雅思IELTS詞彙：工作與職涯
工作與職涯的問題會出現在Speaking（口說）考試的每個部分：Part 1是關於你的工作或學業的暖身問題；Part 2的題卡（cue card）例如描述你想做的工作，或某次團隊合作的經驗；Part 3則更廣泛地討論工作保障、失業，或工作型態如何改變。同樣的詞彙也能用在以就業和職涯相關看法為題的Writing（寫作）Task 2作文，所以值得一次建立好，在Speaking和Writing兩邊重複使用。
具體到Lexical Resource（詞彙資源），考官會注意你能否從「good job」和「very good salary」進一步用出能顯示你了解人們實際上怎麼談論這個主題的詞語搭配，例如「job security」、「career path」和「work-life balance」，而不是一串籠統的形容詞。在較高的分數等級，「a steep learning curve」或「wear many hats」這類自然的慣用語也能展現詞彙廣度，但前提是它們符合你要表達的重點，而不是為了效果硬放進去。
最常見的錯誤有三個：硬找一個聽起來「很大」的字，而不用自然的詞語搭配；把片語直接從另一種語言翻譯，結果稍微不對；以及整個回答都過度使用一兩個偏愛的形容詞，例如「good」或「hard」，而不變換描述相似想法的方式。
這個主題會出現在哪裡
- Part 1關於你自己生活的暖身題目，例如「Do you work or are you a student?」，下方還有另外4題。
- Part 2針對題卡進行1～2分鐘的個人陳述，例如Describe a job you would like to do in the future, Describe a time you worked in a team, Describe a skill that took you a long time to learn。
- Part 3較抽象的追問，也是精準用語最重要的地方，例如「Is job security more important than job satisfaction?」。
- Writing Task 2關於「工作與職涯」的作文題目，同樣會獎勵這些片語：你能說出口的詞語搭配，就能寫進作文。
與其說…不如說…
想法相同，用詞更精準。左欄是大多數考生最先想到的說法；右欄是考官聽起來更精準的說法。
| 常見說法 | 更好的說法 |
|---|---|
| a good job | a rewarding career說出好在哪裡，而不只是說它好 |
| work hard | put in the hours聽起來自然又口語，不像教科書 |
| get a promotion | move up the ranks考官會留意、比較少見的慣用片語 |
| a stressful job | a demanding schedule精準說出工作量，而不只是感受 |
| learn a lot | pick up new skills片語動詞聽起來比平淡的動詞更自然 |
| a difficult time at work | a steep learning curve說出實際困難所在的慣用語 |
| change my job | switch careers表示較大改變的更精準動詞 |
| be busy at work | juggle multiple projects顯示忙碌實際上是什麼樣子 |
依分數分類的片語
每個片語都附上意思，以及一個你實際說得出口的句子。請學整個句子，而不是只學單獨的單字。
Band 6：基本片語
清楚、正確、常見。用這些就能撐起整個回答，而且聽起來不像背好的。
-
job satisfaction
詞語搭配你對自己的工作有多滿意
For me, job satisfaction matters more than a big salary.
-
work experience
詞語搭配實際做過工作的時間
I got some work experience at a local company last summer.
-
full-time job
詞語搭配占滿整個工作週的工作
I'm looking for a full-time job once I finish my degree.
-
part-time job
詞語搭配工時比完整工作週少的工作
I had a part-time job in a cafe while I was studying.
-
job interview
詞語搭配雇主詢問你是否適任的面試
I was really nervous before my first job interview.
-
career path
詞語搭配你職業生涯大致的方向
I'm still not sure which career path is right for me.
-
team player
詞語搭配與他人合作良好的人
My manager always says I'm a good team player.
-
apply for a job
詞語搭配正式提出申請，請對方考慮錄用你
I'm going to apply for a job at that company next week.
-
look for a job
片語動詞積極設法找工作
I need to look for a job as soon as I graduate.
-
earn a good salary
詞語搭配工作拿到不錯的薪水
You don't need to earn a good salary to feel satisfied at work.
