B2 — Upper Intermediate
Career development is the process of improving skills, gaining experience, and setting goals to achieve professional success. It helps individuals grow in their chosen field, adapt to new opportunities, and reach their long-term career objectives. Continuous learning and self-improvement are important parts of career development.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about career development.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-english/260511
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is the meaning of “to sound somebody out”? ”What you want to do is to sound your manager out and see how they feel about your ideas.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “insider knowledge” mean? “They can help you prepare. They’ve probably been through the process of being promoted if they’re your manager. So, they might have a bit of ‘insider knowledge‘ on those kinds of things.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to check in with someone” mean? “You might want to send fairly regular emails such as ‘Just wanted to check in with you. Wonder if you had any opportunities coming up.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- What does career development mean to you, and why do you think it is important?
- What challenges do people commonly face in their career development and how can they possibly overcome them?
- Talk about some career goals that you have set for yourself and how have you been able to achieve them over the years?
- In your personal experience, how important is networking in one’s career growth?
- How can managers or mentors influence career success?
- How can a person know when it is time to change careers?