In this lesson, you are going to learn key expressions to talk about what you do and your job responsibilities. 


To find out what someone's job is you ask: 

• What do you do? – This is the most common way to ask. 
• What do you do for a living? = What is your job/profession? 
• What do you work? (Note: this is less common and slightly informal) 
• What is your job? = This is a more direct approach. 

How to talk about your job: 

• I'm an office assistant. | I'm a team leader. 
• I work as an office assistant. | I work as a team leader. | I work as a software developer. 

Here are the key expressions you can use to say what you do: 

• I deal with... 
• I handle... 
• I oversee... 
• I'm in charge of + noun | I'm in charge of + VERB + -ing 
• I'm responsible for + noun | I'm responsible for + VERB + -ing 
• My job involves + noun | My job involves + VERB + -ing 
• My job entails + noun | My job entails + VERB + -ing 

 

• to deal with = to handle 
• to oversee - to watch somebody / something and make sure that a job or an activity is done correctly (Synonym: supervise) 
• to be in charge of - It is used when you are responsible for someone or something. 
• to entail /ɪnˈteɪl/ - to involve something as a necessary part (Synonym: involve) 

​

You can also use the structures: 

• responsibility + infinitive | responsibility + VERB + -ing 
  One of my responsibilities is to make sure... 
  One of my responsibilities is making sure... 
• task + infinitive | task + VERB + -ing 
  One of my main tasks is to manage/develop/analyze, etc. ... 
  One of my main tasks is managing/developing/analyzing, etc. ... 

Examples: 

• I work as an office assistant. One of my main responsibilities is to arrange meetings and organise events when necessary. I deal with clients, suppliers, and colleagues. I'm responsible for collecting and mailing correspondence, serving customers as well as maintaining supplies and equipment. 

 

• I am a marketing assistant. One of my main responsibilities is to conduct marketing research and to gather important data (social media, web analytics, etc.). I'm in charge of online content on the company's website and social media accounts. I'm responsible for preparing and delivering promotional presentations. 

 

• I am a customer service representative. My job involves managing large amounts of incoming calls. I'm responsible for identifying customers' needs. I handle customer complaints, provide appropriate solutions and keep records of customer interactions. 

• I work as an HR specialist. My job entails managing the recruitment process, from interviewing candidates to onboarding new employees. I also handle employee relations to foster a positive work environment. 

READING COMPEHENSION TEST 

​
Read each job responsibility carefully and match it with the correct job title from the list.
​There are two extra job titles included that do not match any of the responsibilities. 

telemarketer, editor, cashier, media buyer, promoter, social media specialist, typist, event planner, marketing manager, copywriter 

1. This person is responsible for data transfer from paper formats into digital files or database systems and for transcribing documents from dictated tapes. 
2. This person oversees layout (artwork, design, photography) and checks content for accuracy and errors. 
3. This person handles cash transactions with customers using cash registers. 
4. This person is responsible for cold calling people using a given phone directory to sell products. 
5. This person is responsible for comparing and negotiating rates, ad space and time slots with various media outlets. 
6. This person is in charge of distributing product samples, brochures, flyers, etc. to source new sales opportunities. 
7. This person's job involves event planning, including vendor arrangements and logistics. 
8. This person is responsible for creating and implementing marketing campaigns to boost brand awareness and sales. 



MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST 


For each of the following scenarios, choose the most appropriate responsibility that fits the job description. There are four options provided for each question. Select the correct answer based on typical job responsibilities in various industries. 


JOB RESPONSIBILITIES QUIZ 

1. What is a common task for a sales associate in a retail store? 
A. Developing new software applications 
B. Assisting customers with product selection and processing transactions 
C. Preparing financial statements 
D. Writing and editing press releases 
​
2. What is a common responsibility of a project manager in a construction firm? 
A. Designing the company logo 
B. Ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget 
C. Managing the company's financial accounts 
D. Conducting market research and analyzing consumer behavior 

3. Which of the following is a key responsibility of a freight coordinator at a logistics company? 
A. Designing new packaging for products 
B. Conducting employee performance reviews 
C. Managing the company's digital marketing strategy 
D. Coordinating the shipment and delivery of goods 

4. Which responsibility is most likely associated with a copy editor at a publishing company? 
A. Designing book covers 
B. Conducting sales meetings with potential authors 
C. Reviewing and correcting written material to improve accuracy and readability 
D. Writing original content for the company's blog 

5. In an advertising agency, what is a typical responsibility of an account manager? 
A. Managing client relationships and coordinating advertising campaigns 
B. Editing and publishing articles on the agency's website 
C. Preparing the agency's financial budget 
D. Conducting graphic design workshops 

6. At a manufacturing company, what is a usual task for a production manager? 
A. Designing new product prototypes 
B. Overseeing production schedules and ensuring quality control 
C. Conducting market research for new product lines 
D. Managing client relationships and customer accounts 

7. What is a typical responsibility of a hotel manager in a hospitality business? 
A. Preparing gourmet meals for guests 
B. Supervising staff and ensuring guest satisfaction 
C. Conducting financial audits for the hotel chain 
D. Developing travel itineraries for guests 

8. Which of the following best describes the role of an IT support specialist in a tech company? 
A. Managing the company's advertising campaigns 
B. Creating marketing strategies and plans 
C. Analyzing consumer behavior trends 
D. Providing technical assistance and troubleshooting computer issues 

9. Which of the following is most likely a primary responsibility of a financial advisor in a bank? 
A. Managing payroll and employee benefits 
B. Conducting research on financial products 
C. Providing investment advice to clients 
D. Developing new banking software 

10. In an e-commerce company, which of the following is a usual task for a supply chain manager? 
A. Coordinating the logistics of product distribution 
B. Overseeing the recruitment process 
C. Managing the company’s IT infrastructure 
D. Analyzing sales data for marketing purposes 



Download the PDFs with and without key. 



