WorkJobs and professions

Generally, German-speaking countries tend to have a fairly high rate of employment and are an important export market for British goods. This means there is often a high demand in British firms for people with German language skills.

Hilfsvokabeln – Helpful vocabulary

Professions (male forms)

• der Dozent – lecturer
• der Lehrer – teacher
• der Krankenpfleger – male nurse, carer
• der Moderator – TV presenter
• der Schauspieler – actor
• der Schüler – male pupil
• der Sportler – sportsman

How do German speakers say what they do for a living?

Listen to these people telling us what they do.

Did you notice two important facts?

Fact one

In German, you omit the indefinite article 'a' – ein, eine, when saying what you do for a living. This means that you do not follow the same pattern as English and say, 'I am a doctor' or 'I am a pensioner', but instead leave it out completely, eg

• ich bin Konditormeister – I'm [a] master cake-maker
• ich bin Fischer – I'm [a] fisherman

Fact two

The men and women answered slightly differently. The man said ich bin Student and the woman said ich bin Studentin. This is the feminine form.

• Student (male student) but Studentin (female student)
• Lehrer (male teacher) but Lehrerin (female teacher)

Did you know?

Tradesmen traditionally work their way up the career ladder starting as an apprentice – Auszubildene, or Azubi for short. They then move up a rank to become a journeyman – Geselle.

This period lasts for exactly three years and one day. Finally, after producing a masterpiece from their chosen trade, they are accepted as a Meister into a guild of masters.

Gesellen are easy to spot as they dress in distinctive, old-fashioned looking costumes, consisting of black hats, white shirts, black jackets with silver buttons and bell-bottomed cords. To help support themselves, they often ask for donations in bars and cafés. Most people are learning to become masters in carpentry, roofing, tiling and plumbing.