The Job offer Dilemma
Meet Alejandra Martínez, a Senior Operations Analyst at a multinational tech company.
She is highly competent, well-prepared, and known for delivering results under pressure. Over the past five years, she has built a solid reputation, led cross-functional projects, and exceeded performance targets.
Yet professionally successful does not mean professionally fulfilled.
Although her position offers stability, prestige, and a competitive salary, Alejandra feels intellectually stagnant. Decision-making is centralized above her level, innovation is discouraged, and long-term growth appears uncertain. Remaining where she is would be the sensible choice—but not necessarily the right one.
Last week, she received an unexpected offer.
A global firm has invited her to join them as a Regional Strategy Lead. The role would involve international collaboration, strategic influence, and rapid career progression. However, it would also require relocation, longer hours, and the risk of failure in a highly competitive environment.
Were Alejandra to accept the offer, she would gain the professional challenge she craves.
Were she to decline it, she would retain security—but possibly at the cost of long-term regret.
She must now decide whether security outweighs fulfillment.
The Job Offer
Why it’s hard to leave:
- High salary and benefits
- Job security and internal reputation
- Predictable career path
Why she’s considering leaving:
- Strategic leadership opportunity
- International exposure
- Greater autonomy and influence
Core conditional frame (for speaking):
If long-term fulfillment were her priority, …
Were she to accept the offer, …
Had she remained in her current role, …
The Job Offer Dilemma Exercise 1
- Read the text about Alejandra carefully.
- Answer the questions based only on the information and ideas in the text.
- Do not add personal opinions.
- Some questions ask about meaning, attitude, or implication, not exact words.
- Choose the best answer when more than one option seems possible.
