This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of innovative employees from the real IELTS exam.
IELTS Essay: Innovative Employees
Some people think that when recruiting, companies should aim to take on people who are innovative and able to work independently while others consider they should recruit people who are able to work in a team and follow instructions.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
When hiring employees, companies face a crucial decision: should they prioritize individuals who are creative and capable of working independently, or should they focus on candidates who excel at teamwork and following instructions? While both types of employees bring unique strengths, I believe that companies should aim for a workforce with good team-working skills.
On the one hand, prioritizing innovative and independent workers drives progress. Take, for example, Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The company is known for hiring highly independent engineers who think laterally and devise groundbreaking solutions, such as the reusable rocket system. If SpaceX had only employed individuals who simply followed instructions, it is unlikely that they would have achieved such technological advancements. In the adjacent tech industry, companies like Google and Apple thrive because they recruit employees who do not just wait to be told what to do but instead take the initiative to develop new ideas, products, and solutions. Therefore, in industries where innovation is key, hiring independent thinkers is essential.
However, in the vast majority of contexts teamwork and the ability to follow instructions are crucial. In the fast-food industry, companies such as McDonald’s depend on employees who can strictly adhere to set procedures to ensure consistency in service and food quality. A worker at McDonald’s does not need to reinvent the way a burger is made; they need to follow standardized guidelines to maintain consistency. In large-scale manufacturing, such as automobile assembly lines at Toyota or Ford, efficiency is achieved when workers collaborate and follow instructions meticulously. If each employee tried to introduce their own methods, production would become chaotic and inefficient. This highlights the fact that teamwork and compliance with established procedures are necessary for smooth operations. Another example of this would be hospitals where doctors, nurses, and administrative staff must collaborate efficiently under strict protocols to provide effective patient care.
In conclusion, both independent and innovative employees and those who excel at teamwork and following instructions have their place in the workforce. Teamwork and adherence to protocols, in my opinion, are more generally applicable and therefore valuable characteristics.
Analysis
1. When hiring employees, companies face a crucial decision: should they prioritize individuals who are creative and capable of working independently, or should they focus on candidates who excel at teamwork and following instructions? 2. While both types of employees bring unique strengths, I believe that companies should aim for a workforce with good team-working skills.
1. On the one hand, prioritizing innovative and independent workers drives progress. 2. Take, for example, Elon Musk’s SpaceX. 3. The company is known for hiring highly independent engineers who think laterally and devise groundbreaking solutions, such as the reusable rocket system. 4. If SpaceX had only employed individuals who simply followed instructions, it is unlikely that they would have achieved such technological advancements. 5. In the adjacent tech industry, companies like Google and Apple thrive because they recruit employees who do not just wait to be told what to do but instead take the initiative to develop new ideas, products, and solutions. 6. Therefore, in industries where innovation is key, hiring independent thinkers is essential.
1. However, in the vast majority of contexts teamwork and the ability to follow instructions are crucial. 2. In the fast-food industry, companies such as McDonald’s depend on employees who can strictly adhere to set procedures to ensure consistency in service and food quality. 3. A worker at McDonald’s does not need to reinvent the way a burger is made; they need to follow standardized guidelines to maintain consistency. 4. In large-scale manufacturing, such as automobile assembly lines at Toyota or Ford, efficiency is achieved when workers collaborate and follow instructions meticulously. 5. If each employee tried to introduce their own methods, production would become chaotic and inefficient. 6. This highlights the fact that teamwork and compliance with established procedures are necessary for smooth operations. 7. Another example of this would be hospitals where doctors, nurses, and administrative staff must collaborate efficiently under strict protocols to provide effective patient care.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Keep extending your ideas.
- Include further results to extend fully.
- This essay is maybe too long – aim for about 275 words.
1. In conclusion, both independent and innovative employees and those who excel at teamwork and following instructions have their place in the workforce. 2. Teamwork and adherence to protocols, in my opinion, are more generally applicable and therefore valuable characteristics.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
When hiring employees, companies face a crucial decision: should they prioritize individuals who are creative and capable of working independently, or should they focus on candidates who excel at teamwork and following instructions? While both types of employees bring unique strengths, I believe that companies should aim for a workforce with good team-working skills.
On the one hand, prioritizing innovative and independent workers drives progress. Take, for example, Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The company is known for hiring highly independent engineers who think laterally and devise groundbreaking solutions, such as the reusable rocket system. If SpaceX had only employed individuals who simply followed instructions, it is unlikely that they would have achieved such technological advancements. In the adjacent tech industry, companies like Google and Apple thrive because they recruit employees who do not just wait to be told what to do but instead take the initiative to develop new ideas, products, and solutions. Therefore, in industries where innovation is key, hiring independent thinkers is essential.
