Working for big and

small companies

ESL
Let’s get started
with a warm-up

ESL Brains
List three features of each type of company below.

big company small (or middle-sized) company

ESL 3
Let’s work with some vocabulary!

ESL Brains
part 1/2

Choose the correct answers.

A. As a team leader, I ___ training new employees.

1. gained experience in 2. gained opportunity in 3.
gained experience to

B. As the financial manager for the company, I ___ work in several cities.
1. worked an 2. had an opportunity to 3.
received an
opportunity to
opportunity to

C. In the first year of working as a marketing specialist, I ___ creating ad campaigns and content
creation, but I also learned to do some customer support and general administrative tasks.
1. got skills at 2. was skilful at
3. became skilled at

D. ___ my job wasn’t challenging enough and that I wanted more responsibilities, so I decided to
apply for a job at other companies.
ESL 5
1. It was thought that 2. I taught that 3. I
part 2/2

Choose the correct answers.

E. My manager ___ do some more training in accounting which was paid for by the
company.
1. inspired to 2. inspired me to
3. inspired me

F. I became really good at solving technical problems, which ___ more responsibilities such
as mentoring junior developers.
1. led to 2. made to
3. got to

G. My idea to use more advanced software in the company was a success and ___ much
more confident.
1. which made me 2. it made me
3. should made me

H. I participated in a project in which we created several new products. It ___ a great idea is
much more important than the amount of money you invest in it.
ESL 6
part 1/2

Let’s check the answers.

A. As a team leader, I ___ training new employees.

1. gained experience in 2. gained opportunity in 3.
gained experience to

B. As the financial manager for the company, I ___ work in several cities.
1. worked an 2. had an opportunity to 3.
received an
opportunity to
opportunity to

C. In the first year of working as a marketing specialist, I ___ creating ad campaigns and content
creation, but I also learned to do some customer support and general administrative tasks.
1. got skills at 2. was skilful at
3. became skilled at

D. ___ my job wasn’t challenging enough and that I wanted more responsibilities, so I decided to
apply for a job at other companies.
ESL 7
1. It was thought that 2. I taught that 3. I
part 2/2

Let’s check the answers.

E. My manager ___ do some more training in accounting which was paid for by the
company.
1. inspired to 2. inspired me to
3. inspired me

F. I became really good at solving technical problems, which ___ more responsibilities such
as mentoring junior developers.
1. led to 2. made to
3. got to

G. My idea to use more advanced software in the company was a success and ___ much
more confident.
1. which made me 2. it made me
3. should made me

H. I participated in a project in which we created several new products. It ___ a great idea is
much more important than the amount of money you invest in it.
ESL 8
Let’s think!

ESL Brains
part 1/2

Look at the statements again and say whether you think the people work for big or
small companies. There are no correct answers but you need to explain your
choices.

A. As a team leader, I gained experience in training new employees.

B. As the financial manager for the company, I had an opportunity to work in

several cities.

C. In the first year of working as a marketing specialist, I became skilled at

creating ad campaigns and content creation, but I also learned to do some
customer support and general administrative tasks.

D. I realized that my job wasn’t challenging enough and that I wanted more
responsibilities, so I decided to apply for a job at other companies.

ESL 10
part 2/2

Look at the statements again and say whether you think the people work for big or
small companies. There are no correct answers but you need to explain your
choices.

E. My manager inspired me to do some more training in accounting which

was paid for by the company.
F. I became really good at solving technical problems, which led to more
responsibilities such as mentoring junior developers.
G. My idea to use more advanced software in the company was a success
and it made me much more confident.
H. I participated in a project in which we created several new products. It
taught me that a great idea is much more important than the amount of
money you invest in it.

ESL 11
Let’s talk!

ESL Brains
Answer the questions and add some details.

● What did you become skilled at in your first job?

● What experience have you gained in your current job?
● What inspired you to take the job you have?
● Have you ever had the opportunity to work in different cities and/or
countries? What did you learn about these places?
● Have you ever worked in a big company? If so, did the job make you
more confident?
● Have you ever worked in a small company? If so, what did the job teach
you?
● What is an important thing you realized when you started working?
● Have you ever been promoted? What led to it?
ESL 13
In a moment, you’ll watch a video titled:

Benefits of working at small companies

But first…
ESL Brains
Think of advantages of working for big and for small companies in the areas
below. Use your own experience as well as what you know about different
companies.

