chefs, and mechanics.

Note these noun expressions:

• All our advisors have completed a comprehensive training program.
• Training sessions will be held on Mondays at 9 am.
• I have to go on a training course to learn new sales techniques.
• The shop opens late on Mondays for staff training.

Wage, salary, and pay

earn a wage/salary

She earns a good salary, but nothing compared to what her boss gets.

my … goes on / is spent on (rent)

Most of my wages go on the rent and bills.

live on / survive on your

He lost his job so they have to live/survive on one wage now.

tax is deducted from your …

In the UK, tax is automatically deducted from your salary.

demand a higher …

Angry teachers are demanding higher salaries and better conditions.

-------------------------

The government plans to raise the minimum wage from £4.50 to £5 per hour.

He was offered a six-figure salary to move to a rival company.

The owner of the restaurant only pays the waiters a weekly wage of £90.

He earns a good salary as a doctor, but not as much as a consultant gets.

My salary goes directly into the bank on the last Wednesday of each month.

The basic wage is low, so I’ll have to do overtime to make enough money.

-------------------------

award a pay rise to someone

Nurses have been awarded a 5% pay rise.

qualify for sick pay

As a temporary employee, I don’t qualify for sick pay.

receive equal pay

Men and women should receive equal pay for the same work.

reject a pay offer

The unions have rejected the latest pay offer.

get full pay

Women employees get 18 weeks of maternity leave on full pay.

accept a pay cut

In order to save the company, the staff accepted a 5% pay cut.

Notes   

Note the expression ‘on my wage / salary / pay’:

• How can they possibly support their families on such a low wage/salary?
• I can’t afford to run a car on my wage/salary/pay.

Note the following expressions:

• She asked for an advance on her salary so that she could pay her medical bills. (get paid early)
• There are two wages earned in our family, so we live quite comfortably.
• What’s the pay/salary like? What are the wages like?

A ‘living wage’ is one which provides enough for your basic needs:

• Teaching no longer pays a living wage and I have to give private lessons to get by.

گالری

---