Negotiating A Better Salary Package For Your New Job & How To Run A Successful Project - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 12 General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20. ====
Negotiating a better salary package for your new job
If you make it through the recruitment interview, a job offer may be just around the corner and you face having to talk about the nitty-gritty: your financial value.
Although many graduate training schemes have set starting salaries, there are loads of other jobs where you’ll need to exercise your negotiating skills. If you’re offered a job, it’s because the organisation sees you as a valuable asset and you should try to set your level of remuneration accordingly.
There are no general rules about how and when to conduct your negotiation but being sensitive to the culture of the organisation is essential. There are also some practical steps you can take to position yourself sensibly. Familiarise yourself with the company itself, as well as the range of salaries on offer. Doing careful research in this way prior to starting negotiations is very valuable. You can look at the range of packages offered for comparable jobs in adverts on the internet, or ask for advice from people you know professionally or personally. You could also approach a local Training and Enterprise Council. Finally, if you’re a member of a union, they will have information on acceptable salary ranges for your profession.
If the salary offered is less than you’d hoped for, you could negotiate an early pay review instead, say after the first six months. Ensure that the criteria are clearly set out though, and that they’re included in your contract.
Make sure you check out the salary package, not just the number of zeroes on your payslip. You may find that the total package of pay and benefits raises the worth of the salary to an acceptable level. For instance, you may be offered private health cover, a non-contributory pension, a car to use for work purposes and/or significant bonuses. When bonuses are mentioned, you may want to discuss the basis on which they’re paid, so that you’re absolutely clear about the terms and conditions attached. When negotiating, be persuasive and consistent in your arguments but be prepared to agree to a compromise if you really want the job.
If your negotiations are successful, ask for the agreed terms and conditions to be confirmed in writing ASAP.
==== Read the text on below pages and answer Questions 21-27. ====
how to run a successful project
A project manager’s main task is to bring a particular project to completion, both on time and within budget. There are many factors that can cause a project to veer off its tracks, but steps can be taken to ensure that your project experiences as little disruption as possible.
1. Prepare the framework
If you get everything down in writing at the beginning of the project, you have an excellent foundation to build upon. Change is inevitable, but you have to maintain control. This is critical to avoid problems of ‘scope creep’, which is when the company paying for the project asks for ‘just one more little thing’ repeatedly, until the project becomes unmanageable.
2. Select the team
Gather your human resources, and make sure that their skills align with their roles. This is an important first step: if you assign the wrong person to a task, you are reducing your chances of success.
Make sure each team member is clear on what is expected from them and when. Encourage them to ask questions to clarify anything that may be uncertain, and to always come to you whenever something seems to be out of place or going wrong. Clear communication is critical.
Make sure the whole team and the client company grasp the project’s limitations in terms of its achievable outcomes. You can finish a task successfully and on time as long as expectations are reasonable.
3. Staying on track
How can you know if your project is going to be successful if you don’t have any way of measuring success? You will need interim milestones, especially for a long-term project, so that you can determine if you are staying on track or straying from the project’s goals.
4. Manage project risks
Hopefully you have defined the more likely risks up front during the project preparation, so you should now put contingency plans in place for certain occurrences. If you can see when a risk is imminent, you can take preventive action to avoid it, but be ready to halt a project if the risk becomes unacceptable.
5. Evaluate the project
Once a project has been completed, it’s important to write a report, even if it is only for internal purposes. You can pinpoint what went right or wrong, determine what could have been done differently, and establish the best practices for use in future undertakings.
Questions
Questions 15–20 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
- When negotiating a salary, potential employees should take advantage of the company’s view of them as a useful 15
- When negotiating a salary it is important to be aware of the company’s particular 16
- Some people use the 17 to monitor salaries offered for similar positions.
- People who belong to a 18 can ask for recommendations on what is the norm for payment in their field.
- Some people try to arrange for a 19 of their salary to be carried out after an initial period.
- It is important to be willing to accept a 20 if the negotiations are getting nowhere.
