UNIT 1 – JOB OPPORTUNITIES

SECTION 1 – FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE TO WORK

WORKING ENVIRONMENTS

Your work environment is made up of all of the elements that can affect
your day-to-day productivity, including when, where and how you work.

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/types-of-work-environments

1. Look at the following pictures. Can you identify the

film/cartoon they belong to?

a)

b)

c)
d)

e)

f)
 2. Which are elements that can affect your day-to-day
productivity? Identify them in the illustrations. For example:

Your workmates
The routine at the workplace
The facilities at the workplace
The working conditions?

3. Now, read the description of the working environments and

identify which pictures they are describing. Choose the option
that best describes it.

….. The working environment in this company can be considered

challenging/dull as they work with the latest technological
resources/old equipment and they need to be digitally
literate/illiterate. However, in this job, the boss is very
demanding/friendly and he usually shouts at employees, which is very
respectful/disrespectful.

….. The working environment in this office is very

individualistic/collaborative. Therefore, there is no meeting room or a
space to socialize. Besides, the employees work in open offices/small
cubicles where it is difficult to share strategies or work in teams. There is a
flexible/strict dress ode as they wear formal/casual clothes. It seems
that the job can be very interesting/boring although they work with
customers/clients

*A customer is someone who buys products or services from a company, while a

client refers to a certain type of customer who purchases professional services
from a business.

….. The working environment in this job is friendly/unfriendly. At

moments, it is a lot of fun/a lot of work. There is individual
work/team work in all the tasks and there is no
competition/collaboration. The only problem is that employees have to
wear a uniform/a suit and sometimes a hat/a helmet.

….. The work environment is unhealthy/healthy as they work in a mine.

Also, it can be very dangerous/safe due to possible collapses. The work
needs a lot of energy and it is repetitive/varied. However, the company
does not offer protective clothes. It is hard work but the results can be
really rewarding/disappointing.
….. This job is hard/easy because it requires intellectual/physical work.
The employees are skilled/unskilled and it seems there is no flexibility:
they have to be punctual/unpunctual as they probably have a strict
timetable/flexible timetable to follow.

…..This job is very stressful/relaxed because the boss is quite

sympathetic/insensitive and very demanding. Besides, the employees
are very competitive/cooperative because the company gives a
bonus/prize to the best one.

4. Classify the ideas in bold type into the following categories:

*Benefits are a part of an employee's salary or income, while perks are auxiliary,
extra rewards and incentives.

5. Go back to the descriptions and find examples of the

different elements listed. Make notes about how they are
expressed.
HOW TO DESCRIBE WORKING ENVIRONMENTS

See how the different elements were used in the descriptions:

 THERE IS/ARE + facilities There is no meeting

room...

 THE JOB IS + type of job The job is challenging.

THE BOSS IS + characteristic The boss is
demanding.
THE MATES ARE They are collaborative.

 THE COMPANY OFFERS/GIVES + perks The company

gives a bonus to the best

employee.

 THE EMPLOYEE(S) WEAR(S) + outfit They wear

uniforms and helmets.

REMEMBER

 To define or describe a place we are talking about, we introduce

the new information using where.

The employees work in open offices /small cubicles where it is

difficult to share strategies.

6. Can you include the following elements in the previous

diagram of WORKING ENVIRONMENTS?

buffet paid vacation leave

day-off parking lot
full time part time
interesting permanent
life insurance retirement plan
meeting room temporary
mobile phone training
paid medical leave transport
prospects for promotion strict timetable
 7. Can you associate any of the previous elements (Act 4 &
6) with these types of working environment?

WORKING
ENVIRONMENT ELEMENTS

collaborative

competitive

demanding

flexible

stressful

supportive

8. What tasks/activities do you think are frequent in the

different environments? Sort these activities out into the
types of working environments in the previous chart.

accomplish team tasks set long term goals

achieve each employee’s goal
exceed workmates’ performance
listen to other opinions
penalize mistakes
respect every opinion
reward performance
submit to what they are told
tutor junior employees
work from home
work in teams
work under pressure
work with a common goal
 WORKING
ENVIRONMENT TASKS

collaborative

competitive

demanding

flexible

stressful

supportive