This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of working life and job security from the general training IELTS exam.

Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my full, exclusive IELTS Ebooks!

Dave

IELTS Essay: Working Life and Job Security

Some people say that individuals should change jobs during their working life often while others believe that doing the same job has advantages to individuals, companies, and society.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Many are of the opinion that it is preferable for individuals, corporations and society more generally for workers to remain in the same position long-term. Although such a contention has transparent benefits, I am largely in disagreement.

Those who argue against employment mobility point out how it can facilitate consistent progress for all parties involved. Firstly, companies are the most likely to profit since they will not have to hire and train new employees and will be able to cultivate a positive company ethos. As companies flourish, it necessarily follows that individuals will be able to gain promotions and raises. This will enable a higher standard of living. Finally, society itself will benefit as the private and public world can achieve a balanced system of mutual benefits. There is then less likelihood of unemployment and civil unrest.

However, I would argue the opportunities that individuals may miss by not changing jobs are more significant. A worker who is unhappy in their job has the power to improve the situation. For instance, if a person is under-utilized and underpaid in their current position, they could apply for a new job or move to a new sector. If the move is successful, they will not regret their decision and if not they can always apply for another job. In the aggregate, citizens finding more satisfying jobs and taking full advantage of their latent abilities will lead to a happier society. This will in turn grow the economy and corporations are likely to be more productive with an engaged workforce.

In conclusion, the tangible impact of remaining in a single job does not outweigh the potential gain for individuals, and society by extension, when seeking a varied career path. There are exceptions to this but most workers should be willing to switch jobs when possible.

Analysis

1. Many are of the opinion that it is preferable for individuals, corporations and society more generally for workers to remain in the same position long-term. 2. Although such a contention has transparent benefits, I am largely in disagreement.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who argue against employment mobility point out how it can facilitate consistent progress for all parties involved. 2. Firstly, companies are the most likely to profit since they will not have to hire and train new employees and will be able to cultivate a positive company ethos. 3. As companies flourish, it necessarily follows that individuals will be able to gain promotions and raises. 4. This will enable a higher standard of living. 5. Finally, society itself will benefit as the private and public world can achieve a balanced system of mutual benefits. 6. There is then less likelihood of unemployment and civil unrest.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Finish development.
6. Make sure you have dealt with all points in the topic.

1. However, I would argue the opportunities that individuals may miss by not changing jobs are more significant. 2. A worker who is unhappy in their job has the power to improve the situation. 3. For instance, if a person is under-utilized and underpaid in their current position, they could apply for a new job or move to a new sector. 4. If the move is successful, they will not regret their decision and if not they can always apply for another job. 5. In the aggregate, citizens finding more satisfying jobs and taking full advantage of their latent abilities will lead to a happier society. 6. This will in turn grow the economy and corporations are likely to be more productive with an engaged workforce.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Develop the example fully.
6. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, the tangible impact of remaining in a single job does not outweigh the potential gain for individuals, and society by extension, when seeking a varied career path. 2. There are exceptions to this but most workers should be willing to switch jobs when possible.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. 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 it is preferable for individuals, corporations and society more generally for workers to remain in the same position long-term. Although such a contention has transparent benefits, I am largely in disagreement.

Those who argue against employment mobility point out how it can facilitate consistent progress for all parties involved. Firstly, companies are the most likely to profit since they will not have to hire and train new employees and will be able to cultivate a positive company ethos. As companies flourish, it necessarily follows that individuals will be able to gain promotions and raises. This will enable a higher standard of living. Finally, society itself will benefit as the private and public world can achieve a balanced system of mutual benefits. There is then less likelihood of unemployment and civil unrest.

However, I would argue the opportunities that individuals may miss by not changing jobs are more significant. A worker who is unhappy in their job has the power to improve the situation. For instance, if a person is under-utilized and underpaid in their current position, they could apply for a new job or move to a new sector. If the move is successful, they will not regret their decision and if not they can always apply for another job. In the aggregate, citizens finding more satisfying jobs and taking full advantage of their latent abilities will lead to a happier society. This will in turn grow the economy and corporations are likely to be more productive with an engaged workforce.