Questions 21–27 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the flow-chart below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
| How to run a successful project |
|---|
| Bear in mind that your aim should be to keep to both the agreed deadline and the 21 for the project |
| Fix the details at the start to prevent what is called 22 - the client asking for more and more |
| Choose the team members wisely so that their 23 match the duties you want them to take on |
| Promote good 24 at all times so everyone knows what you require of them |
| Make sure 25 are set so you can check whether the project is running to schedule |
| Prepare 26 which can be activated if things go wrong on the project |
| Once the project is over produce a 27 outlining its strengths and weaknesses for future reference |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | Asset | it's because the organisation sees you as a valuable asset | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the organisation thinks you are a valuable asset. This means they believe you can help them and so, your worth should help decide how much salary you ask for. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Asset'. This means that the company thinks you are valuable and important. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Asset' because the passage describes how organisations view new hires. They see them as valuable assets, which means they believe those people will bring worth to the company. This idea is connected to negotiating a salary since you should aim to set your pay reflecting that value. |
| Q16 | Culture | being sensitive to the culture of the organisation is essential | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that it is very important to be careful and pay attention to how the company works and behaves. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'culture'. This means the special ways that a company works and behaves. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'culture' because the passage talks about how you need to understand the company's culture to do well in salary negotiations. Understanding their culture helps you know how to talk and what to expect. |
| Q17 | Internet | You can look at the range of packages offered for comparable jobs in adverts on the internet | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you can check job ads on the internet to see salary offers for similar jobs. This shows that the internet is helpful for finding pay information. Answer Explanation: The answer 'Internet' means the global network that connects computers, where people can find information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Internet' because the passage mentions that you can look at the range of packages offered for similar jobs in adverts on the internet. This shows that the internet is a useful tool for researching salaries. |
| Q18 | Union | If you're a member of a union, they will have information on acceptable salary ranges for your profession | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you belong to a union, it will help you know what the normal salary is for your job. This shows that unions are helpful for employees. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'union'. A union is a group of workers who come together to help each other, especially about their jobs and pay. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'union' because the passage mentions that if someone is a member of a union, they can get advice on the usual salary levels for their job. This means that unions provide support and information about salaries to their members. |
| Q19 | Review | If the salary offered is less than you'd hoped for, you could negotiate an early pay review instead, say after the first six months | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that if the salary you are offered is not what you wanted, you can ask to check your pay again after six months to see if it can be higher. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'review'. A review means to look at something again to check it or to make changes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'review' because in the passage, it talks about negotiating a salary and suggests that if the salary offered is less than expected, you could negotiate for an early pay review, which means checking your pay again after a certain time to see if it can be increased. |
| Q20 | Compromise | be prepared to agree to a compromise if you really want the job | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you should be ready to find a middle ground if you really want the job. This means if you cannot agree on everything, it's okay to give up some things so that the negotiation can work. Answer Explanation: The answer means being willing to agree on a middle solution when both sides cannot fully agree. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'compromise' because the passage mentions that when negotiating, you should be prepared to agree to a compromise if you really want the job. This means sometimes you won't get everything you want, but finding a middle ground is important. |
| Q21 | Budget | A project manager's main task is to bring a particular project to completion, both on time and within budget | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that a project manager's main job is to finish the project on time and also not to spend too much money. This shows that the budget is very important. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Budget'. This means the amount of money you plan to spend on the project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Budget' because a project manager needs to keep the project on schedule and also within the agreed budget. The passage talks about completing the project on time and within budget, highlighting the importance of managing financial resources. |
| Q22 | Scope creep | Change is inevitable, but you have to maintain control. This is critical to avoid problems of 'scope creep', which is when the company paying for the project asks for 'just one more little thing' repeatedly, until the project becomes unmanageable | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that change will happen, but you need to keep control. This is very important to stop 'scope creep', which is when a client keeps asking for extra things, making the project too big and hard to handle. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'scope creep'. This means when a client keeps asking for more things, making the project harder to manage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'scope creep' because the text explains that this happens when the company paying for a project asks for 'just one more little thing' repeatedly, which can cause problems and make the project unmanageable. |
| Q23 | Skills | Gather your human resources, and make sure that their skills align with their roles | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that you should collect your people and ensure their talents fit with the jobs you want them to do. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Skills'. This means the talents or abilities that team members have. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Skills' because the passage mentions that you need to select team members carefully and their skills should match their roles in the project. This ensures that the project can be successful. |
| Q24 | communication / clear communication | Clear communication is critical | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that it is very important to talk and share information clearly. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'communication'. This means how people talk and share information with each other. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'clear communication' because in the passage, it says that good communication is very important so everyone knows what they need to do. It helps the team work together well and understand what is expected. |
| Q25 | milestones / interim milestones | You will need interim milestones, especially for a long-term project, so that you can determine if you are staying on track or straying from the project's goals | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that 'interim milestones' are important points in a project. They help you see if the project is going well or if it is going off course. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'milestones'. In this context, 'milestones' means important points in a project that help to check progress. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'milestones' because the passage explains that interim milestones are necessary to see if you are staying on track with the project's goals. This means they help measure success during the project. |
| Q26 | plans / contingency plans | you should now put contingency plans in place for certain occurrences | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells you to create backup plans for possible problems. This means you should think ahead and have ideas ready to fix issues that might happen. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'plans' and 'contingency plans'. This means making clear goals and backup plans to help if things go wrong. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer includes 'plans' and 'contingency plans' because the passage explains that you must set clear goals at the beginning of the project and prepare backup plans. These steps help ensure that everything goes smoothly and you can handle problems if they occur. |
| Q27 | Report | Once a project has been completed, it's important to write a report, even if it is only for internal purposes | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that after finishing a project, you should write a report. This report will explain what was good and what was not so good, which is useful for future projects. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Report'. A report is a written document that gives information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Report' because at the end of a project, it is important to create a report that talks about what went well and what did not go well in the project. This helps to learn from the project for the future. |