What is your field of work

What is your field of working?

How a native speaker would ask the following sentence:

The second person would possibly say: «Accountancy» or «Nursing» or «Medicine» or «Engineering» etc.

For me, all of the following sentences work:

What is your field of working?

What is your occupation?

What is your career?

2 Answers 2

In order to answer, it’s worthwhile looking at the differences between field, occupation and career.

What is your field of working?

A field is a particular branch of study or sphere of activity or interest. Field is often used to indicate a specific occupational area or academic branch (e.g.civil engineering, physics, marine science), rather than referring to a specific job. In other words, it’s a person’s area of expertise, and it’s common to ask the question in such a manner:

A person does not have to be currently working (or working in that occupation) in order to have a field.

What is your occupation?

occupation refers to the field or type of work you perform. For example:

B: «I’m an accountant.» or «I’m an engineer.»

Profession is another term worth mentioning here. Occupation and profession are similar in that they both refer to the general type of work a person does (or would want to do). The difference is that an occupation may require specialised training, such as an apprenticeship, while a profession normally requires some form of third level education in that particular field.

What is your career?

A career is the total progression of a person’s professional life, and can include many different jobs over the years. For example, if a person had a career in politics, it means they could have many different jobs over many years, all under the broad umbrella that is ‘politics’. The being said, it’s not particularly common to ask a person ‘What is your career?’

Given the answers you’ve provided («Accountancy», «Nursing», «Medicine», «Engineering»), these are all fields of expertise, therefore it would be acceptable to ask:

A: What is your field of expertise?

B: Engineering is my field.

IF you wanted to ask about occupation however, the answers would have to change somewhat:

B: I’m an accountant/nurse/doctor/engineer.

field of work

Смотреть что такое «field of work» в других словарях:

Field emission — (FE) is the emission of electrons from the surface of a condensed phase into another phase due to the presence of high electric fields. In this phenomenon, electrons with energies below the Fermi level tunnel through the potential barrier at the… … Wikipedia

Field electron emission — It is requested that a diagram or diagrams be included in this article to improve its quality. For more information, refer to discussion on this page and/or the listing at Wikipedia:Requested images. Field emission (FE) (also known as field… … Wikipedia

field emission — Physics. the removal of electrons from a metallic conductor by a strong electric field. [1925 30] * * * ▪ physics also called Cold Emission, discharge of electrons from the surface of a material subjected to a strong electric field. In… … Universalium

Field guide — A field guide Bold textis a book designed to help the reader identify wildlife (plants or animals) or other objects of natural occurrence (e.g. minerals). It is generally designed to be brought into the field or local area where such objects… … Wikipedia

field|work — «FEELD WURK», noun. 1. = field work. (Cf. ↑field work) 2. a temporary fortification for defense made by soldiers in the field. field work, 1. scientific or technical work done in the field, as by surveyors, geologists, or naturalists. 2. plowing … Useful english dictionary

Field (sculpture) — Field (1991) is a sculpture by British artist Antony Gormley. It consists of approx. 35,000 [http://www.antonygormley.com/viewphotoseries.php?photoseriesid=6 page=1] individual terracotta figures, each between 8 and 26cm high, installed on the… … Wikipedia

Field research — Field research/primary market research has traditional been thought different from methods of research conducted in a laboratory or academic setting. It was developed originally from anthropology and is sometimes know as participant research, or… … Wikipedia

Field (Bourdieu) — Field is one of the core concepts used by French social scientist Pierre Bourdieu. A field is a setting in which agents and their social positions are located. The position of each particular agent in the field is a result of interaction between… … Wikipedia

Field-Work — Field|work, Field Work [ fi:ldwə:k ], das; s [engl. field work, eigtl. = Arbeit im Gelände] (Soziol.): Field Research … Universal-Lexikon

Work hardening — Work hardening, also known as strain hardening or cold working, is the strengthening of a metal by plastic deformation. This strengthening occurs because of dislocation movements within the crystal structure of the material.[1] Any material with… … Wikipedia

What are work values? Identify yours and learn what they mean

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You spend 40 hours (maybe more) at your job every week.

But have you ever stopped to think about your personal work values? Employee and employer work values, not only determine work culture but also your optimal career path.

Work takes up a lot of space in your life as an employee. This means that the culture you find at your place of work impacts your morale, productivity, and happiness.

