English Unleashed: Talking About Jobs and Workplacey Tasks

When meeting new people, asking about their profession is a polite and normal part of small talk. There are three highly common questions used to ask how someone makes money. "What do you do?" is the most friendly and standard option. "What do you do for a living?" means the exact same thing but sounds slightly more formal. "What's your job?" is a shorter, more direct question, typically used when you already know the person a little bit.To answer these questions, you can say "I work in..." followed by an industry, general field, or place, such as sales, education, healthcare, customer service, or IT. If you want to name the specific company, business, or type of organization, you can say "I work for...". If you do not currently have a job, you can respond with phrases like "I'm looking for work," "I'm a student," or "I'm taking care of my family at home".When describing specific workplace duties and daily tasks, several key phrases are helpful:"I deal with..." explains what you handle or who you help on a regular basis, such as dealing with customers, students, or money."I'm responsible for..." describes a specific duty or mandatory task, like writing reports, keeping a kitchen clean, or booking meetings."I'm in charge of..." is similar but often indicates leadership or management over a specific area or process, such as training new staff or managing a cash register."My job involves..." allows you to list various activities included in your daily work, such as talking to clients and sending emails.For example, a business consultant's job might involve giving advice to business owners on managing money and staff, as well as finding new products. Meanwhile, someone working in sales might be responsible for making calls, writing reports, and occasionally working overtime hours.When discussing financial compensation, "to get paid" or "to be paid" simply means receiving money in exchange for doing a job. A "salary" refers to a regular, steady amount of money provided by an employer, usually on a monthly basis for full-time work. "Income" is a broader term that includes a salary as well as any other money earned from different jobs or sales. The verbs "earn" and "make" are frequently used to describe acquiring money from work.Finally, employment situations often change. If a person voluntarily decides to leave their position—perhaps because the job is too stressful, or they want to travel, study, or try something more creative—the standard phrase to use is "I quit my job". This clarifies that it was a personal choice to leave the position and seek a new beginning.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/speaksmart-english--6886546/support.