TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, Which kind of worker would you prefer to hire: an inexperienced worker at a lower salary or an experienced worker at a higher salary? - revised -

Writing Topic 

If you were an employer, which kind of worker would you prefer to hire: an inexperienced worker at a lower salary or an experienced worker at a higher salary? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

☆Let’s think

1.      Paying less for an employee is more preferable for an employer for an obvious reason: He can cut costs. What is the difference between employing an experienced worker and employing an inexperienced one?

2.      Is an experienced worker worth the extra money?

3.      Is lack of experience just a disadvantage?

☆Hints for Points

Reasons for hiring an inexperienced worker at a lower salary

1.    Paying a lower salary will save you money.

2.    It would be easier to train an inexperienced worker than an experienced worker because he is more ready to accept the company culture while an experienced worker often has difficulty in unlearning what he has already acquired in his previous work places.

3.    He would work harder because he wants to learn anything related to his job.

4.    Everyone is inexperienced at the beginning. Chances should be given to the young.

Reasons for hiring an experienced worker at a higher salary

1.    It lowers the risk of wasting the recruiting expenses.

2.    An experienced employee is valuable as an asset. His kills, knowledge, and the network of personal connections would be useful for your company.

3.    A worker with experience can teach less experienced workers.

4.    A well-seasoned worker can make fewer serious mistakes

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions     (Barron’s, Writing for the TOEFL iBT, pp. 282-283)

☆Sample Body Structures

Sample Body Structure A              

1)    about experienced workers      

2)    about inexperienced workers  

3)    my choice                                 

Sample Body Structure B

1) good point of my choice 1

2) good point of my choice 2

3) why the bad point does not matter

Your Sample Body Structure

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3】

☆Speech Time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.

☆Sample Paragraph Development

A      【Main Idea】A company cannot afford to pay a high salary to a newly employed.

【Supporting Detail (in general)】It has to pay a lot to employees who have been working for the company.

【Supporting Detail (specific)】The employees a company already has are those that have contributed to the company and thus the company has to reward them well.

【Follow up】Loss of money caused by mistakes inexperienced workers make can be avoided by training and communication.

【Conclusion】It is practical to hire the inexperienced at a lower salary and to invest in grooming them to make them highly-paid workforce.

B      【Main Idea】An experienced worker can start work on the day he is hired.

【Supporting Detail (in general)】An experienced worker knows what to do with his new position.【Supporting Detail (specific)】The person can do his job without asking other workers many questions. He has general knowledge and manners related to business. He can even support others if necessary. On the other hand, it takes time for an inexperienced worker to be able to do the job. He needs to be trained and he will still need to learn on the job for a while be full-fledged.

【Follow up】It is true that paying a high salary would reduce profits, but considering the cost for training and possible losses caused by mistakes the inexperienced worker makes, I think giving the job to a person who is familiar with it would cost less in the long run.

【Conclusion】Therefore, I would rather choose a person who is ready to work.

C      【Main Idea】It lowers the risk of wasting the recruiting expenses.

【Supporting Detail (in general)】You would not know exactly how competent an inexperienced worker will be no matter how careful you may be.

【Supporting Detail (specific)】He might be tardy or quit during the probation.

【Follow up】Of course, not all experienced workers are perfect, but most of them are survivors. The fact that they have been in the industry for a long time shows that they have good work ethics, have no personality problems, and can do the job well enough.

【Conclusion】It would be safe to employ a person with work-experience.

Your Sample Paragraph Development:

【Main Idea】                                                                                       

                                                                                                     

【Supporting Detail (general)】                                                                       

                                                                                                     

【Supporting Detail (specific)】                                                                        

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                    

                                                                                                    

【Follow-up】                                                                                       

                                                                                                    

                                                                                                    

【Conclusion】                                                                                      

                                                                                                    

Comments or Suggestion from your partner or group members