Talking about Your Job in English

Talking about Your Job in English (Useful Vocabulary, Natural Phrases, and Common Topics)

Talking about your job is one of the most common real-life conversations in English. Whether you are meeting someone for the first time, attending a job interview, writing an email, or preparing for an exam, you will often be asked a simple question:

“What do you do?”

Answering it well requires more than just naming your job. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to talk about your work clearly, naturally, and confidently, using useful vocabulary and typical English expressions.

1. Describing What You Do

Instead of giving a very short answer, native speakers often add a little extra information.

Basic patterns:

• I work as a…
• I’m a…
• I work in…

More natural examples:

• I work as a project manager in a small IT company.
• I’m a teacher, and I mainly work with adult learners.
• I work in marketing, focusing on social media and content creation.

Adding one detail makes your answer sound warmer and more confident.

2. Talking About Your Responsibilities

When you describe your job, it’s helpful to explain what you actually do, not just your title.

Useful verbs:

• manage
• organise
• deal with
• be responsible for
• work on

Examples:

• I’m responsible for organising weekly meetings.
• I deal with customers and handle complaints.
• I work on long-term projects with international teams.

This kind of language is especially useful for job interviews and exams.

3. Describing Your Working Conditions

English speakers often talk about where and how they work.

You might mention:

• working hours
• remote or office-based work
• teamwork or independence

Examples:

• I work full-time, mostly from home.
• It’s a flexible job, but it can be quite demanding.
• I work closely with a small team of designers.

This helps the listener understand your daily routine.

4. Saying What You Like (or Don’t Like) About Your Job

Being able to express opinions politely is a key communication skill.

Positive phrases:

• What I like most about my job is…
• I find my work rewarding.
• The best part of my job is…

Negative (polite) phrases:

• One downside is that…
• It can be stressful at times.
• The workload can be quite heavy.

Example:

What I like most about my job is the variety, although it can be stressful during busy periods.

Balanced answers sound mature and professional.

5. Talking about Career Plans

You may also want to speak about the future.

Useful structures:

• I’d like to…
• I’m planning to…
• In the long run, I hope to…

Examples:

• I’m planning to change jobs next year.
• In the long run, I’d like to move into a management role.
• I hope to gain more experience before making a decision.

This language is perfect for B2 First speaking and writing tasks.

Talking about your job in English

Useful Vocabulary: Talking about Your Job

Job & Work Nouns

• position / role – the job someone has in an organisation
• responsibilities – the tasks and duties you are expected to do
• workplace – the place where you work
• workload – the amount of work you are required to do
• career path – the long-term progression of someone’s working life

Example:

My current role involves a wide range of responsibilities.

Useful Verbs & Verb Phrases

• to work as – to have a particular job
• to be responsible for – to have a duty or task
• to deal with – to handle situations or people
• to manage a team – to supervise a group of people
• to work closely with – to cooperate regularly

Example:

I work closely with the marketing team on long-term projects.

Adjectives to Describe Jobs

• rewarding – giving satisfaction
• challenging – difficult but interesting
• demanding – requiring a lot of effort
• stressful – causing pressure or anxiety
• fulfilling – making you feel satisfied and useful

Example:

Although the job is demanding, I find it very rewarding.

Exam Phrases You Can Reuse Safely

These expressions are natural, flexible, and highly rated by examiners. Encourage learners to adapt them, not memorise them word for word.

Describing Your Job

• I currently work as a…
• I’m employed in the field of…
• My role mainly involves…

Example:

I’m employed in the field of education, where I mainly work with adult learners.

Talking about Responsibilities

• I’m responsible for…
• My main duties include…
• A large part of my job involves…

Expressing Positive Opinions

• What I enjoy most about my job is…
• I find my work particularly rewarding because…
• The most satisfying aspect of my job is…

Mentioning Difficulties Politely

• One challenging aspect of my job is…
• It can be stressful at times, especially when…
• The workload can be quite heavy during busy periods.

Talking about the Future

• In the long run, I’d like to…
• I’m hoping to gain more experience in…
• My long-term goal is to…

Example:

In the long run, I’d like to move into a leadership role.

Exam Gold Tip 

For B2 First Speaking Part 1 and C1 Advanced Speaking Part 1 & 4:

• give one extra detail, not a long speech
• balance positives with one mild negative
• use I find / I tend to / I’m responsible for

This vocabulary box works beautifully for speaking exams, personal statements, emails and articles and real-life conversations.

Talking about your job in English

Speaking Part 1 – Talking about Your Job

Typical examiner question:

“What do you do?” / “Can you tell me about your job?”

B2 First – Model Answer

I work as an office administrator in a medium-sized company. My main responsibilities include organising documents, answering emails, and supporting other members of staff.

I work full-time, and although the job can be quite busy at times, I enjoy it because it’s well organised and I work with friendly colleagues.

C1 Advanced – Model Answer

I’m currently employed as an office administrator in a medium-sized company, where I’m responsible for coordinating daily tasks and supporting different departments. A large part of my role involves managing communication and ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

While the workload can be fairly demanding during peak periods, I find the job rewarding overall, particularly because it allows me to work closely with a supportive team.

Learn about general questions for the B2 First Cambridge exam here

Learn how to write about your dream job here

Learn 20 work idioms in English here

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