Talking about Your Job Sheila: I work in a big international company

Talking about Your Job
Sheila:
I work in a big international company. I’m in the sales department and I’m responsible for
sales in the Krakow area. In practice this means that I spend my typical day in one of two
ways: either mostly on the phone or in the car travelling to present and future clients. I’m
quite happy with the job, although the hours are long. Some people complain that when
you’re working on commission you don’t earn much money and there’s more stress. All I can
say is that you shouldn’t be a worrier if you are a salesperson and that if you’re good at your
job you’ll never lack money! I have a company car, a mobile phone and a laptop computer
and I also get quite a lot of gifts from my clients!
Mark:
I am a lawyer in a small practice. There are 3 of us working for the 2 partners. I hope that the
company grows, because then I may get a chance to be a partner. Partners get to share the
profits and that’s really big money! I realise that at the moment I’m spending 12 to 14 hours a
day at the office and work most Saturdays and the occasional Sunday, but I think that’s the
only way to get more money and a better position in the company. I’ve got to be better than
the rest. I don’t think my wife really understands this, and we argue a lot, so I spend more
time at the office and, you know, it’s a vicious circle, but maybe that’s the price you pay for
success.
Kirsty:
I work in a shop. I’m a student and I have lectures at the weekend. The shop where I work is
not very busy most of the time so it allows me to read a lot and even do some real studying.
Of course, I don’t get much money, but it pays the bills and gives me the chance to learn
about things that really interest me. Most clients are very nice and don’t give you much
hassle, but sometimes you get a real idiot who just wants to argue. What can you do? I just let
him shout and then give him what he wants with a smile!
Kevin:
I’m a teacher. The good side is that you officially work Monday to Friday from 8:00 in the
morning until 3:00 with some breaks. You get a long summer holiday as well as a good winter
break. You generally get a lot of respect from people, although the pupils are getting more
and more difficult to control. On the other hand, there are a lot of negatives; the pay is really
bad, especially when you consider that this is a responsible job. Of course, you can take a few
private lessons at home, but that really eats into your free time. There’s also quite a lot of
work to do at home – preparation of lessons and materials for the lessons as well as marking
homework. I do it because I love the contact with the young people and I like to think I have a
good influence on them.
Glossary:
a lot of negatives
to be responsible for
big international company
to eat into someone’s free time
to get a lot of respect
good side
to have a good influence on
it allows me
it pays the bills
lawyer
lectures
to mark homework
officially
practice
responsible job
sales department
salesperson
to share profits
shop assistant
vicious circle
to work on commission
dużo złych stron
być odpowiedzialnym za
duża międzynarodowa firma
pochłaniać czyjś wolny czas
cieszyć się dużym szacunkiem
dobra strona
mieć dobry wpływ na
to pozwala mi
wystarcza na zapłacenie rachunków
prawnik
wykłady
oceniać pracę domową
oficjalnie
praktyka
odpowiedzialna praca
dział sprzedaży
handlowiec
mieć udział w zyskach
sprzedawca
błędne koło
pracować na prowizję
Materiał pochodzi z Audio Kursu Angielski At Work