10 Fun Ways to Answer "What do you do for a living?"

1 أبريل 2025

Are you frequently asked, "What do you do?" Here's how you respond to it, whether it occurs at work, during social events, or even during job interviews.

Note: This article is by Vanessa Van Edwards, who shares unique ways to answer a common question.

How about we all stop asking this question? it’s a boring social topic we've been asked about a million times before. In this article, you'll discover a courteous way to respond to this inquiry as well as alternative questions to ask instead.

10 entertaining solutions to this boring question

1. Share your success story

Don't say, "I'm an expert in user interface design".

Instead, say “I'm an expert in user interface design. I help brands with digital transformations. I just completed a huge project and helped a client catch the attention of one of the world's 500 largest companies, and now they're discussing a new partnership".

Do you want others to think highly of you? Then, try to mention a recent achievement related to your work. For example:

Have you completed a huge project recently?
What are some of your smaller accomplishments?
Have you had a real influence on your business?

Your success doesn’t necessarily need to be professional. You can try mentioning something personal. Being successful isn’t always related to fame or fortune. For instance, saying something simple like: “I am a receptionist, but I am fond of hiking. Last week, I managed to take a long trip where I walked 10 miles”, can show your personal success.

2. Use an enticing phrase

Don’t say “I am a writer.”

Instead, say “I am a recovering awkward person.”

I'm attempting to introduce you to a novel concept here. When people asked me about my work, I always said, "I am a writer." After that, they would constantly ask, "But what do you write?" so I say, "I write about communication and human behavior." What a predictable and tedious response!

So, I chose to begin with something intriguing. The first line of my bestselling book (Captivate) is: “I am a recovering awkward person.” I love this phrase because it’s unique, captures who I am in a few words, and I find it to be a great beginning for the conversation.

Take your typical job position and add to it a touch of creativity. What is the thing that only you know about your field of work and the ordinary person doesn’t? or how can you describe your job distinctively?

Say that you are a computer genius, the mother superior, or a content marketing champion. Don't be shy of saying something that's never been heard of, as these unique slogans stimulate the release of dopamine and make you stand out. It may require some courage to say such things, but you won't achieve something special unless you challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone.

3. Talk about your goals and purpose

Don't say, "I am a tax accountant."

Instead, say: “My job is to help people reduce their taxes, so they can save more money.”

If you have read the book Start with Why, the bestselling book by the author Simon Sinek, you will know that the goal you are working for is more important than your work itself.

Starting with the cause will eventually lead you to talk about what your job entails and how it’s carried out. So, try this 3-step framework:

Why: Ask yourself about what you are trying to achieve, what is your vision or mission in life? When do you get up in the morning?
How: After that, think about how you do things differently, what distinguishes you from others? What makes your job so special?
What: Conclude by talking about what you do, and describe what you provide through your work.

This is also a great method that you can use in your job interviews because talking about your goal shows that you clearly know what you are working towards.

4. Show enthusiasm

Don’t say: “I am just a school teacher.”

Instead, say: “I work as a teacher in a great local school. I am so excited to help less fortunate children.” When you introduce yourself, avoid sounding dejected. For instance, don’t say that you are “just” a teacher, and don’t limit the scope of your potential.

Some people express themselves in an apologetic manner, so you must show that you are passionate about your work, even if you are not completely satisfied with what you do. Don't you have a tinge of enthusiasm for any aspect of your work? I once heard an employee saying: “I work in marketing. It’s not my dream job, but I can work remotely and this allows me to travel the world and visit many exciting sites.”

Based on this, the conversation will be directed toward those exciting sites. Expressing interest or passion will make you seem interesting. Therefore, even if you have the most boring job in the world, you can still experience some short moments of passion in what you do.

If you can’t, then try to challenge yourself. Sometimes passion is born when you excel at something or encounter a challenge. If you are not progressing, or not encountering any challenges, try to stir up some kind of excitement. For example:

Try changing your routine.
Find out what you can improve about yourself.
Learn more about your field of work.
Start a big project and make sure to finish it.

5. Introduce a piece of useful information

Don't say, "I'm a pressure gauge engineer."

Instead, say: "I'm a pressure gauge engineer, which means I go to construction sites and test if pipes, valves, and other equipment are safe enough to handle the water pressure. Without my job, a pipe could literally burst from the water pressure building up inside of it."

Try to share some knowledge about your field of work with others. This approach works incredibly well especially when working with VIPs and those who are constantly learning.

Whatever you do, make sure that the other person understands it well. However, don’t dive into details if they didn't seem interested, where you must introduce yourself in less than 20 seconds, and in this case, 10 seconds is sufficient time. You should also try to read the other person’s body language in search of signs that show they feel bored or disinterested.

6. Change the subject of the conversation

Don't say, "I help homeowners get permits to rent while they're on vacation, and my job has a lot of details, so let me tell you about it."

Instead, say: "I help homeowners get permits to rent while they're on vacation, and speaking of vacations…". In other words, turn the conversation to a more interesting subject if you believe your job is not. If you help people do exciting things, this is what you should be talking about when you tell people about your work.

Here are some other examples:

“I am a garbage man. You'd never believe the things people throw in the trash.”
"I'm an insurance expert. I use medical data to predict life expectancy. Do you know the number one factor that contributes to a person's longevity?"
“I am a driver at Uber company. My favorite part is that I get to meet amazing people. Do you want to hear about the funniest client I have given a lift?”

Another quick piece of advice to try is to not focus on what you're doing and keep the conversation short and simple.

