Describing your job: routines, roles, and responsibilities
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Think about these questions before listening. Share your ideas with a partner.
- What is one part of your daily routine at work or school that you enjoy the most, and why?
- Think about a time you had to explain your job to someone who knew nothing about it. What was the most difficult part to explain?
- What kind of tasks or responsibilities make a day feel productive and successful for you?
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Describing Your Job
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
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Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the audio recording.
01What is Marco in charge of at his job?
Sample answerHe is in charge of the new software project.
02What are two of Marco's typical daily tasks?
Sample answerHe checks emails and prepares reports for his team.
03Who does Marco work with on the project?
Sample answerHe works closely with the design team.
04What kind of problems does Marco have to handle?
Sample answerHe has to deal with any technical problems that come up.
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Key vocabulary for roles and responsibilities
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you describe your job more clearly and naturally.
Examples
To be in charge of (something) — to have responsibility for a team, a project, or a task
Usage note: This is a common way to describe your main responsibilities. You can follow it with a noun or an -ing verb. Example: 'I'm in charge of the marketing budget' or 'I'm in charge of training new staff.'
To deal with (someone/something) — to handle a situation, solve a problem, or work with certain people or things
Usage note: This is a useful phrasal verb to talk about the focus of your job. It can be about people ('I deal with clients') or tasks ('I deal with customer complaints').
To meet a deadline — to finish a task or project by the agreed time or date
Usage note: This is a very common collocation in the workplace. You can also talk about a 'tight deadline' (when you don't have much time) or 'missing a deadline' (when you finish late).
Day-to-day tasks — the regular activities that you do every day as part of your job
Usage note: Use this phrase to give a general summary of your normal work routines. Example: 'My day-to-day tasks include answering emails and updating our database.'
To report to (someone) — to have a particular person as your manager who is responsible for your work
Usage note: This phrase explains your position in the company structure. Example: 'I'm a project assistant and I report to the senior project manager.'
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Workplace vocabulary
Learn some common phrases for describing your job.
Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right.
Drag or click to match
Definitions
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Grammar: using gerunds and infinitives for responsibilities
Grammar
When we describe our job responsibilities, we often use specific verbs and phrases. Some of these are followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb, like 'managing'), while others are followed by an infinitive ('to' + verb, like 'to prepare').
Examples
My role involves supporting the sales team.
We use a gerund (-ing) after the verb 'involve'.
I'm responsible for updating the client database.
We also use a gerund after a preposition, like 'for'.
I need to organize a meeting with the new clients.
We use an infinitive (to + verb) after verbs like 'need', 'plan', and 'have to'.
Key points
- Use a gerund (verb + -ing) after phrases like 'my job involves...' or 'I'm responsible for...'.
- Use an infinitive (to + verb) to express purpose or after verbs like 'need', 'want', 'plan', or 'decide'.
- A common mistake is mixing them up. Remember: 'responsible for doing', not 'responsible for to do'.
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Correct the mistakes
Read the sentences below about work responsibilities.
Each sentence contains one error. Find and correct it.
01I'm responsible for to organize the weekly team meetings.
Corrected version
I'm responsible for to organize organizing the weekly team meetings.
02In my job, I often have to deal about customer complaints.
Corrected version
In my job, I often have to deal about with customer complaints.
03One of my main day-to-day tasks are checking my emails.
Corrected version
One of my main day-to-day tasks are is checking my emails.
04Every morning, I am tracking the project's progress on our system.
Corrected version
Every morning, I am tracking track the project's progress on our system.
05She is in charge for the marketing department.
Corrected version
She is in charge for of the marketing department.
06My main role is to support to the sales team with their reports.
Corrected version
My main role is to support to the sales team with their reports.
07We must to meet the deadline for this project by Friday.
Corrected version
We must to meet the deadline for this project by Friday.
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Useful phrases: Describing your typical workday
Vocabulary
When someone asks 'What do you do?', they often want to know what your daily work looks like. Use these phrases to describe your routines and responsibilities in a clear and natural way.
Examples
"A typical day for me involves..." — use this to start your description with a general overview of your main activities.
Register: Neutral. This is a great opening phrase for job interviews or networking events. Example: 'A typical day for me involves answering customer emails and updating our database.'
"My main focus is..." — use this to highlight your most important responsibility or the primary goal of your role.
Register: Neutral. This helps the listener understand your key contribution. Example: 'My main focus is making sure all our projects are delivered on time.'
"I also handle..." — use this to add a secondary responsibility or task to your description.
Register: Neutral. This is a good way to show you have multiple skills. It's similar to 'I also deal with...'. Example: 'I also handle the team's weekly schedule.'
"I work closely with..." — use this to talk about teamwork and collaboration.
Register: Neutral. Mention a specific person, team, or department to give a clear picture of your role. Example: 'I work closely with the sales team to prepare presentations for clients.'
"It really depends on the day, but..." — use this to show that your job has variety and is not always the same.
Register: Informal/Neutral. This phrase makes your description sound more realistic and natural. Example: 'It really depends on the day, but I often have to visit different client sites.'
"By the end of the day, I try to..." — use this to describe your final tasks or goals for the day.
Register: Neutral. This is a good way to conclude your description of a typical day. Example: 'By the end of the day, I try to finish all my urgent tasks and plan for tomorrow.'
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Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.
Word bank
01As a customer service representative, my main job is to customer complaints and questions.
02My manager is the entire marketing department and makes all the final decisions.
03We have a very strict for this project; it must be finished by Friday.
04I work in the sales team, and I the regional sales manager.
05My day-to-day include answering emails, organizing meetings, and preparing documents.
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A day in the life of a team leader
Learn about the responsibilities of someone in a management role.
Read the passage below, then answer the comprehension questions.
As a Customer Support Team Leader, my main role is to guide and support my team of five agents. I am in charge of ensuring we provide excellent service and solve customer problems efficiently. My day-to-day tasks are quite varied. I organize the weekly work schedule, track our team's performance, and prepare reports for my manager, who I report to directly. A large part of my job involves dealing with the most difficult customer issues that my team members need help with. It's also my responsibility to help them develop their skills. We always have to meet a deadline for our monthly reports, so keeping everything updated is essential. It's a challenging position, but I enjoy helping my team succeed.
01What are two of the team leader's regular responsibilities mentioned in the text?
Sample answerOrganizing the work schedule, tracking team performance, preparing reports, or dealing with difficult customer issues.
02Who does the team leader report to?
Sample answerThey report directly to their manager.
03What kind of customer issues does the team leader handle personally?
Sample answerThey handle the most difficult issues that their team members need help with.
04According to the passage, why is it essential to keep information updated?
Sample answerBecause they have to meet a deadline for their monthly reports.
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- Which do you think is more stressful: having many different day-to-day tasks to manage, or being in charge of one very important project with a difficult deadline? Why?
- In your country, how important is it to know who you report to? Do people often talk about who is in charge of different projects, or is the structure more relaxed?
- What personal qualities are most important for a manager who has to deal with difficult clients and also support their team to meet deadlines?