Work/Job là 1 trong 3 chủ đề “bắt buộc” của IELTS Speaking Part 1 (cùng Studies và Hometown). Bài này tổng hợp 30 câu hỏi band 7-8 + mẫu trả lời chi tiết theo các tình huống: đang làm việc, đang là sinh viên, đang tìm việc.
I. Nhóm 1: Bạn đang đi làm (employed)
Q1: What do you do? / What’s your job?
“I work as a digital marketing specialist at an e-commerce company in Hanoi. I’ve been in this role for about three years now. My main responsibility is to manage online advertising campaigns and analyze customer data to improve our marketing strategies.”
Cấu trúc gợi ý: Job title + Company + Duration + Brief responsibilities.
Q2: Why did you choose this job?
“I chose this career for a couple of reasons. First, I’ve always been fascinated by how data can drive business decisions. Second, this field is dynamic and constantly evolving, which keeps me intellectually challenged. Plus, the digital marketing industry has excellent growth prospects in Vietnam right now.”
Q3: Do you enjoy your job?
“Generally, yes. There are aspects I really love — the creativity involved in campaign planning, and the satisfaction of seeing measurable results. However, like any job, it has its frustrating moments, especially when campaigns underperform or clients have last-minute demands. Overall, though, I’d say the positives outweigh the negatives.”
Q4: What’s the best thing about your job?
“The best thing, I’d say, is the variety. Every project is different, every client has unique needs, so my work never feels repetitive. I also love the flexibility — I can work from home a few days a week, which gives me a healthy work-life balance.”
Q5: What’s the most difficult part of your job?
“Probably dealing with tight deadlines. The marketing industry moves at lightning speed, and sometimes I have to deliver campaigns within a few days. It can be quite stressful, especially when multiple clients have urgent requests at the same time. I’m gradually getting better at managing my time, though.”
Q6: How long have you been doing this job?
“I’ve been in this role for about three years. Before this, I worked for a smaller agency for two years, so altogether I have around five years of experience in digital marketing. I feel like I’m still learning and growing every day.”
Q7: Do you plan to continue this job in the future?
“For the next few years, yes. I’d like to deepen my expertise and possibly move into a leadership position. However, long-term I dream of starting my own digital marketing agency. Being my own boss is something I’ve always aspired to.”
Q8: How do you get to work?
“I usually drive my motorbike to work. The office is about 8 kilometers from my home, and the commute takes around 25 minutes. Hanoi’s traffic can be quite chaotic, but I’ve gotten used to it over the years. On rainy days, I sometimes take a Grab — it’s more comfortable.”
Q9: What are your working hours?
“I work standard office hours from 9 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Friday. We have an hour-long lunch break in between. Occasionally, I have to stay late when there’s a major campaign launch, but overall my schedule is quite predictable.”
Q10: Do you work with many people?
“Yes, my company has about 50 employees, and my immediate team has 8 members. We’re a tight-knit group with diverse backgrounds — designers, copywriters, data analysts, account managers. The collaboration is really stimulating because everyone brings different perspectives.”
II. Nhóm 2: Bạn là sinh viên / vừa tốt nghiệp
Q11: Do you have a job?
“Not a full-time job yet. I’m currently in my final year of university, studying International Business. However, I do part-time work as a tutor on weekends — I teach English to high school students. It’s a great way to earn some pocket money while gaining teaching experience.”
Q12: What job would you like to do in the future?
“I’d love to work in the financial sector, ideally as an investment analyst at an international bank. I find the world of finance fascinating, and I enjoy analyzing market trends. I’m planning to take some additional certifications like CFA to improve my chances.”
Q13: What kind of work do your parents do?
“My father works as a civil engineer, designing bridges and roads. He’s been in the construction industry for nearly 30 years. My mother runs a small flower shop near our home — she started it about 15 years ago, and it’s been quite successful.”
III. Nhóm 3: Bạn đang giữa các công việc / freelance
Q14: Are you working at the moment?
“I’m currently between jobs. I left my previous role two months ago and am taking some time to figure out my next steps. Meanwhile, I’m doing some freelance work to keep busy. I’m also using this time to upskill — I’m taking an online course in data analytics.”
Q15: Why did you leave your last job?
“I left because I’d outgrown the role. After 4 years there, I felt I needed new challenges and growth opportunities. The company was small, and there wasn’t a clear career path. I’m now looking for a position with more room for advancement.”
IV. 15 câu hỏi mở rộng band 7-8
Q16: What was your first job?
“My first job was actually as a barista at a small café during my second year of university. It was definitely a learning experience — I had to deal with all kinds of customers and learn to multitask. Though the pay was modest, the skills I picked up have served me well throughout my career.”
Q17: What jobs are popular in your country?
“In Vietnam, certain professions remain very popular. Government jobs and teaching are highly respected and offer stability. In recent years, careers in technology — software engineers, data scientists — have boomed due to Vietnam’s growing tech industry. Healthcare workers, especially doctors, are also held in high esteem.”
Q18: What skills are needed for your job?
“My job requires a mix of hard and soft skills. On the technical side, I need to be proficient in tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Ads Manager, and Excel. On the soft skills side, communication, creativity, and analytical thinking are essential. The ability to work under pressure is also crucial.”
Q19: Do you think you’ll change jobs in the future?
“Possibly. I think it’s natural to switch jobs every few years to keep growing. In our generation, the idea of staying at one company for life is becoming outdated. As long as I keep learning and progressing, I’m open to new opportunities — either within my field or in a related area.”
