Why read this: This is a short, simple story about something many older students will see soon: looking for a job. It tells about Giovanna, who spent about $6,000 to find a new job. Students learn that finding a job is hard in many countries today, and that some people pay money for help. The story is short and easy to follow, with simple sentences and only one named person. It is a good way for A2 readers to meet the world of work in plain English.
What to notice: Notice how the story uses very short sentences and simple words. Notice the four glossed terms: 'hard to come by', 'job hunting', 'career coach', and 'in demand'. Each one is a short phrase that students will hear in real news stories about work. Also notice the structure: the story starts with the big idea (jobs are hard to find), gives one example (Giovanna), explains one reason (AI), and then ends with what Giovanna learned. There is no hidden meaning. Everything is said clearly.
Skills practised: Students practise reading short, simple sentences. They learn four useful work-life phrases. They practise picking out facts from a short text: how much money, what was spent, what helps, what does not. The MCQs ask only what the text says, so students can find the answer by reading again. The open questions ask students to list things from the text. This builds confidence and basic reading skills before students move up to B1 or C1 versions of the same story.
Finding a Job Now Costs Money
Many people in the US, UK, and Canada find it hard to get a new job today. Some are paying for help, but they are not sure it works.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Today, many people in the US, UK, and Canada find it hard to get a job. Jobs are , and many people are looking for the same jobs. So people are paying money to help with their . They hope this will help them find work faster.
Giovanna Ventola lives in the US, and she is 35 years old. She wanted a new job, so she started looking last year. She spent about $6,000 to help her find one. She paid for special job websites. She paid for help with her resume. She also paid for classes about how to do a good interview.
Some people pay for a to help them. A career coach is a person who helps you find a job. They can also help you change to a new job or a new kind of work. Many career coaches are very busy now, because more and more people need their help.
Why is finding a job so hard today? One big reason is AI. AI is changing the way many companies work. Companies are not sure what jobs they will need in five years. So they are slow to hire new people right now. Some skills are today, but other skills may not be needed soon.
But not all experts say you must spend money to find a job. Some say that free things can work just as well. You can talk to people who work at the company you like. You can go to free events to meet new people. You can use free websites to make your resume better.
Giovanna says her money was not really worth it in the end. She did not get a new job from it. But she learned many new ideas during her search. She started a free online group for other jobseekers. Now she helps other people find jobs too.
Today, many people in the US, UK, and Canada find it hard to get a job. Jobs are , and many people are looking for the same jobs. So people are paying money to help with their . They hope this will help them find work faster.
Giovanna Ventola lives in the US, and she is 35 years old. She wanted a new job, so she started looking last year. She spent about $6,000 to help her find one. She paid for special job websites. She paid for help with her resume. She also paid for classes about how to do a good interview.
Some people pay for a to help them. A career coach is a person who helps you find a job. They can also help you change to a new job or a new kind of work. Many career coaches are very busy now, because more and more people need their help.
Why is finding a job so hard today? One big reason is AI. AI is changing the way many companies work. Companies are not sure what jobs they will need in five years. So they are slow to hire new people right now. Some skills are today, but other skills may not be needed soon.
But not all experts say you must spend money to find a job. Some say that free things can work just as well. You can talk to people who work at the company you like. You can go to free events to meet new people. You can use free websites to make your resume better.
Giovanna says her money was not really worth it in the end. She did not get a new job from it. But she learned many new ideas during her search. She started a free online group for other jobseekers. Now she helps other people find jobs too.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How much money did Giovanna spend on finding a job?
- 02
What does a career coach do?
- 03
What is one big reason that finding a job is hard today?
- 04
List three things that Giovanna paid money for when she was looking for a job.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Name three free things a person can do to find a job, instead of paying money.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How much money did Giovanna spend on finding a job?
- 02
What does a career coach do?
- 03
What is one big reason that finding a job is hard today?
- 04
List three things that Giovanna paid money for when she was looking for a job.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Name three free things a person can do to find a job, instead of paying money.
Suggested length: ~50 words