Spending all day ingrained in a culture that doesn’t resemble you and your core values can drain your energy and enthusiasm for your job. Even if the perks of the job are amazing, cultural issues can make those perks lose their shine.

But it goes deeper than culture: whether or not you share the same core values as your employer matters.

So, before you ask for that promotion or accept your next job offer, you need to be clear on the types of work values that are most important to you.

What are work values?

Work values are beliefs or principles relating to your career or place of work. They describe what you believe matters regarding your career.

For instance, some people believe that getting a sense of achievement through their work is a core priority in their career. For others, a healthy work-life balance trumps anything else.

Employees typically have their own set of core values, but so will organizations. For example, some companies value transparency, while others will see value in teamwork and communication.

Your workplace values say a lot about who you are and what matters to you. This is not just for your career, but in your overall personality, too.

Are work values important?

Work values matter whether you are an employee or an employer.

When your work aligns with your values, it can help you find meaning in what you do daily at your job. Your career can have a deeper meaning than just putting money in your bank account.

Upholding workplace values can also help an employee further their career.

BetterUp performed a study on meaning and purpose at work and found that on average, employees that place a higher value on meaningful work occupy more senior and skilled positions. They also stay longer at a single company.

Raises and promotions are also more common for people who value their work. This makes sense. It is easier to stay motivated and perform at a higher level when you find meaning in what you do.

Additionally, employees whose value systems align strongly with company leadership report higher job satisfaction than employees who feel misaligned.

The opposite is also true. BetterUp’s study on meaning and purpose at work found that in toxic workplaces, the rate of meaningful work for employees falls by 24% when compared to workplaces with low toxicity.

So, yes: having work values and finding a career that allows you to uphold these values contributes positively to your overall career goals. But, what about employers?

“More than ever, people are on the hunt for meaning and that includes at work, where more and more of our time is spent. To attract and retain top talent, and achieve optimal productivity, companies must build greater meaning into the workplace,” says Alexi Robichaux, Co-Founder and CEO of BetterUp.

Because employees want to find meaning in their work, employers need to uphold work values that match the type of talent they want to attract.

But that’s not all. Work values determine the culture of your workplace, and a healthy culture helps you and your colleagues adapt to change.

For example, 70% of transformations in the workplace fail, and 70% of those failures are linked to cultural issues.

What is Your Ideal Work Environment? (Interview Question)

Jen is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career expert. Together with Find My Profession, her work has been featured on sites like Forbes, Inc., Times, Fast Company, Zety, and more.

Near the end of an interview, the hiring manager will often ask, “What environment do you work best in?”

Consider this question an opportunity!

You might think this is the time to tell them about all the vacation days you deserve and mention your pet peeves.

After all, shouldn’t they make sure you’re comfortable?

The last thing you want is to end up at a company where you’re going to be miserable.

Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy.

If your current preferred work environment spiel involves vacation days and pet peeves, please keep reading or you’re likely going to flunk out with your answer.

The Reason Behind the Question

As with pretty much all of the basic interview questions, it helps to understand where the hiring manager is coming from with this one.

Here are the motives behind the question, “What is your ideal work environment?”

Now, maybe you have dozens of interviews lined up and no shortage of vocational options.

If so, go ahead and be straightforward about what you are looking for.

Mention those vacation days and pet peeves.

For most people, however, this is not the case.

In fact, if you’ve made it to the point of getting an interview, some statistics say you’re among a small percentage.

In many fields, only about two percent of job applicants get approached for an interview.

Let’s assume this is a company you are passionate about working at:

How Not to Answer

Before we delve further into the ideal response, here are some examples of how you don’t want to answer, followed by good example answers:

Don’t give a response that is too vague or broad.

“My ideal work environment is having a lot of people around.”

“I enjoy working with other people around. I feel that by working in close proximity, we can inspire each other, collaborate better, and communicate effectively to optimize performance.”

Do not make your answer “all about you.”

“My ideal work environment involves pure solitude. I need to focus and do my work without distractions.”

“I’ve found that I tend to work better without too much going on around me. I was happy to see that the position offers the option of working evenings and weekends, during which distractions are minimized and I can focus on getting the work done.”

Don’t focus on the perks that the job might offer.

“I’m totally jazzed about the paid vacation days that you can rollover for up to two years. I’m definitely going to save those up and take off for a cruise!

