Professions and occupations

Professions and occupations

Here is a list of the most common professions and occupations with an explanation of what each person does in these jobs:

police officer/policeman/policewoman – a person who works in a police station and keeps people safe

soldier - a person who works in the army, wears a uniform and has a gun

firefighter - a person who rescues people from burning buildings and helps put out fires

spaceman/ astronaut - a person who is trained to travel in a spacecraft, and to explore planets, stars and the universe

scientist – a person who works in a laboratory and does experiments

doctor – a person who works in a hospital and cures sick people

nurse - a person who works in a hospital and helps doctors

dentist - a qualified person who can repair your teeth

surgeon – a doctor qualified to do surgery

pharmacist - a person who is qualified to prepare and dispense medicine

veterinarian (vet) - a person who works in an animal hospital and looks after sick animals

judge - a qualified person that decides cases in a law court

lawyer - a person who defends people’s rights in court and gives legal advice

politician - a person who works in politics

teacher – a person who teaches students

lecturer - a person who gives lectures, usually in a university

researcher - a person who does academic or scientific research and whose work involves discovering and verifying information for use in a book, program, degree, etc.

librarian - a person who works in a library

writer – a person who writes books, poems and stories

cartoonist – a person who can draw cartoons and animations

artist - a person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby

painter - a person who paints pictures or the interior and exterior of buildings

reporter – a person who report news on TV, radio or newspaper

journalist – a person who writes for newspapers, magazines or news websites or prepares news to be broadcast

meteorologist – an expert of meteorology that makes weather forecasts

postman - a person who delivers mail to your home

cook/chef – a person who does the cooking in a restaurant

baker - a person who makes bread and other baked goods

fisherman - a person who catches fish

butcher - a person who cuts meat and sells it in a shop

waiter/ waitress – a person who takes people’s order in a restaurant and serves food

dancer - a person who dance well

singer - a person who can sing well

pianist - a person who plays the piano well

cleaner - a person who cleans/tidies places such as offices, shopping centers and homes

movie director – someone who makes movies

actor/ actress – a person who acts (plays a role) in a movie

fashion designer – a person who makes and designs clothes

tailor – a person who sews or adjusts clothes for others

model - a person who works in fashion by modeling clothes and accessories

hairdresser - a person who cuts and styles hair

photographer - a person who takes photos

pilot – a person who flies an airplane, helicopter, etc.

flight attendant - a person who helps passengers on the board of the plane

travel agent - a person who organizes and sells holidays and flights to others

architect – a person who designs buildings and supervises their construction

engineer - a person who designs, builds or maintains engines, machines or public works

mechanic - a person who repairs machines and vehicles such as cars and buses

electrician - a person who installs and maintains electric equipment

builder - a person who builds houses

carpenter - a person who makes furniture

plumber - a person who repairs your water system or pipes

farmer – a person who works on a farm, grows and harvests crops or looks after animals

greengrocer - a person who sells fruits and vegetables

gardener – a person who works in a garden, plants tree and flowers

businessman/businesswoman - a person who runs his/her own business

receptionist - a person who is working at the reception (entrance) of company

florist - a person who sells flowers

shop assistant - a person who works in a shop or store and helps sell products to customers

translator - a person who translates from one language to another

bus driver – a person who drives a bus

taxi driver - a person who drives a taxi

lifeguard – an expert swimmer who rescues people and saves their 
lives in a swimming pool or at the beach

basketball player – a person who can play basketball well

referee – a person who watches a game or match closely to ensure that the rules are followed and to arbitrate if needed