The job refers to the work a person does to earn a living. The profession is a more general and more formal word. The work refers to the activity itself, the task or the position held during the day. The employment emphasizes having a paid position. The post refers to the specific function in a company or a team. The career talks about the whole professional path, with changes of position, promotions and experience gained. In daily life, one can talk about one's work, one's employment or one's job depending on the situation, as in Vie Quotidienne.

To say what one does, one often uses I am + job, like I am a nurse or I am an accountant. One can also say I work as + job, especially when talking about a specific function: I work as an assistant in a school. With I practice the job of + name, the sentence sounds more formal: I practice the job of a mechanic. With to be employed at + company, one indicates the workplace rather than the profession: I am employed at a bookstore. Job names are often used with expressions from Vocabulary and from Words to speak clearly about one's professional situation.

Simple forms to say your profession

Usage	Explanation
Presenting your work	This form is used to announce your profession in a simple and natural way.
Saying your professional status	This phrase is used to say what one is in the job.
Name the occupation practiced	This construction is useful for talking about the job with a slightly more formal tone.
Talking about a regular activity	We use this structure to explain one's main activity on a daily basis.
Answering a personal question	This short answer is suitable when someone asks what you do for a living.
Highlighting a career	This expression emphasizes the career over time.

In the street, at school, in the shop or on the road, certain trades appear everywhere. The baker prepares and sells bread. The nurse takes care of patients at the hospital or in a clinic. The teacher teaches pupils or students. The mechanic repairs a car, a scooter or another vehicle. The seller helps customers in a store. The driver drives a car, a bus or a truck depending on their job. These words belong to the Categories of everyday life and are used to talk about people you meet easily in the city and at work.

jardinierfacteurvendeurcoiffeurchauffeurmécanicienpompierprofesseurinfirmierboulanger

---

Un pompier intervient pour éteindre les incendies et aider en cas d urgenceUn infirmier est une personne qui soigne les malades et aide à l hôpitalUn coiffeur coupe et arrange les cheveux dans un salonUn facteur distribue le courrier dans les quartiers et les villagesUn professeur est une personne qui enseigne à des élèves ou à des étudiantsUn mécanicien répare les voitures, les machines ou d autres équipementsUn chauffeur conduit un véhicule pour transporter des personnes ou des marchandisesUn boulanger est une personne qui prépare et vend du pain, souvent très tôt le matinUn vendeur est une personne qui propose et vend des produitsUn jardinier entretient les plantes, les fleurs et les espaces verts

Common trades of daily life

Word	Definition
boulanger	A boulanger is a person who prepares and sells bread, often very early in the morning.
infirmier	An infirmier is a person who cares for the sick and helps at the hospital.
professeur	A professeur is a person who teaches to pupils or students.
mécanicien	An mécanicien repairs cars, machines or other equipment.
vendeur	A vendeur is a person who offers and sells products.
chauffeur	A chauffeur drives a vehicle to transport people or goods.
pompier	A pompier intervenes to extinguish fires and help in emergencies.
facteur	A facteur delivers mail in neighborhoods and villages.
jardinier	A jardinier tends plants, flowers and green spaces.
coiffeur	A coiffeur cuts and styles hair in a salon.

Scramble

In an office, vocabulary changes. The accountant takes care of accounts and figures. The secretary arranges appointments, answers the phone and prepares documents. The assistant helps a person or a team with practical tasks. The manager follows the organization, files or an entire department. The director runs a company, a school or a department. These professions often require sorting, checking, writing, planning and communicating with precision. They are found in companies, administrations and schools.

chef de projetemployécollaborateurgestionnaireassistantadministrateurcomptablesecrétairedirecteurréceptionniste

---

Un assistant aide une personne ou une équipe dans les tâches de bureauUn employé travaille pour une entreprise ou une institutionUn chef de projet organise le travail pour atteindre un objectif précisUn directeur dirige une entreprise, une école ou un serviceUn collaborateur travaille avec d autres personnes dans une équipeUne secrétaire organise les rendez vous, les messages et les dossiersUn gestionnaire coordonne des activités, des ressources ou un serviceUn réceptionniste accueille les visiteurs et donne les premières informationsUn comptable gère les chiffres, les comptes et les documents financiersUn administrateur s occupe de la gestion et du bon fonctionnement d une structure

Office and administrative jobs

Word	Definition
comptable	An accountant manages numbers, accounts and financial documents.
secrétaire	A secretary organizes appointments, messages and files.
assistant	An assistant helps a person or a team with office tasks.
gestionnaire	A manager coordinates activities, resources or a department.
directeur	A director leads a company, a school or a department.
réceptionniste	A receptionist welcomes visitors and provides initial information.
administrateur	An administrator handles the management and smooth operation of a structure.
chef de projet	A project manager organizes the work to achieve a precise objective.
collaborateur	A collaborator works with other people in a team.
employé	An employee works for a company or an institution.

