Updated on October 19, 2025
by PushtoLearn

Unit 8

This unit offers vocabulary items and exercises for Unit 8, Business Result Upper-Intermediate (2nd)

Unit 8, Business Result Upper-Intermediate (2nd) Exercises and Flashcards

Wordlist for Unit 8, Business Result Upper-Intermediate (2nd)

Word

Definition

Example

apprenticeship

the job of being an apprentice, or the period of time in which you are an apprentice

We offer a limited number of apprenticeships each year

lay off

to stop employing someone because there is no work for them to do

The factory closed and everyone was laid off

be made redundant

if you are redundant, your employer no longer has a job for you

I'd worked there for 30 years when I was suddenly made redundant

career prospects

the probability or chance for future success in a profession

Good qualifications will improve your career prospects

change of direction

the act of turning away or in the opposite direction

Retraining in my forties resulted in a change of direction for me

employ

to pay someone to work for you

I was first employed by the company as an apprentice 12 years ago

employability

having skills or qualities that are necessary to get a job

Skills and experience affect the employability of an individual

employable

having skills or qualities that are necessary to get a job

The scheme aims to make young people more employable

employee

someone who is paid to work for someone else

We have sixty employees

employer

a person, company, or organization that employs people

They're a good employer who looks after their staff

employment

the condition of having a paid job

We plan to offer new employment to six people every year

full-time employment

done for the whole of a working week

After doing my apprenticeship, I went into full-time employment

glass ceiling

the attitudes and practices that prevent women or particular groups from getting high-level jobs, even though there are no actual laws or rules to stop them

I feel like there's a glass ceiling at my company and I can't progress

guarantee

to promise to do something or to promise that something will happen

If you can guarantee an order of over 1000 units, I can drop the price

job opportunity

an opportunity of employment

There are very few job opportunities in a small town like this

job satisfaction

a feeling of fulfilment or enjoyment that a person derives from their job

A desire to change jobs is usually about ambition and job satisfaction

job security

the state of having a job that is secure and from which one is unlikely to be dismissed

I had job security and a decent wage

keep somebody's options open

If you keep your options open you delay making a decision about something

I'd like to keep my options open for now, but I'll let you know

live with something

to experience and accept an unpleasant event, decision, or situation

I think I can live with that as long as you can meet the deadline

management

the activity of controlling and organizing the work that a company or organization does

The company's management expect to make their decision this week

operational

working and ready to be used

There is an operational board in charge of day-to-day management

opportunity for advancement

the upward progression of one's career

I started to feel there wasn't a lot of opportunity for advancement

outline

to describe something in a general way, giving the main points but not the details

Make sure that you outline the situation before you discuss solutions

ownership

the fact of owning something

The ownership of the company has changed hands recently

profitable

producing a profit or a useful result

It's easy to sell a profitable business

recap

to repeat the main points of something that has just been said

I'll just give you a quick recap of yesterday's meeting

redeploy

to move someone or something to a different place or job

They wanted to redeploy me to the new office

relocate

if a person or business relocates, or if they are relocated, they move to a different place

Is it common for people to change jobs and relocate?

retirement

when you stop working, usually because of your age

They've announced their plans for retirement

self-employed

working for yourself and not employed by a company

Do you work for a company or are you self-employed?

sideways move

a move either within your current company or to a new organization with similar title, pay, and responsibility — can often pay off in the future

It's not a promotion, it's just a sideways move

state

the physical or mental condition that someone or something is in

Employees in a state of flow lose track of time and experience true job satisfaction

stretch the budget

to increase the budget

Supposing we stretch the budget a little

summarize

to make a short statement giving only the main information and not the details of a plan, event, report etc

Could you try to summarize the situation for us?

take early retirement

to retire before certain age

Have you ever thought about taking early retirement?

training

the process of teaching or being taught the skills for a particular job or activity

They place great emphasis on training and personal development

unemployable

not having the skills or qualities needed to get a job

Without any qualifications, you may be unemployable

unemployed

without a job

I was unemployed for a few months after I was made redundant

unemployment

the number of people in a particular country or area who cannot get a job

Unemployment has fallen to 3.8%

Related topics
Free grammar and vocabulary exercises, ESL worksheets, lesson plans, tests and tools for students and teachers
@ 2025 PushtoLearn