* 28 Job Situations (p.1 of 3)
28.1�� When you lack experience in a new job
This is all so new to me!�� Listen�� <�Can you do this job on your own?� � �Not yet. This is all so new to me.�>
I've never done this before.�� Listen�� <�Your work will be supervised for the first time.� � �Sure. I�ve never done this before.�>
I'm new at this.�� Listen�� <�What�s wrong? Didn�t you have enough training?� � �I need more time. I�m new at this.�>
I'm still a little new to all this.�� Listen�� < �I can�t operate this equipment alone. I am still a little new to all this.�>
I'm a newcomer to this.�� Listen�� <�I still need guidance in my work. I am a newcomer to this.�>
I'm the new kid on the block.�� Listen�� A �I am the newest person here.��� <�I have only been working here for a short time. I�m the new kid on the block.�>
I haven't had much experience in this line of work.�� Listen�� <�They assigned me to help the department manager. I haven�t had much experience in this line of work. I feel like I have to learn a lot.�>
Give me time, I'll catch on.�� Listen�� A �Allow me some time to improve my skill.��� <�Do you think you can handle it?� � �It�s not too hard to do. Give me time, I�ll catch on.�>
Give me a chance.�� Listen�� A �Give me an opportunity to do it.��� <�We need a person to work on an automated assembly line. Do you think you can do it?� � �I know I can. Give me a chance.�>
Give me a break.�� Listen�� A �Be easy on me. Give me another chance to do it.��� <�I know I can do it. Let me try again.� � �Well, I don�t know�� � �Don�t be too harsh on me. Give me a break.�>
28.2�� When you encourage a person to stay at the job
You'll learn more as you go along.�� Listen�� <�I don�t think I can do it.� � �Don�t worry. You�ll learn more as you go along.�>
You'll pick it up as you go along.�� Listen�� A �You�ll acquire skill gradually in the process of work.��� <�Your work looks so professional. How do you do it?� � �You�ll pick it up as you go along.�>
You'll get the hang of it.�� Listen�� <�To work with electric equipment is harder than I thought.� � �You�ll get the hang of it.�>
You can handle it.�� Listen�� A �You can do this work.��� <�I need someone to work on the new account. I am thinking about you. You can handle it.�>
Hang in there.�� Listen�� A �Stay where you are and be patient.��� <�Sometimes I think I just can�t do this kind of work.� � �Hang in there. You�ll learn on the job.�>
Stick with it.�� Listen�� A �Stay with it. Don�t quit.��� <�I don�t really like this job.� � �But it pays well, doesn�t it? Stick with it.�>
28.3�� When a job is familiar to you
I know it like the back of my hand.�� Listen�� A �I know it really well.��� <�I�ve been doing accounting at a manufacturing company for many years. I know it like the back of my hand.�>
I know it all from A to Z.�� Listen�� <�I was a nurse all my life. I know it from A to Z.�>
I know it like a book.�� Listen�� <�My job includes various duties. I know it like a book.�>
I know it backwards and forwards.�� Listen�� <�I work in construction business. I know it backwards and forwards.�>
I know it inside and out.�� Listen�� <�I have extensive experience in this line of work. I know it inside and out.�>
I know the ins and outs of it.�� Listen�� <�I own a small business. I know the ins and outs of it.�>
I know all the tricks of the trade.�� Listen�� <�I am a financial broker. I know all the tricks of the trade.�>
28.4�� When a job or task is easy
It's simple.�� Listen�� <�I am going to finish this task in an hour. It�s simple.�>
It's easy as ABC.�� Listen�� <�I like this kind of work. It�s as easy as ABC.�>
It's like taking candy from a baby.�� Listen�� A �It is easy to do.��� <�This product is hot. Selling it to the general public is easy. It�s like taking candy from a baby.�>
It's child�s play.�� Listen�� <�I�m pretty sure I will complete this translation shortly. It�s child�s play.�>
It's a piece of cake.�� Listen�� A �It is pleasantly easy.��� <�In summer I work as a lifeguard on the beach. What a fun job! It�s a piece of cake.�>
It's not rocket science.�� Listen�� A �It is not too complicated.��� <�I�ve been working in sales for twenty years. It�s hard. But it�s not rocket science.�>
I can do that.�� Listen�� <�We need to convince our business partners that we all win if we start this project early.� � �I can do that. They trust me. Besides, they are reasonable people.�>
I can do that with my eyes closed.�� Listen�� <�Your car needs an oil change. I can do that with my eyes closed.�>
I can do that with one arm tied behind my back.�� Listen�� <�Do you want me to play this piece of music? It is rather plain. I can do that with one arm tied behind my back.�>
No sweat.�� Listen�� A �There is no difficulty there.��� <�I will repair your bike tomorrow. No sweat.�>
There�s nothing to it.�� Listen�� A �There is nothing difficult there.��� <�Is it hard to operate this machine?� � �There�s nothing to it. You need to follow the instruction manual, that�s all.�>
What�s there to know?�� Listen�� A �You don�t need to have any special knowledge.��� <�Do you know how to operate this machine?� � �What�s there to know? Just push that big green button.�>
28.5�� When a job or task is not easy
It's not as easy as it seems.�� Listen�� <�I�ve been learning Spanish for a few years already. It�s not as easy as it seems.�>
It's not as easy as it looks.�� Listen�� <�I was a bookkeeper all of my life. It�s not as easy as it looks.�>
It's no picnic.�� Listen�� A �It is not an easy task.��� <�I work at school and I like my job. But it�s no picnic.>
It's harder than it looks.�� Listen�� <�I work as a secretary for a big boss. It�s harder than it looks.�>
It's harder than you think.�� Listen�� <�I don�t believe we can close this deal. It is harder than you think.�>
It's surprisingly difficult.�� Listen�� <�I�m trying to grow a vegetable garden in California. It�s surprisingly difficult.�>
It's a real challenge.�� Listen�� <�It turned out that my project requires more time and efforts than I anticipated. It�s a real challenge.�>
There is more to it than meets the eye.�� Listen�� A �It is more complicated than it seems.��� <�We have been negotiating this deal for a long time without any success. There is more to it than meets the eye.�>
That�s easier said than done.�� Listen�� A �That task is easier to talk about than to do.��� <�We can try to resolve this issue. We did it in the past.� � �That�s easier said than done. It has never been so complicated before.�>
28.6�� When you encourage a person to start working
You�re good to go.�� Listen�� A �Everything has been checked, so you can start your mission now.��� <�You�re good to go, so start without further delay.�>
Put your nose to the grindstone.�� Listen�� A �Start working really hard.��� <�This is an urgent order. Put your nose to the grindstone.�>
Let's get down to business.�� Listen�� A �Let�s get down to work. Let�s talk seriously. Let�s conduct business.��� <�All right, everyone! We have completed our preparations. Let�s get down to business.�>
Let's get down to brass tacks.�� Listen�� A �Let�s get to the bolts and nuts of our business. Let�s get to practical details.��� <�We�ve wasted too much time already. Let�s get down to brass tacks.�>
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