This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of jobs and whether or not employers should be allowed to ask for personal information from the real general training IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Jobs and Personal Information
Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information, such as their hobbies and interests, and whether they are married or single. Some people say that this information may be relevant and useful. Others disagree.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Many are of the opinion that there is little value to the sensitive personal information that employers may inquire about during job interviews. In my opinion, though there are certain logical limits, I believe these questions are generally useful as it helps employers understand candidates better.
On the one hand, applicants may rightly feel these questions can be uncomfortable. An employer who asks questions about family background, sexual orientation, and medical history is certainly violating all ethical bounds. If the candidate feels triggered or uncomfortable, there is the chance an interview could become the catalyst for a mental health setback or result in the candidate deciding not to apply for the position. A hypothetical example of this that shows the potential harm is that if an LGBTQ candidate must continually disclose their orientation, and the environment is very traditional or homophobic, they may find themselves frustrated and feel unfairly discriminated against.
Nonetheless, as long as inquiries are within acceptable limits, these questions aid potential employers in constructing an accurate picture of a potential employee. Naturally, an employee can lie about personal questions if they have a particularly disturbing private life, however, that might itself be of some value. Interviewers likely have experience and can detect the presence of lies and make judgments accordingly. For candidates who answer honestly, the interviewer will be able to compare their responses with past employee performance. For example, there is a strong likelihood that socially competent individuals with lots of friends and active hobbies will be outgoing and morale-boosting additions to a staff.
In conclusion, despite the risks of causing offense, these questions have value in forming a general opinion of a candidate for any given position. Employers should therefore continue asking such questions.
Analysis
1. Many are of the opinion that there is little value to the sensitive personal information that employers may inquire about during job interviews. 2. In my opinion, though there are certain logical limits, I believe these questions are generally useful as it helps employers understand candidates better.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. On the one hand, applicants may rightly feel these questions can be uncomfortable. 2. An employer who asks questions about family background, sexual orientation, and medical history is certainly violating all ethical bounds. 3. If the candidate feels triggered or uncomfortable, there is the chance an interview could become the catalyst for a mental health setback or result in the candidate deciding not to apply for the position. 4. A hypothetical example of this that shows the potential harm is that if an LGBTQ candidate must continually disclose their orientation, and the environment is very traditional or homophobic, they may find themselves frustrated and feel unfairly discriminated against.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. Nonetheless, as long as inquiries are within acceptable limits, these questions aid potential employers in constructing an accurate picture of a potential employee. 2. Naturally, an employee can lie about personal questions if they have a particularly disturbing private life, however, that might itself be of some value. 3. Interviewers likely have experience and can detect the presence of lies and make judgments accordingly. 4. For candidates who answer honestly, the interviewer will be able to compare their responses with past employee performance. 5. For example, there is a strong likelihood that socially competent individuals with lots of friends and active hobbies will be outgoing and morale-boosting additions to a staff.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
1. In conclusion, despite the risks of causing offense, these questions have value in forming a general opinion of a candidate for any given position. 2. Employers should therefore continue asking such questions.
- 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.
Many are of the opinion that there is little value to the sensitive personal information that employers may inquire about during job interviews. In my opinion, though there are certain logical limits, I believe these questions are generally useful as it helps employers understand candidates better.
On the one hand, applicants may rightly feel these questions can be uncomfortable. An employer who asks questions about family background, sexual orientation, and medical history is certainly violating all ethical bounds. If the candidate feels triggered or uncomfortable, there is the chance an interview could become the catalyst for a mental health setback or result in the candidate deciding not to apply for the position. A hypothetical example of this that shows the potential harm is that if an LGBTQ candidate must continually disclose their orientation, and the environment is very traditional or homophobic, they may find themselves frustrated and feel unfairly discriminated against.
Nonetheless, as long as inquiries are within acceptable limits, these questions aid potential employers in constructing an accurate picture of a potential employee. Naturally, an employee can lie about personal questions if they have a particularly disturbing private life, however, that might itself be of some value. Interviewers likely have experience and can detect the presence of lies and make judgments accordingly. For candidates who answer honestly, the interviewer will be able to compare their responses with past employee performance. For example, there is a strong likelihood that socially competent individuals with lots of friends and active hobbies will be outgoing and morale-boosting additions to a staff.
