Describing a Job Application

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Part 2 Preparation

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

In this lesson you will:

Practice answering questions based on Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test.
Learn and practice some different ways to talk about the steps involved in getting a job.
Practice pronouncing /dʒ/ as in "Jeep" and /ʃ/ as in "sheep."

Exercise 1

Warm-Up: Pronunciation Practice

Listen and Repeat

Listen and repeat after your tutor.

A) Jeep

B) sheep

A) German

B) Sherman

A) Joe

B) show

A) gel

B) shell

A) gin

B) shin

Quiz

Your tutor will choose 5 words and say them aloud. After each word, say whether it is from Group A or Group B.

Quiz Your Tutor

Choose 5 words and say them aloud. After each word, your tutor will say whether it is from Group A or Group B.

Exercise 2

Helpful Vocabulary

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

Steps to Getting a Job

to have a job interview
to apply for a job
to send in your resume and a cover letter
to be offered the job
to see a job advertisement
to start work
to need a job

Tell your tutor which order these steps usually happen in.

Try to use the following words:
- First
- Next
- Then
- Finally

For example:

"First, you need a job. Next, you see a job advertisement. Then, you..."

Describing a Job

Listen and repeat these words with your tutor. If you don't know a word, ask your tutor to read the definition and example sentence.

easy

Adjective

difficult

Adjective

low-paying

Adjective

well-paying

Adjective

tiring

Adjective

busy

Adjective

dull

Adjective

fun

Adjective

Tell your tutor which adjectives are positive and which are negative.

For example:

"Easy is positive."
"Difficult is negative."

Exercise 3

Speaking Test Part 2 Response

Read the following instruction based on Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test.

Describe a job you had in the past.

You should say:

how you got the job
what the job involved
why you wanted this job

And explain what you did and did not enjoy about it.

Model Response 1

Listen and read as your tutor reads Kyoko's response aloud. At the end you will need to answer three short questions.

When I was 23, I had a job in a restaurant working as a waitress. To get the job, first I applied for it by sending in my resume and a cover letter. Then I had an interview with the manager who was really nice. I was offered the job and I started work the next week. I worked there for about two years, I think. It was a good job because I could work when I wasn't in class. I used to work Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and then all day on Sunday.

What did the job involve? Well, I had to take the customer's orders, bring them drinks and food, and make sure they were happy. I also had to help clean up.

One of the reasons I wanted the job was that it was quite well-paying and it also fit in with my university classes.

I mostly enjoyed the job. It was always busy and never dull! The other workers were really kind, and we had lots of fun. Sometimes the customers were rude, and it was quite tiring work. But all in all, it was a good job, and I was sad when it finished.

Questions

What was Kyoko's job?

When did Kyoko work?

Why did Kyoko like the job?

Useful Language

Kyoko uses these phrases to talk about getting a job and to structure her response. Listen and repeat each phrase with your tutor.

When I was (age), I had a job in ...
I worked as a ...
To get the job, first I …
I worked there for ... years.
What did the job involve? Well, …
One of the reasons I wanted the job was …
I mostly enjoyed the job.
All in all, it was ...

Exercise 4

Fill in the Blanks

Read the response based on Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test and fill in the blanks.

Model Response 2

When I (1) 18, I had a job working in a mobile phone shop. I decided to (2) for the job after seeing a job advertisement in the shop window, so I sent in my (3) and a cover letter. I had a job (4), and the manager was very friendly. I worked there part time for about three years, I think. What did the job (5)? Well, it was easy because I just had to sell mobile phones. One of the (6) I wanted the job was that I liked mobile phones, so it was fun to learn more about them. All (7) all, it was a good job and I was happy to work there.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 7

Answer Pool (Questions 1-7)

involve
was
reasons
interview
resume
apply
in

Exercise 5

Part 2 Test Practice

Complete this task based on Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test. You have 1 minute to prepare your answer and up to 2 minutes to speak. Your tutor will stop you when the time is up.

Describe a job you have had in the past.

You should say:

how you got the job
what the job involved
why you wanted this job

And explain what you did and did not enjoy about it.