Learn English with StoriesWork & Career Stories
English stories about work and career situations. Learn professional vocabulary, office interactions, job interviews, and workplace culture. Essential reading for anyone planning to work in a English-speaking environment. These stories cover meetings, emails, coworker relationships, and career growth scenarios.
36 stories available • Page 1 of 2
The Coffee Break
An office worker takes a morning coffee break, meets a colleague in the break room, and they chat about their weekends before returning to work feeling refreshed.
Calling in Sick
Tom wakes up on Monday feeling sick with a fever and sore throat. He calls his boss to say he cannot come to work. His boss tells him to rest and drink water. After two days of rest, Tom feels better and returns to work on Wednesday.
The Lunch Room
A worker goes to the lunch room at noon for their break. They bring a sandwich and apple from home and make coffee. A colleague named Anna joins them, and they chat about work while eating. After finishing lunch, they clean up and return to their desks.
The Printer Problem
Tom needs to print a document for an important meeting, but the office printer has problems. First there is a paper jam, then the ink runs out. His colleague Sara helps him with a new ink cartridge, and he arrives at the meeting just in time.
Lunch with Coworkers
Anna works at a big company. At noon, her coworker Tom invites her to lunch. Anna, Tom, and Lisa go to a small restaurant near the office. They order food, talk about work, and enjoy their meal together before returning to the office.
First Day at Work
A person describes their first day at a new job, from waking up early and arriving at the office to meeting their manager David, getting a tour, and meeting colleagues including their friendly desk neighbor Lisa.
Working From Home
Someone experiences their first day working from home, managing video calls, emails, and tasks from their home office while enjoying the quiet environment and flexibility, though missing in-person interactions with colleagues.
The Business Lunch
A professional attends a business lunch with a potential client, discussing a new project while building rapport over food, and the meeting ends successfully with plans for future collaboration.
The Phone Interview
Michael prepares carefully for a phone interview at TechHealth Solutions, a company that makes healthcare software. He researches the company, prepares answers to common questions, and finds a quiet room for the call. During the interview with HR manager Sarah, he discusses his five years of programming experience, his interest in helping people through technology, and his skills. He answers questions about his strengths and weaknesses, asks about the team and training opportunities, and feels confident after the interview. Now he waits to hear back with their decision.
The Difficult Customer
A shop employee deals with an angry customer who wants to return a broken tablet without a receipt. The customer claims the screen was already cracked when he bought it, but records show the purchase was made five months ago, beyond the thirty-day return policy. The store manager offers a discounted repair instead, and the customer agrees. Three days later, he returns for the fixed tablet and finally shows some gratitude.
The New Boss
Maria and her colleagues are nervous about their new boss, Ms. Anderson, who seems very strict. During Maria's individual meeting, she is surprised when Ms. Anderson praises her work and assigns her an important new project. Maria completes the project successfully, and the boss publicly thanks her. Everyone realizes that although Ms. Anderson is strict, she is also fair and recognizes hard work.
Team Building Day
The narrator's company organizes a team building day at a park outside the city. Employees are divided into four teams wearing different colors. The blue team, including the narrator and colleague Maria, participates in several activities: a puzzle competition, a cooking challenge where they make the winning pasta salad, a funny egg relay race, and a treasure hunt. The blue team wins the overall competition. The day brings colleagues closer together and teaches everyone the value of teamwork.
The Office Party
Anna works at a small marketing company and learns that her company has signed a big contract. To celebrate, the boss announces an office party for the following Friday. Anna volunteers to bake a chocolate cake, while her colleagues Mark and Lisa help with music and games. At the party, everyone enjoys food, dancing, and a quiz competition. The boss surprises everyone with his amazing dance moves. Anna's homemade cake is a big hit, and the evening ends with everyone feeling happy and connected.
The Internship
Emma starts her first day as an intern at a software company. She meets her friendly supervisor Mr. Chen and makes a new friend, Sarah. After completing her first task successfully, Emma feels proud and excited about her new journey.
The Work Email
Lisa works at a marketing company. On Monday morning, she receives an email from her boss about a meeting. At the meeting, she learns that she will lead a new project for a big international client. Lisa writes professional emails to confirm the meeting and introduce herself to the client. The client responds positively, and Lisa is excited about this career opportunity.
Asking for Time Off
Emma works at a marketing company and needs to take time off for her sister's wedding. She is nervous about asking her busy boss, Mr. Hansen. After sending an email, she meets with him in his office. He asks about the presentation, but Emma shows him that she finished her work early. Mr. Hansen approves her request and tells her she deserves the break. Emma happily calls her sister Sophie to share the good news.
Video Meeting Fail
Mark wakes up late for an important video meeting. Wearing a nice shirt but pajama pants, he thinks no one will notice. During the call, his cat keeps interrupting, his neighbor plays drums, he spills coffee on his keyboard, and his mother calls. When the boss asks everyone to stand and stretch, Mark forgets about his pajamas and reveals his bright pink pants to the whole team. From then on, he always wears proper clothes for meetings.
Remote Work Problems
Daniel faces common remote work challenges: slow internet during video calls, noisy neighbors, difficulty staying focused, and feelings of loneliness. He learns to improve his situation by setting up a proper home office, creating a daily schedule with breaks, and joining a coworking space to meet other people.