TOEIC Speaking Express an Opinion (Question 11): Flexible Working Hours and Changing Jobs

Question eleven: Express an opinion.

In this part of the test, you will give your opinion about a specific topic.

Be sure to say as much as you can in the time allowed.

You will have forty-five seconds to prepare, then sixty seconds to speak.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Companies should let employees choose their own working hours.

Begin speaking now.

On balance, I'd argue that flexible hours benefit both staff and employers.

To begin with, people simply aren't at their sharpest at the same time of day.

I'm a morning person, so my best work happens before nine.

Yet for years, I was stuck at my desk until six, running on empty!

When my firm brought in flexitime, my output went up noticeably!

Secondly, flexibility signals trust, which in turn builds loyalty.

A case in point is a colleague of mine with two young children.

He was on the verge of resigning because of the school run.

Once he could start at ten, he decided to stay,

and he's now one of our most reliable team leaders!

Admittedly, some roles do require fixed hours, such as customer support.

That said, a simple system of core hours usually solves the problem.

So, overall, I strongly agree with the statement.

Practice set two.

Some people prefer to stay with one company for their whole career,

while others change jobs every few years. Which do you prefer and why?

Begin speaking now.

Personally, I'd much rather change jobs every few years.

Granted, staying put offers security and a clear path to promotion.

However, moving on is often the fastest way to grow.

I started my career at a large bank, which was a superb training ground.

But after four years, I realised I'd stopped learning.

Switching to a tech start-up forced me to pick up new skills almost overnight!

What's more, changing employers tends to pay off financially.

My move came with a thirty per cent pay rise, which I hadn't expected at all!

Mind you, I wouldn't recommend switching every six months!

Employers might start to question your commitment.

But on the whole, a move every few years keeps your skills sharp and your career moving.