53   I can describe a career

A    Career structure

Two years ago, I got a challenging job with good prospects in local radio. I worked hard and, as a reward, I was promoted. I was delighted. I was quickly transferred to a different department. Then things went wrong: one colleague got the sack, and another handed in his notice. After that, ten people were made redundant. I didn’t want to be out of work, so I decided to look elsewhere.

I applied for a job in TV and was appointed assistant director. Amazing!

 

spotlight  dismiss, sack, fire

An employer may dismiss an employee if their work is not good enough or if they have done something wrong. In less formal English, you can say sack sb, give sb the sack, or fire sb. An employee can get the sack INF.

He

      was sacked

      was given the sack

      got the sack

      was fired / was dismissed

      for being rude.

 

Glossary

challenging  difficult to do, but interesting and enjoyable. challenge N.

prospects (PL)  chances of being successful in the future.

reward  sth you get because you have done sth helpful, worked hard, etc. reward sb V. promote sb  (usually passive) give sb a better job at a higher level in a company. promotion N.

transfer sb/sth (from...to...)  move sb/sth from one place to another.

department  a section of a business, university, etc.

hand in your notice  say officially that you want to leave your job. SYNS resign. quit INF.

make sb redundant  (often passive) make sb leave their job because they are not needed any more.

out of work  not working and unable to find a job. SYN unemployed.

elsewhere  in or to another place.

appoint sb  choose sb for a job. 

3     ABOUT YOU Have you got a job? If so, are the sentences in Exercise 2 true for you? Write true or false, or talk to another student who has a job.

Answers from a British person

1     My job is very challenging.

2     In fact I’ve already transferred from another department.

3     I have reasonable prospects in my job.

4     I’m not thinking about promotion at the moment as my job is already challenging enough!

5     No, I’m not bored, so I won’t be looking elsewhere.

6     No, I’ve never been unemployed.

7     I would hate to have to sack someone.

8     Yes, I would definitely resign if I started to hate my job.

 

B    A job with responsibility

KATF: Amy, I know you work on reception at the sports centre, but what does that involve?

AMY: Well, I handle all customer bookings, and answer enquiries over the phone or face-to-face. Occasionally I also have to deal with complaints from members of the public, and if there’s a problem. I’m the one who has to solve it.

KATK: So it’s not just clerical duties, then?

AMY: Oh, no. Some weekends I’m in charge of the whole centre, and in an emergency it’s my job to make sure that everyone is safe. I have a lot of responsibility.

 

Glossary

what does (your job) involve?  = what do you have to do (in your job)?

handle sth/sb  take suitable action in a situation. SYN deal with sth/sb.

enquiry  a question about sth (make an enquiry)

face-to-face  with and looking at sb.

complaint  a statement that you are not satisfied with sth (make a complaint). complain V.

members of the public  people in general (also the public).

solve a problem  find an answer to a problem. SYN find a solution.

clerical  connected with office work, especially keeping records or accounts (the person who does this is a clerk).

duties  the tasks you do when you are at work.

in charge of sth/sb  in a position of control over sth/sb. SYNresponsible for sb/sth.

make sure  check sth so that you can be certain about it.

responsibility  the fact or duty of being in control of sth, so that it is your fault if sth goes wrong. 

4     One word is missing in each line. Rewrite the sentences, adding the missing word.

►   does her job involve? What does her job involve?    

1     I’d like to an enquiry about the club. ________________

2     I talked to her to-face. ________________

3     It’s very hard to deal this situation. ________________

4     Who’s charge of this department? ________________

5     You have to sure the door is locked. ________________

6     We’re not responsible the cleaning. ________________

7     Do you know how to the problem? ________________

8     I want to a complaint about the service. ________________

1     I’d like to make an enquiry about the club.

2     I talked to her face-to-face.

3     It’s very hard to deal with this situation.

4     Who’s in charge of this department?

5     You have to make sure the door is locked.

6     We’re not responsible for the cleaning.

7     Do you know how to solve the problem?

8     I want to make a complaint about the service.

6     Test yourself. Look at the glossary words and cover the meanings. What are the meanings?