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 
​

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In this lesson, you are going to learn how to talk about your job role, job responsibilities, as well as what you like or dislike about your job. 

Read the other related lessons to learn collocations and phrases to talk about work and jobs. 

While reading this lesson, pay attention to what tenses, prepositions, linking words, phrases and collocations have been used. 


Chelsea 

• I'm a Client Manager at .............................. (company name) 
• What I'm in change of doing is essentially managing communication between the client and the company. 
• What I love most about my job is communicating with people – just being able to interact with a bunch of people on a daily basis as well as understanding what my clients' goals are, and working with my team to deliver a product that they are truly excited about. 
• One of the most difficult parts of my job is keeping everyone on schedule because within this company everyone has million different clients and projects that they are working on at any given time. 
• One of the main responsibilities is being super detail-oriented. Everything that we send out be it a digital ad, a report, be it a direct mail piece has to be meticulously proofed.
• Going along with being detail-oriented, it's important to remember that mistakes happen, so you have to be resilient and be a problem-solver. So, if something does go wrong, you have to own your mistakes and be prepared to make things right. 

VOCABULARY 

• meticulously (adverb) /məˈtɪkjələsli/ – in a way that pays careful attention to every detail 
• resilient (adjective) /rɪˈzɪliənt/ – able to become strong, happy, or successful again after a difficult situation or event | SYNONYM: tough 

Melissa 

• Once I graduated, I applied to a bunch of different jobs within the marketing, advertising, and public relations field and I landed a job as a PR specialist at a content marketing firm. 
• My responsibilities there started off as just communicating with journalists and editors at online publications like Huffington Post and BuzzFeed. 
• We would take content that we'd created for our clients that was relevant to those journalists and ask them to write a story about it.  
• I excelled in that role and within nine months I was actually promoted to a manager of the department. 

Sarah 

• I ended up doing a year-long program that was education-related. 
• I had some of the skills that actually really helped me in that job. Some of them were the ability to communicate differently with different types of people, different types of learners, as well as the ability to be flexible and think on my feet. 
• After that, I did a year as a coordinator at a non-profit that's related to health research, and I like that too, but I found myself a bit frustrated with feeling a bit limited. 
• My organization was great, but it was only six people big, and I realized there weren't a ton of ways for me to grow. 
• Consulting was a really lucky opportunity for me and I got out of it exactly what I was hoping to, which was the opportunity to gain some real discipline and specific skills that would prepare me for leadership. 
• Through the consulting firm, I was also able to get a certification in project management.  

VOCABULARY 

• end up doing something 
• think on one's feet (phrase) – to make a quick decision or give an answer quickly 
• frustrated at/with something ​

TIPS 

• study for a 4-year degree - It will set you up for success. 
• pursue internships – both paid or unpaid 
• seek out companies that you can help – even if it's just filing paperwork or doing secretarial work 
• offer your services to gain work experience so that you can build your resume 
• gain experience working with others and collaborating with others 
• having certifications in Microsoft Office is also very helpful 

TASK: 
Write down a comment with information about your job role, your responsibilities, and what you like and/or dislike about your job. 


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


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In this lesson, we are going to focus on eight phrasal verbs and some collocations you can use to talk about work. 


WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN A JOB? 

New technologies change the way we work. Employers want to know that you can pick up new tasks and that you don't get frustrated when something goes wrong. You need sufficient knowledge and background suitable for the job you do. You should know how much work you can take on and how much time you need to complete a task. 

Teamwork is one of the main requirements when applying for a job. In other words, are you able to work effectively with others? You need to be able to collaborate with your colleagues and support each other. You and your team need to remember that you all work towards a common goal, which means you should be able to split up the work. 

​Employees also need to be able to work independently and resolve any problems as they come up. Problem-solving is an essential skill in the workplace, and this can make a significant difference in your career. The issues you face at work can be simple or more complex. So, being able to come up with solutions is key. While robots can take over more repetitive tasks, people still have to deal with real problems and their causes. 

