Practice English Listening B1+ Exercises – What skills are you looking for?

A

b

B

1   She helped with social media projects.

2   He has done some writing for them.

3   He decides to talk to someone about the job.

A B

Ed:   Hey Leti! I heard you had a great trip.

Leti:   I did! But how are things around here? Anything exciting happen while I was gone?

Ed:   Well, I heard that Pam, from the social media team, is leaving.

Leti:   That doesn’t surprise me at all. I talked to her a couple of months ago and she said she was applying to law schools.

Ed:   Law schools? Wow, that’s a big change from working in social media!

Leti:   Well, she said she’d always wanted to be a lawyer. She’d expected this to be a short-term position—you know, a place to work while she saved up money for law school. But then she got a promotion to a permanent position, so she stayed.

Ed:   Huh. Good for her. That’s a big move.

Leti:   Well, like my dad always says, “You can’t succeed if you don’t try.”

Ed:   True. Hey, do you know how she got onto the social media team here? Like, what kind of experience she had?

Leti:   Well, She knew a lot about it. She said she had been a very active social media user for years.

Ed:   So am I!

Leti:   It sounds like you’re interested in applying for Pam’s job.

Ed:   Maybe, but I don’t even what kind of candidate they’re looking for.

Leti:   Well, when Pam started here, the company was expanding its social media operations, and she volunteered to help and got involved with some of the new projects.

Ed:   Lucky her!

Leti:   Yeah, she started out by helping the social media team and learning about their work. Then she eventually joined the team full time.

Ed:   Well, I’ve done some writing for the team, so I definitely know what’s involved.

Leti:   Well, go for it, then! Mary is in charge of hiring. You should go talk to her—see if you can get some information about the job description.

Ed:   Yeah… that’s a good idea. I think I will.

Leti:   You know what my dad always says–

Leti and Ed:   You can’t succeed if you don’t try.

Ed:   Well, your dad is a wise man. Thank you for your help. I’m going to go talk to Mary.

C

Leti:   I talked to her a couple of months ago and she said she was applying to law schools.

Ed:   Law schools? Wow, that’s a big change from working in social media!

Leti:   Well, she said she’d always wanted to be a lawyer.

A

c

B

1   creative, communication skills, leadership skills, technical skills

2   personal use, clubs in college

A B

Ed:   Mary? Can I talk to you for a minute?

Mary:   Sure! What’s up?

Ed:   Well, I heard that Pam is leaving…

Mary:   News travels fast around here, doesn’t it?

Ed:   Yeah, it does. So this means you have an opening for a Social Media Specialist now, right? I might be interested in joining the team.

Mary:   I didn’t know you were interested in social media, Ed. You’re such a good copy writer.

Ed:   Thanks! I like writing, but I’m interested in a job with more variety. So, what kind of candidate are you looking for?

Mary:   Well, let’s see. The person I’m looking for is creative. We want to hear a lot of good, new ideas.

Ed:   Of course.

Mary:   And obviously we want someone who has excellent communication skills.

Ed:   OK. Well, I am a writer

Mary:   Good point. This job involves a lot of teamwork. And you’ll need to manage freelancers, so leadership skills are very important.

Ed:   I can do that. So, what kind of technical skills are you looking for?

Mary:   We need someone who can create and edit images, and of course the Social Media Specialist needs to be familiar with all of the main social media platforms,

Ed:   Well, that’s definitely me! I have almost 10,000 followers on different platforms.

Mary:   You do?! How did you get so many followers?

Ed:   I just… I make a lot of jokes about pop culture—you know, music, movies, fashion…

Mary:   Wow, that’s great! I had no idea. But Ed, we are looking for someone who has done social media for a company or an organization.

Ed:   Well, I’ve never done it as a job, but in college I ran social media for the radio station and for a couple of clubs I was involved with.

Mary:   Well, that’s close to what we’re looking for.

Ed:   And I have a website where I’ve linked all of my current social media accounts and described my past projects.

Mary:   Oh, I’d love to see your website! That would be helpful.

Ed:   Great! I’ll send you the link.

Mary:   Now, there is an advertisement for this position that I’m going to post on Monday. And I’m sure we’ll be interviewing several candidates.

Ed:   I understand.

Mary:   But I encourage you to apply, Ed. I’m glad you came to talk to me.

Ed:   Me too! Thanks, Mary.

C

Ed:   So, what kind of candidate are you looking for?

Mary:   Well, let’s see. The person I’m looking for is creative. We want to hear a lot of good, new ideas.

Ed:   Of course.

Mary:   And obviously we want someone who has excellent communication skills.

A

b

B

1   it also has created them

2   is also producing jobs

3   most people are still employed

C

1 b   2 a   3 b

The Future of Work

When banks in the U.S. started using ATMs in the 1970s, many people predicted that the automated teller machine would mean the end of the human bank teller. And, for a little while, it looked like they were right! Tellers did lose their jobs in great numbers. But then something unexpected happened. The banks discovered that having fewer employees made it cheaper to run a bank branch. So, what did the banks do? They opened more bank branches. In the end, the number of people working as bank tellers actually increased.

