Working For A Small Company May Be Better Than You Think & Starting A New Job - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 15 General Training Reading Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer questions 15-20. ====
Working for a small company may be better than you think
Recent research shows that many job-seekers believe their ideal position would be in a large company. However, working for a small or medium-sized business has many advantages that are too easily overlooked. Here are just a few of them.
Working in a small organisation with a small workforce means it’s likely to be easy to become part of it. it won’t be long before you’re familiar with the staff and the departments that you need to deal with. This can provide a feeling of comfort that takes much longer to develop in a large company. Departments are likely to be small and have close connections with each other, which helps to make internal communication work well – everyone knows what’s going on. You’ll also gain a better understanding of how your own role fits into the company as a whole.
In a small business you’re likely to have considerable variety in your workload, including opportunities to work in different areas of the company, which will allow you to identify abilities that you didn’t know you had. An introduction to new activities could even lead to a change of career. This variety in your work will help to make it stimulating, so you have a good reason for getting out of bed in the morning.
There will be plenty of opportunities to show initiative, and you’ll also learn to function well as part of a team. Because it’s much harder to overlook someone within a small workforce than a large one, your efforts are more likely to attract the attention of those higher up. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to show what you can do, and to have your potential noticed. The result is very likely to be that promotion comes to you faster.
Small businesses are usually flexible, something that is rarely true of large organisations. This means that if they’re well managed, they can adapt to make the most of changes in the wider economy, which in turn can help you. Don’t dismiss them as a place to work because of the myths about them. Small firms can be ideal places for developing your career.
==== Read the text below and answer questions 21-27. ====
Starting a new job
A Make sure you know when and where you are expected to report on your first day. If the route from home is unfamiliar to you, make a practice run first the normal first activity in a new job is a meeting with your boss, and it would be embarrassing to be late. Dress formally until you’re sure of the dress code.
B You should expect to have an induction programme planned for you; a security pass; visits to whatever parts of the organisation you need to understand to do your job properly; meetings with anyone who could affect your success in the role; and someone to show you where everything is and tell you all the real rules of the culture – the ones that are never written down but which everyone is meant to follow.
C It can be a shock to join a new organisation. When you are a newcomer, feeling uncertain and perhaps a little confused, there can be a strong temptation to talk about your old job and organisation as a way of reminding yourself and telling others that you really know what you are doing, because you did it in your previous role. Unfortunately, this will suggest that you have a high opinion of yourself, and that you think your old place was better. It has enormous power to annoy, so don’t do it.
D All employers have a core product or service paid for by customers which justifies their existence. If you are not part of this core activity, remember that your role is to provide a service to the people who are part of it. Understanding their concerns and passions is essential for understanding why your own role exists, and for knowing how to work alongside these colleagues. This is why you must see this product or service in action.
E When I worked for a television company, all of us, whatever our job, were strongly encouraged to visit a studio and see how programmes were made. This was wise. Make sure you do the equivalent for whatever is the core activity of your new employer.
F Don’t try to do the job too soon. This may seem strange because, after all, you have been appointed to get on and do the job. But in your first few weeks your task is to learn what the job really is, rather than immediately starting to do what you assume it is.
G Starting a new job is one of life’s major transitions. Treat it with the attention it deserves and you will find that all your work in preparing and then going through the selection process has paid off magnificently.
Questions
Questions 15–20 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage.
- In a small business it is easy to become 15 with colleagues and other departments.
- You may find you have 16 you were not aware of.
- Finding that your work is 17 will make you enjoy doing it.
- Other people are likely to realise that you have 18
- Opportunities for 19 will come sooner than in a larger business.
- You can benefit from a small company being more 20 than a large one.
Questions 21–27 Matching Information
The text has seven paragraphs A-G. Which paragraph contains the following information?
