A Document from MySkylines, Express Yourself - Issue 09

Jobs   
    Most people in modern society spend more than eight hours a day working. Some are successful in their jobs, but many more are under stress. Workers are classified into two group; self-employed and employees. An interesting fact is that the self-employed envy the employees, and vice versa. The reason? People tend to exaggerate the others' benefits they don't have.
    Businessmen seem to have greater satisfaction from their jobs than ordinary workers do. They have the power to decide things by themselves. That's why ordinary workers are envious of them. But businessmen must take responsibility for their decisions, and if something goes wrong they could go bankrupt.
    Every employee has a certain job responsibility, but if he does what he is expected to he is usually exempt from bad consequences. He has a stable position. On the other hand, a competent worker may enjoy many promotions and raises, but still be at the mercy of the manipulations of corporate executives.
    Who is happier is not the quetion. The important thing is that people must decide which category they should belong in by evaluating themselves honestly.
exempt from : free from a duty or an obligation
at the mercy of : without any protection against
manipulate : influence or message (sb) or (sth) in a clever or dishonest way

Comprehension
1. What advantage do businessmen have?
2. What disadvantage do workers have?
3. Which is better, being the employer or the employee?

Express Yourself
1. Would you want to be a businessman or an employee?
2. Are you satisfied with your job?
3. Would you want your children to do your job?
4. What are your priorities in getting a job?
5. Would you take a night job if it were better paid?
6. When do you feel like giving up your job?
7. Why don't you start your your own business?
8. Do you have any ideal of starting a new business?
9. What are the obstacles to starting your own business?

More Talking Points
Talk about the good and bad aspects about having the following jobs.
a). physicians  b).teachers  c).politicians  d). the nation's president  e).farmer  f). professional athletes
g). judges  h).soldiers  i). panhandlers

Opinion Samples
1. People have different priorities in getting job. Some put their emphasis on making more money, others want job security, promotion opportunities, work they are comfortable with. As for me, I want my own business. After I quit my first job I never thought about working for anyone again. When I work for someone else and can't sell my ideal to the boss, that disappoints me. And often employees become scapegoats for marketing failures. I love to work alone with my ideals and plans, knowing whether my business succeeds or not is up to me.
2. I really want to have my own business, as most employees do. But a boss must have special characteristics. First of all, he must have creative ideals and know when, where and how to apply them. Of course, he must have the never to go ahead with his plan against difficult markets. He must cultivate customers, because success largely depends upon human relationships. If he has solid relationships with his business partners, he may be able to make up for temporary financial strait.