Unit 1: Work and Jobs — Intermediate English Course

Vocabulary

Careers, the workplace, and professional life.

Career

The series of jobs someone has throughout their working life

She has had a successful career in finance.

Colleague

A person you work with

My colleagues are very supportive.

Promotion

Being moved to a higher position at work

He has just received a promotion.

Salary

The fixed monthly or annual pay for a job

They have offered her an excellent salary.

Apply for

To formally request to be considered for a job

I have applied for three jobs this week.

Interview

A formal meeting to assess a job candidate

Have you ever had a job interview?

Experience

Knowledge or skills gained through doing something

She has five years of experience in marketing.

Deadline

The latest time by which something must be done

We have already missed the deadline.

Resign

To voluntarily leave a job

He has resigned from his position.

Overtime

Extra hours worked beyond the normal schedule

She has worked a lot of overtime this month.

Unemployed

Without a paid job; looking for work

He has been unemployed for six months.

Remote work

Working from home or outside the office

They have introduced remote work options.

Vocabulary exercises

Grammar

The present perfect — have / has + past participle

We use the present perfect to talk about:
1. Life experience (at some point before now): I have visited Japan.
2. Recent events with a result now: She has just got a promotion.
3. Unfinished situations: He has worked here for ten years.
Form: subject + have/has + past participle

Form	Example
Positive (I/you/we/they)	I have applied for the job. They have finished the project.
Positive (he/she/it)	She has received a promotion. He has resigned.
Negative	I haven't heard back yet. She hasn't had an interview.
Question	Have you ever worked abroad? Has she applied?
Short answers	Yes, I have. / No, I haven't. Yes, she has. / No, she hasn't.
Key time words	ever, never, just, already, yet, recently, since, for

Use just and already in positive sentences. Use yet in questions and negatives: Have you applied yet? I haven't applied yet.

Grammar exercises

Reading

Read the article carefully, then answer the questions.

A changing career

For the past decade, the world of work has changed dramatically. Millions of people have switched careers, started their own businesses, or moved to remote work. The traditional idea of staying in the same job for life has become increasingly rare.

Sophia Martins is a good example. She trained as an engineer but has recently moved into data science. "I have always been interested in technology," she says, "but I hadn't realised how much I would enjoy working with data." She has completed three online courses and has just started her first role as a data analyst.

Career changes like Sophia's are becoming more common, particularly among younger workers. A recent survey found that 60% of people under 35 have already changed their main career at least once. Many say they left their original jobs because of low salaries, poor working conditions, or a lack of opportunities for promotion.

Experts say the rise of online learning has made career changes much more accessible. "People have never had so many options," says career coach David Owens. "You can learn almost any skill online, and employers have started to value practical experience over formal qualifications."

Comprehension questions

Listening

Listen to each conversation, then answer the questions.

Conversation 1 — A job interview | Replace with: <audio controls src="audio/int1-listen1.mp3"></audio>

Script 1

A job interview

Scene: A candidate attends a job interview at a marketing company.

Interviewer:Thanks for coming in. Can you tell me a bit about your work experience?

Candidate:Of course. I've worked in sales for the past four years, and I've recently moved into marketing. I've managed several social media campaigns.

Interviewer:Have you ever worked with a large team?

Candidate:Yes, I have. In my last role, I worked with a team of twelve people. It was challenging but very rewarding.

Interviewer:Have you had any experience with data analysis?

Candidate:I've done some basic data work, but I haven't used specialist software yet. I've already started an online course to improve those skills.

Interviewer:That's good to hear. Have you applied to any other companies?

Candidate:I've applied to two others, but I haven't heard back from them yet. This position is my first choice.

Listening 1 questions

Conversation 2 — Catching up with a colleague | Replace with: <audio controls src="audio/int1-listen2.mp3"></audio>

Script 2

Catching up with a colleague

Scene: Two former colleagues meet at a networking event.

Anna:James! I haven't seen you for ages. How are you?

James:Really well, thanks! I've just started a new job at a tech company. I've only been there a month but I love it.

Anna:That's great! Have you had to learn a lot of new things?

James:So much. I've already taken three training courses. The learning curve has been steep, but it's exciting.

Anna:I can imagine. What about the salary — is it better than before?

James:Much better! I haven't had a pay rise in years at my old company. This is a real step up.

Anna:Good for you. I've been thinking about a change myself, actually.

James:You should go for it. Have you updated your CV yet?

Anna:Not yet — I haven't had the time. But I'm going to do it this weekend.

Listening 2 questions

Writing

A guided paragraph task. Write 80–120 words using the prompts below.

Task: Write a short paragraph about your work experience or career goals.

Write about your experience (real or imaginary) using the present perfect. Include the following points:

What job(s) you have had (or what you study)
What skills or experience you have gained
Something you have done recently in your career or studies
Something you haven't done yet but would like to do

0 words

Model answer

I have worked as a customer service assistant for the past two years, and the experience has taught me a great deal about communication and problem-solving. Recently, I have started taking online courses in project management because I want to move into a more senior role. I have already completed the first module and have received positive feedback from my tutor. However, I haven't had a chance to apply these skills in a real project yet. My goal is to find a role where I can lead a team, so I have also updated my CV and have begun looking for new opportunities.

Unit test

35 questions · Pass score: 28/35 (80%) · Unlimited attempts

Section C: Reading

Read the passage, then answer questions 19–26.

The gig economy

Over the past ten years, the so-called "gig economy" has transformed the way millions of people work. Instead of traditional permanent employment, many workers now take on short-term contracts or freelance projects. Platforms like ride-sharing apps and food delivery services have made this type of work widely available.

Supporters of the gig economy argue that it offers workers flexibility and freedom. Many people have chosen gig work because it allows them to set their own hours and work from different locations. Some have even used it to supplement income from a regular job.

However, critics have raised serious concerns. Gig workers often receive no sick pay, no pension contributions, and no holiday allowance. A number of legal cases have been fought — and won — by workers who argued they deserved the same rights as permanent employees.

The debate has reached governments around the world. Several countries have already introduced new laws to protect gig workers, and others are currently reviewing their employment regulations. The future of work, it seems, is still being decided.

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