TOEFL® Essay: Some important characteristics of a co-worker

[Konstantin]

Privet!
Question:
We all work or will work in jobs with many different kinds of people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important.
Answer:
Our job is the second home and our co-workers are the second family. Since we spend much time in their society we need in good co-workers and the qualities like accuracy, helpfulness to others and cheerfulness become very important.

Up to the ancient saying the accuracy was kings’ courtesy. But it’s right not only for kings but for any people. If your work depends on the work of someone the all of a sudden violation of his schedule will be awful for you. You won’t make your own task on time and chief will be dissatisfied, so the inaccurate colleague could be a real punishment.

Another important quality is the helpfulness to others. I enjoy when the young employees call on their older and more skillful co-workers and receive a complete answer on the questions. I guess it’s a matter-of-fact situation but sometimes it’s out of the question to talk the problem over with someone because of his selfishness. In any case you must now the limits because if it’s possible to find information in a book you don’t have to disturb another employee.

And the last important property, which I want to describe, is cheerfulness. There are hard minutes when you think that your overall project will crash but a cheerful and self-confident person could maintain and approve you. The sense of humor, which such people have had, could help to increase the mood of the all remaining stuff. It doesn’t mean that cheerful co-worker has to laugh all day long but the successful joke might be very encouraging.

During all my life I have met with different co-workers and if they were good my spirits was all right and I went on the job with pleasure.


TOEFL listening discussions: A conversation between a dorm mother and a resident

[Alan]

Hi Konstantin,

I don't want to get involved in answers based on recordings. I want only to look at written texts.

Our job is LIIKE A second home and our co-workers are IN A WAY A second family. Since we spend A LOT OF time in their society we need good co-workers and qualities like accuracy, helpfulness to others and cheerfulness become very important.

ACCORDING TO the ancient saying accuracy was A king'S courtesy. But it’s right not only for kings but for anyBODY. If your work depends on the work of someone ELSE the sudden DISRUPTION of his schedule will be awful for you. You won’t COMPLETE your own task on time and THE chief/BOSS will be dissatisfied, so AN inaccurate colleague could be a real punishment.

Another important quality is helpfulness to others. I enjoy IT when young employees call on their older and more skillful co-workers and receive a complete answer TO THEIR questions. I guess it’s a matter-of-fact situation but sometimes it’s out of the question to talk the problem over with someone because of his selfishness. In any case you must KNOW the limits because if it’s possible to find information in a book you don’t have to disturb another employee.

And the last important QUALITY which I want to describe, is cheerfulness. There are hard minutes when you think that your overall project will crash but a cheerful and self-confident person could maintain and approve ??? you. A sense of humor, which such people have had, could help to increase the mood of the all remaining stuff. It doesn’t mean that A cheerful co-worker has to laugh all day long but the successful joke might be very encouraging.

During all my life I have met with different co-workers and if they were good my spirits wERE all right and I CONTINUED WITH MY job with pleasure.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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