Talking About Your Job in French: Vocabulary + Cultural Context

Aug 6

Introduction: Why "What Do You Do?" Is Not a Simple Question in French

“What do you do for a living?” It’s one of the most common small talk questions in the English-speaking world. At networking events, dinner parties, or even in line at the grocery store, it’s practically a script: “Hi, nice to meet you! So, what do you do?”

But try translating that same question—Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?—in France, and you may enter unfamiliar territory.

Talking about your job in French isn’t just a matter of translating titles or memorizing workplace vocabulary. It’s about understanding how French people perceive work, status, and identity. It’s about choosing the right level of formality, navigating the nuances of cultural expectations, and expressing yourself in a way that feels both authentic and appropriate.

In the French-speaking world, work is often discussed differently than in American culture. People might not center their entire identity around their career. They may use different job titles depending on the setting. And you’ll definitely want to avoid translating “I work in tech” word-for-word without understanding the nuances.

Whether you're a student, expat, digital nomad, or professional preparing for a job interview in Paris—or simply want to feel confident speaking about your career in your French class—this article is your guide.

We’ll explore:

Practical vocabulary for jobs, professions, and work environments
How to introduce your job naturally (formal vs. informal settings)
Common expressions and sentence patterns
Cultural insights into how work is viewed and talked about in French society
Faux pas to avoid when talking about your job in French
How to talk about being unemployed, self-employed, retired, or between jobs

By the end of this article, you'll be able to talk about your career with confidence—and with the cultural grace that makes you sound like you belong.

Part 1: Core Vocabulary for Jobs and Work

Here’s the foundational vocabulary you need to talk about your profession.

Professions (Les professions)

médecin – doctor
professeur / enseignante – teacher
ingénieur(e) – engineer
infirmier / infirmière – nurse
avocat(e) – lawyer
graphiste – graphic designer
journaliste – journalist
développeur / développeuse – software developer
chef de projet – project manager
entrepreneur / entrepreneuse – entrepreneur
fonctionnaire – civil servant
retraité(e) – retired
étudiant(e) – student
demandeur / demandeuse d’emploi – job seeker

Common Workplaces (Les lieux de travail)

le bureau – the office
l’hôpital – hospital
l’école – school
l’entreprise – company
une startup – a startup
le service public – public service

Types of Work

un travail / un boulot – job (neutral/informal)
un poste – position
un emploi – employment
le métier – trade/profession
une carrière – career
le secteur – industry/sector (e.g., le secteur médical)

💡 Boulot is very common in casual speech: J’ai trouvé un nouveau boulot.

Part 2: How to Say What You Do

Informal (casual conversation)

Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? – What do you do for a living?
Je suis graphiste. – I’m a graphic designer.
Je bosse dans le marketing. – I work in marketing. (bosser = informal for “to work”)

Formal or Professional Settings

Quelle est votre profession ? – What is your profession?
Je travaille en tant que développeur. – I work as a developer.
Je suis responsable marketing chez EDF. – I’m a marketing manager at EDF.

Expressing Workplaces

Je travaille dans une banque. – I work in a bank.
Je travaille pour une ONG. – I work for an NGO.
Je travaille à mon compte. – I’m self-employed.

✨ Bonus: Use depuis to express how long you’ve been in a role:
Je travaille ici depuis cinq ans. – I’ve been working here for five years.

Part 3: Talking About Past Jobs, Career Paths, and Ambitions

Talking about the past:

Avant, j’étais enseignant. – I used to be a teacher.
J’ai travaillé dans l’hôtellerie pendant dix ans. – I worked in hospitality for 10 years.

Talking about career changes:

Je me reconvertis dans l’informatique. – I’m retraining in IT.
J’ai changé de métier récemment. – I recently changed careers.

Talking about ambitions:

J’aimerais devenir avocat. – I’d like to become a lawyer.
Je veux monter ma propre entreprise. – I want to start my own company.

Part 4: Cultural Context—How the French Talk About Work

1. Work =/= Identity

In the U.S., your job often defines you. In France, it's one part of your life—not necessarily the most important. Don’t be surprised if people shift the conversation to culture, leisure, or politics.

2. Status Matters (But Is Spoken About Carefully)

Job titles carry social weight in France, but it’s not considered polite to brag or talk excessively about salary or status.

3. Public vs. Private Sector Divide

France has a strong tradition of public-sector employment. Being a fonctionnaire carries job security and social respect. It’s more than just a “government job.”

4. Balance, Not Hustle

French culture values work-life balance over constant productivity. Working overtime or boasting about being “so busy” isn’t a badge of honor—it might even seem suspect.

Part 5: Being Self-Employed, Retired, or In Between Jobs

Self-Employed

Je suis à mon compte. – I’m self-employed.
Je suis freelance / travailleur indépendant. – I’m a freelancer.

Unemployed

Je suis actuellement en recherche d’emploi. – I’m currently looking for a job.
Je suis entre deux jobs. – I’m between jobs. (less formal)

Retired

Je suis à la retraite. – I’m retired.
J’étais professeur, maintenant je suis retraité. – I used to be a teacher, now I’m retired.

Part 6: Faux Pas to Avoid

🚫 Don’t directly ask someone their salary. It’s taboo in France, especially outside of close relationships.

🚫 Don’t assume someone is unemployed just because they don’t mention work. Not everyone discusses work openly.

🚫 Don’t use overly American corporate lingo. Avoid buzzwords like “synergy” or “hustle” unless you’re in a very startup-specific environment.

Sample Conversations

A casual chat at a café:

– Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
– Je suis développeur web. Et toi ?
– Je travaille dans une librairie, à mi-temps.

A formal networking event:

– Enchanté. Quelle est votre spécialité ?
– Je suis chef de projet dans le secteur énergétique.
– Intéressant. Depuis combien de temps ?
– Depuis environ trois ans.

FAQs: Talking About Your Job in French

Q: How do I say I’m a student?
A: Je suis étudiant(e). You can add your field: Je suis étudiant en biologie.

Q: Is it okay to say “Je suis un docteur”?
A: No—French doesn’t use “un/une” before professions. Say: Je suis docteur.

Q: What if I don’t work at the moment?
A: Try: Je ne travaille pas actuellement, mais je cherche un emploi.

Q: Is “bosser” appropriate in all situations?
A: No—it’s informal. Use it in casual contexts, but stick to travailler in formal settings.

Q: How do I say I work from home?
A: Je travaille à distance or Je fais du télétravail.

Q: How can I describe my industry?
A: Use le secteur + your field:

le secteur de la santé – healthcare
le secteur bancaire – banking

Ready to Speak About Your Career Like a Native?

At Polyglottist Language Academy, we don’t just teach grammar—we teach you how to speak confidently and culturally appropriately in real-life French.

Whether you're a software developer in San Francisco, a yoga teacher in Berkeley, a student in Oakland, or a remote worker in San Jose, we’ll help you:

Learn the vocabulary you need to talk about your work
Understand how to sound polished, professional, or casually confident
Practice real-life conversation with expert instructors

🧑‍🏫 Small group classes (3–6 students)
📚 Native and near-native speaking teachers
💻 Live online and in-person formats
🎯 Real-world communication focus

👉 Check out our French classes and sign up today.

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🎙 Don’t just learn French—learn how to live in it.
With the right words and cultural tools, you can talk about your career in French with clarity, nuance, and confidence.

Let Polyglottist Language Academy guide your next step. 🇫🇷

Olga Sylvia