This is a technology story that has been repeated over and over. Yes, automation has destroyed jobs, but it’s also created them, often in unexpected ways.

So the question is, will future technologies also create jobs? Or are we facing a future without work? You’ve probably already heard a lot about how technology steals jobs, so I thought I’d talk to you about the other side of story.

Machines have been replacing humans in factories for decades. More recently, computers have been replacing store clerks because so many people are now shopping online. And self-driving vehicles? They’re on their way to eliminating millions of driving jobs. Even doctors and financial managers are finding that many of the tasks they once did can now be done by machines and intelligent software.

However, all of this automation is also producing jobs.

Think about it. As we increase automation, there is a huge demand for programmers, technicians, and engineers to design and repair the new machines. Those jobs require education. Therefore, we’ll see more work for teachers, trainers, and all of the people who work at universities and training centers—everyone from accountants to landscapers. And I have no doubt that technology will lead to other new jobs that we can’t even imagine yet.

We can make some predictions about how automation will affect a particular industry, but there’s also a more general effect on the economy. Basically, it makes things cheaper. Automation in factories–you know, I’m thinking of robots–has made essential goods less expensive, so more people can buy the things they need. Cheap production of clothing, household goods and building materials has improved the lives of millions of people. And, for some people, paying less for necessities has meant more spending on all kinds of other things, like vacations and dinners at restaurants. Cheaper manufacturing also means cheaper electronics, such as computers and phones, so people will replace those things more often. All this spending means jobs, jobs, jobs. Technology may have changed the way we work, but most people are still employed.

So the next time you hear someone complaining that automation is killing jobs, remind them that it is also creating jobs and making our lives better. We don’t need to fear the robots. They do difficult and dangerous work for us, and they have allowed us to have more leisure time and to live longer and healthier lives.

A

c

B

1   A feeling of purpose, and particularly the ability to help others, can lead to higher job satisfaction.

2   It’s important to find happiness and meaning in any job – even when it isn’t the one you dreamed of.

3   You can donate to good causes that you care about.

HAPPY WORK, HAPPY LIFE

People talk a lot about finding their “dream job” or “following their passion.” But what if your dream job is just that—a dream? The fact is, most of us take, and keep, jobs for practical reasons like location or salary. But no one wants to spend the majority of their waking hours doing something that they don’t enjoy. What if you could find happiness and meaning in any job—even when it isn’t the one you dreamed of?

First, what exactly makes a job meaningful? A study by the University of Chicago found that a feeling of purpose, and particularly the ability to help others, can lead to higher job satisfaction. According to the study, those who report feeling the most satisfied in their careers include clergy, firefighters, teachers, and psychologists. These are all careers that involve helping people in some way.

What if helping people isn’t a key feature of your job? Maybe you need to look at it differently. A great way to find meaning at work is through connection with co-workers, customers, or clients. For example, Luke was a custodian at a hospital, a job many people would think is a dead end. Luke’s job duties included things like cleaning rooms but not working with people. However, Luke told researchers that through his job, he was making patients feel more comfortable, and he took pride in being able to help people who were sick.

It’s also important to remember your job can be what allows you to do other important things in your life. Maybe the schedule allows you to volunteer in your community in your spare time, or maybe getting a steady paycheck means you’re able to donate to good causes that you care about. You can find meaning in your job in more indirect ways like these.

Studies also show that finding job satisfaction through helping others contributes to happiness in your life in general. According to psychologist Shawn Anchor, “If you can raise somebody’s level of positivity in the present, then their brain experiences what we now call a happiness advantage…. Your intelligence rises, your creativity rises, your energy levels rise.” This can lead to more success and happiness in your job and in your life.

A

Answers will vary. Possible answer: a possible career in astronomy

B

1   astronomer

2   He loved staring at the moon and night sky.

3   math, science, and staying up late

4   through his grandfather

When I was growing up, I dreamed of becoming an astronomer and studying the stars. I loved being outside, staring up at the sky, and admiring the moon. I was amazed by how many stars there were.

Astronomy seemed like an ideal career for me because math and science were my favorite subjects. I’d also be good at it because I’m a night owl who likes staying up late.

My grandfather is the one who introduced me to astronomy. He gave me my first telescope. It was difficult for me to use the telescope at first, but he was very patient, and he taught me how to set it up and focus it. After some practice, I eventually learned to be independent and was able to see all kinds of things in the sky.

Some friends didn’t understand why I enjoyed spending time outside in the dark searching for objects in space; they said it would be easier to look at photographs on the internet. For me, though, it was exciting to use my own telescope to find mountains on the moon, the Orion Nebula, and the rings around Saturn.

I’m not sure that I’ll pursue a career in astronomy, but looking at the universe through my telescope will always be one of my favorite hobbies.