IELTS Topic: Work 1 (Job Satisfaction)

This is a very common topic in IELTS, and it's important to have some vocabulary you can use to talk about it.

Listening

On the 'IELTS Simon' website you can do  listening exercises related to this video:

The exercises are here

Speaking: Some Typical Questions

Here are some questions you might get related to the topic of job satisfaction:

- What kind of job would you like to do? Why?

- How important is it to love your job? Why?

- What makes some people feel bored with their jobs?

- What's more important to you: doing a job which you find 

   interesting, or having good colleagues at work?

- Would you recommend your job to other people? 

  Why [not]?

- Is a good salary the most important form of motivation at

   work, or are other things as important?

Writing: Typical Questions

Job satisfaction was the essay topic in a recent IELTS exam (January 2013). This makes it less likely to be your essay topic, but it's certainly possible. 

1. Here's the January 2013 question:

    Nowadays people think that job satisfaction is one of the 

    most important things in life, and that without a fulfilling 

    career life is meaningless. To what extent do you agree or 

    disagree?

2. A question like the one below also appeared in an exam not 

    long ago. Although it's quite different, to answer this question 

    fully you would need to include some discussion about how 

    people get satisfaction from working.

    If people could choose between working for the rest of their 

    lives and living without work, most would choose not to 

    work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

3. Lastly, you could get a question about the importance of earning

    a good salary. There are different ways that examiners can ask 

    this question, but here's one example:

    Of all the factors which motivate people in the workplace 

    and bring them job satisfaction, money is the most 

    important. To what extent do you agree or disagree with 

    this statement?

    Here you need to compare the satisfaction you get from earning

    a good salary to other things that can make a job satisfying. 

Sources of job satisfaction might include:

- doing work which you like/love

- having good colleagues who you enjoy working with

- benefits that are important to you, such as flexible hours  

   or a good health plan 

- taking responsibility and initiative (if you like doing that)

- contributing to a team

- being noticed for your achievements 

... and so on. 

You can prepare for this topic by choosing one question above (writing or speaking), and writing your answer in the comments box. If you choose a writing question, please don't write a whole essay - just tell me your ideas. Happy writing )))