Recent exam 12/2025
You need to write an essay addressing the topic below:
A growing number of young people are changing their jobs and career paths. What are the reasons behind this phenomenon?
Do the benefits of this trend outweigh the drawbacks?
Explain your viewpoint with reasons and include appropriate examples based on your knowledge or experiences.
Your essay should comprise a minimum of 250 words.
Type: Two-part Question (Causes + Benefits vs. Drawbacks)
Model Answer (Band 8–8.5):
An increasing proportion of young adults are switching jobs and even altering their career trajectories, rather than remaining in a single profession throughout their working lives. This essay will examine the key factors driving this trend and argue that its advantages generally outweigh its disadvantages when such changes are made strategically.
One major reason behind this phenomenon is the growing flexibility and competitiveness of the modern labour market. Many industries now rely on project-based roles and frequent recruitment cycles, making job changes a practical way for young people to enhance their income and career prospects. At the same time, younger generations place greater emphasis on personal fulfilment, work–life balance, and a supportive working environment, rather than prioritising long-term stability alone. Furthermore, rapid technological advancement has generated new career opportunities, while online courses and professional training programmes allow individuals to reskill and transition between fields more easily than in the past. For instance, a marketing executive may change employers after a short period to secure better pay or acquire digital competencies in order to move into data-related roles. As a result, changing jobs and career paths has become a rational response to evolving professional expectations.
Overall, the benefits of this trend tend to outweigh the drawbacks. By moving between roles or even industries, young people can develop a broader skill set, build professional networks, and identify career paths that better align with their strengths and interests. This degree of flexibility is particularly valuable during the early stages of a career. Admittedly, frequent job changes may lead to income instability and make it more difficult to develop deep expertise in a single area. Some employers may also interpret job-hopping as a lack of commitment. However, when each transition is purposeful and contributes to the development of a coherent core skill set, adaptability becomes a competitive advantage rather than a liability.
In conclusion, young people are increasingly changing jobs and career paths due to labour market dynamics, shifting values, and technological change. Although this trend carries certain risks, it is largely beneficial when managed with clear objectives and long-term planning.
Word count: 336
Highlight Vocabulary
| Vocabulary / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| career trajectories | the long-term direction and progression of someone’s career |
| a single profession | one fixed occupation followed for life |
| flexibility and competitiveness | the ability to adapt easily and the presence of strong competition in the job market |
| project-based roles | jobs organised around short-term tasks or projects |
| career prospects | future opportunities for advancement or success in a career |
| personal fulfilment | a sense of satisfaction and purpose from work |
| work–life balance | an appropriate balance between work responsibilities and personal life |
| supportive working environment | a workplace that encourages well-being and professional growth |
| reskill | to learn new skills in order to change or improve one’s job |
| evolving professional expectations | changing standards and demands in the workplace |
| build professional networks | develop useful relationships for career development |
| deep expertise | advanced, specialised knowledge in a specific field |
| job-hopping | changing jobs frequently, often within short periods |
| commitment | loyalty and dedication to an employer or role |
| adaptability | the ability to adjust effectively to change |
| labour market dynamics | the patterns and forces influencing employment and jobs |
