In this article we will delve into one of the most popular topics for the IELTS Speaking Parts 1-3: Work and Careers. Our aim is to provide you with sample questions and answers, as well as some valuable IELTS Speaking tips to help you excel in this particular area.
Here are some sample questions related to the Work and Careers topic you may be asked on the exam.
- At what age do people usually start working in your country? Why?
- What kinds of jobs are prestigious in your country? Why?
- What is essential for a comfortable workplace?
- Do you agree that the best workplace is a home office?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?
- Do you think that a bigger number of employees will work remotely in the near future?
- Describe an ideal workplace where you would be happy to work in the future.
- What qualities and skills are necessary to become a successful businessperson?
- Why are communication skills important in the workplace?
- Describe someone you know who has started a business.
1. At what age do people usually start working in your country? Why?
It depends on the person. Many young people start earning pocket money at the age of 16, they get a part-time job as newspaper boy or camp counselor, while the others prefer to graduate from university and only then start working according to their major. I suppose they must be lucky people if they can afford idling their time at university, just going to lectures and parties, because most of us have to work hard to pay for a living and education.
2. What kinds of jobs are prestigious in your country? Why?
Preferences have changed significantly. When I was at university it was very prestigious to study as a lawyer or economist. But now the situation has changed a lot due to computerization and globalization. And according to statistics the most prestigious jobs are programmers or IT specialists, entrepreneurs and top managers.
3. What is essential for a comfortable workplace?
Firstly, suitable temperature and lighting. When it’s too cold or hot, it’s impossible to be productive. Lighting is the most important factor in an ideal workplace. It is better when it is natural. Position your desktop so that it gets as much sunlight as possible. Secondly, optimal noise level and internet speed. Just as loud noises interfere with concentration, absolute silence can also be distracting. Not only mood, but also the level of concentration depends on the speed of the Internet.The slower the loading of the browser pages, the more we are distracted by other trivial things.
4. Do you agree that the best workplace is a home office?
It depends on the person and the title. No doubt, you don’t have to commute and follow the dress-code. At the same time, you can be easily distracted by home affairs (children, pets etc). Moreover, there is a need for socialization, and video calls are not enough. So I would recommend mixing working from home with working in an office.
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?
The ability to work from home provides people with a number of very important benefits, such as being able to work at their own pace. Most freelancers are free to schedule their own time and work at a speed that suits them. If you are tired, you can take a break. Or split the work into two stages. On the other hand, there is a lack of socialization. Small pleasures like sitting down with coworkers over a cup of tea or having lunch together improve the workday by allowing you to relax. Working from home, in most cases, you will only communicate via Skype or email. And no matter how advanced modern communication technologies are, they still cannot replace live human communication.
6. Do you think that a bigger number of employees will work remotely in the near future?
The number of people who work from home is constantly growing all over the world. This primarily applies to developed countries. But there is no doubt that with the development of Internet accessibility, the dynamics of increasing the popularity of remote work will grow globally. Some industries, such as freelancing, owe their very existence to the phenomenon of remote work.
7. Describe an ideal workplace where you would be happy to work in the future.
We spend an enormous amount of time in our offices or in the rooms where we work. Your workspace should help you do your job and should never interfere with it. Everything that surrounds us in the work environment subconsciously affects our performance. We do not always notice how the workplace can motivate and “turn on” the desire to create or plunge into a state of procrastination.
When people talk about increasing productivity, they often mean improving work processes, and completely forget about an important factor - the workplace. That is why I am going to analyze what makes a perfect workplace for me. I would like to work in a big open space office in the city center, but with some rooms where we can sometimes work independently. The color of the walls is an important factor. I would use soft warm light colors. I love white, and I would use it for furniture that should also be comfortable.
Furthermore, storing things correctly will save me tons of time trying to find something I need. All things that I use very often should be in an easily accessible place, and vice versa. Everything should have its place. Then I will always be happy, satisfied and productive.
8. What qualities and skills are necessary to become a successful businessperson?
To my mind, a successful entrepreneur must have a number of important qualities. First of all, a person should have a relevant educational background and working experience. To add to this, such person must be quite flexible and open-minded. Also it is crucial to be able to make decisions quickly as well as find the right solutions to the current problems. Furthermore, time-management and leadership skills are also of great importance.
9. Why are communication skills important in the workplace?
Communication skills are important for the employer and are highly valued by companies. Having them, the employee brings more benefits and results to the business. The ability to communicate professionally means that an employee: quickly adapts to a new team; easily establishes and maintains relationships with clients; favorably represents the interests of the company in difficult negotiations.Therefore, in modern business, in order to be competitive, you really need to be able to speak and be responsible for your words - this is the key to success.
10. Describe someone you know who has started a business.
Most of the people in my surroundings are employees and have regular jobs. And that makes me admire my younger sister even more. She is an aspiring entrepreneur who had the courage to start her own marketing company. We have a very close relationship. She used to say that she wanted to be like me when she grew up. However, now she is a role-model.
She had started to work in the field of Internet Marketing when she was at university. Working for a small company, she was in charge of internet promotion and advertising in social networks. Despite her studies at the university and the workload, she took several courses and seminars in Internet marketing and got the certificate Then she realised that internet marketing is a job of a future and decided to gather her team and start a business.
Now she is a successful manager that helps big chains with marketing. Moreover, she has a lot of business trips and performs as a speaker at International Conferences.
Truthfully speaking, I am proud of her, but don’t want to step into her shoes because I believe that every person has his or her own talent and personal pathway.
Work and Careers Vocabulary
The following list of vocabulary and phrases can help you expand your lexicon on the Work and Careers topic. This will enable you to express yourself more accurately during the IELTS Speaking test.
- It depends on...
- as a rule
- the earlier the better
- occupation
- professional skills
- part-time / full-time job
- schedule
- flexible working
- to have experience in..
- to be skilled in...
- expertise
- to respect
- to make money
- entrepreneur / developer
- health-care professionals
- creative jobs
- to gain experience in...
- well-paid
- higher education
- expertise in...
- media / science / hi-tech
- fame
- design / temperature / light / humidity
- furniture
- colour scheme
- modern / the latest
- cutting-edge
- useful / handy
- to prioritize
- location
- means of transport
- hi-tech solutions
- It depends on...
- self-discipline
- to distract
- distractions
- safety
- insurance
- to protect
- to cooperate with...
- isolation
- to motivate
- an innovative approach to...
- to have experience in...
- to make money
- to look for greater fulfillment and satisfaction
- to think outside the box
- to generate / brainstorm ideas
- to stand out in a crowd
By familiarizing yourself with these questions and practicing your responses, you can enhance your speaking skills and boost your confidence for the IELTS Speaking exam.
Furthermore, we introduced the IELTS Speaking simulator by SmallTalk2Me, which offers a convenient and efficient way to practice authentic IELTS speaking questions, receive personalized feedback and track your progress. With such regular practice you can approach the IELTS Speaking exam with confidence and achieve your desired results.
