Jobs, Occupations, and Professions Vocabulary in English

When we talk about work in English, we often hear three words: job, occupation, and profession. They are related, but not exactly the same. A job is your specific work or position, an occupation is a more formal way to describe what you do, and a profession is a career that usually requires special education or training. Let’s look at the differences step by step, and then explore useful job vocabulary with examples.

When we talk about work in English, we often hear three words: job, occupation, and profession. They are related, but not exactly the same.

• A job is your specific work or position.
  • “My dad’s job is driving a taxi.”
• An occupation is a more formal way to describe the kind of work you do.
  • “Please write your occupation on the form.”
• A profession is a career that usually requires education or training.
  • “Medicine is a difficult profession.”

Education Jobs

• Teacher → teaches in a school.
  • “My mom is a teacher in a high school.”
  • “Teachers can explain new things and help students learn.”
• Professor → teaches at a university.
  • “Her father is a professor at the university.”
  • “Professors can research and teach advanced subjects.”
• Principal / Headmaster → leads a school.
  • “The principal called all the students.”
  • “Principals have to manage teachers and students.”

• An instructor is someone who teaches or trains people in a specific skill. It’s like a teacher, but often used for practical training or special courses rather than regular school subjects.  “At the gym, there is a fitness instructor who shows us the exercises.”,  “The language school hired new English instructors.”

👉 Scenario: “Both of my parents work in education. My mom is a teacher, and my dad is a school principal.”

Health Jobs

• Doctor → treats sick people.
  • “My dad is a doctor in a hospital.”
  • “Doctors can heal patients and give them medicine.”
• Nurse → helps doctors and patients.
  • “My aunt is a nurse.”
  • “Nurses can take care of patients all day.”
• Dentist → looks after teeth.
  • “I went to the dentist because I had a toothache.”
  • “Dentists can fix broken teeth and clean them.”
• Pharmacist → gives medicine in a pharmacy.
  • “The pharmacist explained how to take the pills.”
  • “Pharmacists have to give the correct medicine to people.”

👉 Scenario: “When I was sick, my mom took me to the doctor, and later we got the medicine from the pharmacist.”

Office & Business Jobs

• Engineer → designs or builds things.
  • “My father is an engineer and works in construction.”
  • “Engineers can design bridges, buildings, and machines.”
• Accountant → works with money and numbers.
  • “My uncle is an accountant in a big company.”
  • “Accountants have to keep records of money carefully.”
• Secretary → helps in an office with phone calls and documents.
  • “The secretary answered my call politely.”
  • “Secretaries can organize meetings and write emails.”
• Manager → the boss of a team or department.
  • “Her dad is a manager in a bank.”
  • “Managers must make important decisions for the company.”
• Banker → works in a bank.
  • “My aunt is a banker. She works with loans.”
  • “Bankers can help people open accounts and borrow money.”

👉 Scenario: “My mom works as a manager in an office, and her secretary helps her organize meetings.”

Skilled & Practical Jobs

• Mechanic → repairs cars.
  • “My father is a mechanic. He fixes engines.”
  • “Mechanics can repair broken cars and machines.”
• Electrician → works with electrical systems.
  • “The electrician repaired the lights in our classroom.”
  • “Electricians have to work carefully with electricity.”
• Plumber → fixes water pipes.
  • “We called a plumber because the sink was leaking.”
  • “Plumbers can repair sinks, toilets, and pipes in houses.”
• Builder / Construction worker → builds houses and buildings.
  • “The builders are working on a new bridge.”
  • “Construction workers must wear helmets to stay safe.”
• Farmer → grows crops or raises animals.
  • “My grandparents are farmers. They grow olives.”
  • “Farmers can produce food for people and take care of animals.”

👉 Scenario: “When the light stopped working, my dad called an electrician. Last week we also needed a plumber because of a broken pipe.”

Service Jobs

• Shopkeeper → owns a small shop.
  • “My father is a shopkeeper. He sells clothes.”
  • “Shopkeepers have to open their shops early in the morning.”
• Cashier → works at the checkout in a store.
  • “The cashier gave me my change.”
  • “Cashiers can handle money and help customers quickly.”
• Waiter / Waitress → serves food in restaurants.
  • “The waiter brought us our drinks.”
  • “Waiters must be polite to all customers.”
• Chef / Cook → prepares food.
  • “My aunt is a chef in a restaurant.”
  • “Chefs can create new recipes and cook delicious meals.”
• Hairdresser → cuts and styles hair.
  • “My mom went to the hairdresser”
  • “Hairdressers can cut, wash, and style people’s hair.”

👉 Scenario: “At the restaurant, the waiter was very friendly, and the chef made delicious pasta.”

Public Service Jobs

These are jobs where people work for the community or government to help and protect others.

• Police officer → keeps people safe.
  • “My father is a police officer.”
  • “Police officers must follow the law and can protect people.”
• Soldier → works in the army.
  • “My brother is a soldier.”
  • “Soldiers have to defend their country.”
• Firefighter → puts out fires.
  • “The firefighters arrived quickly.”
  • “Firefighters can save lives in dangerous situations.”
• Judge → makes decisions in court.
  • “The judge listened carefully to the case.”
  • “Judges must be fair and make the right decision.”
• Lawyer → helps people with legal problems.
  • “My aunt is a lawyer.”
  • “Lawyers can defend people in court.”
• Civil servant → works in a government office.
  • “My mom is a civil servant at the Ministry of Health.”
  • “Civil servants have to prepare official documents.”

👉 Scenario: “When there was a fire in the neighborhood, the firefighters came fast, the police officers closed the street, and later the civil servants helped people with official documents.”

Travel & Creative Jobs

• Driver → drives buses, taxis, or trucks.
  • “My dad is a taxi driver.”
  • “Drivers have to follow traffic rules carefully.”
• Pilot → flies airplanes.
  • “The pilot announced we would land soon.”
  • “Pilots can fly airplanes across the world.”
• Flight attendant → helps passengers on planes.
  • “The flight attendants gave us drinks.”
  • “Flight attendants must make sure passengers are safe.”
• Artist → paints or draws.
  • “My cousin is an artist.”
  • “Artists can express ideas and feelings through art.”
• Musician → plays instruments or sings.
  • “The musician played the guitar beautifully.”
  • “Musicians can perform in concerts and write songs.”

👉 Scenario: “On the flight, the pilot spoke to us, and the flight attendants served food. My sister, who is very creative, wants to be an artist or a musician.”

If Not Working

• Retired → stopped working because of age.
  • “My grandfather is retired now.”
• Unemployed → not working at the moment.
  • “My uncle is unemployed, but he’s looking for a job.”
• Homemaker (Housewife / Househusband) → stays at home to care for the family.
  • “My mom is a homemaker.”

When talking about jobs, we often explain what our parents or relatives do. If you’d like to learn more words about family members, check out our “ Family Vocabulary Guide in English.”