This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the real test related to job satisfactory and security.
It is a tricky question because both sides are tough to argue.
I did something interesting with my opinion as well that you can check out below.
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Dave
Before reading, listen to the audio below and take notes:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Job Satisfaction/Security (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
Some people argue that job satisfaction is more important than job security, while others believe that they cannot always expect job satisfaction and a permanent job is more important.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
Some make the pragmatic argument that in an uncertain job market, security ought to be valued over satisfaction. In my opinion, those with families cannot be reproached for this view but it is generally more important to enjoy your job and spread goodwill.
Workers with dependents rightly value a consistent paycheck and benefits over all other factors. If someone is just starting out in a labour of love such as becoming an artist, they may struggle initially to bring home enough money to make ends meet every month. They might not be able to send their children to good schools, live in a good neighborhood, and keep everyone in the house reasonably well clothed and fed. Even if they can manage that, it will place incredible mental stress on not only them but also their spouse and children. Research has shown these deeply ingrained anxieties from childhood can persist throughout adulthood.
It is nonetheless more important to pursue a job that is fulfilling. The vast majority of the world dislikes their job and a large percentage of these people have difficulty reconciling their frustrations with their day-to-day temperament. An unhappy employee is more likely to be short with co-workers, complain to friends, and resent their family for the burden they must shoulder for their welfare. More of this persons daily interactions will be negative and this adds up over years to create the greatest global repository of ill will. Free up the same person to enjoy their job and there is a strong chance they will suddenly brighten the days of those around them.
Overall, fomenting good humour is more important and only in very rare family situations should an individual persist in a job for its stability. Many recognise this once it is too late and they already have an expensive lifestyle to maintain or their best working years are behind them.
Word Count: 315
Analysis
1. Some make the pragmatic argument that in an uncertain job market, security ought to be valued over satisfaction. 2. In my opinion, those with families cannot be reproached for this view but it is generally more important to enjoy your job and spread goodwill.
- Paraphrase the overall topic of the essay for your first sentence.
- Give your opinion – here mine is somewhat on both sides but I still choose overall job satisfaction.
1. Workers with dependents rightly value a consistent paycheck and benefits over all other factors. 2. If someone is just starting out in a labour of love such as becoming an artist, they may struggle initially to bring home enough money to make ends meet every month. 3. They might not be able to send their children to good schools, live in a good neighborhood, and keep everyone in the house reasonably well clothed and fed. 4. Even if they can manage that, it will place incredible mental stress on not only them but also their spouse and children. 5. Research has shown these deeply ingrained anxieties from childhood can persist throughout adulthood.
- Write a topic sentence with a main idea at the end.
- Here I begin with a hypothetical example.
- Develop the example with specific details.
- Keep developing by detailing the results.
- Add in more of the result to fully develop it.
1. It is nonetheless more important to pursue a job that is fulfilling. 2. The vast majority of the world dislikes their job and a large percentage of these people have difficulty reconciling their frustrations with their day-to-day temperament. 3. An unhappy employee is more likely to be short with co-workers, complain to friends, and resent their family for the burden they must shoulder for their welfare. 4. More of this persons daily interactions will be negative and this adds up over years to create the greatest global repository of ill will. 5. Free up the same person to enjoy their job and there is a strong chance they will suddenly brighten the days of those around them.
- Another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Here I explain my main idea and set up my argument to follow.
- I use another hypothetical example to develop my point.
- Develop your example with specific detail.
- Finish develop it by stating the result.
1. Overall, fomenting good humour is more important and only in very rare family situations should an individual persist in a job for its stability. 2. Many recognise this once it is too late and they already have an expensive lifestyle to maintain or their best working years are behind them.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in a final thought or extra detail to finish your essay.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Some make the pragmatic argument that in an uncertain job market, security ought to be valued over satisfaction. In my opinion, those with families cannot be reproached for this view but it is generally more important to enjoy your job and spread goodwill.
Workers with dependents rightly value a consistent paycheck and benefits over all other factors. If someone is just starting out in a labour of love such as becoming an artist, they may struggle initially to bring home enough money to make ends meet every month. They might not be able to send their children to good schools, live in a good neighborhood, and keep everyone in the house reasonably well clothed and fed. Even if they can manage that, it will place incredible mental stress on not only them but also their spouse and children. Research has shown these deeply ingrained anxieties from childhood can persist throughout adulthood.
