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Employers training staff: IELTS essay ideas

Plan this two-part essay about work with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.

WRITING TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many employers are reluctant to train their staff because workers often leave for better jobs.

Why do you think this is the case? What are the benefits of staff training for companies?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.

Ideas for both sides

Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.

Ideas for question 1

  • Training is costly and takes time
  • Fear of losing trained staff to rivals
  • Focus on short-term profit

Ideas for question 2

  • Staff become more productive
  • Training increases loyalty and morale
  • Skilled teams adapt to change

Essay outline

  1. 1IntroductionIntroduce the reluctance to train
  2. 2Body paragraph 1Reasons employers hesitate
  3. 3Body paragraph 2Benefits to productivity and loyalty
  4. 4ConclusionConclude that investment pays off

Write it on the clock

Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.

40:00

0 words of 250 minimum

Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.

Band-8 model answer

Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.

Show model answer (279 words)

Many employers are unwilling to train their staff because workers frequently leave for better jobs. This essay will explain why companies hesitate and describe the benefits that training can bring.

There are several reasons for this reluctance. The most obvious is cost: courses, instructors and time away from work are expensive, and a manager who sees a trained employee resign soon afterwards may regard the money as wasted, particularly if the person joins a competitor. Small businesses, with limited budgets, feel this risk strongly. In addition, some employers prefer to hire people who already have the necessary skills and expect the education system to supply them, while others are focused on short-term profits and do not plan for long-term development. In fast-changing sectors, firms may also worry that the skills they teach will soon be outdated.

Nevertheless, training offers real advantages. Employees who are well trained work more efficiently, make fewer mistakes and can handle more complex tasks, which raises the quality of products and services. Being offered the chance to learn also shows that a company values its people, which increases motivation and loyalty; many workers stay longer in organisations that invest in their development. Training can additionally fill skills gaps from within, avoiding the high cost of recruiting specialists from outside. A retailer that teaches its assistants customer service skills, for example, often sees higher sales and fewer complaints.

Companies can also reduce the risk by asking staff to remain for a minimum period after expensive courses.

In conclusion, although employers fear losing trained staff, the improvements in productivity, morale and flexibility generally outweigh the cost, so investing in training is a wise decision for any company.

Useful vocabulary

PhraseMeaning
on-the-job traininglearning while working
staff turnoverrate at which workers leave
return on investmentgain compared with cost
skill developmentbuilding abilities
employee loyaltyworkers' commitment to a company
competitive edgeadvantage over rivals

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