EnglishWork and Career Talk
What jobs have your family members had?
- My mother worked as a ...
- My father has worked in ...
- My dream job is ...
What is your dream job? Why?
Review these work words
- job
- Work that a person does
- workplace
- The place where people do their jobs
- colleague
- A person you work with
- interview
- A meeting to discuss a job
- dream job
- The job you really want
Work Verbs and Career Words
Say the infinitive first. Predict the two past forms, then read the example.
Review useful work verbs and their past forms
- work [/wɜːk/]
- worked — worked; do a job
I have worked here for three years. - apply [/əˈplaɪ/]
- applied — applied; ask formally for a job
She has applied for a job. - interview [/ˈɪntəvjuː/]
- interviewed — interviewed; ask someone questions for a job
They have interviewed two people. - hire [/ˈhaɪə/]
- hired — hired; give someone a job
The company has hired a new manager. - start [/stɑːt/]
- started — started; begin a job or activity
He has started a new role. - finish [/ˈfɪnɪʃ/]
- finished — finished; complete something
I have just finished my CV. - write [/raɪt/]
- wrote — written; create words on paper or a screen
She has written an email. - make [/meɪk/]
- made — made; create or prepare something
We have made a good plan. - go [/ɡəʊ/]
- went — gone; move to a place
He has gone to an interview. - do [/duː/]
- did — done; complete work or an activity
I have done my work. - have [/hæv/]
- had — had; experience or hold something
They have had a meeting. - get [/ɡet/]
- got — got; receive or obtain something
I have got a new job. - take [/teɪk/]
- took — taken; do a course or activity
She has taken a course. - learn [/lɜːn/]
- learned — learned; gain new knowledge or skills
We have learned new skills. - meet [/miːt/]
- met — met; see someone for the first time or by arrangement
I have met my new employer.
Career words: job, workplace, colleague, employer, employee, experience, career, skills, CV, interview.
Talking About Experience Until Now
The main idea
Present Perfect Simple connects a past action, experience, or situation with now.
I have worked here for three years.
She has applied for a new job.
We have finished the project.
Form
Subject + have / has + past participle
Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
I / you / we / they | have worked | have not worked | Have you worked ...? |
he / she / it | has worked | has not worked | Has she worked ...? |
Verb type | Infinitive | Past Simple | Past Participle |
Regular | work | worked | worked |
Regular | apply | applied | applied |
Irregular | go | went | gone |
Irregular | write | wrote | written |
Irregular | take | took | taken |
Short forms:
I’ve = I have • she’s = she has • haven’t = have not • hasn’t = has not
Experience
Use Present Perfect for life or work experience when there is no finished past time.
Have you ever had a job interview?
I have never worked abroad.
She has met many colleagues.
Signal word | Meaning |
|---|---|
ever | at any time in your life |
never | at no time in your life |
Recent events with a result now
Use Present Perfect when a recent event is important now.
I’ve just finished my CV.
She has already sent her application.
Have they replied yet?
Signal word | Position and meaning |
|---|---|
just | before the past participle; very recently |
already | before the past participle; earlier than expected |
yet | usually at the end; in questions and negatives |
Situations that continue until now
Use Present Perfect for a situation that started in the past and continues now.
I have worked here since 2020.
He has studied for two months.
They have had the same employer for five years.
2020 ───────── NOW
Word | Use it with | Example |
|---|---|---|
since | a starting point | since 2020, since Monday |
for | a period of time | for two months, for five years |
Present Perfect or Past Simple?
Use Present Perfect | Use Past Simple |
|---|---|
No finished time is stated. | A finished past time is stated. |
I have applied for a job. | I applied for a job last week. |
She has met the manager. | She met the manager yesterday. |
We have finished the report. | We finished the report in 2022. |
Signal word | Typical tense |
ever / never | Present Perfect |
just / already / yet | Present Perfect |
for / since | Present Perfect |
yesterday / last week / in 2022 | Past Simple |
Common mistakes
Incorrect | Correct | Why? |
|---|---|---|
She have worked here. | She has worked here. | Use has with he, she, and it. |
I have wrote my CV. | I have written my CV. | Use the past participle, not Past Simple. |
I have visited London yesterday. | I visited London yesterday. | Yesterday is finished past time. |
He has worked here since three years. | He has worked here for three years. | Use for with a period of time. |
Have you ever went to an interview? | Have you ever gone to an interview? | Use the past participle after have/has. |
Choose the Right Form
First, identify the time clue. Then choose the tense or participle.
Signal words and finished time
Connect each signal word to the tense it usually needs.
Connect each time expression with the correct tense
- ever
- Present Perfect
- yet
- Present Perfect
- since
- Present Perfect
- already
- Present Perfect
- yesterday
- Past Simple
- last month
- Past Simple
Have or has?
My sister [___] worked as a nurse.
Choose the past participle
I have [___] my CV.
Finished past time
Choose the correct sentence: [___]
A recent unfinished action
Have you finished your application [___] ?
Work experience until now
She [___] here for five years.
A very recent event
I [___] my interview.
Experience
[___] you ever [___] a difficult job interview?
No answer until now
They [___] an answer yet.
My Career Journey
Career profile
I have worked in customer service for six years. I started my first job at a small café in 2018, and I learned how to speak to customers politely. Since then, I have worked for two companies and have met many helpful colleagues. I have already completed a customer-care course, and my manager has just given me a certificate. I have never worked from home, but I have applied for an online support position. I have had two interviews this month and have prepared carefully for both. Last Friday, I spoke to a recruiter and sent my CV. I have not received an answer yet. My dream job is team leader because I enjoy helping new employees. I have also taken a short leadership course, so I feel ready for the next step.
Read aloud. Underline have/has + past participle. Circle: since, already, just, never, this month, yet.
- How long has the writer worked in customer service?
- What did the writer learn at the café?
- What has the writer already completed?
- What happened last Friday?
Difficult words
- customer service — helping customers with questions or problems
- politely — in a kind and respectful way
- certificate — an official document that shows you completed something
- recruiter — a person who finds workers for companies
- leadership — the ability to guide other people
- team leader — a person who manages or helps a group of workers
- position — a job in a company
Key Points to Keep
Present Perfect chart
Subject | Form |
|---|---|
I / you / we / they | have + past participle |
he / she / it | has + past participle |
Negative | have not / has not + past participle |
Question | Have / Has + subject + past participle? |
Irregular participles
go → gone • do → done • make → made • have → had • get → got • take → taken • meet → met • write → written
Work vocabulary card
Verbs: work, apply, interview, hire, start, finish, write, make, go, do, have, get, take, learn, meet
Career words: job, workplace, colleague, employer, employee, experience, career, skills, CV, interview, dream job
Useful phrases: apply for a job • have an interview • write a CV • get work experience • start a career • learn new skills
Final signal-word check
Connect each signal word with its meaning
- ever
- experience
- just
- recent event
- for
- duration
- yesterday
- finished past time
Say one true sentence about your work experience or future career.
