IELTS General Training Reading · Lesson 3 of 4

Section 2: workplace texts

Read staff handbooks and job advertisements, and learn the vocabulary of work.

45–60 minutes
Level B1+
4 exercises

In this lesson you will

understand common workplace vocabulary
read staff handbooks, contracts and job advertisements
practise matching headings, sentence completion and True / False / Not Given

Vocabulary

The language of work

Section 2 is about work, and it often uses formal words. Learning these will help you to recognise paraphrases.

Exercise 1

Match the words

entitled to
probation
overtime
rota
resign
deduct

Part A

A staff handbook

Handbooks are organised into clear sections, so matching headings is a common task. Skim each section for its main idea, and do not choose a heading just because it contains a word from the text.

Reading passage

New staff guide: working at Marlow Foods

A All new employees complete a six-month probation period. During this time, your line manager will meet you every two months to discuss your progress. If your performance is satisfactory, your position will be confirmed in writing at the end of the period.

B Full-time staff are entitled to 25 days of paid holiday per year, in addition to public holidays. Requests must be submitted to your line manager at least four weeks in advance. No more than ten days may be taken at one time without the approval of a director.

C If you are unable to come to work because of illness, you must telephone your line manager before 9.30 a.m. on the first day of absence. For absences of more than five working days, a doctor's certificate is required.

D Overtime is paid at one and a half times the normal hourly rate. All overtime must be agreed in advance by your line manager. Staff who work on a public holiday receive double pay and one additional day of leave.

E Staff may apply for funding of up to £500 a year for job-related courses. Applications should be sent to the Human Resources department, together with a letter of support from your line manager.

Passage written for Tips4IELTS for practice. Any names, prices and dates are invented.

Exercise 2

Match the headings

Choose the correct heading for each section. There are more headings than sections.

Section A
Section B
Section C
Section D
Section E

Exercise 3

Complete the sentences

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.

New employees meet their line manager every months.
Holiday must be requested at least in advance.
An absence of more than five working days requires a .
People who work on a public holiday receive and an extra day of leave.
Applications for course funding are sent to .

Part B

A job advertisement

Pay close attention to the difference between what is essential and what is only an advantage.

Reading passage

Customer Service Adviser

We are looking for a friendly Customer Service Adviser to join our team in Leeds. You will answer customer enquiries by telephone and email, resolve complaints and update customer records.

Applicants must have at least one year's experience in a customer-facing role and good computer skills. A second language would be an advantage but is not essential. Full training will be provided.

The position is permanent and full-time. You will work 37.5 hours a week on a rota that includes one Saturday in four. The starting salary is £24,000, rising to £26,000 after successful completion of your first year.

To apply, send your CV and a covering letter to the address below by 30 June. Interviews will take place in the second week of July.

Passage written for Tips4IELTS for practice. Any names, prices and dates are invented.

Exercise 4

True, False or Not Given?

Do the following statements agree with the information in the text?

1 The job only involves speaking to customers on the telephone.
2 Applicants need previous experience of working with customers.
3 Applicants must speak a second language.
4 The company offers free parking.
5 The job includes some weekend work.
6 The salary rises after a year if the employee is successful.

Lesson and passages written for Tips4IELTS, based on the official IELTS General Training Reading test format.