Lesson 14: Work and Business

Done !!

Covering letter

Please send your CV and a covering letter to the HR department.

thư giải thích gửi kèm theo ( thư gửi kèm - đặc biệt khi xin việc - để giới thiệu bản thân và giải thích lí do ứng tuyển)

On business = business trip: chuyến công tác

Many people travel abroad on business several times a year.

đi công tác

A dead-end job = career plateau: sự nghiệp dậm chân tại chỗ

Working in that position for years felt like being stuck in a dead-end job.

công việc không có cơ hội thăng tiến

An entry-level job = internship

After graduation, she found an entry-level job in a marketing agency.

công việc không đòi hỏi kinh nghiệm, thường dành cho người mới vào nghề

A high-powered job = senior position

She left her high-powered job in finance to start her own business.

một công việc nắm giữ vị trí quan trọng

A lucrative job = well-paid job

Although teaching is rewarding in many ways, it is not considered a particularly lucrative job.

công việc kiếm được kiếm nhiều tiền

Get a promotion = advance in one’s career

Getting a promotion often requires not just skills but also good networking.

được thăng tiến

Get a rise = salary increase

If I work extra hours, I might get a rise next month.

được tăng lương

be fired/ dismissed = terminate employment: chấm dứt hợp đồng lao động

He was fired for consistently missing deadlines.

bị phạt/ bị sa thải

Have a heavy workload = tight schedule

I’ve been under stress lately because I have a heavy workload at the office.

có nhiều việc

Work overtime = work extra shifts

I sometimes have to work overtime when deadlines are approaching.

Employees often complain when they are required to work overtime without extra pay.

làm thêm giờ, tăng ca

Set to work = set about (doing) sth: bắt tay vào làm gì đó

She immediately set to work preparing the presentation.

bắt tay vào việc

Make short work of = deal with sth quickly: xử lý nhanh chóng

She made short work of the assignment and finished it in just an hour.

làm xong nhanh; đánh bại nhanh, giải quyết nhanh chóng

Work a scheme for sth = implement a program: triển khai một chương trình

The government is working a new scheme to reduce youth unemployment.

thi hành một kế hoạch

Work oneself into a lather = lose one’s temper

There’s no need to work yourself into a lather about such a minor mistake.

rất buồn, lo lắng (quá mức)

Work oneself into a rage

He worked himself into a rage after reading the unfair comments online.

nổi giận, tự làm mình nổi giận

Generous benefit = attractive benefits

Employees are attracted to organizations that provide generous benefits and career opportunities.

phụ cấp, hỗ trợ, chế độ đãi ngộ

A menial job = blue-collar work

Many immigrants are forced to take menial jobs despite having high qualifications.

công việc lao động chân tay

Earn a living = provide for oneself

He earns a living by working as a taxi driver.

kiếm sống

Go into business = set up a business

After graduating, she decided to go into business with her cousin.

đi vào hoạt động kinh doanh

Do business with sb = trade with

China does business with almost every country in the world.

buôn bán với ai

It’s none of your business

đó không phải là chuyện của mày!

Set up a company = establish a company

• Many young entrepreneurs set up companies to introduce innovative products.

To start or establish a business or company.

(thành lập công ty)

Do market research = investigate the market

• Before launching a new product, companies usually do market research to understand consumer demand

To collect and analyze information about consumers’ needs, competitors, and market trends before starting or expanding a business.

(tìm hiểu thị trường)

Go/ sell like a hot cake = sell rapidly = fly off the shelves: bán hết nhanh

• the new Iphone went like hot cakes on the first day of release.

To be sold very quickly and in large quantities.

(bán đắt như tôm tươi)

Run a company = manage a company

Run a business

• It is not easy to run a company in today’s competitive market, especially for start-ups.

To manage or be in charge of a business or company.

(điều hành công ty/ doanh nghiệp)

Operate at a loss = run at a loss

• Despite operating at a loss, the firm decided to continue in the hope of long-term profitability.

To continue business activities when expenses are higher than revenues, resulting in a financial loss.

(đầu tư nhiều vốn)

Break even = reach balance

• Many small business struggle for years before they break even.

To have neither profit nor loss; to have income equal to expenses.

(hòa vốn)

Tough competition = intense competition

• The company faces tough competition from international brands.

Strong or difficult competition; a situation where many rivals make success hard to achieve.

(sự cạnh tranh gay gắt)

Gain market share = increase in sales

• Between 2000 and 2010, Apple gained significant market share in the smartphone industry.

To increase the percentage of total sales that a company has in particular market. (đạt được thị phần)

Go bankrupt = go broke

• If a company fails to adapt to new technologies, it might go bankrupt.

• I almost went broke when I was a student because I didn’t know how to manage my budget.