However, in the vast majority of contexts teamwork and the ability to follow instructions are crucial. In the fast-food industry, companies such as McDonald’s depend on employees who can strictly adhere to set procedures to ensure consistency in service and food quality. A worker at McDonald’s does not need to reinvent the way a burger is made; they need to follow standardized guidelines to maintain consistency. In large-scale manufacturing, such as automobile assembly lines at Toyota or Ford, efficiency is achieved when workers collaborate and follow instructions meticulously. If each employee tried to introduce their own methods, production would become chaotic and inefficient. This highlights the fact that teamwork and compliance with established procedures are necessary for smooth operations. Another example of this would be hospitals where doctors, nurses, and administrative staff must collaborate efficiently under strict protocols to provide effective patient care.
In conclusion, both independent and innovative employees and those who excel at teamwork and following instructions have their place in the workforce. Teamwork and adherence to protocols, in my opinion, are more generally applicable and therefore valuable characteristics.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
- Hiring employees → Recruiting staff
- Face a crucial decision → Make a pivotal choice
- Prioritize → Emphasize
- Creative and capable of working independently → Inventive and self-sufficient
- Focus on candidates who excel at teamwork and following instructions → Seek candidates who thrive in collaborative environments and follow directions well
- Bring unique strengths → Offer distinctive abilities
- Aim for a workforce with good team-working skills → Strive for a team-oriented workforce
- On the one hand → From one perspective
- Prioritizing innovative and independent workers drives progress → Emphasizing originality and autonomy fuels advancement
- Hiring highly independent engineers → Recruiting self-reliant engineers
- Think laterally → Approach problems creatively
- Devise groundbreaking solutions → Develop revolutionary innovations
- Reusable rocket system → Recoverable space launch technology
- Simply followed instructions → Strictly adhered to guidelines
- Achieved such technological advancements → Reached these milestones in innovation
- In the adjacent tech industry → Within the neighboring technology sector
- Thrive → Prosper
- Recruit employees → Hire staff
- Take the initiative to develop new ideas → Proactively generate innovative concepts
- Products → Offerings
- Solutions → Resolutions
- Key → Fundamental
- Hiring independent thinkers is essential → Bringing in autonomous problem-solvers is crucial
- In the vast majority of contexts → Across most situations
- Crucial → Vital
- In the fast-food industry → Within the quick-service restaurant sector
- Depend on → Rely upon
- Strictly adhere to set procedures → Follow established protocols rigorously
- Ensure consistency in service and food quality → Maintain uniformity in offerings and standards
- Reinvent → Transform
- Follow standardized guidelines to maintain consistency → Adhere to predefined procedures for uniform results
- In large-scale manufacturing → Within mass production environments
- Assembly lines → Production chains
- Efficiency is achieved when → Optimal performance occurs when
- Collaborate → Work together
- Follow instructions meticulously → Execute directives with precision
- Introduce their own methods → Implement personal approaches
- Production would become chaotic and inefficient → Manufacturing processes would devolve into disorder
- This highlights the fact that → This underscores the idea that
- Compliance with established procedures → Adherence to standard protocols
- Smooth operations → Seamless functionality
- Administrative staff → Office personnel
- Under strict protocols to provide effective patient care → Operate within rigid guidelines to ensure quality medical support
- Excel → Perform exceptionally
- Have their place in the workforce → Hold valuable roles in employment
- Adherence → Compliance
- More generally applicable → Broader in scope
- Valuable characteristics → Important traits
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈhaɪərɪŋ ˌɛmplɔɪˈiːz
feɪs ə ˈkruːʃᵊl dɪˈsɪʒᵊn
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
kriˈeɪtɪv ænd ˈkeɪpəbᵊl ɒv ˈwɜːkɪŋ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəntli
ˈfəʊkəs ɒn ˈkændɪˌdeɪts huː ɪkˈsɛl æt ˈtiːmwɜːk ænd ˈfɒləʊɪŋ ɪnˈstrʌkʃᵊnz
