Why Do People Change Jobs? Reading Answers

Nov 17, 2025

Why Do People Change Jobs? Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Why Do People Change Jobs? Reading Answers has a total of 7 IELTS questions in total. In the questions given, candidates have to complete the sentences using no more than three words.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through some IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

WHY DO PEOPLE CHANGE JOBS

People change jobs every day. In fact, somebody probably just made a decision to change their job right now, while you were reading this sentence. But why do people make that decision? What's behind their decision? Is it money? Benefits? Better health insurance? More compensation overall? Do people really chase more money in the quest for greater career satisfaction? According to LinkedIn's recent "Why & How People Change Jobs" reports, the answer to all of these questions would appear to be "No."

LinkedIn released two reports, one globally and one for North America. Since we're in North America, we'll primarily concern ourselves with the results of that report. Of particular interest are the top reasons that people gave for accepting a company's offer of employment and starting work for them. Those reasons are as follows:

- Stronger career path/more opportunity-63%

- Better compensation/benefits-6096

- Better fit for my skills and interests-50%

- More ability to make an impact-46%

- The work sounded more challenging-45%

- I believed in the company's overall direction-45%

However, those are the top reasons why a person accepted an offer from another company. When it came to reasons why they decided to actually leave their current organization and seek another employment opportunity, compensation and benefits fell even further down the list. When asked what contributed to their decision to leave, 489% of respondents in North America chose "I was concerned about the lack of opportunities for advancement" as their answer. Compensation slipped down to #3.

So-what can we deduce from the data contained in this report?

Without a doubt, a greater opportunity is the #1 reason why people change their jobs. However, it goes beyond that. A perceived lack of opportunity is what prompts a person to consider leaving their current job in the first place. Then, an attractive opportunity is the main reason that the person accepts an offer from another organization.

Clearly, people believe that greater opportunity leads to greater satisfaction in their careers. Yes, money plays a role, but when it comes to spurring people to action, opportunity is king. Not only that, but things like challenging work, the company's direction, and company culture are also major parts of the decision-making process.

When was the last time you conducted an "audit" of your career? Which opportunities exist with your current employer? What kind of opportunities do you want to pursue? How would you answer the questions posed in the LinkedIn report? Figure out where you want to go and how you're going to get there. Create a plan and then execute it. These are the steps that lead you to career growth and satisfaction.

Questions 15 - 21

Complete the sentences below using NOT MORE THAN 3 WORDS from the text.

15. This article looks into what lies……………… when people make up their minds to change their employer.

Answer: BEHIND THEIR DECISION

Supporting statement: But why do people make that decision? What's behind their decision?

Keywords: people make, decision

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 3

Explanation: The question directly asks for the motivating factor, which the text names as what's "behind their decision.

16. In looking for greater contentment from their jobs, do people really………….. a higher level of pecuniary benefits?

Answer: CHASE

Supporting statement: Do people really chase more money in the quest for greater career satisfaction?

Keywords: chase more money, career satisfaction

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The text uses chase more money to question the pursuit of higher financial (pecuniary) benefits.

17. One of the top reasons why people took up work in a new organization was that the new job was more in sync with their………….

Answer: SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Supporting statement: Better fit for my skills and interests-50%

Keywords: fit, skills and interests

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 7

Explanation: Being in sync is equivalent to a better fit for one's skills and interests, a key reason for accepting a new job.

18. While more money is the second most important reason why people take up a new job, ................does not retain its rank among the reasons people gave for deciding to leave their current job.

Answer: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Supporting statement: compensation and benefits fell even further down the list.

Keywords: compensation and benefits, list

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 3

Explanation: The text contrasts the importance of "Better compensation/benefits" when accepting a job with its lower rank when deciding to leave.

19. When people feel that there is a ……………. in their current jobs, it triggers the desire to start looking for another job.

Answer: LACK OF OPPORTUNITY

Supporting statement: A perceived lack of opportunity is what prompts a person to consider leaving their current job in the first place.

Keywords: lack of opportunity, current job

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The text clearly identifies a perceived lack of opportunity as the initial trigger ("prompts") for seeking new employment.

20. While there are many reasons why people change their jobs, including higher compensation, among all the reasons,....................

Answer: OPPORTUNITY IS KING

Supporting statement: when it comes to spurring people to action, opportunity is king.

Keywords: spurring people, opportunity

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 2

Explanation: The text emphasizes the ultimate dominance of opportunity over other factors, like money, in the decision to change jobs.

21. When changing one's Job, apart from opportunity and compensation, consideration of the other factors mentioned here is part of the ……………..

Answer: DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Supporting statement: things like challenging work, the company's direction, and company culture are also major parts of the decision-making process.

Keywords: challenging work, decision-making process

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The text groups the consideration of these non-monetary factors (challenging work, company direction, etc.) under the broader decision-making process.

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