Answers 


Reading Comprehension Test 

1. typist 
2. editor 
3. cashier 
4. telemarketer 
5. media buyer 
6. promoter 
7. event planner 
8. marketing manager 
(Extra answers: social media specialist, copywriter) 


Multiple-choice Test 

Job Responsibilities Quiz 

1. B. Assisting customers with product selection and processing transactions 
2. B. Ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget 
3. D. Coordinating the shipment and delivery of goods 
4. C. Reviewing and correcting written material to improve accuracy and readability 
5. A. Managing client relationships and coordinating advertising campaigns 
6. B. Overseeing production schedules and ensuring quality control 
7. B. Supervising staff and ensuring guest satisfaction 
8. D. Providing technical assistance and troubleshooting computer issues 
9. C. Providing investment advice to clients 
10. A. Coordinating the logistics of product distribution 


​
TASK:
Write down about your job responsibilities using key expressions from this lesson. 

​

Other lessons:
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills
Business English: Working in an office 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
Business English: Prepositions with WORK 
Business English: How to Talk about Money 
​

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​​

In this lesson, we will focus on skills. 

A skill is the ability to do something well, especially because you have learned how to do it and practised it. 

Jobs, and the people who do them, can be described as: 

• highly skilled (e.g. car designer) | A highly skilled job requires special abilities or training. 
• skilled (e.g. car production manager) | A skilled job needs a person who has both ability and experience or training. 
• semi-skilled (e.g. taxi driver) | A semi-skilled job needs some basic skills. Someone who does this kind of job is called a semi-skilled worker. 
• unskilled (e.g. car cleaner) | An unskilled job doesn't need much education, training, or experience. 

Examples: 

• highly skilled jobs: surgeon, pilot  
• skilled jobs: office manager, teacher 
• semi-skilled jobs: car worker on a production line, bus driver 
• unskilled jobs: office cleaner, manual workers 

You can say that someone is: 

skilled at + noun OR skilled in + noun 

• skilled at/in customer service 
• skilled at/in computer software 
• skilled at/in 3D animation 

skilled at + VERB + -ing OR skilled in + VERB + -ing 

• skilled at/in communicating 
• skilled at/in working with large groups 
• skilled at/in using Photoshop 

​
Examples: 

• She is skilled at dealing with difficult customers. 
• She is skilled in designing websites. 
• All our staff are skilled in at least two languages. 
• Our company is looking for people skilled in electronics. 
• A friend of mine is highly skilled at computer programming. 

You can also say that someone is: 

good with somebody / something 

• good with computers 
• good with numbers 
• good with people 
• good with money 

Examples: 

• I am a finance journalist so people always think that I'm good with money. 
• He's very good with children. 
• She has always been good with animals. 
• She's good with her hands. (= She's able to make things using her hands.) ​

TASK:
Make your own sentences with the word combinations you learned in this lesson. 


Other lessons:
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
​Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 


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​

In this lesson, we will focus on other words which collocate with job (= they are used together). 

JOB AND SALARY 

​high-paid, well-paid | low-paid, badly-paid 

A high-paid job means that people earn a lot of money. OPPOSITE: low-paid 
Low-paid means that people earn very little money. 
A well-paid job OPPOSITE: badly-paid job 

Examples: 

• High-paid lawyers, accountants, web developers, etc. 
• Low-paid government workers. | Low-paid social workers. 

JOB + VERB 

Example: 

• This job doesn't pay well. 

VERB + JOB 

​look for | apply for | find, get, land, take 

To look for a job means that you're trying to find one. 
To apply for a job means to send your documents such as a CV and a covering letter. 
To get a job means to be hired. 
To land a job means to succeed in getting a job, especially one that a lot of other people want. 
To take a job means to accept it. 

Examples: 

• You need to apply for this job by completing an application form and sending it in. 
• I went to the job interview this morning. I hope to get the job. (= to be hired) 
• He's just landed himself a high-paid job in the city. 
• If they offer me the job, I'll take it. (= to accept a job) 

lose | resign / (also) resign from 

To lose a job means that you no longer have it. 
To resign means to officially leave a job, position, etc. through your own choice, rather than being told to leave. 

Examples: 

• He's worried about losing his job. 
• She was among 30 people who lost their jobs when the office closed. 
• I wanted to resign, but my boss persuaded me to stay. 

create (JOB + NOUN: job creation) 

To create means to make something exist. 

Example: 

• Starbucks is planning to create 240,000 jobs globally by 2021. 
• Small businesses create 65% of all new jobs. 

do | know 

Examples: 

• I'm only doing my job. (= doing what I'm paid to do) 
• He certainly knows his job. (= is very good at his job) 

TASK:
Make your own sentences with the word combinations you learned in this lesson. 


Other lessons: 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 


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