Everyday English · Read, listen and speak
Explaining What You Do at Work
Describe your job in everyday language, explain two regular duties and ask about the other person’s work.
Your speaking goal
Say what kind of work you do, describe two regular tasks and ask a relevant follow-up question.
Before you start: Use an imaginary job if you prefer. In this example, a ‘stock assistant’ looks after goods a shop keeps to sell. ‘Deliveries’ are goods brought to the shop. Ravi, Ella and their jobs are fictional.
Your six-step practice plan
- Understand: Read the goal and check the useful phrases.
- Listen or read: Follow both roles. Audio is optional.
- Repeat: Say one short line at a time, then join the words smoothly.
- Change details: Replace two details with imaginary ones.
- Role-play: Read the other person’s question, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles.
- Review: Use the “I can” checks below. Repeat any part that still needs help.
Work at your own pace. A clear message matters more than copying a particular accent.
Listen, read and notice
Roles: Ravi and Ella
Browser-generated English voice; availability and sound vary by device. Use the written dialogue if audio is unavailable.
Ravi: What do you do for work, Ella?
Ella: I’m a stock assistant in a bookshop.
Ravi: What does that involve?
Ella: I check new deliveries and put books on the shelves.
Ravi: Do you also take payments from customers?
Ella: Not usually. My colleagues at the till do that.
Ravi: Do you work on your own?
Ella: No. I work with two other stock assistants.
Ravi: What do you like about the job?
Ella: I like seeing the new books. What about you?
Ravi: I work as a receptionist. I welcome visitors and answer phone calls.
Ella: Do you get many visitors each day?
Useful phrases and what they do
- What do you do for work? — Ask about someone’s work in a general conversation.
- I work as a ___. — Name your job or role.
- What does that involve? — Ask what tasks a role includes.
- What do you like about the job? — Invite the person to describe an enjoyable part of their work.
Say it clearly
Group each task with its object: ‘I check new DELIVERIES / and put BOOKS on the shelves.’ Pause between the two tasks. In ‘receptionist’, stress the second syllable: re-CEP-tion-ist.
Build your own replies
I work as a ___. I ___ and ___. What about you? → I’m a ___. I usually ___.
Ask and check
What do you mean by ‘stock’? → The books the shop keeps to sell.
Common mistakes and alternatives
Use ‘a’ or ‘an’ with a singular job title: ‘I’m a receptionist’, not ‘I’m receptionist’. Use the present simple for regular duties: ‘I check deliveries.’ ‘I’m responsible for checking deliveries’ is another natural pattern: responsible for + -ing. ‘What do you do for work?’ asks about work generally; ‘What are you doing?’ usually asks about an activity happening now.
Check what you understood
Answer aloud before revealing each explanation. Natural replies with the same meaning also count.
Question 1
What two regular tasks does Ella describe?
Show answer 1 and explanation
She checks new deliveries and puts books on the shelves. Her colleagues at the till usually take payments; that is not one of the two duties she gives.
Question 2
Does Ella normally work alone?
Show answer 2 and explanation
No. She works with two other stock assistants. That means there are three stock assistants in the team she describes, including Ella.
Question 3
Give a natural follow-up after Ravi says he welcomes visitors and answers phone calls.
Show answer 3 and explanation
‘Do you get many visitors each day?’ follows the model. ‘What kind of place do you work in?’ or ‘What do you enjoy about it?’ also works. A relevant follow-up keeps the exchange going; there is no single required wording.
Your turn: make it a real exchange
Practise alone: read the other person’s line, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles. No partner is needed.
Role A
Describe a fictional job and two regular tasks in simple language. Say one thing you like about the work, then ask about the other person’s role.
Role B
Ask what the job involves and one follow-up about the tasks or team. Describe a different fictional role when the speaker asks about you.
Make it easier: Keep the model visible and change one detail at a time.
Add a challenge: Your listener does not understand your job title. Explain it using everyday verbs such as ‘help’, ‘check’, ‘make’ or ‘organise’, without repeating only the title.
Ready to move on?
Try again with less reading. Use these checks and repeat any part that needs more practice.
- I can name a role and describe two regular tasks.
- I can explain an unfamiliar work word simply.
- I can ask a follow-up and invite the other person to speak.