B2 FIRST · VOCABULARY · TOPIC VOCABULARY
Work and jobs
Words like apply for a job, colleague, salary and work long hours.
Finn says
Work comes up everywhere in the exam: in Speaking Part 1 ("What do you do?"), in Listening interviews, and in essays about careers. Learn the words in groups, with the words they go with, and try to use two or three of them next time you practise Speaking or Writing.
Getting a job
apply for a job / a position
ask formally to be given a job
She applied for a job at a bank.
a CV
a document with your education and work experience
Send your CV with a short email.
an interview
a meeting where they ask you questions
I've got a job interview on Monday.
be offered a job
be told that the job is yours
He was offered the job the next day.
work experience
time spent working, often while studying
Employers want people with work experience.
a part-time / full-time job
fewer / all the normal hours
I had a part-time job in a café at university.
At work
a colleague
someone you work with
My colleagues are really friendly.
a salary / wages
money you earn (per year / per week or hour)
The salary is good, but the hours are long.
work long hours / overtime
work a lot / more than your normal hours
Nurses often work long hours.
get promoted
be given a more important job
She got promoted to manager after two years.
run a business
be in charge of a company
My uncle runs a small business.
resign / quit
leave your job because you want to
He resigned because he was unhappy.
Make it better
The same idea, first in basic English, then in the kind of language that gets a higher mark.
- Basic: I want a job with good money.Better: I'd like a job with a good salary.More precise and natural.
- Basic: My job has a lot of hours.Better: I work long hours.The usual collocation.
- Basic: She got a better job in her company.Better: She got promoted.One exact verb instead of a long explanation.
- Basic: The people in my job are nice.Better: My colleagues are really supportive.Shows a wider range of vocabulary.
Finn's exam tip
In Speaking Part 1 you'll probably be asked about your job or studies. Prepare two or three sentences using words from this page – for example: 'I work part-time in a shop. The salary isn't great, but my colleagues are lovely.'
Quick check
Choose the best answer.
🇪🇸 Guía en español: Los 40 phrasal verbs más útiles para el B2 First →
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