brɪŋ juːˈniːk strɛŋθs
eɪm fɔːr ə ˈwɜːkfɔːs wɪð ɡʊd ˈtiːmwɜːkɪŋ skɪlz
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzɪŋ ˈɪnəvətɪv ænd ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt ˈwɜːkəz draɪvz ˈprəʊɡrɛs
ˈhaɪərɪŋ ˈhaɪli ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪəz
θɪŋk ˈlætᵊrᵊli
dɪˈvaɪz ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ səˈluːʃᵊnz
riːˈjuːzəbᵊl ˈrɒkɪt ˈsɪstəm
ˈsɪmpli ˈfɒləʊd ɪnˈstrʌkʃᵊnz
əˈʧiːvd sʌʧ ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪkᵊl ədˈvɑːnsmənts
ɪn ði əˈʤeɪsᵊnt tɛk ˈɪndəstri
θraɪv
rɪˈkruːt ˌɛmplɔɪˈiːz
teɪk ði ɪˈnɪʃətɪv tuː dɪˈvɛləp njuː aɪˈdɪəz
ˈprɒdʌkts
səˈluːʃᵊnz
kiː
ˈhaɪərɪŋ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt ˈθɪŋkəz ɪz ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl
ɪn ðə vɑːst məˈʤɒrəti ɒv ˈkɒntɛksts
ˈkruːʃᵊl
ɪn ðə fɑːst-fuːd ˈɪndəstri
dɪˈpɛnd ɒn
ˈstrɪktli ədˈhɪə tuː sɛt prəˈsiːʤəz
ɪnˈʃɔː kənˈsɪstᵊnsi ɪn ˈsɜːvɪs ænd fuːd ˈkwɒləti
ˌriːɪnˈvɛnt
ˈfɒləʊ ˈstændədaɪzd ˈɡaɪdlaɪnz tuː meɪnˈteɪn kənˈsɪstᵊnsi
ɪn lɑːʤ-skeɪl ˌmænjəˈfækʧərɪŋ
əˈsɛmbli laɪnz
ɪˈfɪʃᵊnsi ɪz əˈʧiːvd wɛn
kəˈlæbəreɪt
ˈfɒləʊ ɪnˈstrʌkʃᵊnz məˈtɪkjələsli
ˌɪntrəˈdjuːs ðeər əʊn ˈmɛθədz
prəˈdʌkʃᵊn wʊd bɪˈkʌm keɪˈɒtɪk ænd ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃᵊnt
ðɪs ˈhaɪlaɪts ðə fækt ðæt
kəmˈplaɪəns wɪð ɪˈstæblɪʃt prəˈsiːʤəz
smuːð ˌɒpᵊrˈeɪʃᵊnz
ədˈmɪnɪstrətɪv stɑːf
ˈʌndə strɪkt ˈprəʊtəkɒlz tuː prəˈvaɪd ɪˈfɛktɪv ˈpeɪʃᵊnt keə
ɪkˈsɛl
hæv ðeə pleɪs ɪn ðə ˈwɜːkfɔːs
ədˈhɪərᵊns
mɔː ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊli əˈplɪkəbᵊl
ˈvæljəbᵊl ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪks
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
When hiring e__________s, companies face a___________________n: should they p__________e individuals who are creative a_________________________________________________y, or should they focus o____________________________________________________________s? While both types of employees bring u_________________s, I believe that companies should aim f________________________________________________________s.
On t______________d, prioritizing i______________________________s. Take, for example, Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The company is known for hiring h__________________________s who think l__________y and devise g_________________s, such as the reusable r_________________m. If SpaceX had only employed individuals who simply f________________s, it is unlikely that they would have achieved s_____________________________s. In t_______________________y, companies like Google and Apple t_______e because they recruit e___________s who do not just wait to be told what to do but instead take t___________________________________________________________s. Therefore, in industries where innovation is k___y, hiring i___________________________________________________l.
However, in t_________________________s teamwork and the ability to follow instructions are c_______l. In t________________y, companies such as McDonald’s depend ____n employees who can strictly a_s to ensure c____________________________________________________y. A worker at McDonald’s does not need to reinvent the way a burger is made; they need to follow s____________________________________________y. In l____________________g, such as automobile assembly l_____s at Toyota or Ford, efficiency i_______________n workers c_________e and follow i__________________y. If each employee tried to introduce t_____________________s, production w________________________________t. This h_____________________t teamwork and compliance w____________________s are necessary for smooth o_________s. Another example of this would be hospitals where doctors, nurses, and administrative s_____f must collaborate efficiently under s_______________________________________________________________e.
In conclusion, both independent and innovative employees and those who e_____l at teamwork and following instructions have t____________________e. Teamwork and a_________e to protocols, in my opinion, are more g____________________e and therefore valuable c____________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/teamwork-skills
Speaking Practice
Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)
- Are you student or are you working now?
- What do you like about your job/school at the moment?
- What job would you like to do in the future?
Writing Practice
The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend.
Do you agree or disagree?
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