Band 7：詞語搭配
天生就會放在一起的詞。從這裡開始，詞彙就會拉開Band 6和Band 7的差距。
-
work-life balance
詞語搭配工作與生活其他部分之間的分配
I took a pay cut for a better work-life balance.
-
climb the career ladder
慣用語穩步晉升到更高的職位
I don't want to climb the career ladder if it means never seeing my family.
-
burn out
片語動詞因工作太拚而筋疲力盡
A lot of my colleagues burn out after a few years in that role.
-
take on more responsibility
詞語搭配同意承擔更大或更難的任務
I asked to take on more responsibility after my first year.
-
hands-on experience
詞語搭配親自動手做而獲得的實務經驗
The internship gave me real hands-on experience in the industry.
-
job security
詞語搭配確信自己的工作將來會持續
My parents always valued job security over a higher salary.
-
step down from a role
片語動詞主動離開有責任的職位
He decided to step down from a role that was making him unhappy.
-
a steep learning curve
慣用語必須在很短時間內學很多東西的時期
The first month in that job was a steep learning curve for me.
-
network with people in the industry
詞語搭配建立專業人脈和關係
I try to network with people in the industry at every conference.
-
juggle multiple projects
詞語搭配同時處理好幾項任務
In my current job, I have to juggle multiple projects every week.
-
move up the ranks
慣用語在組織內逐步獲得晉升
I'd love to move up the ranks without changing companies.
-
a demanding schedule
詞語搭配需要投入大量時間和精力的行程安排
Nurses often work a demanding schedule with very little rest.
Band 8：精準用語
精準，而且常常是慣用語。只在真正合適的地方用，不要當成裝飾。
-
a dead-end job
慣用語沒有升遷或進步機會的工作
I left because it felt like a dead-end job with no real future.
-
golden handcuffs
慣用語讓人難以離職的財務福利
The bonus scheme felt like golden handcuffs after a while.
-
read the room
慣用語在說話或行動前先察覺在場人的氣氛
A good manager knows how to read the room in a tense meeting.
-
under my belt
慣用語已經透過經驗取得或累積
With five years under my belt, I finally felt confident applying for that role.
-
a stepping stone
慣用語幫助你朝更大目標前進的事物
I saw the internship as a stepping stone to a permanent contract.
-
wear many hats
慣用語同時擔任好幾種不同角色或工作
At a small company, you often have to wear many hats.
-
bureaucratic red tape
詞語搭配過多、拖慢進度的官方規定
Getting the project approved meant cutting through a lot of bureaucratic red tape.
-
cut corners
慣用語用最簡單或最省錢的方式做事，不顧品質
My old boss used to cut corners just to meet deadlines.
自我測驗
從上方例句中挑出8個句子，並把片語拿掉。選出適合填入空格的片語：按1～4或直接點選。
第1題，共8題
大聲說出來練習
只讀過的片語還不是你的。大聲回答這些題目，數一數上方的片語中有多少是你實際用得上的。
Part 1題目
- Do you work or are you a student?
- What job would you like to have in the future?
- Do you prefer working alone or as part of a team?
- What was your first job?
- Is it important to enjoy your job, or is salary more important?
Part 3題目
- Is job security more important than job satisfaction?
- Do you think people should change careers more than once in their life?
- How has technology changed the way people work?
- Should governments do more to reduce unemployment?
- Do you think it is harder to find a good job now than in the past?
常見問題
想拿高分，一定要用「climb the career ladder」這類慣用語嗎？
不用。自然又正確的詞語搭配，比慣用語更重要；考官會認可慣用語，但並不要求。
說「very good job」比較好，還是換個同義詞？
兩者單獨都沒什麼幫助，因為把「very good」換成「a rewarding career」這類精準的詞語搭配，比只是把一個形容詞換成另一個，更能展現掌控力。
考前要把這些片語一字不差地背下來嗎？
請在語境中學習，並練習用它們造出談你自己生活的完整句子，因為考官會注意到聽起來像背好的，或用得不搭的片語。