It is nonetheless more important to pursue a job that is fulfilling. The vast majority of the world dislikes their job and a large percentage of these people have difficulty reconciling their frustrations with their day-to-day temperament. An unhappy employee is more likely to be short with co-workers, complain to friends, and resent their family for the burden they must shoulder for their welfare. More of this persons daily interactions will be negative and this adds up over years to create the greatest global repository of ill will. Free up the same person to enjoy their job and there is a strong chance they will suddenly brighten the days of those around them.
Overall, fomenting good humour is more important and only in very rare family situations should an individual persist in a job for its stability. Many recognise this once it is too late and they already have an expensive lifestyle to maintain or their best working years are behind them.
Answers
pragmatic argument practical reasons
uncertain job market difficult to get/keep employment
valued over satisfaction considered more important than fulfillment
reproached questioned/criticised about
generally more important overall matters more
spread goodwill make other people happy
dependents rightly value people who rely on them justifies their choice
consistent paycheck steady employment
benefits advantages
over all other factors more important than anything else
starting out beginning
labour of love something you have passion for
struggle initially have a tough time at the beginning
bring home enough money make a large enough salary
make ends meet earn just enough
send their children to good schools enroll their kids in quality schools
reasonably well clothed and fed enough clothing and food
manage deal with
place incredible mental stress put a lot of pressure on
not only them but also both
deeply ingrained anxieties psychological trauma
persist throughout adulthood continue as they become adults
pursue chase
fulfilling satisfying
vast majority most of
reconciling make consistent
frustrations anger
day-to-day temperament daily mood
short rude/angry with
resent hold a grudge against
burden weight to carry, responsibility
shoulder carry
welfare good of those involved
adds up combines to
greatest global repository of ill will stores up a lot of hostility
free up allows for
strong chance might happen
brighten make happier
fomenting good humour creating happy interactions
rare family situations uncommon problems at home
persist continue
stability safe and secure
recognise acknowledge
expensive lifestyle to maintain costs a lot for rent, expenses
best working years are behind them no longer in their prime
Pronunciation
prægˈmætɪk ˈɑːgjʊmənt
ʌnˈsɜːtn ʤɒb ˈmɑːkɪt
ˈvæljuːd ˈəʊvə ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən
rɪˈprəʊʧt
ˈʤɛnərəli mɔːr ɪmˈpɔːtənt
sprɛd ˈgʊdˈwɪl
dɪˈpɛndənts ˈraɪtli ˈvæljuː
kənˈsɪstənt ˈpeɪˌʧɛk
ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈəʊvər ɔːl ˈʌðə ˈfæktəz
ˈstɑːtɪŋ aʊt
ˈleɪbər ɒv lʌv
ˈstrʌgl ɪˈnɪʃəli
brɪŋ həʊm ɪˈnʌf ˈmʌni
meɪk ɛndz miːt
sɛnd ðeə ˈʧɪldrən tuː gʊd skuːlz
ˈriːznəbli wɛl kləʊðd ænd fɛd
ˈmænɪʤ
pleɪs ɪnˈkrɛdəbl ˈmɛntl strɛs
nɒt ˈəʊnli ðɛm bʌt ˈɔːlsəʊ
ˈdiːpli ɪnˈgreɪnd æŋˈzaɪətiz
pəˈsɪst θru(ː)ˈaʊt əˈdʌlthʊd
pəˈsjuː
fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈrɛkənsaɪlɪŋ
frʌsˈtreɪʃənz
ˈdeɪtəˈdeɪ ˈtɛmpərəmənt
ʃɔːt
rɪˈzɛnt
ˈbɜːdn
ˈʃəʊldə
ˈwɛlfeə
ædz ʌp
ˈgreɪtɪst ˈgləʊbəl rɪˈpɒzɪtəri ɒv ɪl wɪl
friː ʌp
strɒŋ ʧɑːns
ˈbraɪtn
fəʊˈmɛntɪŋ gʊd ˈhjuːmə
reə ˈfæmɪli ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz
pəˈsɪst
stəˈbɪlɪti
ˈrɛkəgnaɪz
ɪksˈpɛnsɪv ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl tuː meɪnˈteɪn
bɛst ˈwɜːkɪŋ jɪəz ɑː bɪˈhaɪnd ðɛm
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
Some make the p_________________ that in an u_________________, security ought to be v_________________ . In my opinion, those with families cannot be r_________________ for this view but it is g_________________ to enjoy your job and s_________________.
