Everything you need to talk about your job, workplace and career naturally in English, from job titles to describing your responsibilities, with exam practice.
📖 Reading time: ~9 minutes✅ Reviewed by a CELTA-qualified teacher🎯 Covers B1 to C1
Topic level: B1, B2, C1 · Category: Work & Communication
Work is one of the most frequently tested speaking topics across every major English exam, and one of the most common real conversations professionals need English for. This guide covers the vocabulary for describing your job, your workplace, applying for new roles, and talking about your responsibilities naturally and precisely, well beyond "I work in an office."
2. Job Titles & Industries
Word
Meaning
profession
a job that needs specific training or qualifications, e.g. doctor, lawyer
occupation
a general term for your job or main activity
industry
a broad sector of work, e.g. healthcare, finance, technology
self-employed
working for yourself, not employed by a company
freelancer
someone who works independently for multiple clients, often project-based
colleague
someone you work with
employer / employee
the company or person who hires / the person who is hired
3. Workplace Vocabulary
Word
Meaning
deadline
the date or time by which something must be finished
workload
the amount of work you have to do
promotion
moving to a higher position at work
shift
a set period of working hours, especially in jobs with rotating schedules
overtime
extra hours worked beyond the normal schedule
line manager
the person you report to directly
remote work / hybrid work
working from home / splitting time between home and office
probation period
an initial trial period at the start of a new job
💡
Job vs work vs career
"Job" is a specific position ("I have a new job"). "Work" is the general activity, usually uncountable ("I have a lot of work today," never "a work"). "Career" is your long-term professional path across multiple jobs ("a career in finance").
4. Applying & Interviewing for a Job
Word
Meaning
CV / résumé
a document summarising your work history and qualifications (CV is standard British English)
cover letter
a letter introducing yourself alongside a job application
to apply for a job
to formally request consideration for a position
shortlisted
selected as one of the final candidates for a role
job offer
a formal proposal of employment
to negotiate a salary
to discuss and agree on pay before accepting a job
references
people who can confirm your work history and character to an employer
5. Describing Your Responsibilities
Phrase
Example
I'm responsible for...
I'm responsible for managing the marketing budget.
My role involves...
My role involves liaising with clients on a daily basis.
I report to...
I report directly to the operations manager.
I oversee...
I oversee a team of six people.
I'm in charge of...
I'm in charge of quality control for the whole department.
6. Common Idioms About Work
Idiom
Meaning
to learn the ropes
to learn how to do a new job
to be swamped
to have an overwhelming amount of work
to touch base
to make brief contact to check in or update
to think outside the box
to think creatively, unconventionally
to climb the corporate ladder
to advance to higher positions in a company
nine-to-five
a standard, typical working day/job
7. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
I have a work today.
I have work today. / I have a job.
"Work" (the activity) is uncountable; "job" (the position) is countable.
I am agree with the salary.
I agree with the salary. / I'm happy with the salary.
"Agree" is a verb, doesn't need "am" before it.
I working in a bank.
I work in a bank. / I'm working on a project.
Present simple for a permanent job, present continuous only for a temporary/current specific activity.
My chief told me to finish it.
My manager/boss told me to finish it.
"Chief" isn't the natural word for a workplace superior in English; use "manager" or "boss."
8. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete correctly (8 questions)
1. I ___ for the marketing team's budget. (responsible)
2. I have a lot of ___ to do today. (work/works)
3. She was recently ___ to senior manager. (promoted)
4. I work from home, it's a fully ___ job. (remote)
5. The document that lists your work history is your ___.
6. "To have too much work" means to be ___.
7. I ___ to the operations manager. (report)
8. New employees often go through a ___ period first.
Show Answers (A)
1. am responsible 2. work 3. promoted 4. remote 5. CV 6. swamped 7. report 8. probation
B. Multiple Choice (5 questions)
1. "I have a lot of..." (a) work (b) works
2. Someone who works for themselves is... (a) self-employed (b) unemployed
3. "To learn how to do a new job" is to... (a) learn the ropes (b) touch base
4. The person you report to is your... (a) line manager (b) colleague
5. "CV" stands for... (a) curriculum vitae (b) career visa
Show Answers (B)
1.a 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.a
C. Error Correction (3 questions)
1. I have a work today.
2. I am agree with the salary.
3. My chief told me to finish it.
Show Answers (C)
1. I have work today. 2. I agree with the salary. 3. My manager told me to finish it.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (2 tasks)
1. Describe your current or most recent job, using at least three vocabulary words from this page.
2. Write a sentence using "I'm responsible for" or "my role involves."
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "I work as a project manager. My responsibilities include managing budgets and reporting to senior management." 2. "My role involves coordinating between three different departments."
9. Mini Quiz
10. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First
Work and jobs is a core Speaking Part 1 and Reading topic.
"What do you do?" "What do you like about your job?"
IELTS Speaking
Work is one of the most common Part 1 topics, alongside study.
"Do you work or are you a student?" "What are your responsibilities?"
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Work is a core, predictable topic at every level above the most basic.
"What do you do for work?" "Tell me about your job."
11. Frequently Asked Questions
"Job" is a specific position; "work" is the general activity (uncountable); "career" is your long-term professional path across multiple jobs.
A CV summarises your work history and qualifications; a cover letter is a separate document introducing yourself and explaining why you're applying for that specific role.
Use phrases like "I'm responsible for...," "my role involves...," or "I oversee..." rather than just listing tasks.
"Colleague" is anyone you work with at a similar level; "line manager" specifically means the person you report to directly.
Related but not identical — "self-employed" is the general legal/tax status of working for yourself; "freelancer" specifically describes working independently for multiple different clients, often project-based.
Yes — work is one of the most predictable topics at every SELT level above the most basic.
Reading a vocabulary list takes you part of the way. Real fluency comes from using these words in conversation, with a tutor who corrects you immediately. Book a free level test with Elite Language Solutions and find out exactly where you are.