Reading Preview 1. What does your father do? And how about your mother? 2. Is there anyone around you who doesn’t have a job? 3. What do you think people should do in order to keep their jobs?

Strategies for Keeping Your Job After six years with the company, Mr. Lee lost his job. He hadn’t done anything wrong. On the contrary, he was a good worker, but his company was cutting its workforce. Mr. Lee couldn’t understand why it was he who was unemployed. He went to a career expert, Mr. Green, for help. Mr. Lee: I was a good worker. But I was unemployed. Could you tell me how I can keep my job? Mr. Green: Being a good worker is sometimes less important than making yourself known as a good worker. Mr. Lee: Really? I’ve never thought about it. Mr. Green: Yes, it’s true. And also you should learn everything

that could help you do your job better. Mr. Lee: Yes. If the company buys new computers, I should learn how to use them. Mr. Green: Yes, you’re right. Besides you’d better be positive. People don’t like those who are always complaining about everything. You’ll be popular if you find things to praise. Try to impress your boss, and it is also important. You can impress a boss by arriving early and working late. Mr. Lee: I’ll keep all you said in my mind and try to follow them. Mr. Green: In fact, it all comes down to one basic strategy. Make yourself so valuable that the company won’t want to lose you.

workforce ： total number of workers employed

unemployed ： without a paid job

career ： a job that one does for the whole of one’s life

expert ： a person with special knowledge

complain ： to say in an unhappy, dissatisfied way

popular ： well liked by a lot of people

impress ： to fix sth. in one’s mind

basic ： most important and necessary

valuable ： very useful or important