Workers with d_________________ a c_________________ and b_________________ o_________________. If someone is just s_________________ in a l_________________ such as becoming an artist, they may s_________________ to b_________________ to m_________________ every month. They might not be able to s_________________, live in a good neighborhood, and keep everyone in the house r_________________. Even if they can m_________________ that, it will p_________________ on n_________________ their spouse and children. Research has shown these d_________________ from childhood can p_________________.
It is nonetheless more important to p_________________ a job that is f_________________. The v _________________ of the world dislikes their job and a large percentage of these people have difficulty r_________________ their f_________________ with their d_________________. An unhappy employee is more likely to be s_________________ with co-workers, complain to friends, and r_________________ their family for the b_________________ they must s_________________ for their w_________________. More of this persons daily interactions will be negative and this a_________________ over years to create the g_________________. F_________________ the same person to enjoy their job and there is a s_________________ they will suddenly b_________________ the days of those around them.
Overall, f_________________ is more important and only in very r_________________ should an individual p_________________ in a job for its s_________________. Many r_________________ this once it is too late and they already have an e_________________ or their b_________________.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Watch the video below to review about this topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_cy2lvQbnU
Reading Practice
Read an interesting article from The New York Times on a related topic:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/21/magazine/elite-professionals-jobs-happiness.html
Speaking Practice
Answer the following questions from the real speaking exam:
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?
People are divided by their opinion which is more essential in choosing a job. While some individuals claim that happiness in a job is more important, others believe that stability is the best factor to consider in a career. In my opinion, career growth can be achieved if a sense of enjoyment in a job could be felt.
It is undeniable that being stable in a job is a dream for many individuals especially for people aiming to be secured and those who have plans for their future. Besides, the process of getting employed in a job is extremely hard. That is why people doing everything just to be permanent in their job. Moreover, being practical in life is on the mind of others to be able to secure their future. It means that whatever it takes, they tend to stay because they can get a better salary if they become permanent in their job even they are not enjoying it.
On the other hand, being satisfied in a job is also important because it can contribute to a person’s motivation and productivity in the workplace. Positive vibes in the job’s everyday scenario are imperative for people’s general performance. According to research, people who are contented can be more productive and can show more enthusiasm for their job. For this reason, a sense of comfort in a job is a necessity to have more focus and concentration.
To conclude, although stability in a job is important as it gives people a sense of security, being satisfied in a workplace is more essential. With this, happiness is always a significant factor to consider in settling for a job.
Well written Jessica!
Some feedback:
People can’t be divided by their own opinion but opinion can be divided…
The second paragraph is a little confusing – the question is not about why people remain in a job – but whether or not they should value a secure job. So then you can develop more the idea of a secure future with a hypothetical (or real) example.
There should be more development in the 3rd paragraph. Develop more the results of being more productive and motivated – there is too much repetition and summary.
Good conclusion!
Is this essay close to 6.5-7? Or below? Thank you so much.
Some of the vocabulary and grammar is near that level but you still have too many issues with task achievement and cohesion/coherence to be safely in that range.
Hello, in this essay, it is not asked to write about family. Is it advisable to write this essay in the context of family just like you wrote in 1st body paragraph instead of generalised view? I mean job satisfaction in one paragraph and security in 2nd body paragraph(general view) should be ideal structure. In essay title, they haven’t asked about ‘people with families’. It seems general question about job security vs. job satisfaction. Please clear my doubt.
Hey Sandra, yes it is fine to focus it in the way that I did – the topic wasn’t specifically about the impact of family but that was the way I used to answer it – as long as you are answering the question directly then there are many different ways to write.
Ok. Thanx