Regardless of what your job is, you can always pick up new skills. It might take a while to figure out whether you actually enjoy your current job or not. You can experience multiple work environments and learn a lot of practical skills that will help you in the future when thinking about a career change. 

​
VOCABULARY
​

• pick something ↔ up (phrasal verb) - to get information or learn a skill without much effort 
• complete a task | finish a task (collocations) 
• take something ↔ on (phrasal verb) - to accept a job, task, or responsibility; to employ 
• in other words (phrase) - used when saying the same thing in a different way or explaining it 
• work towards a goal (collocation) 
• a common goal (collocation) 
• split something ↔ up (phrasal verb) - to divide something into two or more parts 
• solve a problem | resolve a problem (collocations) also fix a problem (informal) 
• come up (phrasal verb) - to happen unexpectedly; to become available (of a job) 
• come up with something (phrasal verb) - to think of an idea, a plan or a solution 
• take something ↔ over (phrasal verb) - to gain control of a company or have responsibility 
• deal with something (phrasal verb) - to take action to solve a problem, carry out a task 
• figure something ↔ out (phrasal verb) - to find the answer to something; to solve something 
• work environment | working environment (collocations) 
• a career change (collocation) 

READING COMPREHENSION TEST 


Complete the sentences with a phrasal verb from the list below. Use the correct form of the verb. Match each sentence with the appropriate phrasal verb. 

come up, come up with (x2), deal with, figure out, pick up (x2), split up (x2), take on (x2), take over 


       come up - to happen unexpectedly; to become available (of a job) ______________ 
       come up with something - to think of an idea, a plan or a solution ______________ 
       deal with something - to take action to solve a problem, carry out a task ______________ 
       figure something ↔ out - to find the answer to something; to solve sth ______________ 
       pick something ↔ up - to get information, learn a skill without much effort ______________ 
       split something ↔ up - to divide something into two or more parts ______________ 
       take something ↔ on - to accept a job, task, or responsibility; to employ ______________ 
       take something ↔ over - to gain control of a company or have responsibility ______________ 

1. You can ______________ ideas from other creative people. 
2. Is this the best idea you can ______________ ? 
3. I can't ______________ any more work at the moment. 
4. If you want to ______________ new skills, you can take some specialized courses. 
5. When ______________ difficult customers, it is important to give them your full attention. Avoid interrupting them, and remember to show empathy. 
6. You might get requests from other departments to help them by ______________ extra tasks outside of your traditional role. You should better set clear expectations so that you can focus on your actual priorities at work. 
7. The manager suggested ______________ the project into phases. 
8. After analyzing the data, the analyst was able to ______________ the cause of the problem. 
9. When we have a large project, we ______________ into teams to get more done. 
10. During the last meeting, our team ______________ a new idea to increase sales. 
11. I had to turn down that job offer because a better opportunity ______________ . 
12. I ______________ the job after he left. 

MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST 


Each question provides four options, but only one is correct. Choose the correct phrasal verb that best completes each sentence. 


PHRASAL VERBS FOR WORK QUIZ 

1. By observing experienced colleagues, interns can ______ new skills that will benefit their career growth. 
A. take on 
B. pick up 
C. split up 
D. figure out 

2. Due to his tight schedule, Sebastian knew that he couldn't ______ any additional responsibilities at work. 
A. pick up 
B. come up with 
C. take on 
D. split up 

3. After the former project manager resigned, Charlotte was appointed to ______ his duties. 
A. deal with 
B. pick up 
C. figure out 
D. take over 

4. Our creative team has ______ some fresh ideas for our next product launch. 
A. picked up 
B. come up with 
C. split up 
D. taken over 

5. The project manager decided to __________ the workload among the team for better efficiency. 
A. take on 
B. pick up 
C. split up 
D. take over 

6. A sudden opportunity to work abroad ______, and she decided to take it. 
A. came up 
B. came up with 
C. took on 
D. took over 

7. This is the first time our company has ______ such a large project across multiple departments. 
A. taken over 
B. picked up 
C. figured out 
D. taken on 

