Practice Listening Business English Exercises for A2 – Employees talk about their jobs

A

1 maths   2 not completely happy

B

Likes: solving problems, creativity

Isn’t very interested in: numbers, accounting

Audioscript

I studied maths at university, but I didn’t really think about what kind of job I could get. Everyone thinks if you study maths, then accounting is a natural job to do afterwards. So that’s why I’m doing this now. But you know what? It isn’t the numbers that I love – it’s solving problems. When you study maths at university, you realise that actually, it’s a very creative subject – almost like some kind of art, or poetry. And for me, accounting just isn’t very creative. So I’m not that happy in my work, but I just don’t know what I should do – what job I want to get. But something needs to change.

A

She liked working in a team.

B

1 bothers   2 talks to   3 concentrate   4 share ideas

Audioscript

I love the work I do – I love design. But in my last job, I was part of a team. Now, in this company, I’m the designer – I work alone. One good thing is that I can concentrate – because everyone is busy doing their own job – no one bothers me … or talks to me. Natalya can’t afford another designer. But to have good, creative ideas, I really need to talk with someone – share my ideas – see what other people think about my work. That’s what was great about my last job. I’m not sure what we can do, though. The company isn’t going to hire a new employee now.

A

not completely

B

1   difficult

2   are not really happy

3   making a great product

Audioscript

It isn’t easy running a small company. I’m very lucky to have João and Leila working for me. They work hard and they care a lot – but I know they aren’t completely happy. The truth is, I’m not completely happy, either. I started this company because I wanted to make and sell amazing chairs, not because I wanted to be a full-time manager. Every day there are problems to solve with suppliers, emails to write, phone calls to make. I need help, but I can’t afford to hire a new employee.

She plans to hire a part-time employee to help manage the business.

Audioscript

I had some great news today – we’ve made a big sale to a hotel group – two hundred and twenty chairs in the next year. That’s wonderful, because it will give me enough money to hire someone part-time to help me manage the business. I really need someone to get things organised – someone who can deal creatively with the suppliers and schedules and all that.