Model IELTS Essay: Choosing Between Job Enjoyment and Long-Term Security
The IELTS Writing Task 2 is a formal essay-writing component of the test. It carries more weight than Task 1 and plays a significant role in determining your overall writing band score. In Task 2, candidates are expected to write a structured essay of at least 250 words in response to a given prompt. The prompt usually addresses current social, economic, environmental, or cultural issues relevant to an international audience.
The examiners assess your essay based on four official criteria:
Each of these carries equal weight, and together, they determine your band score for the Writing section.
Among the different types of essay prompts in IELTS Task 2, one of the most frequent is:
“Discuss both views and give your opinion.”
This task type expects you to:
Failure to address both views fully or omitting your own opinion will limit your score under the Task Response criterion.
Let’s use the following example question for our explanation:
“Some people think that job satisfaction is more important than job security, while others believe it is better to have a stable job even if it is not very satisfying. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.”
This prompt introduces a very real and relatable debate in the modern workforce. Many people today must decide whether to choose a job they enjoy (job satisfaction) or one that is safe and reliable (job security). Both options have advantages and drawbacks, and your essay should explore these carefully.
This topic is relevant to IELTS candidates because:
Before writing, it’s essential to fully understand what the question is asking. Break the prompt down into manageable parts:
Understanding the question means identifying:
In IELTS, candidates often lose marks for only discussing one side of the argument. Even if your opinion strongly favours one side, you must still fully explain the opposing view. This demonstrates that you are capable of:
This skill is valued not just in exams, but also in academic and professional communication.
Strong essays are planned before they are written. Spending 4–5 minutes planning can make a significant difference in clarity, organisation, and depth of ideas. Here’s what to include in your plan:
Before writing, you need to determine your stance. Ask yourself:
You can choose any position, but it must be clear and consistent throughout the essay.
Create a simple two-column list of arguments.
Job Satisfaction:
Job Security:
Having these ideas prepared helps you avoid repetition and ensures your argument is balanced.
Examples help explain and support your ideas. These can come from:
Choose one example for each body paragraph to strengthen your reasoning.
Use a clear structure to ensure logical flow and clarity. A five-paragraph model is ideal:
This structure aligns with IELTS marking criteria and helps the reader follow your argument easily.
Think ahead about the vocabulary you’ll use. Try to vary word choices to avoid repetition. Here are some useful synonyms and phrases for this topic:
Job Satisfaction:
Job Security:
Useful Linking Phrases:
These phrases improve cohesion and help signal transitions between ideas.
Understanding the task and planning your response carefully are essential first steps to writing a high-scoring IELTS Task 2 essay. The “discuss both views and give your opinion” prompt type requires balanced analysis, logical structure, and clear expression of your perspective.
The introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2 has three important goals:
Let’s take another look at the sample introduction from the model essay:
“Balancing personal fulfilment and financial stability is a key challenge in the modern workforce. While some argue that job satisfaction is essential for long-term well-being, others prioritise job security as a more practical and responsible choice. Although security has its merits, job satisfaction is ultimately more important for a meaningful and sustainable career.”
This introduction is effective for several reasons.
“Balancing personal fulfilment and financial stability is a key challenge in the modern workforce.”
This sentence introduces the general theme of the essay without repeating the exact wording of the question. It shows the writer understands the topic and can express it in a natural, academic way. The sentence avoids clichés like “In today’s world…” and instead uses meaningful language that adds value.
“While some argue that job satisfaction is essential for long-term well-being, others prioritise job security as a more practical and responsible choice.”
This sentence presents both sides of the argument fairly and neutrally. It signals to the reader that the essay will explore both perspectives, as the task demands. The structure “while some… others…” is a useful format for comparing viewpoints in a concise manner.
“Although security has its merits, job satisfaction is ultimately more important for a meaningful and sustainable career.”
This final sentence in the introduction clearly expresses the writer’s own opinion, which is that job satisfaction is more important. It also uses formal and persuasive vocabulary: “has its merits,” “ultimately,” “meaningful,” and “sustainable” all suggest a well-reasoned stance. This kind of precise and academic language is important for meeting the IELTS scoring criteria for Lexical Resource and Task Response.
To help build your introductions, follow this simple three-part formula:
Here’s a planning example:
Topic: Job satisfaction vs job security
Now, combine those ideas into a single, fluid paragraph.
Example introduction:
“In today’s competitive job market, people often face difficult decisions when choosing between passion and practicality. While many argue that job satisfaction is essential for personal happiness and career growth, others prioritise stable employment as the foundation for a secure future. In my view, although job security offers certain advantages, it is job satisfaction that ultimately leads to a more rewarding and sustainable career.”