8. After reviewing the sales analysis report, we ______ the main reason for the decline in revenue. 
A. took on 
B. split up 
C. figured out 
D. took over 

9. If a customer has a complaint, the best approach is to ______ it promptly. 
A. deal with 
B. come up with 
C. take over 
D. take on 

10. In order to meet the growing demand, the company has to ______ more staff. 
A. pick up 
B. take on 
C. take over 
D. come up with 

11. To successfully manage a team, you must be able to ______ tasks effectively. 
A. split up 
B. take over 
C. pick up 
D. figure out 

12. The company was losing money when we ______ it ______ . 
A. took ... over 
B. picked ... up 
C. took ... on 
D. split ... up 

13. After the acquisition, the new executive director is expected to ______ the acquired company's operations. 
A. pick up 
B. take on 
C. come up with 
D. take over 

14. When you encounter a challenging task in your job, it is crucial to ______ it in a calm and focused manner. 
A. take on 
B. come up with 
C. take over 
D. deal with 

15. To address the client's concerns, we must ______ a practical solution that satisfies all parties. 
A. pick up 
B. deal with 
C. come up with 
D. take over 



Download the PDFs with and without key. 


​
Answers 


Reading Comprehension Test 

come up - to happen unexpectedly; to become available (of a job)    (11) 
come up with something - to think of an idea, a plan or a solution    (2, 10) 
deal with something - to take action to solve a problem, carry out a task    (5) 
figure something ↔ out - to find the answer to something; to solve sth    (8) 
pick something ↔ up - to get information, learn a skill without much effort    (1, 4) 
split something ↔ up - to divide something into two or more parts    (7, 9) 
take something ↔ on - to accept a job, task, or responsibility; to employ    (3, 6) 
take something ↔ over - to gain control of a company or have responsibility    (12) 


1. pick up 
2. come up with 
3. take on 
4. pick up 
5. dealing with 
6. taking on 
7. splitting up 
8. figure out 
9. split up 
10. came up with 
11. came up 
12. took over 


Multiple-choice Test 

Phrasal Verbs for Work Quiz 

1. B pick up 
2. C take on 
3. D take over 
4. B come up with 
5. C split up 
6. A came up 
7. D taken on 
8. C figured out 
9. A deal with 
10. B take on 
11. A split up 
12. A took ... over 
13. D take over 
14. D deal with 
15. C come up with 

​

Other Business English 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 Money 
Business English: Collocations with Business 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 


​

In this lesson, we are going to focus on collocations to talk about having your own business. 

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING INTO BUSINESS? 

Let's consider some major aspects of starting a business and what it takes to run it. 
​
One of the reasons why some people decide to go into business for themselves is because they want to have a job that fits into their lifestyle. They can have a more flexible schedule without having to worry about their working hours or sick leave.

Before thinking of setting up a business, you need to brainstorm a good business idea. Remember that you also need to be passionate about it, so that you can stay motivated in the long term. There are different kinds of businesses, so those who want to start a business need to figure out their area of expertise and skills they have.

During the early stages of your business, you will have to work long hours to set everything up as well as learn new skills in order to build and grow your business. Whether it is a product or a service that you want to offer, you need to consider all the different ways to finance your business. In the beginning, it makes more sense to start your business on the side and keep your full-time job, so that you have a source of income to rely on. 

If you want to do business, you need to be aware that this involves considerable risks. Of course, some businesses are riskier than others and there are different factors you should definitely take into account such as money and labour. 

Be optimistic and think about the money you will need to run your business. Often times you will spend more than you can actually make, especially early on. Even though you may have a good idea, bear in mind that there are no guarantees in business. You need to have a point of view about the future. It is also important to keep in mind that in a recession smaller firms often go out of business. 

Running your own business requires hard work and patience. You have to start getting sales and revenue in order to stay in business. 

