Topics / Work and Business Vocabulary
Work and Business Vocabulary in English
Jobs, offices, pay, and the language of meetings, contracts, and companies. 111 words, A1 to C1.
111 words
Jobs and People
WorkA1To do a job, or to make an effort.“I work in an office.”JobA1Work that you do to earn money.“He has a new job.”CareerB1A job or series of jobs that you do for a long time.“She wants a career in medicine.”OccupationB2A job or profession; also the act of living in or taking control of a place.“Please state your occupation on the form.”ProfessionA2A type of job that needs special training, such as teaching or medicine.“Teaching is a difficult but rewarding profession.”OfficeA1A room or building where people work at desks.“She works in an office in town.”WorkplaceA2The office, factory, or other place where you do your job.“Phones must be on silent in the workplace.”CompanyA2A business that sells goods or services.“She works for a software company.”FirmB2A company, especially in professional services; also an adjective meaning solid or definite.“A City law firm funded the pro bono clinic at the university.”BusinessB1The work of buying and selling, or a company that does this.“She started her own business last year.”EmployerB1A person or organisation that pays people to work.“Her employer offered her a better contract.”EmployeeB1A person who is paid to work for a company or another person.“The company has more than 200 employees.”StaffA2The people who work for an organisation.“The hotel staff were very helpful.”ColleagueB1A person you work with in the same organisation.“I discussed the report with a colleague.”BossA2The person in charge at work.“My boss asked me to finish the report today.”ManagerA2A person who is in charge of a business, shop, or team.“Speak to the manager if you have a problem.”DirectorB1A person who manages a company, a department, or a film.“The director of the company spoke at the meeting.”SupervisorB1A person in charge of other workers or of a student’s work.“Tell your supervisor if the machine makes a new noise.”TeamA2A group of people who play or work together.“She is in the school team.”DepartmentB1A part of a large organisation that deals with a particular type of work.“She works in the sales department.”InternB1A student or recent graduate who works for a short time to gain experience.“The intern sat in on client calls to learn how the team works.”InternshipB1A short period of work with an organisation, usually to gain experience.“She completed a summer internship at a local newspaper.”ApprenticeB1A young person who learns a skilled job by working with an experienced worker.“He started as an apprentice electrician at eighteen.”FreelanceB1Working for different organisations rather than as a permanent employee.“He works as a freelance designer for three different agencies.”EntrepreneurC1A person who starts a business, taking on the risk in hope of profit.“The entrepreneur opened a small language school.”SecretaryA2A person who does office work such as letters, calls, and bookings.“Please leave a message with the secretary.”ReceptionistA2A person who works at a reception desk and helps visitors.“The receptionist booked us a taxi to the airport.”AssistantB2A person who helps someone in their job.“The teaching assistant marked the homework.”AdministratorB2A person who manages the day-to-day work of an organisation.“The school administrator deals with admissions.”ExecutiveB2A senior manager in a company; also the part of government that puts laws into effect.“The chief executive resigned after the profits warning.”NurseA2A person whose job is to care for people who are ill.“The nurse checked the patient’s temperature.”TeacherA1A person whose job is to help students learn.“Our teacher is kind.”EngineerB1A person who designs, builds, or repairs machines, engines, roads, or bridges.“She works as a software engineer.”LawyerB1A person whose job is to advise on the law and represent people in legal matters.“Speak to a lawyer before you sign the settlement.”AccountantB1A person whose job is to keep or check financial records.“The small firm hired an accountant before the tax deadline.”
Getting Work and Pay
InterviewB1A formal meeting to ask someone questions, often for a job.“She has a job interview on Monday.”ApplicationB1A formal written request for a job, course, or official document.“I sent my application for the job yesterday.”ApplyA2To make a formal request for a job, a course, or something you want.“She applied for a job at the hospital.”CandidateB1A person who is trying to get a job, a place on a course, or a political position.“There are three candidates for the manager role.”RecruitB2To find new people to join an organisation or study.“Do not recruit participants from your own tutor group without ethics approval.”HireB1To give someone a job, or to pay to use something for a short time.“The company hired three new staff.”AppointB2To choose someone for a job or position.“They appointed her as head of department.”ContractB1A legal written agreement between people or organisations.“She signed a one-year contract with the company.”PermanentB2Lasting for a long time or for ever; not temporary.“She was offered a permanent contract after the probation period.”TemporaryB2Lasting for a limited time; not permanent.“Temporary classrooms were still in use two years later.”Full-TimeB1For the whole of the usual working or studying week, not part-time.“A full-time contract is 37.5 hours; overtime is not built in.”Part-TimeB1For only part of the usual working or studying week, not full-time.“A part-time course still has the same coursework deadline as full-time.”ShiftB1A period of time that a group of workers spend at work.“He works the night shift at the warehouse in Coventry.”OvertimeB1Extra hours you work after your usual time, or the pay for those hours.“Nurses on the ward were asked to work overtime this weekend.”CommuteB1To travel regularly between home and work or college.“She commutes from Reading to London every weekday.”DeskA1A table that you sit at to write or work.“The teacher’s desk is at the front.”SalaryB1Money you receive regularly for doing a job.“The salary is paid at the end of the month.”WageB1Money paid for work, usually every week or by the hour.“The hourly wage for weekend work is slightly higher.”PayA2To give money for something.“How much did you pay for the book?”BonusB1Extra money or an extra advantage that you did not expect.