“The ideal work environment for me is one in which I feel my talents are being used to the full. I love helping people improve their quality of life and your values-driven healthcare services offer just that.

Avoid copying the company’s work description in your response.

“My ideal work environment is contributing to an ongoing publication schedule of consumer insight and market intelligence across key markets, categories, and trends.”

“My ideal work environment is one where I can apply my experience in contributing to market intelligence. I enjoy crunching the numbers and instigating growth in key categories. I research to find trends and discover how to effectively implement them.

Below, you’ll find a sample answer to the question, “What type of work environment do you prefer?”

But first, here are a few more things to think about when preparing your response.

Consider the Company Size

Are you interviewing with Google or a local small business?

If it is Google, nice work!

Regardless of the size of the company, state why that company fits what you are looking for.

If you are applying to a larger company:

If your prospective job is with a smaller company:

Make sure your answer involves what you already know about the company.

Otherwise, you’ll most likely not receive a callback.

Think About the Day-To-Day

Consider the hours involved

Nobody wants to work 60 hours a week.

Unfortunately, if that is what your prospective career entails, you had better be sold on it!

If you really can’t work the hours required, look for another position.

Consider the dress code

Not too many people enjoy dressing up for work every day.

However, if the dress attire at a given company is formal, explain how that promotes professionalism.

If the company promotes casual attire, you should have no problem expressing your love for T-shirts and jeans!

Focus on Landing the Job

Do your research on the company you are applying for, and you should be able to ace this question.

Now, we are not saying to go to an interview and lie.

However, you should put yourself in the employer’s shoes for a second.

Are you going to hire someone who says that they prefer working in a small office when this job is in a huge 500-person office?

You would actually be doing this person a disservice by offering them a job where they probably would not be happy.

Sample Answer to “What Is Your Ideal Work Environment?”

As promised, here is an example of how to answer the hiring manager when they ask this basic interview question:

Hiring manager:

Describe your ideal work environment.

Employee:

My ideal work environment is a place where employees at every level have good communication with each other and with their supervisors.

I also hope to work in a place that is centered on development and team building, where the unique talents of each employee can be recognized and given the opportunity to grow.

While doing some research on your company, I took note of your positive work culture and commitment to developing talents and skills of every employee.

My ideal work environment is one where empowerment and growth are encouraged at every level, along with a positive work-life balance.

Closing Thoughts

To sum it up, if you really want the job, you will transform your expectations.

In other words, what they offer will become your ideal work environment.

If you need some extra help preparing for your job interview, give us a call today!

How to Talk about your Job in English

Are you working? Do you have a job? Do you know how to talk about your job in English?

In the following guide, I want to show you what to say and how to say it when talking about your job.

You may be required to talk about your job at a party or a social event. But you may also have to talk about your job if you are changing from one company to another and having interviews.

In any situation, if you are working you should be able to express yourself in English when talking about your job.

Let’s dive right in.

Table of Contents

Questions about Work

In a social setting — at a party or over dinner — someone may ask you about your job.

They could use one of the following questions:

All of these questions mean the same thing — what is your job?

The first question is probably the most universal question that people ask when talking about work and jobs.

Let’s look at how to answer these questions and provide more information about your job.

I’m a …

Well, you just say the name of your job.

Whatever your job is, you just say the name of it as in the examples above.

I work for a …

Another way you could answer the question — what do you do? — is to say the kind of place where you work.

This may not tell the other person what your job is, but they can get a clearer picture of what kind of work you are in.

So if I were to say the first answer — I work for a community college — the other person might think I am a teacher, or maybe an assistant, or doing some administration work in the college.

But they would understand that I am working in a place of education.

If I said I work for the local council, they would realise that I am a government employee — but I could have any kind of job.

And finally, if I said I work for myself, then they would know I am self-employed and don’t work in a company or for anyone else. I am independent.

I work in…

With this phrase, you can talk about two different things about your work.

So if you were talking about the field of work you are in, you could say one of the following:

The field is the general area of work that you are in. You are usually trained or educated to work in this field.

But you can also use this phrase to talk about the department where you work:

When using the phrase this way, you usually have to say what type of company it is.

I’m in…

Sometimes, people just use a more simple expression:

This is the same meaning as saying I work in but in shorter form.