​
VOCABULARY 

• go into business (collocation) - start working in business 
• start a business | set up a business (collocations) 
• figure something <-> out (phrasal verb) - to think about a problem or situation until you find the answer
• set something <-> up (phrasal verb) - (SYN: establish) - to start a company 
• have a business | own a business (collocations)
• build a business | develop a business (collocations) 
• grow a business (collocation) - make it larger 
• finance a business (SYN: fund) - to provide money for it 
• a source of income (phrase) 
• do business (collocation) 
• considerable risk(s) (collocation) - fairly large 
• take something into account - to consider facts or details when making a decision 
• bear in mind that | keep in mind that 
• go out of business (collocation) - stop doing business because of financial problems 
• run a business (collocation) - manage it 
• stay in business (collocation) - continue operating and not go bankrupt 

Other Business English 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 Money 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 

​
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If you have any questions, please leave a comment below this lesson. 

In this lesson, we are going to focus on the difference between earnings, income, salary, wage(s), pay and allowance. 


EARNINGS [plural noun] = net income

You can use the word 'earnings' to talk about the total amount of money you earn from any job that you do. The amount of money is usually different each month or year. 

Examples: 

• Her net earnings last year were $16,800. (= after tax has been paid) 
• Apple reported earnings of $53.3 billion in the third quarter of 2018. 
• Apple's earnings per share are now $2.34. (EPS = net income / average outstanding common shares) 
• According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the average weekly earnings for men in November 2017 were $1,753.50, and $1,429.80 for women. 
• The average weekly earnings of 16- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. in 2016 were around $400. 

​
INCOME 

This is the money you receive regularly for doing your job or from a business or investments. 

Examples: 

• What's your weekly/monthly/annual income? 
• My parents' annual income is over $30,000. 
• People living in rural areas rely on farming for income. 
• These families have no source of income when the harvest is over. (source of income = way of earning money) 
• You can always take on extra work to increase your income. (to take something on = to decide to do something) 
• The company's net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $11.52 billion compared to $8.72 billion a year ago. 

SALARY 

This is the money that you receive regularly for doing your job. It's usually paid to you every month. 
We use the word 'salary' when we talk about professional jobs such as managers, teachers, doctors, etc. 

Examples: 

• I get a basic salary and other benefits on top. 
• My dad earns a good salary as a software developer. 
• I joined the company in 2016 on a salary of €58,000 a year. (be on a salary) 
• Employee salaries are paid directly into their bank account. 
• The starting salary for an architect in the U.S. is around $50,000. (= the salary someone gets when they start a job) 
• The average salary for a Team Leader in the UK is around £24,000 per year.  

WAGES [often plural] (also WAGE) 

The money that someone is paid every week by their employer. We often use this word when we talk about working in a shop or factory. 

Examples: 

• Some companies pay lower wages to female workers. (pay a wage) 
• Workers in the UK paid per task or piece of work they do should be paid at least the minimum wage for every hour worked. (= It's the lowest amount of money that an employer can pay someone according to the law.) 
• Many states in the U.S. have different minimum wages. 

​

PAY [noun] 

You can use this word to refer to the money you receive for doing your job. 

Examples: 

• Some people work extremely hard and get no pay. (get/receive pay) 
• Even though I work long hours, the pay is pretty good. 
• The average pay for a Travel Agent is around $36,000 a year. 
• The hourly pay for baristas at Starbucks is $9, and $12 for shift supervisors. 
• When you start working for a company, you are entitled to sick pay. This is a basic right you have as an employee. (= pay that you get when you are ill and cannot work) 
• Employees in the UK are entitled to redundancy pay if they've been working for their current employer for 2 years or more. (= pay when there is no longer a job for you) 
• Women in the UK and Ireland get some of the worst maternity pay in Europe. (= pay while a woman takes time off to have a baby)
• All the employees are out on strike because they have been working without pay for the last month. 

​
​
ALLOWANCE 

This word is used to talk about money that someone receives regularly for a special reason without having to work to earn it. 

Examples: 

• Many companies provide clothing allowances to their employees. 
• Employers should provide their employees with a uniform allowance to purchase the uniform, so that they don't have to pay for it. 
• Many companies offer 24/7 services and employees sometimes have to work overtime. They get an overtime allowance for working long hours. 

