Talking about work and professions

Conversation: Talking About Work

Anna: Hi, Jake! I haven’t seen you in a while. What do you do for a living now?

Jake: Hey, Anna! I work as a graphic designer at a marketing agency.

Anna: That sounds interesting! What does a graphic designer do?

Jake: I create logos, advertisements, and social media posts for companies. I use design software to make everything look attractive.

Anna: That’s cool! Do you like your job?

Jake: Yes, I do! It’s creative and fun, but sometimes the deadlines can be stressful. How about you? What do you do?

Anna: I’m a teacher. I teach English to high school students.

Jake: That’s great! How long have you been teaching?

Anna: For about five years now. I enjoy helping students learn and improve their skills.

Jake: That’s really rewarding! Do you have any plans for your career in the future?

Anna: Maybe. I’m thinking about taking a course to become a school administrator someday.

Jake: That sounds like a great opportunity!

Key Phrases and Vocabulary

Here are some useful phrases and words related to work and professions:

• What do you do for a living? → Asking about someone's job.
• I work as a [job title]. → Talking about your job.
• What does a [job title] do? → Asking about job responsibilities.
• Do you like your job? → Asking if someone enjoys their work.
• I enjoy my job because... → Explaining why you like your work.
• I’m thinking about becoming a [future profession]. → Talking about career plans.

Common Job Titles

Here are some common professions in different fields:

• Office jobs: Accountant, Manager, Receptionist, Secretary
• Creative jobs: Graphic Designer, Photographer, Writer, Artist
• Medical jobs: Doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist, Dentist
• Teaching jobs: Teacher, Professor, Tutor, School Administrator
• Technical jobs: Engineer, IT Specialist, Software Developer

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct words:

a) ____ do you do for a living? 
b) I work as a ____ at a hospital.
c) ____ you like your job?
d) My friend is a ____. She designs websites.

(Answer: a. What | b. nurse | c. Do | d. graphic designer)

2. Match the job with the correct description:

a) Doctor → (c) Helps sick people
b) Teacher → (a) Educates students
c) Engineer → (b) Designs and builds things

With this guide, you can confidently talk about work and professions in English. Try practicing these phrases with a friend!