Pre-Intermediate Reading Exercise

First Job Experiences

A. Liam

My first job was as a waiter in a busy town-centre cafe. On my first day, I was so nervous about dropping plates or getting orders wrong. The cafe was always full of people, and the work was fast. Luckily, my manager was very kind and patient, and she showed me everything. I learned how to talk to lots of different people and became much more confident. The best thing was earning my own money for the first time.

B. Chloe

I worked as an assistant in a clothes shop on Saturdays. My main jobs were folding clothes and helping people in the changing rooms. I enjoyed seeing all the new fashions, but sometimes the work was boring if the shop was empty. I also discovered that some customers could be quite rude when they were unhappy. The most useful thing I learned was to be patient and always stay polite, even when it was difficult.

C. Sam

For my first job, I walked dogs for my neighbours. It sounds easy, but it was a big responsibility. I had to make sure the dogs were safe and got enough exercise. Sometimes I had to go out in the rain and the cold, which was not fun at all. But I loved being with the animals and spending time outdoors. The most important thing it taught me was that being dependable and trustworthy is a really valuable quality.

D. Maya

I volunteered at the local library, helping to put books back on the shelves. I thought it would be a very easy job, but it was surprisingly physical because the boxes of books were often very heavy. What I really loved was how peaceful it was compared to school. I enjoyed helping people find the books they were looking for. I also discovered a real interest in history from reading the different book covers.