Let’s be honest: no matter where you work, there’s a good chance someone will ask you, “So, what do you do?” Knowing how to describe your job and daily tasks in English can make you sound like a pro. Talking about work involves more than just saying your job title—it’s about explaining what you do, who you work with, and how you survive the endless emails! This lesson covers essential vocabulary and phrases to help you talk about your work confidently and, hopefully, with a laugh or two.
Vocabulary List
| Vocabulary Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Job Title | The name of your position or job. | My job title is Marketing Manager. |
| Responsibilities | The tasks or duties you are expected to do. | My responsibilities include managing social media. |
| Colleague | A person you work with. | My colleagues are very supportive. |
| Boss | The person in charge of you at work. | My boss is a stickler for details. |
| Client | A person who receives your services. | I have a meeting with a client later today. |
| Task | A piece of work to be completed. | My main task today is to finish the report. |
| Deadline | The date or time something must be finished. | The deadline for this project is next week. |
| Project | A set of tasks aimed at achieving a specific goal. | I’m working on a new project with my team. |
| Team | A group of people who work together. | I enjoy working with my team on projects. |
| Meeting | A gathering of people for discussion or planning. | We have a team meeting every Monday. |
| Presentation | A speech or display of information. | I have to give a presentation to the board tomorrow. |
| Office | A place where people work, typically indoors. | I work in an office in the city center. |
| Workload | The amount of work assigned. | My workload has doubled this month! |
| Promotion | A new, higher position at work. | I got a promotion and am now a Senior Analyst. |
| Salary | The money you receive for working, typically monthly. | I get my salary at the end of each month. |
| Overtime | Extra hours worked beyond the regular schedule. | I often work overtime to meet deadlines. |
| Remote Work | Working from outside the office, often from home. | I enjoy remote work because I don’t have to commute. |
| Commute | The journey to and from work. | My commute takes 45 minutes each way. |
| Vacation | A period when you don’t work, usually for rest or travel. | I’m planning a vacation for next month. |
Expanded Vocabulary
| Vocabulary Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible Hours | A work schedule that allows some flexibility in start and end times. | My job offers flexible hours, so I can start anytime between 8 and 10 AM. |
| Part-Time | Working less than full-time hours. | I work part-time, so I have afternoons free. |
| Full-Time | Working the standard hours for a job, typically 40 hours a week. | My job is full-time, so I work every weekday. |
| Human Resources (HR) | The department responsible for employee relations and hiring. | I contacted HR about my benefits. |
| Benefits | Additional perks provided by the company, like health insurance. | My benefits include health insurance and paid leave. |
| Performance Review | A formal assessment of an employee’s work. | My performance review went well, and I received a raise. |
| Networking | Building relationships for professional growth. | Networking events are great for meeting people in your field. |
| Deadline-Oriented | Being focused on meeting deadlines. | My boss likes deadline-oriented employees. |
| Work-Life Balance | The balance between work and personal life. | Remote work has improved my work-life balance. |
| Job Satisfaction | How happy someone is with their job. | My job satisfaction increased after I got a promotion. |
Key Phrases
- I work as a… (job title)
- Example: “I work as a financial analyst at a bank.”
- Example: “I’m an HR specialist for a tech company.”
- My main responsibilities include…
- Example: “My main responsibilities include managing client accounts and creating reports.”
- Example: “I handle customer inquiries and organize events.”
- I report to… (name/title)
- Example: “I report to the project manager, who oversees all our tasks.”
- Example: “As a junior associate, I report to the senior analyst.”
- I’m currently working on… (project)
- Example: “I’m currently working on a project to improve our website.”
- Example: “We’re updating our marketing strategy this quarter.”
- I’d like to move up to… (position)
- Example: “I’d like to move up to a managerial role in the future.”
- Example: “I’m aiming for a promotion to lead analyst.”
Example Paragraph
“I work as a customer service representative, and my main responsibilities include answering customer questions, handling complaints, and making sure everyone’s happy (or as close as I can get them!). I work with a great team, and we have weekly meetings to discuss our tasks and progress. My boss is nice but very deadline-oriented, so I often end up doing overtime to meet our goals. But with flexible hours and occasional remote work, I manage to keep a good work-life balance. Maybe someday, I’ll be able to move up to a managerial position!”
Common Questions
- What are your main responsibilities?
- Example: I handle client accounts and assist with marketing.
- Do you enjoy working with your team?
- Example: Yes, my team is very supportive and fun to work with.
- How’s the workload at your job?
- Example: It can be heavy sometimes, but I manage.
- Do you work overtime?
- Example: Yes, especially when there’s a big project.
- What’s your commute like?
- Example: My commute takes about 30 minutes each way.
Invitation to Practice:
Describe your job or dream job using some of the vocabulary words. What would your main responsibilities be? Do you imagine a friendly team or a lot of deadlines? Share your answer in a study group or in the comments to practice talking about work!