This version:
Avoid:
Now that we’ve introduced the essay and clarified the position, the first body paragraph should focus entirely on one view. In this case, we’ll start with why some people believe job satisfaction is more important.
Let’s review the model paragraph:
“Those who favour job satisfaction point to the positive impact it has on mental health, motivation, and overall life quality. People who enjoy their work are often more engaged, productive, and innovative. For example, creative professionals and social workers may not earn high salaries, but their sense of purpose drives them to perform well and remain committed. Over time, this intrinsic motivation can lead to career advancement and personal growth that outweighs the benefits of a more secure but unfulfilling job.”
This paragraph is effective and well-developed. Let’s break it down step by step.
“Those who favour job satisfaction point to the positive impact it has on mental health, motivation, and overall life quality.”
The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph — the benefits of job satisfaction. It also hints at what specific aspects will be discussed: mental health, motivation, and quality of life. This sentence sets a clear direction and is free of ambiguity.
“People who enjoy their work are often more engaged, productive, and innovative.”
This expands on the topic sentence by explaining how satisfaction at work influences behaviour and performance. Notice the precise vocabulary: “engaged,” “productive,” and “innovative” — all positive qualities in an employee.
“For example, creative professionals and social workers may not earn high salaries, but their sense of purpose drives them to perform well and remain committed.”
Here, the writer uses a real-world example involving two different professions. These examples are well chosen because they:
IELTS does not require statistics or real data, but specific, relatable examples make your argument more persuasive and improve your score in the Task Response and Lexical Resource categories.
“Over time, this intrinsic motivation can lead to career advancement and personal growth that outweighs the benefits of a more secure but unfulfilling job.”
This sentence adds depth by explaining the long-term value of job satisfaction. It contrasts the benefits of satisfaction with the drawbacks of choosing security without passion. The phrase “intrinsic motivation” shows the writer is using advanced vocabulary accurately and appropriately.
You can structure your body paragraph like this:
Here’s a sample you can model your writing on:
“Many people believe that enjoying one’s work is the key to a fulfilling life. When employees are passionate about their roles, they are more likely to stay motivated and contribute positively to their organisations. For example, teachers often face long hours and moderate pay, yet their dedication to educating others brings them deep satisfaction. This sense of purpose can make even the most demanding jobs worthwhile, leading to long-term professional and personal growth.”
This paragraph:
In this, we’ve seen how to:
We’ll focus on:
After writing the introduction and the first body paragraph (which presented the view that job satisfaction is more important), the next step is to build the second and third body paragraphs.
This paragraph focuses on the second view in the prompt — that job security is more important, even if the work is not very satisfying. In an IELTS essay that asks you to discuss both views, it is essential to present each side fairly and objectively, even if you do not agree with one of them.
Here is the paragraph from the model essay:
“On the other hand, advocates of job security emphasise the importance of financial consistency and long-term planning. A stable job provides a predictable income, which is essential for supporting a family, paying off debts, or saving for the future. This is particularly relevant in times of economic uncertainty, where changing jobs or taking career risks may not be feasible. For instance, many people in government roles or large corporations choose stability over passion, believing that security ensures peace of mind and a reliable future.”
“On the other hand, advocates of job security emphasise the importance of financial consistency and long-term planning.”
This sentence introduces the opposing viewpoint. It uses the transition phrase “on the other hand” to show contrast and shift the reader’s focus. The key terms “financial consistency” and “long-term planning” summarise the main benefits of job security. This is a clear and effective way to begin a paragraph that presents a new idea.
“A stable job provides a predictable income, which is essential for supporting a family, paying off debts, or saving for the future.”
This sentence adds detail by explaining why some people prioritise job security. The explanation is realistic and practical — highlighting responsibilities such as family needs and financial obligations. This grounds the argument in everyday life and shows understanding of economic concerns.
“This is particularly relevant in times of economic uncertainty, where changing jobs or taking career risks may not be feasible.”
This sentence strengthens the argument by showing that context matters. In difficult economic periods, job seekers may be more risk-averse. The paragraph shows that external factors — such as a weak job market or inflation — can influence priorities. This makes the argument more nuanced and realistic.
“For instance, many people in government roles or large corporations choose stability over passion, believing that security ensures peace of mind and a reliable future.”
This example is clear, relatable, and supports the main point. Government jobs and large corporate positions are widely known for offering benefits like pensions, insurance, and stability, even if they are not always the most exciting. The phrase “peace of mind” reinforces the emotional appeal of security.
