Describe an unusual job – IELTS Cue Card

Sample Answer 1

I was looking for work options online a while back when I came across a range of job openings. Many of them were relevant to my professional interests, but a few were intriguingly odd. For example, one of them was for an adventure park. They required a water slide tester. When I initially saw this job, my immediate thought was, “Wow! Are people actually getting paid for such jobs”. This has to be undoubtedly the most fun-loving job on the planet.

Water slide testers have to examine all safety elements to ensure that these rides are entirely safe. The person merely needs to show up at work, put on their swimming gear, and head to the pool. They can even go down the slide numerous times to see how much water it uses, how quickly you travel down it, and how much fun it is overall. They can even create amusing stories about your discoveries for publication in travel journals and websites.

Additionally, to my amazement, being a water slide tester just required a few fundamental skills: strong observation skills, a calm and steady mind, the fortitude to ride a variety of rides, and being active on social media. There’s always medical insurance for those who break a bone or two and a generous wage package. There are a lot of people who are dissatisfied or just bored with their office jobs. There’s also a small group of people who do jobs you would never imagine are possible.

There are a plethora of careers out there that you may never have heard of, ranging from the bizarre to the cool, the serious to the frivolous. Some people have abandoned the more traditional employment routes in favor of something more abstract, such as deodorant tester, furniture tester, nail paint namer, stunt tester, flavourist, and many others.

Sample Answer 2

A few months ago, while scrolling through social media, I came across this advertisement for a company that makes mattresses and bedding products. They had the wackiest job opportunity I had ever seen. At first, I thought it was a joke, but as it turned out, it wasn’t! It was an actual advertisement. The job opportunity was to be a mattress tester. One would have to participate in a sleep study and allow researchers to monitor their sleep patterns. They were paid handsomely as well.

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The “employees” would partake in a month-long research activity where comfort, quality of sleep, body pain issues, sleep apnea, etcetera would be measured for nine hours each night. 

I have read about a few unusual jobs, but this one was perhaps the most distinct one I had heard of. I, for one, never imagined you could get paid well to sleep, so this opportunity appeared to be quite lucrative. Although it is understandable that in this fast-paced world, with sleep becoming less important each day (due to the copious amounts of work many are doing) researchers are inclined to want to know more about providing quality sleep. Many employers also invest in this cause as they want a better resting period for their employees to boost productivity and overall happiness. When an employee is happy and well-rested, the employer is also happy and well-rested. Lack of sleep is the leading cause of loss of productivity in students and professionals alike, and it can be highly detrimental to health which further explains the importance of a good night’s sleep. 

Amongst the many unusual jobs people have in this world, being paid to do next to nothing and rest well, definitely tops the list.

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Vocabulary

• Wacky: Funny or amusing in a slightly odd or peculiar way.
  Ex: My aunt has a penchant for things that are a bit wacky.
• Distinct: recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type.
  Ex: The patterns of spoken language are distinct from those of writing.
• Lucrative: producing a great deal of profit.
  Ex: Indigo and opium are the most lucrative crops.
• Copious: abundant in supply or quantity.
  Ex: Rose took copious notes.
• Detrimental: an undesirable or harmful person or thing.
  Ex: It will have detrimental effects on the healing process.

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