ABE Unit 1 Matching 02 Listening

Omar: So, Candela, what's it like working for a large car manufacturer?
Candela: You'd be surprised, actually. You hear so much about cut-throat competition amongst managers in my type of company, but in fact, as someone starting out on the management ladder, I get a lot of back-up from senior staff. We have twice-weekly get-togethers where we talk through our difficulties and come up with ideas and solutions. It's great. I don't get the feeling that it's 'sink or swim' at all.
Omar: And you, Henry?
Henry: Well, as you'd expect working in hospital administration, there's plenty of red tape. We have to stick to the rules fairly carefully because at the end of the day, people's health's involved, and we're publicly accountable. But that doesn't mean there's no room for inventiveness. We're streamlining procedures and making efficiency gains.
Omar: And saving taxpayers' money.
Henry: That's right.
Omar Now, Sonia, what's it like working for a dotcom?
Sonia: It's not exactly a dotcom. As a matter of fact, it's more a software developer. And it really suits me, you know, I nearly always turn up at work wearing jeans and a Tshirt, which is great for a manager, and everyone talks to everyone else in a really relaxed way. There's none of that 'them-and-us' feeling between management and staff that you get in other industries. I mean, in most ways the staff are more expert than the managers! And what about you, Omar?
Omar: My company, as you know, is a consumer products company, and we're all organised in divisions, and the divisions in teams, and we're all competing against each other. Our pay is performance-related, and nobody gets the same. Getting ahead and even keeping your job depends on your performance.
Sonia: Um, and how's performance measured, Omar? Is there a yardstick?
Omar: Not really. In the end, it boils down to performance in comparison with other teams and divisions.
Henry: Sounds quite a rat race.
Omar: For me, that's business!