Words that go together

Work & careers word pairs

76 pairs native speakers say together about work & careers. Each one is easy to understand; the trick is saying the two words as one. Hear them, then test yourself.

76 pairs7 situationsListen & quiz

Getting things done

19

hard work

B1

Training for a marathon is hard work, but it's worth it in the end.

accept responsibility

B1

The manager accepted responsibility for the mistake and apologized to the team.

clear instructions

B1

The teacher gave clear instructions, so everyone knew what to do.

complete a task

B1

It took me two hours to complete the task my manager gave me.

creative solution

B2

The team came up with a creative solution to reduce waste in the office.

face a challenge

B1

Many students face a challenge when they move to a new country for university.

find a solution

B1

We need to find a solution to the traffic problems in our city.

follow instructions

B1

If you follow the instructions carefully, the recipe will turn out perfectly.

give permission

B1

My parents didn’t give me permission to go to the party.

great effort

B1

She made a great effort to finish her project on time.

high standard

B1

This restaurant has a high standard of cleanliness.

improve performance

B1

She took extra classes to improve her performance in math.

raise standards

B2

The school decided to raise standards by hiring more qualified teachers.

save time

B1

Using a dishwasher can save time compared to washing dishes by hand.

significant improvement

B2

There has been a significant improvement in her English since she started practicing every day.

temporary solution

B1

Using a fan is only a temporary solution to the heat until the air conditioner is fixed.

understand instructions

B1

It's important to understand instructions before starting a new job.

written instructions

B1

The teacher gave us written instructions for the homework, so we wouldn’t forget any details.

a daunting task

C1

Organizing the entire conference by myself was a daunting task, but I managed to pull it off.

Career and growth

19

achieve success

B1

After years of hard work, she finally achieved success in her career.

bright future

B1

With her talent and hard work, she has a bright future ahead of her.

career path

B1

After university, she decided to follow a career path in medicine.

career prospects

B1

Many students choose university courses that will improve their career prospects.

clear goal

B1

If you have a clear goal, it's much easier to stay motivated and make progress.

create opportunities

B1

Volunteering can help you create opportunities for your future career.

develop skills

B1

She took extra classes to develop her language skills.

fully prepared

B1

She felt fully prepared for her final exam after weeks of studying.

gain experience

B1

I want to gain experience in customer service before I apply for a full-time job.

great opportunity

B1

Working abroad was a great opportunity for me to learn a new language.

hard worker

B1

Maria is a hard worker—she always finishes her tasks on time and pays attention to every detail.

high level

B2

She has a high level of English, so she can easily understand academic articles.

highly effective

B2

This new medicine is highly effective at reducing pain.

long-term plan

B1

Saving money for a house is part of my long-term plan.

overcome obstacles

B2

She had to overcome many obstacles before starting her own business.

personal development

B1

Reading regularly is an important part of personal development.

personal goal

B1

My personal goal this year is to learn how to cook healthy meals.

successful career

B2

She has built a successful career in engineering over the past ten years.

valuable experience

B1

Working part-time during university was a valuable experience for me.

Getting a job

9

find a job

B1

After graduating from university, it took me three months to find a job.

equal opportunity

B2

The company is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees, regardless of their background.

essential skill

B1

Time management is an essential skill for university students.

fully qualified

B1

She is fully qualified to teach English at the university.

job interview

B1

I have a job interview tomorrow, so I'm feeling a bit nervous.

offer a job

B1

After the final interview, the company offered her a job as a marketing assistant.

practical experience

B1

She got practical experience by working part-time in a hospital during her studies.

school staff

B1

The school staff organized a meeting to discuss the new safety rules.

stable job

B1

After years of working different jobs, she finally found a stable job at a local bank.

Plans and goals

9

create a plan

B1

Before starting the project, we need to create a plan so everyone knows what to do.

final decision

B1

After hours of discussion, the manager made the final decision to hire the new employee.

major change

B1

Moving to a new country was a major change in her life.

reach a goal

B1

After months of practice, she finally reached her goal of running a marathon.

set a goal

B1

It's important to set a goal if you want to stay motivated.

set priorities

B1

When you have a lot to do, it's important to set priorities so you don't feel overwhelmed.

a feasible option

C1

Given our limited budget, moving to a smaller office is the only feasible option.

a realistic prospect

C1

There's a realistic prospect of getting promoted if you keep working this hard.

a viable alternative

C1

For people who can't drive, cycling is a viable alternative to commuting by car.

Business and customers

7

customer service

B1

The customer service at that hotel was excellent—they helped us with everything we needed.

family business

B1

Her parents run a family business selling fresh bread in the local market.

organize an event

B1

Sarah had to organize an event for her company’s anniversary, so she booked a venue and arranged the catering.

professional advice

B2

Before making any big investments, it's wise to get professional advice.

regular customer

B1

The barista knows my name because I’m a regular customer at the coffee shop.

successful business

B1

She started a successful business selling handmade jewelry online.

tough competition

B1

There is tough competition for jobs in the city, so you need to have good qualifications.

Schedules and meetings

7

attend a meeting

B1

I have to attend a meeting at 10 a.m. with my team.

busy schedule

B1

I have such a busy schedule this week that I barely have time to relax.

close the meeting

B1

The manager closed the meeting after everyone had shared their ideas.

daily schedule

B1

I always check my daily schedule in the morning so I know what I need to do.

flexible schedule

B1

My job allows me to have a flexible schedule, so I can start and finish work whenever I want.

work overtime

B1

I often have to work overtime when there are big projects at the office.

working environment

B1

A positive working environment can make employees feel happier and more productive.

Roles and causes

6

a crucial role

C1

Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's values and attitudes.

a pivotal role

C1

Her research played a pivotal role in the development of the new vaccine.

an integral part

C1

Trust is an integral part of any successful relationship.

main focus

B1

The main focus of the meeting was how to improve customer service.

strong leader

B1

The company needs a strong leader to guide it through these changes.

a root cause

C1

After several meetings, the team finally identified a root cause of the recurring software failures.

Fill the gap

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