Exercise 

Complete the sentences with earnings, income, salary, wages, pay and allowance. 

1. The hourly .................... went up by $2.  
2. His pension is his only source of ....................  
3. The company announced its quarterly .................... at the end of July.  
4. "What's the ....................?" "About $12 an hour."  
5. His annual .................... are over $100,000. 
6. The tax is taken from your monthly .................... 
7. Retail and fast food chains in the U.S. tend to pay the lowest ...................  
8. The amount of tax you have to pay depends on your ................... 
9. My average weekly ................... are around $600. 
10. She has to use her car in her new job but she gets a good mileage ...................... 

Answers: 
1. pay; 2. income; 3. earnings; 4. pay; 5. earnings (the verb form is 'are'); 6. salary; 7. wages; 8. income;
9. earnings (the verb form is 'are'); allowance; 

​

Other Business English 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! 
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below this lesson. 

In this lesson, we will focus on six essential prepositions commonly paired with the verb "work". 

You'll discover the subtle differences between them and learn how to use them effectively in various contexts. 

Don't forget to do the exercises at the end to check your knowledge and practice further. 

​
AS

Formula: work as + occupation or role 
Questions: What do you do? | What do you work? | What is your job? 

Examples: 

• I work as a sales assistant. 
• James works as a software engineer for a tech startup. 
• He works as a research analyst at a global investment bank. 
• She works as a legal consultant, providing expert advice on corporate regulations. 

Note: When introducing yourself professionally, you can certainly use expressions like "I'm a photographer" or "I'm an architect." 


IN 

Formula: work in + place of work or area (industry, field, department, sector, environment) 
Questions: Which industry do you work in? | Which department do you work in? 

Examples: 

• She works part-time in a library. 
• My mother has always worked in education. 
• Most of my friends work in customer service. 
• I worked in a Chinese restaurant a few years ago. 
• I prefer working in a multicultural environment. 
• I work in the sales department of a small software company. 
• He has been working in the renewable energy sector since 2010. 

Note: Use "work in" with words like "school," "bank," "hospital," "hotel," "factory," and "shop" to describe the industry or type of place where someone works. It is more commonly used to refer to the environment or sector rather than the specific physical location. For specific locations, "work at" is often more appropriate, as in "work at a school" or "work at a bank." 

Remember: Don't use "work in" with the name of a company or organization. 


FOR 

Formula: work for + person, company or organization 
Question: Who do you work for? | How long have you been working for this company? 

Examples: 

• I work for a small Danish company. 
• He works for an IT company. 
• I worked for Microsoft for five years and then moved to another company. 
• I've been working for a state-owned company in Beijing. 

AT 

Formula: work at + a particular place or organization 
Questions: Which ... do you work at? (e.g. company, restaurant, office, branch, etc.) 

Examples: 

• I worked at Microsoft for five years and then moved to another company. 
• I've been working at the Ministry of Education since last year. 
• I'm working at the bookstore in my area this summer. 
• He's working at his desk. 

Note: Use "work at" when referring to employment at a well-known company or organization, particularly when the listener or reader is already familiar with the entity. It emphasizes the specific place of work, such as "work at Google" or "work at the local library." 


ON 

Formula: work on + project or task 
Question: What are you currently working on? 

Example: 

• Our team has been working on this project for two years. 
• I often go on business trips and work on projects in the company's offices overseas. 
• Many employees become unmotivated when they work on repetitive tasks. 
• I'm working on financial budgets at the moment. 
• I work on car design. 

​

WITH 

Formula: work with + someone  
Questions: Do you like working with ...? | What do you like about working with ...? 


Examples: 

• I work with both local colleagues and foreign ones, who are mostly from Denmark. 
• In my job, I work closely with the design team to create attractive designs for our partners. 
• Some people love the idea of working with children but don't have the skills or personality for it. 

