“What do you do for a living?” It’s a seemingly simple question, often used to break the ice at social or professional gatherings. Yet for many, the answer isn’t straightforward. While titles like doctor, lawyer, or pilot provide immediate clarity, other careers require context and explanation. Roles in fields like marketing, communication, finance, or technology often defy easy categorization. Terms like “marketing professional” or “financial analyst” can feel vague or inadequate, failing to capture the full scope of someone’s work or expertise.
This difficulty in defining one’s work reflects the evolving nature of the job market. Modern careers rarely follow linear, well-defined paths. Instead, they are mosaics of skills, roles, and experiences. A person might start as an “Accounts Payable Analyst,” later become a “Senior Financial Coordinator,” and still struggle to succinctly describe their work outside of a corporate structure. When employed, adopting a specific title feels natural. But during periods of transition, that clarity fades, leaving a sense of vulnerability. What was once a straightforward answer becomes retrospective: “I was a financial coordinator.”
This linguistic limitation has tangible consequences. In a competitive job market driven by quick categorization, the inability to summarize one’s career in a single phrase can be frustrating. The issue isn’t a lack of skill or competence but the challenge of fitting into rigid definitions. Years of experience and a diverse skill set don’t disappear when a job title does, but without that formal designation, a feeling of professional displacement can emerge. The pressure to provide a concise answer often overlooks the richness of one’s capabilities.
Herminia Ibarra, in her book Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career, argues that professional identity isn’t static but evolves through experience and experimentation. She challenges the traditional notion that we must first figure out who we are and then act accordingly. Instead, she suggests that it is through action and exploration of new roles that we discover different dimensions of our professional selves. This approach encourages professionals to embrace fluidity rather than cling to fixed definitions.
Similarly, in The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter – And How to Make the Most of Them Now, Meg Jay emphasizes that the decisions made in early adulthood significantly shape one’s future. She underscores the importance of intentional choices, as the experiences gained during this period lay the groundwork for career paths and personal identity. These formative years highlight the challenge of defining work in a way that captures its ongoing evolution.
An article from the BBC titled “Why We Define Ourselves by Our Jobs” explores how closely people tie their identity to their professions. This phenomenon, known as “enmeshment,” can blur the lines between personal and professional life, leading to burnout and identity struggles. The piece suggests that over-identifying with work risks losing sight of who we are beyond our careers.
Arthur Brooks, writing for The Atlantic, addresses the dangers of self-objectification in professional contexts. He warns against equating self-worth solely with job titles or achievements, which can lead to dissatisfaction and exhaustion. Brooks advocates for separating personal identity from professional roles, fostering a healthier relationship with work.
These insights collectively illustrate the complexity of defining what we do and who we are in an ever-changing professional landscape. Perhaps it’s time to rethink how we ask and answer the question, “What do you do for a living?” Instead of seeking a fixed label, we could focus on skills, passions, and experiences. Asking “What skills do you have?” or “What are you passionate about?” allows for a richer understanding of someone’s professional journey.
In a world where careers are fluid, conversations about work should reflect that complexity. We are more than our job titles — we are a blend of stories, experiences, and aspirations. The real answer to “What do you do?” may be: “Let’s sit down, and I’ll tell you.”