Work Conversation Questions
1. GENERAL
- What is your occupation?
- What is your trade (profession)?
- What is your regular business?
- I work at (in) a factory (in an office).
- I work in the capacity of an engineer.
- I entered upon office a year ago.
- Who is in charge of your department?
- What office does Mr. N. hold?
- Have you a big personnel (staff)?
- He is something in the Ministry.
- Oh, he's a big pot (cheese, shot, wheel). (coll.)
- He has been promoted.
- He's a place hunter.
- He’s a job jumper.
- What are your hours of attendance?
- From 9 till 5.
- We have a seven-hour shift at our work.
- I’m on duty now.
- I have a full (short, part) time job.
- I'm on full time (I’m a full- timer).
- I'm on half time (I'm a half- timer).
- I'm on half-pay.
- I work by the day.
- I'm on piece-work (I'm paid by the piece.)
- Some business calls me to N.
- I shall be commissioned to N.
- I'm on leave now.
- I want to get an extension of leave of absence.
- I'm on vacation now.
- He is now vacationing in N.
- I have this day off.
- I'm on my sick-leave now.
- What do you do at odd times?
- When do you knock off work?
- It's time for a break.
2. DISCHARGE
- He has ceased working there.
- I have no notion of resigning.
- She was dismissed owing to reduction of staff.
- He had had his notice.
- He got the boot (sack). (coll.)
- He was discharged (fired, laId off).
- It's time for him to retire.
- He was (got) pensioned off last year.
3. OUT OF WORK
- I’m out of work (job) now.
- I'm looking (hunting, on the look out) for a job.
- Is there an opening (a vacancy) for a fitter there?
- The post is still open.
- Have you taken up the job as a turner?
- Why don’t you send (put) in an application?
4. ABILITY AND INABILITY. BEING BUSY
- He is a good (old) hand at (in) that.
- He is an experienced worker.
- Let me try my hand at it.
- He is a poor (bad) hand at this.
- He is not equal to this task.
- I'm out of practice.
- He always does it by halves.
- He idled away the whole day.
- He is an idler.
- He shirks work.
- He's just killing the time.
- And he wouldn't stir a finger.
- He works by fits and starts.
- He is negligent of his duties.
- I have pressing business.
- Today I'm facing a busy day.
- There's heaps of work awaiting me.
- I've a number of things to do.
- I have to wade through a pile of copy-books.
- He was up to the elbows (ears, collar) in work when I came to him.
- I've had a very tiring day today.
5. EARNINGS
- Your wages run from the 1st of February.
- What is the pay? (What are the wages?)
- Is it a well-paid job?
- He gets (earns, makes) — pounds a week.
- Tomorrow is the pay-day.
- Our wages were scaled down (raised).
- Have you got your travelling expenses?
- He is underpaId.
- Do you earn your daily bread?
- Yours is easy money.
- He lives in easy circumstances.
- I feel secure about the future.
- He lives above (beyond) his means.
- They live fast.
- They live in plenty (well-off).
- I always tuck a few roubles away.
- They are well-to-do people.
- He can't make both ends meet.
- I'm in reduced circumstances now.
- I wasn't born in the lap of luxury.
- They always had to cut and contrive.
- They were in want of everything.
- He has a large family to keep (support).
- Our wants are few.