​


READING COMPREHENSION TEST 


Complete the sentences with the prepositions as, in, for, at, on and with. 

​Sometimes more than one is possible. 

Match each sentence with the appropriate preposition used with the verb "work" and its specific function. 


       As: Describing an occupation or role. ______________ 
       In: Indicating a place or area (industry, field, department, environment). ______________ 
       For: Specifying the person, company, or organization you are employed by. ______________ 
       At: Referring to a specific place or organization (company, location). ______________ 
       On: Describing a project or task you are engaged in. ______________ 
       With: Highlighting collaboration or teamwork. ______________ 

1. Kevin works ______ the finance department of a Japanese company. 
2. I currently work ______ an independent contractor ______ a US tech company. 
3. Olivia has been working ______ the finance industry for over a decade. 
4. I work ______ the creative director to plan marketing campaigns and brand collaborations. 
5. I'm an illustrator and I work ______ a children's publishing company. 
6. Claire works ______ a photographer ______ a family-owned studio in Melbourne. 
7. Oliver works ______ an audio engineer ______ the concert hall. 
8. I have been working ______ a research project ______ a multinational company for the past three months. 
9. My best friend and I work ______ the same company. 
10. I spent the evening working ______ my office. 
11. After graduating from university, my sister started working ______ advertising. 
12. I'm currently working ______ the monthly sales report. 
13. Mia works closely ______ the research and development department to create new skincare products. 
14. The HR Director works ______ the head office in Vancouver, Canada. 
15. Sarah works ______ international clients to expand the company's market reach and establish long-term partnerships. 

MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST 


Choose the correct preposition to complete each sentence about jobs and industries. 

Each question provides four options, but only one is correct. Select the answer that best completes the sentence based on the typical use of prepositions with the verb "work". 


PREPOSITIONS WITH "WORK" QUIZ 

1. Sebastian has been working ______ the marketing department since January. 
A. at 
B. on 
C. for 
D. in 

2. Noah works ______ a consultant, advising businesses on sustainability practices. 
A. in 
B. at 
C. as 
D. on 

3. During the summer, Hannah works part-time ______ the local amusement park. 
A. at 
B. in 
C. on 
D. for 

4. Our team is working ______ a new advertising campaign for the upcoming product launch. 
A. at 
B. on 
C. for 
D. with 

5. Christopher is working ______ a new app that aims to simplify personal finance management. 
A. at 
B. in 
C. on 
D. for 

6. Our company works ______ several high-profile clients in the fashion industry. 
A. as 
B. at 
C. on 
D. with 

7. Catherine works ______ a project manager, coordinating tasks and priorities across multiple teams. 
A. in 
B. as 
C. on 
D. at 

8. They have been working ______ the financial services sector for over fifteen years. 
A. for 
B. on 
C. in 
D. at 

9. Louis works ______ a well-established financial services company in Switzerland. 
A. for 
B. in 
C. at 
D. on 

10. Our startup is currently working in close partnership ______ local businesses. 
A. at 
B. in 
C. with 
D. for 



Download the PDFs with and without key. 


​
Answers 


Reading Comprehension Test 

As: Describing an occupation or role.    (2, 6, 7) 
In: Indicating a place or area (industry, field, department, environment).    (1, 3, 6, 10, 11) 
For: Specifying the person, company, or organization you are employed by.    (2, 5, 8, 9) 
At: Referring to a specific place or organization (company, location).    (7, 14) 
On: Describing a project or task you are engaged in.    (8, 12) 
With: Highlighting collaboration or teamwork.    (4, 13, 15) 


1. in 
2. as, for 
3. in 
4. with 
5. for 
6. as, in 
7. as, at 
8. on, for 
9. for 
10. in 
11. in 
12. on 
13. with 
14. at 
15. with 


Multiple-choice Test 

Prepositions with "WORK" Quiz 

1. D in 
2. C as 
3. A at 
4. B on 
5. C on 
6. D with 
7. B as 
8. C in 
9. A for 
10. C with 

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

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 COMPREHENSION 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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