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What do you do?

A2 Expression Neutral 2 min read

What do you do?

Occupation inquiry

Literally: What (action) do you (subject) do (verb)?

In 15 Seconds

Used to ask someone about their job or career.
Short for 'What do you do for a living?'
The most common small talk question for new acquaintances.

Meaning

This is the most common way to ask someone about their job or career. It is not asking what they are doing right now, but how they earn a living.

Key Examples

3 of 6

Meeting someone at a party

It's nice to meet you, Sarah! So, what do you do?

It's nice to meet you, Sarah! So, what is your job?

Networking event

I see you're with Google. What do you do there?

I see you're with Google. What is your role there?

Texting a new match on a dating app

Your profile looks cool! What do you do for a living?

Your profile looks cool! What is your career?

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Cultural Background

Asking 'What do you do?' is often the primary way Americans evaluate social compatibility. It is not considered rude, but rather a sign of interest. In the UK, people might be slightly more reserved. They might ask 'What do you do with yourself?' or wait for you to mention work first. French people often value their 'private life' over their 'professional life'. Asking this question too early can be seen as a bit aggressive or boring. In Japan, the company you work for is often more important than your specific job title. People might answer with the company name first.

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The 'So' Prefix

Start the question with 'So...' to make it sound less like an interrogation and more like a natural part of the conversation.

⚠️

Don't ask too many times

If someone gives a vague answer like 'I work in an office', they might not want to talk about work. Move on to another topic!

In 15 Seconds

Used to ask someone about their job or career.
Short for 'What do you do for a living?'
The most common small talk question for new acquaintances.

What It Means

When someone asks What do you do?, they want to know your job. It is a shortcut for What is your occupation?. It covers your career, your business, or your studies. If you are a student, you can answer with your major. If you are retired, you mention your former career. It is the ultimate icebreaker in English-speaking cultures.

How To Use It

Use this phrase after the initial Hello and How are you?. It usually comes early in a conversation with a new person. You can answer simply: I am a teacher or I work in marketing. Don't just give a one-word answer. Add a little detail to keep the conversation flowing. For example, I'm a designer; I mostly work on mobile apps. It makes you sound much more friendly!

When To Use It

Use it at parties, networking events, or weddings. It is perfect for when you meet a friend's partner for the first time. Use it when you are sitting next to a stranger on a plane. It helps you find common ground with others. It is the standard question for small talk in the US and UK.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use this if you see someone currently doing something. If they are washing dishes, don't ask What do you do?. In that case, ask What are you doing?. Avoid asking this if someone just told you they are stressed about money. It might feel a bit insensitive then. Also, don't ask it repeatedly to the same person. They might think you weren't listening the first time!

Cultural Background

In many Western cultures, identity is closely tied to work. People often define themselves by their careers. Because of this, What do you do? is considered a polite interest in someone's life. In some other cultures, asking about work immediately can feel too private or greedy. In English, however, it is just a way to be social. It’s like asking What’s your story? but focused on your daily contribution to the world.

Common Variations

What do you do for a living? (A bit more specific)
What line of work are you in? (Slightly more professional)
What keeps you busy these days? (Good if they might be unemployed or retired)
What do you do for fun? (The opposite—asking about hobbies!)

Usage Notes

This phrase is neutral and safe for almost any social or professional setting. Just ensure you don't confuse it with the present continuous 'What are you doing?'.

💡

The 'So' Prefix

Start the question with 'So...' to make it sound less like an interrogation and more like a natural part of the conversation.

⚠️

Don't ask too many times

If someone gives a vague answer like 'I work in an office', they might not want to talk about work. Move on to another topic!

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The Follow-up

Always follow up with 'Do you like it?' or 'How did you get into that?' to show you are actually listening.

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Be careful with 'Job'

In the US, 'What's your job?' is okay, but 'What do you do?' is much more sophisticated and common.

Examples

#1 Meeting someone at a party

It's nice to meet you, Sarah! So, what do you do?

It's nice to meet you, Sarah! So, what is your job?

Standard icebreaker after introductions.

#2 Networking event

I see you're with Google. What do you do there?

I see you're with Google. What is your role there?

Used to ask for a specific job title within a company.

#3 Texting a new match on a dating app

Your profile looks cool! What do you do for a living?

Your profile looks cool! What is your career?

Adding 'for a living' makes it very clear you mean work.

#4 A humorous misunderstanding

Person A: 'What do you do?' Person B: 'I'm eating a sandwich.' Person A: 'No, I mean for work!'

Person A: 'What is your job?' Person B: 'I am eating.' Person A: 'No, your career!'

Shows the difference between 'doing now' and 'career'.

#5 Catching up with an old friend

I haven't seen you in years! What do you do these days?

I haven't seen you in years! What is your current job?

Adding 'these days' acknowledges that things might have changed.

#6 In a job interview (informal start)

Before we start the technical part, tell me, what do you do in your current role?

Before we start, what are your current responsibilities?

Focuses on daily tasks at work.

Test Yourself

Choose the correct question to ask about someone's career.

You meet a new person at a party. You want to know their job. You say:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What do you do?

'What do you do?' is the standard Present Simple question for jobs.

Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'do'.

What ____ your brother ____ for a living?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: does/do

For 'he/she/it', we use the auxiliary 'does' and the base verb 'do'.

Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.

A: Nice to meet you, I'm a lawyer. B: Oh, interesting! _________ A: I work for a small firm downtown.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Where do you work?

Since Person A already said they are a lawyer, Person B should ask 'Where' they work, not 'What' they do.

Match the question to the situation.

1. Someone is holding a hammer. 2. Someone is at a networking event.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1: What are you doing? 2: What do you do?

Use Present Continuous for immediate actions and Present Simple for jobs.

🎉 Score: /4

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