Work and Study | Work Focus

Hey everyone, welcome to IELTS TIME — the podcast that helps you sound confident, natural, and ready for your IELTS Speaking test.

In our last episode, we explored the Study side of the topic “Work and Study.”
Today, we’re focusing on the Work side — how to talk naturally and realistically about your job in Part 1.

We’ll listen to two mock interviews — one from Joseph, who’s just started working after graduation, and another from Blondie, who’s been in her role for a few years.

Let’s start with Joseph.

Do you work or are you a student?

I’m working full-time at the moment. I graduated last year, so I’m focused on getting some practical experience and earning a living.

What do you do for a living?

I work as a junior marketing analyst at a mid-sized tech company. Basically, I look at data from campaigns and try to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

Where do you work?

I work in the company’s office in the city center. It’s convenient for commuting, and the office itself is modern and fairly comfortable.

Why did you choose that kind of work?

Honestly, it was a mix of interest and opportunity. I studied something related to business, and this job was one of the better options available after graduation, so I decided to take it.

How long have you been doing your job?

I’ve been working here for about ten months now. It’s been a learning experience, and I’m slowly figuring out the rhythm of a full-time job.

What do you like most about your job?

I like that I’m learning new skills and getting a feel for how businesses operate. It’s also satisfying when my analysis helps improve a campaign or solve a problem.

What do you dislike about your job?

The most frustrating part is the workload—sometimes there are too many things to handle at once. Also, some tasks are repetitive, which can get boring after a while.

What’s a typical day like at your work?

A typical day usually starts with checking emails and reviewing campaign results. Then I spend most of my time analysing data, preparing reports, and attending meetings to discuss what the team should do next.

Do you get on well with your colleagues?

Yes, for the most part. They’re supportive, and we can ask each other for help, which makes the work a bit easier and more enjoyable.

What’s more important to you — the work itself or the salary?

At this stage, both matter, but the salary is probably slightly more important. I’ve just graduated, so I need to support myself while still trying to gain useful experience.

Is there anything you would like to change about your job?

I’d like a bit more flexibility with working hours or the option to work from home occasionally. It would make it easier to manage personal things and avoid feeling burned out.

Do you work better in the morning or in the afternoon?

I work better in the morning. I feel more focused at the start of the day, while in the afternoon I tend to get a bit tired and distracted.

Do you think your job is difficult?

It’s not extremely difficult, but it can be challenging sometimes. Figuring out complex data and meeting deadlines can be stressful when there’s a lot to do.

What do you find most challenging about your work?

The most challenging part is managing multiple tasks at once while making sure everything is accurate. It’s a lot to handle, especially when deadlines overlap.

What are your future work or career plans?

For now, I just want to gain more experience and become more confident in my role. In the longer term, I hope to move into a position with more responsibility, maybe leading a small team, but I’m taking it step by step.

And that was Joseph, sharing his experience as a recent graduate now working full-time in marketing. What I like about his responses is how they sound completely real — like something you’d actually hear from someone at the start of their career. Let’s take a closer look at why his answers work so well.

Joseph’s answers give a really clear picture of what it’s like to be a recent graduate starting full-time work. What stands out first is how realistic his tone is — he doesn’t try to make everything sound perfect, but he also doesn’t complain. It feels like he’s genuinely describing his everyday experience.

For example, when he says, “Honestly, it was a mix of interest and opportunity. I studied something related to business, and this job was one of the better options available after graduation,” that line sounds completely authentic. He’s not pretending it was his dream job — he’s being practical, and that honesty instantly makes the answer believable.

He also uses specific details throughout. Instead of saying something vague like “I work in marketing,” he explains that he looks at campaign data and prepares reports. Those short, concrete details help the listener picture what his job actually involves — and that’s exactly what the examiner wants.

When he talks about challenges, he mentions stress, deadlines, and repetitive tasks — things that sound very true to life. But notice how he keeps his tone measured; he acknowledges the pressure without turning it into a complaint. That’s a great balance for IELTS Speaking.

And his answer about salary versus work itself is particularly strong because it feels honest and mature. He says, “At this stage, both matter, but the salary is probably slightly more important. I’ve just graduated, so I need to support myself while still trying to gain useful experience.” That’s a completely realistic perspective for someone his age — it shows self-awareness and clear priorities without sounding rehearsed.

Finally, his answer on future plans fits the same pattern. He doesn’t promise anything grand — he says he wants to gain more experience first, then maybe move into a leadership role later. That kind of step-by-step thinking shows confidence and realism at the same time.

So overall, Joseph’s responses work because they’re practical, specific, and honest. He sounds like a real person talking about real work — and that’s exactly the tone you should aim for in Part 1.

Next, let’s hear from Blondie, who has a few more years of experience in her field.

Do you work or are you a student?
I’m working full-time as an accountant. I graduated three years ago, so I’ve been focusing on building my career and gaining practical experience since then.

