Business English: How to Ask Someone about Their Job

You can ask someone about their job in many different ways. 

Let’s look at the most common questions you might be asked and how to answer them. 

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


🔸 What do you do? – This is the most commonly asked question. 
🔸 I'm a/an ... What about you? 

Sample answers: 

• I’m in the fashion business. | I work in the fashion industry. 
• I work in sales/education, etc. 
• I work in marketing. | I work in the marketing field. 
• I’m a marketing assistant at SAP. 
• I’m a market research analyst and I work for PHD. 
• I work as a sales manager. 

​
* market research analyst = marketing analyst 


​🔸 Where do you work? 

Sample answers: 

• I work in London. 
• I work at home near London. 
• I work for PwC in Toronto. I’m an IT consultant. And you? 
• I work in a hospital. 
• I work at a local coffee shop. 

🔸 And what do you do at SAP? 

Sample answers: 

• I’m a software developer. 
• I work there as a market analyst. 
• I’m doing an internship in the HR department. 

🔸 Who do you work for? 

​Sample answers: 

• I work for an HR agency. 
• I work for a small hair care company. 
• I work for a company that produces skin care products. 
• I work for an Italian wine producer. 
• I don’t work for a company. I’m self-employed. 

🔸 What do you do for a living? 

​Sample answers: 

• I help companies decide which products and services to sell, to which customers, and at what price. (market research analyst / marketing analyst) 
• I help shoppers find the goods and products they are looking for. (sales assistant) 

This questions basically means "What do you do as a job?” 

* for a living – someone's job or profession 
* living (noun) (B2) (= money) – the way that you earn money 


Instead of mentioning your company name or position, you can mention the benefits of your job. 


Other lessons: 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: Prepositions with WORK 
​Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
​

Please LIKE and SHARE with friends!