IELTS Vocabulary: Work and Job (examples and definitions)

*job perks* "There are a lot of perks to working at this college. My kids get to go here at no cost and I have a free gym membership."

A benefit that a certain job has that an employee enjoys. Some examples would be a free cell phone or the use of a company car.

*dead end job* "This is a dead end job. I will never get promoted here."

A job that offers no possibility to move up in responsibility or pay.

*career ladder* "Sara plans on moving up the career ladder all the way to the top."

A structured group of positions that one takes to move up in responsibility in a company. An example of a career ladder is starting off as a sales person, moving to assistant manager, moving up to manager of the office and then becoming the regional manager.

*team player* "John is not much of a team player. If you put him with a group of people to finish a project he will go off and sit by himself."

An employee that does well at working with others in the company.

*fringe benefit* "We offer a competitive starting salary and a comprehensive fringe benefits program."

Any financial extras beyond the regular pay check, such as health insurance, life insurance, paid vacation and/or retirement.

*promotion/get a promotion* "After three years working for this company I finally got a promotion. I am now the regional manager."

Getting a new position with the same company that pays better and includes more responsibility.

*dress code* "The dress code is really strict here. We have to wear a tie and a jacket everyday."

The rules set up at a company that state what an employee can and can not wear at work.

*office politics* "I don't like working here. The only way to get a promotion is to be best friends with the boss. The office politics here are ridiculous."

The way that power and influence are used in a work place. How people act towards the boss to get the things they want.

*corporate culture* "Everyone wants to work here. The corporate culture is great. Everyone is respectful and there isn't a lot of stress."

This describes the overall attitude a specific company has towards things like work behaviors, dress, vacation time, relationships between co-workers and anything else that has to do with how employees act at work.

*to get your foot in the door* "To get my foot in the door at this company I took a job in the mail room. My hope was to get into sales eventually."

This is an expression that means to take whatever position you can find with a certain company just to be involved. The hope is that you will get promoted after you prove how good of a worker you are.

*to gross* "Last year I grossed over one hundred thousand dollars."

This is used to talk about how much money you make before taxes are taken out.

*to temp* "I lost my job in April and had to start temping just to pay the rent."

To take a temporary position for a company. These positions don't pay benefits and can last for just one day to a year.

*to moonlight* "Many teachers have to moonlight just to pay the bills. Their pay is not enough."

To work a second job, usually at night, to make extra money.

*full time* "Sam got hired as a full time employee so now he will have health coverage."

To work over 35 hours a week and to receive benefits, such as health insurance or sick days, is considered full time.

*to burn out* "Don't work so many hours a day. You're going to burn out."

To work too much to a point where you feel tired and unmotivated to do your job.