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | Familiar | it won't be long before you're familiar with the staff and the departments that you need to deal with | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you will not wait long to know the people and areas you will work with. This means you will become familiar with them quickly. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'familiar'. This means you will know your colleagues and their work well. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'familiar' because the passage says that in a small business, you can easily get to know the staff and departments. This close connection helps everyone feel comfortable and understand each other better. |
| Q16 | Abilities | In a small business you're likely to have considerable variety in your workload, including opportunities to work in different areas of the company, which will allow you to identify abilities that you didn't know you had | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in a small company, you may work in many different tasks. This can help you see the skills you might not have known you had. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'abilities'. This means the skills or talents that you might have but did not know about before. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'abilities' because the passage says that in a small business, you get to work in different areas. This can help you find out skills you didn't know you had. The passage highlights the opportunity to discover new skills as a benefit of working in a small company. |
| Q17 | Stimulating | This variety in your work will help to make it stimulating, so you have a good reason for getting out of bed in the morning | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that having different tasks at work makes your job interesting, which gives you a good reason to wake up and go to work. Answer Explanation: The answer means that your work is interesting and makes you want to get up in the morning. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'stimulating' because the passage says that variety in your work will help make it exciting, which makes it more enjoyable to do your job. |
| Q18 | Potential | your efforts are more likely to attract the attention of those higher up. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to show what you can do, and to have your potential noticed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in a small business, your hard work is more visible to the bosses. This means they can see your abilities better, which helps you get a promotion more quickly. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'potential', which means the ability to do something or become better in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'potential' because the passage talks about how important it is for your efforts to be noticed in a small business. When you show what you can do, your 'potential' is recognized, which can help you get promoted faster. |
| Q19 | Promotion | The result is very likely to be that promotion comes to you faster | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you work hard in a small business, you are likely to be noticed and get promoted more quickly. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'promotion'. This means getting a higher job or position because you did good work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'promotion' because the passage explains that in a small business, your work is more visible and noticed by the people in charge. This means you have a better chance to be recognized for your efforts and to get a higher position faster than in a big company. |
| Q20 | Flexible | Small businesses are usually flexible, something that is rarely true of large organisations | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that small businesses can change easily, but large companies usually cannot change as fast. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Flexible', which means something that can change easily. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Flexible' because the passage explains that small businesses can adapt better to changes compared to large companies. This means they can be more flexible and adjust to new situations more quickly, which can help employees. |
| Q21 | C | When you are a newcomer, feeling uncertain and perhaps a little confused | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when someone starts a new job, they might feel lost or not very sure about things. This means they might not know everything right away. Answer Explanation: The answer is C. This means that paragraph C talks about how new employees often feel confused or uncertain when they start a new job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because this paragraph explains that new workers can feel unsure and confused. It tells us they might want to talk about their old job to feel better, but this can annoy others. This shows the feelings that new employees usually have. |
| Q22 | F | But in your first few weeks your task is to learn what the job really is, rather than immediately starting to do what you assume it is | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when you start a new job, at first you should learn what the job is about instead of just doing it immediately. Answer Explanation: The answer is F. This means that paragraph F tells us to be patient when starting a new job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because it emphasizes that in the first weeks of a new job, you should focus on learning rather than doing your job right away. This is a warning to be patient and not rush into tasks. |
| Q23 | C | Unfortunately, this will suggest that you have a high opinion of yourself, and that you think your old place was better. It has enormous power to annoy, so don't do it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you talk about your old job too much, people might think you are bragging. This can annoy your new colleagues. Answer Explanation: The answer tells us that paragraph C is where we can find information about how colleagues might react to certain behavior. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because this paragraph explains how new employees might talk about their old jobs. It says that doing this can bother other colleagues and show that the new person thinks too highly of themselves. This explains how colleagues might feel if someone talks like that. |
| Q24 | A | Make sure you know when and where you are expected to report on your first day. If the route from home is unfamiliar to you, make a practice run first | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you should know when and where to go on your first day. If you don't know the way to your workplace, you should try it out before your first day. Answer Explanation: The answer is A. This means that paragraph A talks about traveling to your new workplace before you start your job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because it mentions how you should make sure you know when and where to go on your first day. It also suggests practicing the route if it is unfamiliar, which relates to traveling before starting work. |
| Q25 | E | When I worked for a television company, all of us, whatever our job, were strongly encouraged to visit a studio and see how programmes were made | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when the author worked at a television company, everyone was told to go visit the studio. They wanted everyone to see how the shows were made. Answer Explanation: The answer is E. This means that paragraph E gives an example of watching something that happens in a business. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because it talks about visiting a studio in a television company to see how programmes were made. This is a clear example of observing an activity within an organization. |
| Q26 | B | You should expect to have an induction programme planned for you; a security pass; visits to whatever parts of the organisation you need to understand to do your job properly; meetings with anyone who could affect your success in the role; and someone to show you where everything is and tell you all the real rules of the culture – the ones that are never written down but which everyone is meant to follow | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when you start a new job, the organization should plan for you to have an induction program, a security pass, and meetings with important people. It also says that someone will help you learn about the organization and its rules. Answer Explanation: The answer is B. This means that paragraph B talks about things that the organization should prepare for you when you start your new job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because it lists the things that are usually provided when you start a new job, like security passes, meetings, and visits to important parts of the organization. This shows what the organization should arrange for you. |
| Q27 | D | All employers have a core product or service paid for by customers which justifies their existence | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that every company has something important they sell or do for customers. This is what makes the company important and shows how jobs are split up in the organization. Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means that paragraph D talks about how jobs in a company are divided into main parts or activities. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because this paragraph explains that every employer has a core product or service, which can be seen as a main part of the job in a company. It talks about how your role helps in that main activity, showing the division of jobs within the organization. |