In conclusion, despite the risks of causing offense, these questions have value in forming a general opinion of a candidate for any given position. Employers should therefore continue asking such questions.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
little value not much importance
sensitive personal information delicate facts about your private life
may inquire might ask
during job interviews when applying for a job
certain logical limits definite reasonable boundaries
generally useful overall valuable
employers companies
candidates people who are applying for jobs
on the one hand on one side
applicants people applying for a job
rightly correctly
uncomfortable not feeling at ease
family background history of your family members
sexual orientation whether you are straight or LGTBQ
medical history any past conditions
certainly violating definitely harming
ethical bounds moral restrictions
triggered causes you to be upset
chance some opportunity
catalyst cause of
mental health setback feel upset, depressed, etc.
result in cause
apply for the position try to get the job
hypothetical example imaginary instance
potential harm possible hurt
LGBTQ Lesbian · Gay · Bisexual · Transgender · Transsexual
continually disclose keep admitting
orientation which gender you prefer
environment context
traditional conservative
homophobic discrimination against homosexuals
frustrated made angry
unfairly discriminated against prejudiced against
nonetheless regardless
inquiries questions
acceptable limits reasonable boundaries
aid help
constructing making
accurate picture
potential possible
naturally of course
particularly disturbing private life especially alarming lifestyle
experience past
detect notice
presence existence
make judgments accordingly decide based on that
compare contrast
responses answers
past employee performance how well workers did in the past
strong likelihood good chance
socially competent individuals outgoing, friendly people
active hobbies not passive pastimes
outgoing sociable
morale-boosting additions make people happy with a new employee
staff workers
despite regardless of
risks threats
causing offense making upset
forming a general opinion having an idea of
any given position some random job
therefore thus
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈlɪtl ˈvæljuː
ˈsɛnsɪtɪv ˈpɜːsnl ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən
meɪ ɪnˈkwaɪə
ˈdjʊərɪŋ ʤɒb ˈɪntəvjuːz
ˈsɜːtn ˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈlɪmɪts
ˈʤɛnərəli ˈjuːsfʊl
ɪmˈplɔɪəz
ˈkændɪˌdeɪts
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd
ˈæplɪkənts
ˈraɪtli
ʌnˈkʌmfətəbl
ˈfæmɪli ˈbækgraʊnd
ˈsɛksjʊəl ˌɔːriɛnˈteɪʃən
ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈhɪstəri
ˈsɜːtnli ˈvaɪəleɪtɪŋ
ˈɛθɪkəl baʊndz
ˈtrɪgəd
ʌnˈkʌmfətəbl
ʧɑːns
ˈkætəlɪst
ˈmɛntl hɛlθ ˈsɛtbæk
rɪˈzʌlt ɪn
əˈplaɪ fɔː ðə pəˈzɪʃən
ˌhaɪpəʊˈθɛtɪkəl ɪgˈzɑːmpl
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl hɑːm
ɛl-ʤiː-biː-tiː-kjuː
kənˈtɪnjʊəli dɪsˈkləʊz
ˌɔːriɛnˈteɪʃən
ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
trəˈdɪʃənl
ˈhəʊməʊˈfəʊbɪ:ə
frʌsˈtreɪtɪd
ʌnˈfeəli dɪsˈkrɪmɪneɪtɪd əˈgɛnst
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ɪnˈkwaɪəriz
əkˈsɛptəbl ˈlɪmɪts
eɪd
kənˈstrʌktɪŋ
ˈækjʊrɪt ˈpɪkʧə
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl
ˈnæʧrəli
pəˈtɪkjʊləli dɪsˈtɜːbɪŋ ˈpraɪvɪt laɪf
ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
dɪˈtɛkt
ˈprɛzns
meɪk ˈʤʌʤmənts əˈkɔːdɪŋli
kəmˈpeə
rɪsˈpɒnsɪz
pɑːst ˌɛmplɔɪˈiː pəˈfɔːməns
strɒŋ ˈlaɪklɪhʊd
ˈsəʊʃəli ˈkɒmpɪtənt ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
ˈæktɪv ˈhɒbiz
aʊtˈgəʊɪŋ
mɒˈrɑːl-ˈbuːstɪŋ əˈdɪʃ(ə)nz
stɑːf
dɪsˈpaɪt
rɪsks
ˈkɔːzɪŋ əˈfɛns
ˈfɔːmɪŋ ə ˈʤɛnərəl əˈpɪnjən
ˈɛni ˈgɪvn pəˈzɪʃən
ˈðeəfɔː
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:
Many are of the opinion that there is l________________e to the s________________________n that employers m____________e about d_________________s. In my opinion, though there are c____________________s, I believe these questions are g___________________l as it helps e______________s understand c______________s better.
