[TOEFL essay] Working with machines vs. Working with people

Based on the matter of working partners, people have different favorite kinds of occupations. Some prefer occupations in which they work primarily with machines. Others choose professions in which they work with people. Each of the two types has its own advantages, and which one suits a person best depends on his personalities and field of profession. Personally I prefer working with machines, for I enjoy the feeling of being the boss whenever at work.

First of all, many people like working with machines since they are technically advanced, and are becoming a perfect substitute for human labor. It is obvious that machines and computers are essential for most fields of occupations. For industrial workers, automatic machines are indispensible; for art designers and architects, computers prove to be great tools in mass designing with high accuracy, while for scientists, scientific machines such as computers and telescopes are strictly required for research. As can be seen, machines are ideal partners for a lot of people whose limited time and capabilities do not allow them to work on their own.

On the contrary, human are still regarded as the best working partners by several people whose jobs require human discussion and interaction. It is clear that in some jobs, teamwork and mutual assistance among workers are crucial to success. Moreover, it is widely believed that professions involving interaction between people are much more interesting, while those in which human primarily work with machines are boringly repetitive. To illustrate this point, recent researches demonstrated that more than half the workers doing such jobs as electrician and mechanical engineering over a long time in the US feel they are driven stressed. Lastly, some people prefer the atmosphere of working in a competitive environment where peer pressure can motivate them to work harder and improve their effectiveness and productivity.

For personal reasons, however, I prefer working with machines. Firstly, machines are highly consistent, accurate, and reliable, while humans may be spontaneous and fallible. In addition, it is not easy to find a person whose personalities and working habits fit mine, which is key to successful cooperation. Moreover, I always like to have things work in my own way. Consequently, I consider machines to be my best partners since they are obedient servants who always do whatever they are told to do and never criticize me, unlike some co-workers who may disagree with my plans. To sum up, working with machines or working with human, each of which has its advantages and drawbacks, depends on each person’s preference; I choose to work mainly with machines because of both their reliability and their flexibility, which enables me to do things in my own way.