● benefits (e.g. health insurance)

● stability
● professional development
● working hours
● opportunities for promotion
● salaries and bonuses
● colleagues

ESL 15
Watch the video and add any advantages of working for small companies you did
not mention in the previous task.

ESL
ESLBrains
Let’s see some possible answers.

● When you work for a small company, you can do a little bit of
everything.
● If you work for a small company, your bosses will probably be excited
if you share your ideas with them.
● Your bosses might ask you to work on your own ideas.
● You have lots of opportunity if you work at small companies.

ESL 17
Do you agree?

ESL Brains
Say if you agree with the speaker.

● When you work for a small company, you can do a little bit of
everything.
● If you work for a small company, your bosses will probably be excited
if you share your ideas with them.
● Your bosses might ask you to work on your own ideas.
● You have lots of opportunity if you work at small companies.

ESL 19
Let’s think!

ESL Brains
part 1/2

Look at the information in the boxes and discuss the question below.

● Do the people work for big or small companies? Give at least three reasons to
explain your answer.

Person A – administrative assistant Person B – office coordinator

Responsibilities:
● Customer support – answering phones and
emails
● Social media – posting stories about the
company on Instagram and creating TikToks
● Arranging meetings – scheduling, note-taking,
preparing equipment
● Office administration – ordering office
supplies, looking after office equipment
● Front desk – greeting visitors
ESL
Responsibilities:
● Office space – dealing with office lease,
equipment and supplies budgets
● Office staff – managing receptionists,
administrative assistants and cleaning staff
● Staff training – providing training and
orientation to new employees
● Communication – helping with communication
between different departments and teams
21
part 2/2

Look at the information in the boxes and discuss the questions below.
● Of the two people, who has more opportunities to:
○ be independent?
○ be promoted?
○ learn something new?

Person A – administrative assistant Person B – office coordinator

Responsibilities:
● Customer support – answering phones and
emails
● Social media – posting stories about the
company on Instagram and creating TikToks
● Arranging meetings – scheduling, note-taking,
preparing equipment
● Office administration – ordering office
supplies, looking after office equipment
● Front desk – greeting visitors
ESL
Responsibilities:
● Office space – dealing with office lease,
equipment and supplies budgets
● Office staff – managing receptionists,
administrative assistants and cleaning staff
● Staff training – providing training and
orientation to new employees
● Communication – helping with communication
between different departments and teams
22
part 1/2

Imagine the people are looking for new jobs. Complete what they might say at job
interviews with the information from the descriptions and your own ideas.

Person A – administrative assistant

Responsibilities:
● Customer support – answering phones and
emails
● Social media – posting stories about the
company on Instagram and creating TikToks
● Arranging meetings – scheduling, note-taking,
preparing equipment
● Office administration – ordering office
supplies, looking after office equipment
● Front desk – greeting visitors
A. In my job as an administrative
assistant, I became skilled at…
B. My office administration tasks
taught me that…
C. My experience with social media
inspired me to…
D. Working with customers made
me…

ESL 23
part 2/2

Imagine the people are looking for new jobs. Complete what they might say at job
interviews with the information from the descriptions and your own ideas.

Person B – office coordinator

Responsibilities: E. As an office coordinator, I gained
● Office space – dealing with office lease, experience in…
equipment and supplies budgets F. I had an opportunity to… It taught
● Office staff – managing receptionists, me that…
administrative assistants and cleaning staff
G. My experience with managing staff
● Staff training – providing training and
led to…
orientation to new employees
● Communication – helping with communication H. I realized that providing training
between different departments and teams for new employees…

ESL 24
Let’s practise!

ESL Brains
 Write down at least three responsibilities and achievements you have at your current
job or had at an old job. Then, talk about your experience using the phrases on the
left. You can use some of the ideas on the right or think of your own.
I had an opportunity …participate in a conference. …led to… …more responsibilities and challenges.
to… …learn a new skill. …a promotion.
…inspired me to… …work on my English. …new projects.

I gained experience …using advanced software. …made …more confident.

in… me… …very motivated.
…writing emails in English.
I became skilled …teamwork and communication. …excited to go to work every day.
at…
…taught …not all customers are easy to talk to.
I realized that… …I wanted more responsibilities. me that… …if I want to be good at my job, I need to
…being a manager wasn’t for me. learn new things every day.
…I would be a good team leader. …having friendly colleagues is important
for me.
ESL 26
THANKS!

ESL Brains