Was machen Sie beruflich? Talking about Jobs and Professions in German
In this post you’ll learn how to talk about jobs, professions, and working in German. First you’ll learn how to ask someone what their job is. Next you’ll learn how to say what you do for a living with German vocabulary for many common jobs. Finally you’ll learn how to talk about where you work, or whether you’re retired or looking for a job.
Asking about Jobs and Professions in German
If you want to ask what kind of work someone does, you can ask one of the following questions. Notice that the adverb beruflich means professionally or for work, from the noun der Beruf (profession).
- Was machen Sie beruflich?
What do you do for work/professionally? - Haben Sie eine Stelle?
Do you have a job? - Wo arbeiten Sie?
Where do you work?
Common Jobs and Professions in German
To answer, just use the verb sein (to be) without an article like ein or eine. Notice that professions in German have masculine and feminine forms. The feminine is usually formed with the feminine ending –in. But the masculine noun der Beamter (official, officer) has the feminine form die Beamte.
- Ich bin Lehrer/in.
I’m a teacher. - Ich bin Student/in.
I’m a student. - Ich bin Krankenpfleger/in (also: Krankenschwester, -n (female only))
I’m a nurse. - Ich bin Arzt/Ärztin.
I’m a doctor. - Ich bin Zahnarzt/Zahnärztin.
I’m a dentist. - Ich bin Polizeibeamter/Polizeibeamte.
I’m a police officer. - Ich bin Feuerwehrmann/Feuerwehrfrau.
I’m a fireman. - Ich bin Verkäufer/in.
I’m a salesperson.) - Ich bin Kellner/in.
I’m a server. (waiter/waitress) - Ich bin Barkeeper/in.
I’m a bartender. - Ich bin Koch/Köchin.
I’m a cook. - Ich bin Schauspieler/in.
I’m an actor. - Ich bin Schriftsteller/in.
I’m a writer. - Ich bin Journalist/in.
I’m a journalist. - Ich bin Künstler/in.
I’m an artist. - Ich bin Sänger/in.
I’m a singer.
More Jobs and Professions in German
- Ich bin Tänzer/in.
I’m a dancer. - Ich bin Bauarbeiter/in.
I’m a construction worker. - Ich bin Klempner/in.
I’m a plumber. - Ich bin Elektriker/in.
I’m an electrician. - Ich bin Ingenieur/in.
I’m an engineer. - Ich bin Schreiner/in (also: Tischler/in)
I’m a carpenter. - Ich bin Rechtsanwalt/Rechtsanwältin.
I’m a lawyer. - Ich bin Architekt/in.
I’m an architect. - Ich bin Webdesigner/in.
I’m a web designer. - Ich bin Sekretär/in.
I’m a secretary. - Ich bin Psychiater/in.
I’m a psychiatrist. - Ich bin Psychologe/Psychologin.
I’m a psychologist. - Ich bin Sozialarbeiter/in.
I’m a social worker. - Ich bin Yogalehrer/in.
yoga instructor. - Ich bin Kassierer/in.
- I’m a cashier.
- Ich bin Briefträger/in.
I’m a postal worker. - Ich Büroleiter/in.
I’m an office supervisor. - Ich bin Beamter/Beamte.
I’m a civil servant.
Talking about Companies and Working in German
Here are a few other expressions you can use to describe where, or whether, you work.
- Ich arbeite in einem Büro.
I work in an office. - Ich arbeite bei einer großen/kleinen Firma.
I work for a big/small company. - Ich arbeite zu Hause.
I work at home. - Ich bin selbstständig.
I have my own business. - Ich habe eine Stelle.
I have a job. - Ich bin arbeitslos.
I don’t have a job. - Ich suche eine Stelle.
I’m looking for a job. - Ich bin im Ruhestand.
I’m retired. - Ich bekomme Arbeitslosengeld.
I’m on unemployment.
Get on the road to speaking German with the Language Garage!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to talk about jobs, professions, and working in German. Now you know how to talk about work, and you’ve learned German vocabulary for many common jobs and professions. If you’d like to learn more, check out our other posts on German language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live German lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage German. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. We can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!