In conclusion, the tangible impact of remaining in a single job does not outweigh the potential gain for individuals, and society by extension, when seeking a varied career path. There are exceptions to this but most workers should be willing to switch jobs when possible.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

preferable better

individuals people

corporations companies

society more generally all people in country

workers employees

remain stay

position long-term job for a long time

although however

contention belief

transparent benefits clear advantages

largely mostly

those who argue against people who disagree with

employment mobility changing jobs

point out argue

facilitate consistent progress enable continued growth

parties involved groups, people engaged with this

hire give a job

train teach about

cultivate help grow

positive company ethos good environment

flourish do really well

necessarily follows of necessity causes

gain promotions get a new job

raises increases

enable allow for

higher standard of living better quality of life

private and public personal and society

achieve a balanced system of mutual benefits good social order

less likelihood not as much of a chance

unemployment no job

civil unrest people unhappy in society

opportunities chances

significant meaningful

improve the situation make things better

under-utilized not used enough

underpaid not paid enough money

current right now

new sector different field

regret feel bad about, wish it was different

in the aggregate combined

citizens residents, people in a country

satisfying fulfilling

taking full advantage do the most to enjoy

latent abilities what you are capable of doing

in turn then

productive efficient

engaged workforce workers who care

tangible impact real effect

outweigh stronger than

potential possible

by extension included in this

seeking a varied career path try different jobs

exceptions cases outside the norm

willing happy to

switch change

when possible if they can

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈprɛfərəbl 
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃənz 
səˈsaɪəti mɔː ˈʤɛnərəli 
ˈwɜːkəz 
rɪˈmeɪn 
pəˈzɪʃən ˈlɒŋtɜːm
ɔːlˈðəʊ 
kənˈtɛnʃən 
trænsˈpeərənt ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈlɑːʤli 
ðəʊz huː ˈɑːgjuː əˈgɛnst 
ɪmˈplɔɪmənt məʊˈbɪlɪti 
pɔɪnt aʊt 
fəˈsɪlɪteɪt kənˈsɪstənt ˈprəʊgrəs 
ˈpɑːtiz ɪnˈvɒlvd
ˈhaɪə 
treɪn 
ˈkʌltɪveɪt 
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈkʌmpəni ˈiːθɒs 
ˈflʌrɪʃ,
ˈnɛsɪsərɪli ˈfɒləʊz 
geɪn prəˈməʊʃənz 
ˈreɪzɪz
ɪˈneɪbl 
ˈhaɪə ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˈpraɪvɪt ænd ˈpʌblɪk 
əˈʧiːv ə ˈbælənst ˈsɪstɪm ɒv ˈmjuːtjʊəl ˈbɛnɪfɪts
lɛs ˈlaɪklɪhʊd 
ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt 
ˈsɪvl ʌnˈrɛst
ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt
ɪmˈpruːv ðə ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən
ˈʌndə-ˈjuːtɪˌlaɪzd 
ˌʌndəˈpeɪd 
ˈkʌrənt 
njuː ˈsɛktə
rɪˈgrɛt 
ɪn ði ˈægrɪgɪt
ˈsɪtɪznz 
ˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ 
ˈteɪkɪŋ fʊl ədˈvɑːntɪʤ 
ˈleɪtənt əˈbɪlɪtiz 
ɪn tɜːn 
prəˈdʌktɪv 
ɪnˈgeɪʤd ˈwɜːkˌfɔːs
ˈtænʤəbl ˈɪmpækt 
aʊtˈweɪ 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl 
baɪ ɪksˈtɛnʃən,
ˈsiːkɪŋ ə ˈveərɪd kəˈrɪə pɑːθ
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz 
ˈwɪlɪŋ 
swɪʧ 
wɛn ˈpɒsəbl

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 it is p____________e for i___________s, c__________s and s______________________y for w_________s to r________n in the same p_________________m. A__________h such a c________n has t_________________s, I am l_______y in disagreement.

T________________________________t e___________________y p____________t how it can f___________e c__________________s for all p_______________d. Firstly, companies are the most likely to profit since they will not have to h____e and t______n new employees and will be able to c__________e a p___________________s. As companies f________h, it n____________s that individuals will be able to g___________________s and r________s. This will e_______e a h________________g. Finally, society itself will benefit as the p__________________c world can a_________________________________________s. There is then less l___________d of u____________t and c____________t.

However, I would argue the o_______________s that individuals may miss by not changing jobs are more s___________t. A worker who is unhappy in their job has the power to i___________________n. For instance, if a person is u________d and u__________d in their c________t position, they could apply for a new job or move to a n__________r. If the move is successful, they will not r________t their decision and if not they can always apply for another job. I______________e, c_______s finding more s____________g jobs and t____________________e of their l_____________s will lead to a happier society. This will i________n grow the economy and corporations are likely to be more p___________e with an e___________________e.

In conclusion, the t______________t of remaining in a single job does not o________h the p_________l gain for individuals, and society b__________n, when s___________________________h. There are e________s to this but most workers should be w_______g to s______h jobs w_____________e.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaUCiKTNBxQ

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/interview-questions-to-ask-to-evaluate-a-companys-work-life-balance/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)

1. Are you student or are you working now?
2. What do you like about your job/school at the moment?
3. What job would you like to do in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Many people try to balance work and other parts of their life. However, this is very difficult to do.

What are the problems associated with this?

What is the best way to achieve a better balance?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Work-Life Balance