Talking about your Job

Are you working? Do you have a job? Do you know how to talk about your job in English?

You may be required to talk about your job at a party or a social event. But you may also have to talk about your job if you are changing from one company to another and having interviews.

In any situation, if you are working you should be able to express yourself in English when talking about your job.

Let’s dive right in.

In a social setting — at a party or over dinner — someone may ask you about your job.

They could use one of the following questions:

• What do you do?
• What do you do for a living?
• What is your job?
• What line of work are you in?

All of these questions mean the same thing — what is your job?

The first question is probably the most universal question that people ask when talking about work and jobs.

Let’s see a simplified dialog below for you to practice:

Student A: Hi! Do you know what jobs teachers and nurses do?

Student B: Hi there! Sure thing. Teachers help people learn new things. They teach students in schools and help them understand subjects like math, science, and reading.

Student A: Oh, I see. So, teachers work in schools?

Student B: Yes, exactly! They work in classrooms and help students grow smart and knowledgeable.

Student A: What about nurses? What do they do?

Student B: Nurses take care of sick people in hospitals. They help doctors and make sure patients are comfortable. They give medicine and bandages to help people feel better.

Student A: That sounds important. Do nurses only work in hospitals?

Student B: Nurses work in hospitals, but they can also help at homes and clinics. They help people stay healthy and get better.

Student A: Are there other jobs that help people?

Student B: Absolutely! There are many jobs that help people. Firefighters help when there’s a fire, police officers keep us safe, and paramedics help sick people quickly.

Student A: Wow, there are so many jobs that help others!

Student B: That’s right! People do different jobs to make our community better and keep everyone safe and happy.

Student A: Thank you for explaining. I’m learning a lot about jobs!

Student B: You’re welcome! If you have more questions, feel free to ask. Learning about jobs is a great way to understand the world around us.