Profession, occupation, work and job have very similar meanings. But there are differences too:

• A profession is a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill.
• An occupation is a job (formal language).
• A job is work that you do regularly to earn money.
• Work is the things that you do as part of your job.

Exercise 1. Choose the right word (profession/occupation/job/work) to complete the sentences:

1. What’s your ____ ? – I’m a doctor. Why? – Oh, nothing.
2. I have a lot of ____ to do.
3. He is a carpenter by ____.
4. What is your ____? – I am a nurse, sir.
5. I like administrative ____.
6. I want a new ____. I’m sick and tired of (very unhappy about) what I do now.
7. Please write your name, address and ____.
8. Which ____ do you want to join?

The answer key is at the bottom of the page.

40 COMMON PROFESSIONS & OCCUPATIONS

 

Of course, there are more professions out there. We are sorry if your job is not on the list. What do you do? / What’s your job? Please tell us in comments below.

Exercise 2. Match the jobs with their definitions:

1. a person who designs buildings
2. a person who performs ceremonies in some religions
3. a person who directs a movie or a play
4. a person who takes photographs as a job
5. a person who works in a mine
6. a person who writes music
7. a person who works in a library
8. someone who keeps the financial records of a company or a person
9. a person who helps passengers who are traveling in an airplane
10. a member of a group that works to put out (extinguish) fires

a) priest

b) flight attendant

c) architect

d) accountant

e) librarian

f) director

g) composer

h) photographer

i) miner

j) firefighter

The answer key is at the bottom of the page.

Answer key:

Exercise 1: 1. job 2. work 3. profession 4. occupation 5. work 6. job 7. occupation 8. profession

Exercise 2: 1 c, 2 a, 3 f, 4 h, 5 i, 6 g, 7 e, 8 d, 9 b, 10 j

• Easy English