Here's how:

Don't talk too long: For example, if you usually say, "I'm a realtor who specializes in obtaining permits for home renters because homeowners don't want to wait in office lines, they want to get permits while they're on vacation," try shortening it to: "I help homeowners obtain rental permits."
Do not go into details after a bit of back-and-forth: Many beginners make a fatal mistake where they continue to talk about small details that may cause boredom to the other party. So instead, shift the conversation to a more fun and exciting topic.

This tactic is a wonderful strategy for social events or parties since you don't have much time and are continuously interacting with new people. However, do not use this trick while you are in a job interview because the hiring manager can assume that you are not properly prepared for the interview.

7. Show compassion

Don’t say: “I work in a law firm, but it is not really fascinating…”

Instead, say: “I work in a law firm that specializes in helping people get back the money they deserve. Helping people who are less fortunate is really amazing.” We are always looking for reasons to connect with people, so sharing emotions, stories, and feelings facilitates and accelerates this connection.

Answering this dull question becomes easier when you find a way to connect with the person in front of you.

For example:

What are your common interests?
What can you do to help them?
Can you offer something of value?

Can you share a story or other details deeper than just mere facts? Don’t focus only on the goal and purpose you work toward, but also on the people you can help.

8. Talk about your additional skills

Don't say, "I am a content marketer."

Instead, say: "I'm an SEO specialist. I help companies reach the right audience, and last, I helped my company increase website traffic by 15%."

Identifying your talents is extremely important. This is especially useful when you talk about the talents that other people do not know that you have. It's also great advice for when you are going through a job interview. Hence, highlight your hidden talents by mentioning your soft and hard skills which may not be necessarily required for the job you are applying for, yet might help you if you brushed on them.

For example, if you are applying for a software engineer job at Apple or Microsoft, it is not enough to talk about your experience in the field of programming. Rather, you should mention your team leadership skills, that you are an expert in body language, or your interest in any other hobbies. However, you must stay professional, where your additional skills should make you a better candidate, not detract from your primary area of expertise.

9. Share your story

Don’t say, “I am a farmer.”

Instead, say: “I started working as a Stock Analyst, and I had achieved everything I wanted, but inside I felt empty, and then one day, while I was on a road trip, I felt that I wanted to start a farm. So, I started my crazy journey, and now I am proud to say that I have my own farm.”

People love stories because when we hear a story, our brains draw us a set of pictures. So, try using this technique in your response, and if you have an interesting past.

start with:

“In the past…”
“I used to work in…”
“I am recovering from…”
“I worked in… then I moved to…”

A tale told in this manner comprises four sections:

Where you started.
The challenges you faced.
The way you overcame these challenges.
What you have achieved today.

Each person has a unique story, so try to follow some storytelling techniques to sound more interesting.

10. Add some humor

Don’t say, “I am a dog trainer.”

Instead, say: "I am the dogs' best friend. I love taking them on long walks on the beach, bringing them their favorite food, taking care of them when their owners are away, and also teaching them how to walk with a collar, not to bark, and to sit when asked. I also love the owners of the dogs."

Try adding a touch of humor. Humor is a great way to answer that boring question, and it actually helps reduce stress and build intimacy.

You can sound humorous by:

Making fun of yourself.
Telling jokes.
Exaggerating.

You don't have to be a comedian to make people laugh and keep in mind that anyone can learn to be funny.

What can you ask instead of “What do you do for a living?”

No matter what the occasion is, this question is considered one of the main questions we frequently ask. Additionally, this question actually implies: Are you, somebody? Are you significant? Do we have anything in common?

So, here is this challenge. Try to avoid asking this question as much as possible. Actually, avoid asking it altogether for an entire month, and ask one of these three questions instead:

Do you have any big plans in the near future? It's a great question because it makes you think and stimulates the release of dopamine, or the hormone of happiness in our brains. It also makes other people excited, and you’ll stick to other people’s minds.
Are you working on something exciting right now? Use the word “work” so people can talk about what they do in their jobs, or mention their personal hobbies or interests. Also, use the word “exciting” because it generates the release of dopamine.
Do you have any current passions? If you want to skip the topic of work altogether, ask this question to shift the conversation to familial, social, or personal topics.

When you ask any of these questions, make sure that you have your own answers. In this case, if the other doesn’t have any exciting plans ahead, you can step in and answer for yourself in a way that makes it appear interesting. If you didn’t have any plans, make some, meaning:

Plan something big.
Go on a trip.
Set bold goals for yourself.
Do something productive.

Best kinds of questions according to science

Not all questions are the same, and there is much research regarding this topic. There are 4 types of questions:

Introductory questions: “How are you?”
Reversed questions: “I’m fine. How are you?”
Complete switch questions: Those that change the subject completely.
Follow-up questions: Those are the questions that require additional information.

The researchers at Harvard University found that follow-up questions are the most powerful types of questions. Their significance derives from the fact they show that you are really listening, that you care about what the other person has to say, and that you would like to know more. Furthermore, the people who interacted with a partner who asked a lot of follow-up questions felt more respected and appreciated.

Anytime you ask someone a question, follow it up with another question. For example, here’s how to do it:

“What is your passion?”
“I love to ski on weekends.”
“Amazing! Since when do you ski?”

In conclusion

Some conversations may take a boring course, and confusing questions such as “What do you do for a living” may be asked. In this article, we have learned how to answer this question, avoid the embarrassment it may cause, and replace it with more interesting questions.