O____________________d, a_____________s may r________y feel these questions can be u______________e. An employer who asks questions about f__________________d, s_____________________n, and m________________y is c________________g all e_________________s. If the candidate feels t______________d or u_________________e, there is the c_______e an interview could become the c___________t for a m________________k or r________n the candidate deciding not to a_____________________n. A h______________________e of this that shows the p_______________m is that if an L________Q candidate must c______________________e their o______________n, and the e_______________t is very t______________l or h_______________c, they may find themselves f_______________d and feel u______________________t.
N_______________s, as long as i___________s are within a________________s, these questions a___d potential employers in c_______________g an a___________________e of a p______________l employee. N____________y, an employee can lie about personal questions if they have a p______________________________e, however, that might itself be of some value. Interviewers likely have e_______________e and can d_________t the p_____________e of lies and m________________________y. For candidates who answer honestly, the interviewer will be able to c____________e their r_____________s with p_____________________________e. For example, there is a s______________d that s__________________________s with lots of friends and a___________________s will be o___________g and m_________________________s to a s_____f.
In conclusion, d___________e the r_______s of c____________________e, these questions have value in f_______________________________n of a candidate for a___________________n. Employers should t____________e continue asking such questions.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.theatlantic.com/membership/archive/2018/01/the-art-of-the-interview/551891/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Work 1 (Model answer available on my Patreon)
- Do you work or are you a student?
- Do you like your current job?
- In the future, do you want to change jobs?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
Machines are taking over more and more jobs previously done by humans.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.
Wow wonderfully written nd described Essay plus the given methods to memorize vocabulary are awesome. Lots of help
Happy to help, Mohit!
There is an argument about whether personal information should be considered in employment or not. In my opinion, this information could help emlpoyer to select employers who are suitable for the company, and further present a better work space.
It is significant for employees to get along with others in business. The project can not be done by a single person, and it always needs a group of people. Therefore, hiring the appropriate person could help build a strong team and develop a working atmosphere that is friendly. For example, those ambitious companies may prefer single young people who can work overtime. By constract, those huge monopolies do not want accidents to result in married people who have lots of work experience.
However, personal information is not the only element that companies should consider. As we all know, working ability is the most important property in working. Although personality could help bosses to compose a better team, strength is still the first consideration. After all, earning money is the primary target of a company, and hobbies can not make it happen. Conspicuous working performance depends not only on communication with colleges, but also on professional capacity.
In sum, capacity is important, but personal informantion can help to build a more powerful team. The boss should take personal information into account to improve the company further. What’s more, companies should state their requirements clearly before interviewing.
Good again, Gakki!
Nice structure and some good academic vocabulary. Don’t use informal phrases like ‘what’s more’ though!
Your feedback is very helpful to me. Thank you very much!
You’re welcome, Gakki!
Shouldn’t there be one more para or additional sentence to support your opinion, as the question says, give your own opinion?
I do give me opinion, very clearly, in the conclusion and the introduction, Samaira.
You don’t always have to use the words ‘in my opinion’ if your opinion is clear.
Thank you for clearing my doubts.
No problem!
Since it’s a discussion task (not an agree/disagree one), isn’t it better to mention 2 main ideas with their respective support in each paragraph?
Doesn’t our score decline when we present only one idea per paragraph in such tasks? Or you say that makes no difference?
This way we can also use more cohesive linking words such as ‘moreover’ and ‘furthermore’.