Q20: Do you prefer working alone or with others?
“I’d say I’m a hybrid worker — I enjoy both. Collaborative tasks like brainstorming sessions and team projects energize me, but I also need quiet time to focus on detailed analysis. Ideally, my workday combines both. Working from home a couple of days a week lets me do focused work, while office days allow for collaboration.”
Q21: Do you think you have a good work-life balance?
“I think I have a fairly good balance now, though it took some effort to achieve. I make a conscious effort to disconnect after 7 PM and avoid checking emails on weekends. I also prioritize exercise and family time. But I won’t pretend it’s always perfect — busy periods do throw things off.”
Q22: What’s more important — job satisfaction or salary?
“That’s tricky. Both matter, but I’d lean towards job satisfaction. Money can solve many problems, but waking up dreading work is no way to live. That said, a salary needs to meet basic needs. So I’d say: pay enough to live comfortably, but the job itself needs to be meaningful and engaging.”
Q23: Do men and women do similar jobs in your country?
“Increasingly, yes. Vietnam has made significant progress in gender equality in the workplace. Women now hold leadership positions in many companies, and stereotypically male fields like engineering and IT have growing female representation. However, some traditional gender bias still exists, particularly in higher leadership roles.”
Q24: Is it easy to find a good job in your country?
“It depends on the field and your qualifications. For tech-related jobs, the market is quite hot — companies are competing for talent. For other fields like finance or marketing, you need to be more strategic about networking and skill-building. New graduates often face challenges due to lack of experience, but persistence pays off.”
Q25: Are working hours in your country long?
“Generally, yes, by international standards. Many Vietnamese companies still operate Saturday mornings, and overtime is common, especially in manufacturing and tech. However, this is gradually changing — more international companies are introducing flexible hours, and the work-from-home trend has gained traction since the pandemic.”
Q26: Do people change jobs often in your country?
“Among younger generations, yes. Gen Z and millennials in Vietnam tend to switch jobs every 2-3 years for better opportunities. The older generation, however, tends to value stability and stay with one employer for decades. This generational shift is creating interesting dynamics in many workplaces.”
Q27: Would you like to work from home?
“I’ve actually been doing hybrid work for the past year, so I’ve experienced both. I appreciate the flexibility of working from home — no commute, more focus time. But I do miss in-person interactions with colleagues. The ideal for me is 2-3 days at home and the rest at the office.”
Q28: Are there any jobs you would never do?
“I’d struggle with any job that doesn’t align with my values or strengths. For example, sales-heavy roles that require aggressive cold-calling — that’s just not me. I’d also find it difficult to work in jobs with high physical demands, like construction, due to my physical limitations. I admire people who do these jobs, but they’re not for me.”
Q29: What’s the most stressful job?
“I think emergency room doctors or surgeons have incredibly stressful jobs. They deal with life-and-death situations daily, often for long hours. Air traffic controllers also face immense pressure — one mistake could be catastrophic. I have huge respect for people who handle such responsibility.”
Q30: How important is job security?
“Job security is important, but I think it’s becoming more about employability than employment with a single company. The world is changing rapidly — industries are being disrupted. So instead of clinging to one job, I think it’s wiser to continuously develop skills that keep you valuable in the job market.”
V. Vocabulary band 7+ chủ đề Work (40 từ)
- specialize in – chuyên về
- responsible for – chịu trách nhiệm
- career path – lộ trình nghề nghiệp
- career prospects – triển vọng nghề nghiệp
- growth opportunities – cơ hội phát triển
- career advancement – thăng tiến nghề nghiệp
- climb the corporate ladder – thăng tiến
- job satisfaction – hài lòng công việc
- work-life balance – cân bằng công việc-cuộc sống
- burnout – kiệt sức
- workload – khối lượng công việc
- colleague – đồng nghiệp
- workplace – nơi làm việc
- multinational corporation (MNC) – công ty đa quốc gia
- start-up – khởi nghiệp
- freelance – tự do
- entrepreneur – doanh nhân
- self-employed – tự kinh doanh
- nine-to-five job – việc giờ hành chính
- flexible hours – giờ linh hoạt
- remote work – làm việc từ xa
- commute – đi làm
- upskill – nâng cao kỹ năng
- reskill – học kỹ năng mới
- professional development – phát triển nghề nghiệp
- networking – kết nối mạng lưới
- annual leave – nghỉ phép năm
- maternity leave – nghỉ thai sản
- compensation package – gói lương thưởng
- perks and benefits – phúc lợi
- raise / promotion – tăng lương / thăng chức
- step up the career – phát triển sự nghiệp
- break into a field – bước chân vào ngành
- land a job – kiếm được việc
- juggle responsibilities – cân bằng trách nhiệm
- meet deadlines – đáp ứng deadline
- under pressure – dưới áp lực
- career change – chuyển ngành
- blue-collar / white-collar – lao động chân tay / trí óc
- job market – thị trường việc làm
Kết luận
30 câu hỏi trên đã bao quát hầu hết câu hỏi Work/Job trong IELTS Speaking Part 1. Hãy luyện 5-10 câu/ngày, ghi âm và so sánh, đặc biệt áp dụng 40 từ vựng band 7+ để nâng band. Sau 2 tuần luyện, bạn sẽ tự tin với mọi câu hỏi về công việc.