Scramble

Service trades are linked to direct contact with the public. The waiter brings dishes and drinks to the restaurant. The hairdresser cuts and cares for hair. The cashier processes purchases in a store. The receptionist welcomes visitors, answers the phone and provides information. The concierge takes care of the building, the structure or its entrance, depending on the place. In these jobs, one talks a lot with customers, helps quickly and keeps a polite and professional tone.

hôte d accueilserveusecoiffeurserveurvendeusebaristagarçon de cafécaissierconciergeréceptionniste

---

Une serveuse apporte les commandes et s occupe des clients au restaurantUn caissier enregistre les achats et encaisse le paiementUn coiffeur s occupe des cheveux et propose des coupes ou des soinsUn hôte d accueil reçoit les visiteurs et les guide à leur arrivéeUn réceptionniste accueille les personnes dans un hôtel, un bureau ou un établissementUne vendeuse aide les clients et présente les produits dans un magasinUn garçon de café sert les boissons et les plats dans un caféUn barista prépare le café et parfois des boissons spécialesUn concierge aide les habitants ou les visiteurs et veille sur un lieuUn serveur apporte les plats et les boissons aux clients

Professions related to welcoming and service

Word	Definition
serveur	A waiter brings dishes and drinks to customers.
coiffeur	A hairdresser takes care of hair and offers cuts or treatments.
caissier	A cashier records purchases and processes the payment.
réceptionniste	A receptionist welcomes people in a hotel, an office or an establishment.
concierge	A concierge helps residents or visitors and looks after a place.
barista	A barista prepares coffee and sometimes special drinks.
serveuse	A waitress brings orders and takes care of customers at the restaurant.
vendeuse	A saleswoman helps customers and presents products in a store.
garçon de café	A coffee waiter serves drinks and dishes in a café.
hôte d accueil	A host welcomes visitors and guides them on arrival.

Scramble

In the medical field, the doctor examines the patient, makes a diagnosis and proposes a treatment. The dentist treats the teeth and mouth. The pharmacist prepares and dispenses medications. The nurse monitors a patient’s condition, provides care and follows medical instructions. The nursing assistant accompanies sick or elderly people in daily activities. These professions are found in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies or nursing homes. Health vocabulary is used to talk about consultations, care and medications.

sage femmepsychologuemédecinkinésithérapeutedentisteinfirmieraide soignantpharmacienradiologueurgentiste

---

Un médecin examine les patients et donne des conseils de santéUn radiologue utilise l image médicale pour observer le corpsUn pharmacien prépare et remet des médicaments en donnant des explicationsUn infirmier aide les patients et réalise des soins au quotidienUn urgentiste soigne rapidement les situations médicales gravesUn kinésithérapeute aide à récupérer des mouvements et à soulager la douleurUn dentiste soigne les dents et la boucheUne sage femme accompagne la grossesse et l accouchementUn psychologue écoute les personnes et les aide à parler de leurs difficultésUn aide soignant accompagne les patients dans les gestes de la vie quotidienne

Professions in the medical and paramedical field

Word	Definition
médecin	A médecin examines patients and gives health advice.
dentiste	A dentiste treats teeth and the mouth.
pharmacien	A pharmacien prepares and dispenses medicines, giving explanations.
infirmier	An infirmier helps patients and provides daily care.
aide soignant	An aide soignant accompanies patients in daily life activities.
sage femme	A sage femme accompanies pregnancy and childbirth.
kinésithérapeute	A kinésithérapeute helps recover movement and relieve pain.
psychologue	A psychologue listens to people and helps them talk about their difficulties.
radiologue	A radiologue uses medical imaging to observe the body.
urgentiste	An urgentiste quickly treats serious medical situations.

Scramble

Many professions form the feminine with -euse, -ienne or -rice. Waiter becomes Waitress. Actor becomes Actress. Nurse becomes Nurse. Director becomes Director. Baker becomes baker. The feminine forms are used when the person is a woman, but some professions keep the same form for masculine and feminine in other cases. One therefore chooses the word according to the person, then agrees it with the other elements of the sentence: a good nurse, the new director, an excellent baker