IELTS Listening 實戰 25 職涯諮商面談（Part 3 風格）

Mr Bryant: Olivia, come in. So — final year, and you're starting to think about what's next. Tell me where you are.

Olivia: Honestly, I'm torn. I'm considering two routes: a master's in public policy, or jumping straight into work — probably a graduate scheme at a consultancy or NGO.

Mr Bryant: A reasonable dilemma. Let's pick it apart. The master's first — what's drawing you?

Olivia: I feel my undergraduate is too general. Public policy would let me specialise, and I'd have a stronger profile for civil service entry later.

Mr Bryant: That's a sound rationale. But — have you costed it?

Olivia: Tuition is around twelve thousand for the year. Plus living costs. I've been quoted twenty-five thousand all-in.

Mr Bryant: And funding?

Olivia: My parents could cover about half. I'd take a postgrad loan for the rest.

Mr Bryant: That's manageable. Now, the work route. Why graduate scheme?

Olivia: Two reasons. First, I'd start earning. Second, several friends say what they learned in their first six months on the job dwarfed three years of lectures.

Mr Bryant: That's often true. However — and this is important — most policy-track civil service roles now expect a master's, or equivalent professional qualifications gained on the job. So if civil service is the long game, you're paying either way: now in fees, or later in slower progression.

Olivia: I hadn't framed it that way.

Mr Bryant: One thing to consider: a hybrid. Two years of work first to test whether the field really suits you, then the master's once you're sure. Many strong civil-service candidates take that path. The risk is that you don't return to study — life intervenes.

Olivia: That's a real risk. I'd rather front-load.

Mr Bryant: Then let's strengthen your master's application. Which schools are on your shortlist?

Olivia: King's, LSE, and Edinburgh.

Mr Bryant: Ambitious — all three are competitive. Application deadlines vary: LSE is in early January, King's in mid-February, Edinburgh rolling. So front-load LSE.

Olivia: Got it.

Mr Bryant: Two practical things. Your CV — I had a look — is solid but front-loads your part-time barista work. For policy schools, lead with your dissertation topic and your think-tank internship last summer. Move the barista bit lower.

Olivia: That makes sense.

Mr Bryant: Second, references. You'll need two academic. Have you asked anyone yet?

Olivia: Just one — Dr Bennett, my dissertation supervisor.

Mr Bryant: Good. For the second, I'd suggest Dr Akande, who taught your political-economy module — you got a first, didn't you?

Olivia: Seventy-two.

Mr Bryant: A first. He'd write strongly. Email him this week — references are the bottleneck in late applications.

Olivia: I will. One more — should I take the GRE?

Mr Bryant: For UK master's in public policy, GRE isn't required at any of those three. Don't take it. For US programmes you would, but you've ruled the US out.

Olivia: That saves me three hundred pounds.

Mr Bryant: Right. So — strengthen the CV, email Dr Akande this week, target LSE first. Come back when you've drafted your statement of purpose.

Questions 1-5 — Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.

1. Olivia is considering a master's because she wants to A. earn more immediately. B. specialise and strengthen her civil-service profile. C. study abroad.

2. Mr Bryant points out that civil-service policy roles A. no longer require a master's. B. usually expect a master's or equivalent on-the-job qualifications. C. prefer candidates without postgraduate study.

3. Mr Bryant's "hybrid" suggestion is to A. work two years then do the master's. B. study and work part-time simultaneously. C. apply abroad.

4. Olivia rejects the hybrid because A. her parents disapprove. B. she fears she won't return to study. C. it costs more.

5. Of the three universities, the earliest deadline is A. King's. B. LSE. C. Edinburgh.

Questions 6-10 — Complete the action list. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.

Olivia's Action List

1. Re-order CV: lead with dissertation topic and _______ internship.
2. Move part-time _______ work lower on CV.
3. Request second reference from _______ Akande.
4. Email the second referee within the week — references are the _______.
5. Skip the GRE — saves £ _______.