ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=5777085

Slow dialogue: 1:13
Explanations: 3:19
Fast dialogue: 14:01

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Agency employee: Tell me why you'd like to sign up with our employment agency.

Kurt: Well, right now I'm working in a dead end job. There are no opportunities for advancement. I'm already at the top of the pay scale, so there's no chance of another pay raise.

Agency employee: Okay, I'd like to find out a little more about your employment history. Tell me about your last job.

Kurt: Oh, that was a mind-numbing position. I did menial work all day and I burned out in six months.

Agency employee: What about the job you had before that?

Kurt: The problem with that job was that there was a glass ceiling. They would never promote a person like me.

Agency employee: And what about the job you had before that?

Kurt: I only took that job as a steppingstone to the next one, but it turned out to be a stumbling block instead. My boss didn't like me and wouldn't give me a good reference.

Agency employee: Okay, so you were not happy with any of the jobs you've had.

Kurt: No, they weren't right for me. I don't want to be trapped in a dead end job. I want something that will give me personal satisfaction.

Agency employee: I see. Well, we'll do the best we can. Have you considered working at an employment agency? I'm looking for a new job myself.

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- dead end job (n) : job has no future, no opportunity to move up
- advancement (n) : promotion
- pay-scale (n) : a system to determine how much each job is worth
- mind-numbing (a) : very boring
- menial ~ mind-numbing
- to burn out : to be exhausted to do a job
- steppingstone (n): sth helps you get to higher level


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Thanks,
Duy Lam