To become unable to pay debts and officially declared bankrupt. (bị vỡ nợ, phá sản)

Hire on staff = take on employees

• In order to expand, many companies have to hire on staff with specialized skills.

to employ new staff members; to add employees to a company. (thuê nhân công)

Make a deal with = make an agreement with

• If local farmers can make a deal with supermarkets, they will have a more stable income.

To reach an agreement, especially in business, politics, or negotiation. (thỏa thuận với; với ký kết một hợp đồng với)

Black market

• Many rare medicines are available only on the black market.

An illegal system of buying and selling goods or services. (thị trường đen/ chợ đen)

Common market

• The creation of a common market reduces trade barriers among neighboring countries.

A group of countries that have agreed to allow goods, services, money, and sometimes people to move freely across borders without restrictions such as tariffs or quotas. (thị trường chung)

Flea market

• I found some vintage clothes at the flea market.

An outdoor market where old or second- hand goods are sold, often at low prices. (chợ đồ cũ, chợ trời)

Internal market = domestic market ≠ external market

• The European Union established an internal market to allow free movement of goods and services.

thị trường nội bộ

Labor market = job market

• Many graduates struggle to find a job in today’s competitive labor market.

thị trường lao động

Market place = bazaar (chợ truyền thống)

• The local market place is full of fresh vegetables and handmade products.

thương trường

Market price

• The market price of oil has fallen significantly due to oversupply.

giá thị trường

Market research

• Companies often conduct market research before launching a new product.

nghiên cứu thị trường

Stock market

• The global stock market experienced a sharp decline during the financial crisis.

thị trường chứng khoán

Launch a new product

• The company plans to launch a new product targeting young consumers.

tung ra sản phẩm

Take one’s business elsewhere = change suppliers.

• If the prices keep rising, customers may take their business elsewhere.

đi nơi khác làm ăn/ mua của người khác

A rival company = opponent

• The firm lost many customers to a rival company that offered lower prices.

một công ty đối thủ

Business is booming = prospering

• Thanks to the rise of online shopping, business is booming for e-commerce platforms.

câu dùng để chỉ khoảng thời gian hoàng kim bùng nổ của một DN nào đó

Minimum wage

• Many employers argue that raising the minimum wage will increase business costs.

mức lương tối thiểu

A good team player = supportive member

• She is not only a hard worker but also a good team player, always willing to help her colleagues.

một đồng nghiệp

Embark on a career = launch a career

• After graduating from university, she decided to embark on a career in teaching.

bắt đầu sự nghiệp

Pursue a career

• She decided to pursue a career in medicine despite the long years of study required.

theo đuổi sự nghiệp

Career prospect = job prospect

• I used to have a cashier position at the restaurant. It was a great career prospect that matched my major perfectly, but I quit after three days.

cơ hội nghề nghiệp

Switch one’s career = shift one’s career

• It’s not easy to switch careers, especially since I’ve been doing this job for a long time.

thay đổi công việc

At the height/ peak of one’s career

• Many artists take advantage of being at the peak of their career to hold fan meetings and sell expensive tickets.

#take advantage of: lợi dụng, tận dụng

ở đỉnh cao sự nghiệp

Make a profit = generate venue

• The company managed to make a profit in its first year of operation.

tạo lợi nhuận

Make ends meet = financial struggle

• Many families are struggling to make ends meet because of rising living costs.

đủ sống, xoay sở chi tiêu

Be over head and ears in debts = be deep in debt

• Her salary is only three millions a month, but she always spends like there’s no tomorrow and ends up over head and ears in debts.

#spend like there’s no tomorrow: tiêu tiền như không có ngày mai

nợ nần chồng chất

Be up to one’s ears = be overloaded

• I’m up to my ears in work and study in work and study, so I can’t hang out with my friend.

ngập đầu trong công việc

Leave nothing to chance = be well-prepared

• My manager is thorough in every step when instructing us how to work, leaving nothing to chance during the process of serving customers.

không có bất cứ sai sót gì

By the book = follow the rules

• She’s very careful and prefers to do things by the book, even if it takes longer.

theo nguyên tắc

Call it a day = take a break

• After studying at school for eight hours, I’m too tired to do anything else, so I call it a day.

dừng lại công việc trong ngày, dừng làm việc, nghỉ tay sau khi đã việc đủ

Diamond in the rough = raw talent

• Although she’s too lazy to study, she learns things really quickly. I think she’s a diamond in the rough.

người có nhiều tiềm năng nhưng hiện tại vẫn còn nhiều thiếu sót

Blue collar

• Blue collar workers usually earns less than white collar workers.

lao động chân tay

White collar 

• To be honest, I sometimes find white collar workers a bit weird and selfish - like the CS team in my company.

nhân viên văn phòng

Golden handshake

• Many senior managers get a golden handshake when they retire early.

khoản tiền trả cho người nhân viên thôi việc