Combine All Phrases

We can combine all the above phrases and give more information.

You can combine all of the phrases and give the listener more information about what your job is and what kind of company you work for.

You can say what your job is and the kind of company where you work:

Now You Try!

Use all of the phrases we looked at above and try to talk about what you do for a living.

Use these phrases:

I’m a _______

I work for a ________

I work in ________

I work in the ______ department in a ________ company

Where Do You Work?

You can also give information about the company where you work — or the kind of company where you work.

If you work for a company that is well known in the world — or in your area or country — then you can say the name of the company.

But if you work for a relatively unknown company, then you can use one of the following phrases:

I work for a company which/that ___________

I work for a local company which/that ________

I work for a national company which/that _______

I work for an international company which/that ________

So, for example, you might say:

Try using one of these phrases to talk about your own company.

What are your Job Responsibilities?

As the conversation goes on with the other person, you may need to give them more information about your job and what you do.

The first phrase you can use is this:

I (verb)

Another useful phrase is this:

I do ( noun-phrase)

You can use this phrase like this:

Other Ways for You to Express your Responsibilities in your Job

So, for example, you might say:

I’m a marketing manager. I have to do the marketing for the company. I’m responsible for all the social media accounts we have and all the press releases. Most of my time is spent writing articles and blog posts.

Now You Try!

Use the above phrases to talk about your job responsibilities and what you do.

Do You Like Your Job?

People might ask you if you like what you do for a living.

The Money

Let’s look at the most common topic people talk about when describing their likes and dislikes about the job.

The People

And in most jobs, we have to work with others. We can talk about the things we like and dislike about the people we work with.

Words Used to Describe the Work You Do

People often use a wide range of words to talk about their job.

Let’s take a look

Positive

Negative

Using a Positive and a Negative Word to Describe your Job

When talking about their job, people often use a positive word followed by a negative word — or vice versa — to give an accurate picture of how they feel about it.

Here are some examples to show you what I mean:

Now You Try!

Take a positive and a negative word from the list above and make a sentence to describe how you feel about your job.

What Time Do You Start Work?

People might ask you one of the following questions:

They just want to know what time you begin, and what time you stop working. People may be curious about your work times.

You might also hear people ask these questions:

These both mean the same thing: What time do you finish work?

Do You Have To Do Shifts In Your Job?

Many jobs require people to do shifts. These are special times when workers are needed to continue working. Some places require people to work at any time of the day or night — for example, doctors, nurses, police and emergency staff.

If you do shifts, then you may start work early in the morning, in the afternoon or the evening.

You can express the times you start work like this:

Do You Have To Do Overtime In Your Job?

Some jobs require their staff to do overtime. This is where the staff stay at work after working hours and do extra time.

So they might finish work at five pm but stay until seven pm because they need to be there.

Overtime can be paid or unpaid — it depends on the company policy.

People might ask you the following questions:

Sometimes people refer to overtime as OT.

You can reply by saying:

Do You Get Sick Leave In Your Job?

Sick leave is when you take time off work and still get paid for it.

People might ask you:

If you are sick and want to take time off work, you can say:

Sometimes people ‘pull a sickie’ — this means that they are not really sick, but just want to take a day off.

Do You Get Annual Leave In Your Job?

Annual leave is when you are allowed to take a day or more off work and still get paid.

Some companies give as much as four weeks of annual leave to their staff every year. The staff can use these days to go on holiday, travel and take a vacation.

They might take other days off just to have a rest or attend to some personal business.

When talking about annual leave — or wanting to take some time off work — we can say:

When we say working like a dog — we mean working very hard.

And when we say working our ass off — it also means working very hard.

Are You Self-Employed?

To be self-employed means that you are working for yourself — not a company.

You don’t have a boss and you don’t answer to anyone. Only you.

Jobs that self-employed people do include:

But also the following:

If you are self-employed, you can simply say:

Are You Working Right Now?

Maybe you don’t have a job. Maybe you are looking for a job. Maybe you have just graduated and want to have a rest for a short time before starting your job search.

You can say the following:

Conclusion

If you are working I think many of these phrases will be useful to you when talking about your job.

Or if you are looking for a job, they will be useful to you in the future.

Try to spend a little time each day going over the phrases. Make your own sentences and phrases using the prompts provided to help you express yourself when talking about your job and working life.

Good luck — and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!