“Staff received a bonus at the end of the year.”PensionB1Money paid regularly by the state or a company after you stop work because of age.“He plans to retire next year and live on his pension.”BenefitB1A good result or advantage.“Regular exercise has many health benefits.”HolidayA2A time when you do not work or study, often for travel.“We are going on holiday in June.”MaternityB1Connected with pregnancy and becoming a mother (maternity leave / ward).“She is on maternity leave until March.”ResignB1To officially leave your job.“The manager resigned after the safety report was published.”RetireB1To stop working, usually because you have reached a certain age.“Many people cannot afford to retire at sixty-five.”RedundancyB1Losing your job because the employer no longer needs you, not because you did something wrong.“After the factory closed, two hundred staff faced redundancy.”RedundantC1No longer needed; in British English, also dismissed because the job itself has gone.“Two slides were redundant, and three staff were made redundant.”UnemployedA2Without a paid job.“He has been unemployed since the factory closed.”UnemploymentB2The situation of people not having a job; also the rate of that (uncountable).“Youth unemployment rose after the factory closed.”PromotionB2A move to a higher job; also advertising that encourages people to buy or join.“Promotion to head of year is not automatic after five years, HR wrote.”PromoteB1To help something become more popular, or to give someone a better job.“The school promoted reading for pleasure.”QualificationB2An official record of passing an exam or completing training; also a limit you add to a statement.“A teaching qualification is essential for this post.”SkillA2The ability to do something well, usually from practice.“Cooking is a useful skill.”ExperienceA2Knowledge or skill from doing something, or something that happens to you.“She has a lot of experience as a teacher.”TrainingB1Teaching that builds a skill for a job (often uncountable).“Fire-warden training is mandatory before you work a late shift.”FlexibleB1Able to change easily, or able to bend.“She has a flexible work schedule.”
The Office and the Market
DeadlineB1A time or date by which something must be finished.“The deadline for the application is Friday at noon.”MeetingA2An occasion when people come together to talk about something.“The meeting starts at ten.”AgendaB2A list of things to discuss at a meeting, or a hidden plan.“The first item on the agenda is the budget.”MinutesB1The official written record of what was said at a meeting.“Please read the minutes of the last meeting before we start.”EmailA1A message you send from one computer or phone to another.“I sent an email to my teacher.”MemoB1A short official note sent to people in the same organisation.“The memo banned personal phones on the ward from Monday.”ReportA2A spoken or written description of events or facts.“She wrote a report for her teacher.”ProjectB1A piece of planned work with a goal.“Our project is a class magazine.”ClientB2A person or organisation that uses the services of a professional or company.“The lawyer met a new client this morning.”CustomerA2A person who buys goods or a service.“The shop was full of customers.”InvoiceB1A document that lists goods or work and asks for payment.“Please pay the invoice within fourteen days.”BudgetB1A plan of how much money you can spend, or the amount available.“The department has a small travel budget.”TargetB1Something you aim to hit or achieve.“Her target is twenty new words a week.”PerformanceA2The act of playing, singing, or acting for an audience; also how well someone works.“The evening performance starts at seven.”IndustryB1The production of goods, or a type of business.“Tourism is a big industry here.”SectorC1A part of the economy, society, or an area of activity.“The further-education sector still needs a fire certificate, not only a branding refresh.”MarketA1A place where people buy and sell food and other things.“She buys fruit at the market.”ProfitB2Money gained from a business after costs are paid.“Do not report turnover as profit in the accounts question.”LossB1The fact of no longer having something, or money spent more than earned.“The team’s loss surprised everyone.”RevenueC1Income, especially of a government, firm, or large organisation.“Ticket revenue did not cover the hall hire.”ProductA2Something that is made and sold.“This shop sells local products.”ServiceA2Help or work that a person or company provides for others.“The hotel service was friendly and quick.”BrandB1The name of a product made by a particular company.“Which brand of coffee do you usually buy?”MarketingB1The work of advertising and selling a product or service.“She works in marketing for a supermarket chain.”AdvertisingB1The business of telling people about products so they will buy them.“The company spends a lot of money on advertising.”NegotiateB2To discuss something in order to reach an agreement.“The union is negotiating a new pay deal with management.”UnionB2An organisation of workers; also the joining of things or countries.“The union balloted on strike dates after the pay offer stalled.”WorkloadB1The amount of work that a person or organisation has to do.“Her workload increased when two colleagues were off sick.”StressB1Mental pressure caused by problems or too much work.“Exam stress is common in May.”BurnoutB1Extreme tiredness after long stress at work (often uncountable).“Nurses warned of burnout after the winter pressures.”BoardB1A group of people who manage a company or organisation.“The board approved the new budget.”ShareholderC1A person or body that owns shares in a company.“A shareholder briefing is not an ethics approval, however glossy the deck.”PolicyB2A set of ideas or a plan used by a government, organisation, or person; also an insurance contract.“The school has a strict policy on mobile phones.”ProcedureB2The official or usual way of doing something, especially in an organisation.“Follow the fire procedure and do not use the lift.”FactoryA2A building where goods are made, usually by machines.“He works in a clothing factory.”WarehouseA2A large building where goods are stored before they are sold.“The online shop keeps stock in a warehouse.”RetailC1The sale of goods to the public, not to other businesses; also (verb) to sell that way.“Retail branding on the lanyard is kit; it is not a certificate.”CorporateB1Relating to a large company.“She works in the corporate office in Leeds.”AppraisalB2A formal assessment of someone’s work.“She has her annual appraisal next week.”