Those who go on to successful careers often mention their days of waiting tables or picking fruit as formative experiences. Actor Sean Connery may have the 007 role as a highlight on his CV but he began working as a milkman when he was 14. George Clooney once tried his hand at selling women's shoes. Sir Terry Leahy ended up running the British supermarket giant Tesco after taking a holiday job stacking tea and coffee.
What is a 'proper job'? White collar work is aspirational and professionals in finance, advertising, journalism and the law often work extremely long hours. But there is a sense that sitting at a desk all one's life is not always 'real' work in the same way as some other jobs are.
Has a person who has never had to cope with physical or monotonous labour somehow missed out? It goes beyond career development to the idea of becoming a well-rounded person.
Dr Paul Sissons, senior researcher at the Work Foundation, argues that the best way to achieve career success could be getting good grades. "Formal qualifications are still the essential determinant of labour market outcomes," he says.
Quiz 測驗 1. Look at the article, what are the examples given of Saturday jobs?
Cleaning toilets, milking cows, operating the machine that puts jam into a doughnut, stacking shelves in a supermarket.
2. What's made it more difficult for young people to find a job?
The economic downturn.
3 According to an expert mentioned in the article, what could be the best way of achieving career success?
Dr Paul Sissons, senior researcher at the Work Foundation, says getting good grades is important for career success.
4. What expression is used to refer to a job in an office?
White collar work.
5. What expression is used to refer to trying something out for the first time?
To dip one's toe into (something).
Glossary 词汇表 an internship一次實習(機會) a Saturday job一份周六的工作 a 'proper job'一份正式的工作 a rite of passage一個通過儀式 a part-time job一份兼職工作 to dip one's toe into (something)嘗試做（什麼） adulthood成年 the economic downturn經濟衰退 work experience工作經驗 formative experiences成長經驗 to try one's hand at (something)去嘗試做（什麼） white collar work白領工作 aspirational夢寐以求的 to miss out錯過 a well-rounded person全面發展的人 formal qualifications正式文憑或資格
