This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Work & Careers. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
join the staff
Three new advisers will join the staff next month.
aspects of the job
The interview covered the practical aspects of the job.
pencil in a meeting
Let us pencil in a meeting for Thursday afternoon.
do work
The contractor arrived early to do work on the roof.
meet a deadline
The team worked late to meet a deadline for the client.
take on a leadership role
She is ready to take on a leadership role in the new department.
perform a task
The technician must perform a task that requires careful calibration.
high turnover of staff
The café struggled with a high turnover of staff last winter.
opposite number
She phoned her opposite number at the partner agency.
lack experience
Applicants who lack experience can still show transferable skills.
member of staff
A member of staff will greet visitors at reception.
unpaid overtime
The staff raised concerns about regular unpaid overtime.
master new skills
The programme helps employees master new skills in data analysis.
living wage
The union argued that every employee deserves a living wage.
stage a strike
The union voted to stage a strike after talks broke down.
earn a good living
Freelancers can earn a good living once they build a reliable client base.
maternity leave
She will begin maternity leave at the end of the month.
go on strike
The workers voted to go on strike over pay and conditions.
make a living
The photographer makes a living by selling images to magazines.
lay off staff
The factory may have to lay off staff if orders continue to fall.
put together a CV
Before applying, he needs to put together a CV.
go freelance
After leaving the agency, the designer decided to go freelance.
advanced computer skills
The role requires advanced computer skills and experience with databases.
go part-time
He decided to go part-time after becoming a parent.
be open to offers
Although she likes her role, she may be open to offers from other firms.
take up a post
He will take up a post in the Berlin office in September.
do a job-share
Two employees decided to do a job-share after returning from parental leave.
hone their skills
The placement lets trainees hone their skills in a real workplace.
good computer skills
The vacancy asks for good computer skills and clear written English.
stay the course
Despite the setbacks, the team decided to stay the course.