Here’s a structure you can use for this type of paragraph:
Example:
“Many people prioritise job security because it allows for financial planning and emotional stability. With a reliable income, individuals can meet their monthly expenses, care for their families, and plan for the future with confidence. For example, employees in public administration or banking often accept routine tasks in exchange for benefits like health insurance and job protection. In uncertain economic conditions, such predictable employment becomes a practical and often necessary choice.”
This version is balanced, precise, and realistic.
In the third body paragraph, you must clearly and fully explain your own opinion. This is one of the most important parts of the essay because it fulfils the requirement in the prompt to “give your own opinion.” Whether you support one side, reject both, or suggest a compromise, this paragraph should offer a well-reasoned and clearly stated perspective.
Here’s the model essay’s third paragraph:
“Nonetheless, prioritising job security at the expense of personal satisfaction can lead to burnout, reduced performance, and even mental health issues. A more balanced approach would be to seek jobs that offer both reasonable stability and the chance to grow and contribute meaningfully. While not always easy to achieve, this alignment can lead to a more fulfilling professional life over the long term.”
“Nonetheless, prioritising job security at the expense of personal satisfaction can lead to burnout, reduced performance, and even mental health issues.”
This sentence challenges the opposing view, signalling a shift in focus from describing different perspectives to defending the writer’s stance. The use of “nonetheless” signals that the argument is moving toward a critique of job security when it is pursued without balance.
The paragraph begins with a counter-argument — it recognises the value of job security but warns of the psychological costs of staying in an unsatisfying job.
“A more balanced approach would be to seek jobs that offer both reasonable stability and the chance to grow and contribute meaningfully.”
This sentence presents a compromise or ideal solution: balancing job satisfaction with a degree of security. This kind of nuanced perspective is often rewarded in IELTS essays because it shows the writer is capable of critical thinking and evaluation.
“While not always easy to achieve, this alignment can lead to a more fulfilling professional life over the long term.”
The final sentence adds a realistic observation — it acknowledges that finding a job with both satisfaction and stability is challenging, but still worth aiming for. This prevents the essay from seeming naive or overly idealistic.
Here’s a practical approach to building this paragraph:
Here is another example of a third body paragraph:
Although job security is undoubtedly important, working in a role that lacks personal satisfaction can lead to long-term dissatisfaction and reduced productivity. People who feel disconnected from their work are more likely to experience stress, low morale, and even depression. I believe that it is better to pursue a career that aligns with one’s interests and values. While this may involve some risk, the sense of purpose and achievement it brings often results in greater professional and emotional success over time.”
This version:
Here are some useful phrases you can use to express your personal view effectively:
Avoid informal expressions like “I think it’s better to…” or “I guess…” — these weaken the academic tone of your writing.
In this section, we explored how to:
By the end of these three body paragraphs, your essay will have thoroughly addressed the question, covered both sides of the issue, and offered a clear stance — all key requirements for a high band score in Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion.
The conclusion is the final section of your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. It must be brief but impactful. It should:
Let’s revisit the model essay conclusion:
“In conclusion, while job security offers important financial and practical advantages, job satisfaction should take precedence. A career that brings enjoyment and purpose not only improves individual well-being but also contributes more positively to society. Striking a balance is ideal, but when forced to choose, satisfaction should be the priority.”
Example Conclusion Template:
“In conclusion, while job security provides significant peace of mind and stability, job satisfaction is ultimately more important for long-term happiness and personal growth. Although balancing both aspects may be challenging, individuals should prioritise roles that offer purpose and fulfilment. A rewarding career not only benefits individuals but also contributes positively to the wider society.”
Now that we have covered how to structure and write each part of the essay, it’s important to take a step back and assess the overall effectiveness of your response. Here is a final checklist to help ensure your essay is well-rounded and scores highly.
In this final section, we covered:
By following this structured approach, you can effectively tackle IELTS Writing Task 2 essays, particularly those that require you to discuss both views and give your opinion. With practice and attention to detail, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a high band score.
Writing a successful IELTS Task 2 essay, especially one that requires discussing both views and giving your opinion, depends on a clear structure, balanced reasoning, and confident expression. By fully exploring each side of the argument and presenting a well-supported personal viewpoint, candidates can demonstrate the critical thinking and language skills the exam is designed to assess. Careful planning, precise vocabulary, and consistent grammar use are essential to achieving a high score. Ultimately, regular practice combined with a methodical approach will lead to greater clarity, confidence, and success in the writing section of the IELTS exam.
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