Essential Job Vocabulary: Understanding the World of Work
Introduction: Where Do
You Work?
● Common ways to answer "Where do you
work?":
● • I work at [company name]
● • I work for [company/person name]
● • I work in [place/department/field]
● • I work with [objects/people]
● Which preposition would you use to
describe your current or future job?
Prepositions in Job
Descriptions
● "At" and "For": Used with company or
person names
● "In": Used with places, cities, countries,
departments, or general areas
● "With": Used for things or people you work
with daily
● Practice: Create sentences using each
preposition to describe dream jobs
Expanding Your Job Description
● Use "I'm responsible for..." to add details about your work
● Follow with the -ing form of the verb
● Example: "I'm responsible for updating the company website"
● Your turn: Write three sentences describing responsibilities in
your ideal job
Alternative Ways to Ask
"What Do You Do?"
● Common variations:
● • "What do you do?"
● • "What do you do for a living?"
● How would you respond to these questions
in a networking event?
Describing Employment Status
● Unemployed: "I'm unemployed" or "I'm between jobs"
● Self-employed: "I'm self-employed" or "I own a small business"
● Specific business ownership: "I own a [type of business]"
● Discussion: What are the pros and cons of each employment
status?
Essential Employment
Vocabulary: Part 1
● Hire: To be officially accepted into a new
job
● Employee: A person who works for a
company
● Employer: The company that hires
employees
● Colleagues/Co-workers: Other employees
in the company
● Can you use each of these terms in a
sentence?
Essential Employment Vocabulary: Part 2
● Boss/Supervisor: Person responsible for your work
● Earn a salary: Receive regular payment for work
● Get a pay raise: Increase in salary
● Get a promotion: Increase in importance and authority
● Get a bonus: Extra money for good performance
● Which of these would motivate you most in a job? Why?
Leaving a Job: Voluntary
vs. Involuntary
● Voluntary: Quit, Leave, Resign (formal)
● Involuntary:
● • Fired (for negative reasons)
● • Laid off (for neutral reasons, e.g.,
company downsizing)
● Retire: To stop working, typically at an
older age
● Role play: Practice explaining why you left
a previous job in a professional manner
Language Practice: Job Scenarios
● Create dialogues for the following scenarios:
● 1. Being hired for a new job
● 2. Asking for a raise
● 3. Resigning from a position
● Perform your dialogues with a partner, focusing on appropriate
vocabulary
Cultural Perspectives on
Work
● Different cultures have varying attitudes
towards:
● • Work-life balance
● • Job loyalty
● • Career advancement
● Research and present on work culture in a
country of your choice
The Changing World of Work
● Remote work and digital nomads
● Gig economy and freelancing
● Artificial Intelligence and automation
● How might these trends affect your future career? Discuss in
small groups
Building Your Professional
Vocabulary
● Importance of industry-specific jargon
● Tips for expanding your professional
vocabulary:
● • Read industry publications
● • Attend conferences and webinars
● • Engage in professional social media
● Create a list of 10 key terms in your field of
interest
Communicating Your Value
● Elevator pitch: A brief, persuasive speech about your
professional self
● Key components:
● • Who you are
● • What you do
● • Your unique value proposition
● Activity: Craft and practice your 30-second elevator pitch
Job Application
Vocabulary
● Resume/CV
● Cover letter
● References
● Interview
● Follow-up
● What makes each of these elements
effective? Discuss and share examples
Conclusion: Putting It All Together
● Review key vocabulary learned
● Importance of context in professional communication
● Continued practice and real-world application
● Final activity: Write a short paragraph describing your ideal job,
using at least 5 new terms from this lesson