What do you do for a living?
I work as an accountant at a medium-sized manufacturing company. My job mostly involves managing financial records, preparing reports, and making sure all transactions are accurate, which suits me because I prefer working with data rather than interacting with people constantly.

Where do you work?
I work in an office in the city center. It’s a quiet and organized space, which helps me concentrate, and I prefer that to a busy or noisy environment.

Why did you choose that kind of work?
Honestly, it was partly about practicality. Accounting is a stable field with steady opportunities, and it allowed me to start earning a decent salary without needing to be very outgoing.

How long have you been doing your job?
I’ve been working as an accountant for three years. Over that time, I’ve learned a lot about handling financial tasks independently and managing my responsibilities efficiently.

What do you like most about your job?
I like that the work is structured and predictable. Focusing on numbers and reports gives me a sense of control, and I enjoy completing tasks accurately without much need for social interaction.

What do you dislike about your job?
The most frustrating part is the tight deadlines, especially at the end of the month or during tax season. Some tasks are repetitive, and having to attend meetings or explain reports to other departments can feel a bit uncomfortable for me.

What’s a typical day like at your work?
A typical day usually starts with checking emails and reviewing transactions from the previous day. Most of my time is spent reconciling accounts, preparing financial reports, and making sure everything is correct, which I find more comfortable than dealing with constant teamwork.

Do you get on well with your colleagues?
I get along well professionally, but I’m not very close to anyone at work. I tend to keep to myself and focus on my tasks, which works fine for this role.

What’s more important to you — the work itself or the salary?
Right now, salary is very important because I just bought my own apartment and have a mortgage to pay. Of course, I still want the work to be manageable and not too stressful, but financial stability is my main priority at the moment.

Is there anything you would like to change about your job?
I’d like to have fewer meetings or discussions where I have to speak in front of others. More independent work would make the job more comfortable and suited to my personality.

Do you work better in the morning or in the afternoon?
I work better in the morning when I’m alert and focused. Afternoons are usually for simpler, routine tasks that don’t require as much concentration.

Do you think your job is difficult?
Yes, it can be demanding, especially when deadlines are tight or there’s a lot of data to process. I sometimes feel stressed trying to make sure every detail is correct because mistakes can cause real problems.

What do you find most challenging about your work?
The most challenging part is ensuring that every number is accurate and compliant with regulations. I also find meetings or having to explain details to other departments slightly uncomfortable, since I’m naturally shy.

What are your future work or career plans?
In the next few years, I hope to move into a senior accountant role or take on a slightly higher level of responsibility. I prefer positions where I can focus on technical work rather than managing a large team or being in a very social environment.

That was Blondie, giving us a really clear picture of what life is like working as an accountant with a few years of experience behind her.

Her tone and detail level are quite different from Joseph’s, but equally effective in their own way. Let’s break down what makes her responses strong and natural.

Blondie’s answers stand out because they’re steady, thoughtful, and very consistent with her professional experience. She doesn’t try to sound overly enthusiastic — instead, she speaks in a calm, matter-of-fact way that makes her responses sound genuine and mature.

Right from the first question, she clearly establishes her background: she’s been working full-time as an accountant for three years. That gives her answers a strong sense of context — she’s not just describing her job, she’s speaking from experience.

When she explains why she chose accounting, she says, “Honestly, it was partly about practicality. Accounting is a stable field with steady opportunities, and it allowed me to start earning a decent salary without needing to be very outgoing.” That line works really well because it’s realistic and honest — it shows she made a career decision based on practicality, not idealism.

She also includes specific details — like reconciling accounts, preparing financial reports, and checking transactions from the previous day. These make her answer concrete and easy to picture, which gives it depth.

When she talks about the harder parts of her job — like tight deadlines, repetitive tasks, or having to speak in meetings — she expresses mild frustration, but she keeps her tone polite and measured. It’s clear she finds those parts stressful, yet she explains them calmly and with self-awareness. That honesty, combined with control, makes her answers sound authentic.

Her response about salary versus work is especially strong. She says, “Right now, salary is very important because I just bought my own apartment and have a mortgage to pay.” That’s completely believable and grounded in real life. It shows clear priorities and a mature understanding of her situation.

Finally, her future plans fit the same tone — practical and consistent. She aims to move into a senior accountant role, focusing on technical work rather than management, which suits both her skills and her preferences.

Overall, Blondie’s answers are precise, realistic, and consistent. She communicates clearly, gives just enough detail, and sounds like someone with genuine work experience — and that’s exactly what examiners look for in high-band responses.

So, between Joseph and Blondie, we’ve heard two different sides of working life — one from someone just starting out, and one from someone already established in their career.

Both of them gave natural, detailed answers that sound like real conversations.

That’s your goal in Part 1 — not perfection, not memorized phrases, but realistic, specific answers that reflect your actual experience.

That’s it for today’s episode of IELTS TIME.

Thanks for tuning in — and remember, speak from real life, and you’ll sound naturally fluent.