Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information – IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay

The essay, 'Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information', deals with employment ethics and privacy which is a common topic. In this essay, you are expected to present both sides of the argument, whether it is justified for employers to ask such questions in order to know their potential employees better, or is this practice an infringement of personal privacy and discrimination in recruitment. While attempting to answer, you should show equal reasoning, high coherence, and good control of formal vocabulary related to employment, privacy, ethics, and human rights. By learning the skill to form clear arguments, provide equal weightage to both views, and use examples wisely, you can get a band 8+ in the IELTS Writing Section.

How to Ideate the IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay, ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’?

Ideation is a process that would help you to understand what the question is asking where it also highlights the most important ideas and suggests a logical framework for your discussion. The IELTS Writing Task 2 topic, ‘Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information’, requires you to weigh the arguments on both sides and make a conclusion. Such questions can be justified through advantages as well as shortcomings such as invasions of privacy and sources of discrimination. The following table presents the most important steps which can be used in brainstorming and ideating for the Discussion Essay.

Question - IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay, ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’

Structure Breakdown for the IELTS Writing Task 2 Discussion Essay, ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’

Before answering an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay question, it is very important to know the structural framework. You can get a higher IELTS Band Score through a well-arranged outline that provides a clear understanding, coherent linking of ideas, and balanced development of arguments. The following structure shows how to work on the Discussion Essay on the topic ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’.

Want to learn 5 Easy Steps to Write Discussion Essays? Check out the video below!

Sample Answer 1 on ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’

Some companies want to know certain personal details about the applicants like their hobbies and interests, whether they’re married or not etc. In my opinion, the company tries to identify the person’s stability and workability through these details. While an argument can be raised against collecting such information, I feel companies are not wrong, and these markers are relevant for the company.

To begin with, an important aspect of screening potential employees includes their marital status. It gives the company a remote idea of how long they will continue the job. Further, their marital status can show their inclination towards accepting transfers and new projects because it is possible that the applicant will not want to uproot his family to settle down into a new surrounding. On the other hand, hobbies and interests allow gauging the person’s personality, thus throwing some light on whether he is a team player or a good addition to the team, and so on. These pointers showcase whether the applicant possesses the capability to handle the job.

On the flip side, it can be argued that these pointers never give a detailed outline. Numerous human resource executives stress the importance of an interview and how a live interaction gives them a better perspective of the applicant. They believe that selection must be based on a person’s knowledge and experience for the particular job and that one’s hobbies and interests should not be given excess importance while he is screened. One might even argue that such pointers seem redundant and outdated. Furthermore, one can choose to contribute more working hours to the company even if he’s married. Thus, the selection criteria of the job should be from the knowledge and experience of the person.

To summarise, some employers consider personal information unimportant and may think of it as a mere formality. In contrast, others feel being aware of one’s abilities and interests improve their performance and aid the selection process. Having these pieces of information is always beneficial for a company as it gives a greater peek into a potential employee.

Vocabulary for Sample Answer 1 on ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’

• Workability

Meaning: able to be worked, fashioned, or manipulated.
Example – The manager is very impressed by his workability.

• Inclination

Meaning: a person’s natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition.
Example – John was a scientist by training and inclination.

• Uproot

Meaning: move (someone) from their home or a familiar location.
Example – My father travelled constantly, uprooting the family several times.

• Formality

Meaning: a thing that is done simply to comply with convention, regulations, or custom.
Example – All that remains now are the legal formalities, then the house is yours.

• Far-fetched

Meaning: unlikely and unconvincing; implausible.
Example – The theory sounded bizarre and far-fetched.

• Peek

Meaning: a quick or furtive look.
Example – He sneaked a peek at the map.

Sample Answer 2 on ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’

Disclosing personal data is frequently a necessity when applying for a job, especially during interviews. However, many believe that such information is relevant and appropriate to ask is still being debated.

To start with, requesting personal information is beneficial especially for employers. For example, marital status is a key factor in salary negotiations of the applicant particularly in the public sector. A spouse and children may sometimes be included in a civil servant's salary package. Moreover, marital status may influence the health or employment insurance premiums that are calculated differently depending on a person's family situation. In addition to that, information like hobbies and interests may prove to be very useful in terms of human resource management. For instance, certain organizations provide enrichment programs or training courses that are not directly work-related but would need the personal interests of the employees.

However, disclosing one’s private information might also lead to major drawbacks. Since such information is of sensitive nature, a leak can affect the applicant's personal life. Many people complain that their data being shared or sold has caused them to receive more spam messages, calls without prior consent, and promotions. Moreover, job seekers are not yet employees where the protection of their personal data could be very limited legally. Such a situation suggests that companies may corrupt the data if there are no privacy policies that are very clear about it.

To conclude, revealing personal information to the employers could be advantageous, but it could also lead to affecting the data protection. Such data could be misused to the detriment of the individual concerned for which securing data should be the utmost priority in the hiring process.

Vocabulary for Sample Answer 2 on ‘Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information’

• Disclose

Meaning: To reveal something, mainly confidential information
Example – During job interviews candidates normally have to disclose their personal information.

• Consent

Meaning: Agreement for something to take place
Example – Personal data of the applicant can be used only after the company has obtained the applicant’s consent.

• Detriment

Meaning: Injury or damage to a person or thing
Example – The misuse of personal data can lead to the detriment of the concerned individual.

• Negotiation

Meaning: An official talk between two or more parties to come to a common understanding regarding a matter like salary, contract, or deal
Example – The process of salary negotiation is an important part of hiring, during which both the employer and applicant seek to get an agreement.

Success in the IELTS Exam is based on knowing the types of essays, good planning techniques, and practicing consistently. Try to enhance the variety of sentences, the logic of the argument, and the argument which you are making. Remember that each time you attempt an essay, you need to recognize your weak points related to vocabulary, grammar, or idea development. With this strategy, your performance will gradually improve for scoring a band 8+.

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