When meeting someone new, I think it's rude to be asked... What do you do for a living? How can I avoid this?

Question

I want to let them know they shouldn't ask such personal information too soon! I don't want to be judged by my profession! I dont want to be figured out just yet,....but I don't mind being friendly!

Answer 1

I personally don't think the question is that personal, I mean, they're not asking you if you sleep in the nude at night. It's one of those questions people ask to keep a conversation going, even if they really don't even care what you do, just trying to be friendly and (pretend to) take an interest in you. I actually can't think of many other questions I would ask a person if asking them what they do for a living was off-limits...

If the question bothers you though and you don't want them to further 'delve' into your professional life, other than saying: I don't want to talk about my work, it's too boring..I can't think of a single response that wouldn't make you sound secretive. :)

Answer 2

This isn't particularly personal and the person is just taking an interest in you.

Be very vague. E.g. if you're a nurse, just say, "I work in healthcare at _____ hospital, and I enjoy my job very much."

Answer 3

Hmm, it's going to be hard to avoid because a lot of people ask. If you're too vague they will just press further probably. If you want to let them know that its too personal of a question, you can say 'Well I do have a full-time job outside of the home, but I really don't like to discuss my work.'

That or trip and fall and make a spectacle of yourself to avoid the topic all together.

Answer 4

You cant really avoid it but I agree that it is rude.  I'm a housewife and that is not cool in everybodys book.

Answer 5

(Lets out a huge sigh) Oh good. It's not just me that is disgusted by talking about their job. I am in a situation where I CAN NOT work at all because of health conditions. And the health conditions are not common ones that everyone knows about or has like aids, cancer, diabetes or whatever. I wish I could just flat out smack them and say: Next subject. I always get nervous, start fidgeting, look around and forget that I don't have to answer the question. I just get all embarrassed when asked this question because if I do work, I can only get minimum wage jobs. So, I say, change the subject.

Answer 6

I cannot begin to tell you how much I resent that question and people have asked me that all my life at every single party or gathering I have ever gone to. Once I got so irritated I told one woman I sold vacuum cleaners door to door. She avoided me for the rest of the evening. it is rude, invasive and none of their business.

Answer 7

Say, I try to maintain my sanity, don't you?

Answer 8

that's a very common question to ask!  you can't stop others from asking it!

but you can stay vague and or not answer!

you could say something like for exampels!

lets say your a stripper - you could say i'm in entertainment!  

let say your a bill collector - you could say i work in an office!

keeping it short and vauge should send a message to the other person if they don't get it!  and ask follow up questions liek what time of entertainment --  then say something like you never told me what you did!  or the type of entertainment that entertains people!  why do you want to know?

or just say that!  i'm sorry i don't like to toss my job title around why do you want to know? are you just trying to break the ice!  

sorry i perfer not to answer!

Answer 9

You could just reply, I work. haha. Or you could be equally shocking and say you do a little stripping and street walking due to your shaky past. I hate being asked that too.

Answer 10

just be very vague. tell them your work is top secret.

Answer 11

I think it's a perfectly logical and fair question.

Answer 12

The only way to really avoid this is to avoid meeting new people.  In Europe, this question is less common because there is less societal emphasis on being successful and working hard.  Other cultures value your ability to paint, or dance, but in the US we are impressed by monetary success.

The best advice I can give is to try and take the emphasis off the profession question, by directing the conversation to something else.  Most people revert to this question when they dont know what else to ask.  If you make the conversation with someone new easier, and less intimidating they will be less inclined to bring out the standard "first meeting" questions.

"What do you do for a living?"

"What brings you to this place today?"

"How do you know so and so?"

  

Sadly this is one of the questions I always ask a new person.  What makes this question easy is that everyone "does" something.  It is always difficult to start a conversation with someone you dont know, so I always revert back to this question.  

People are usually embarassed to answer this question if they feel as though their "jobs" arent exciting or respected enough.  I think being vague is the worst possible way to answer this question when someone asks you.  Being vague just open's you up for more questions about it.  Pretty soon your real job title will come out, and then it gets awkward because you must have been embarassed or you wouldnt have tried to cover it up in the first place.

Answer 13

If I am uncomfortable answering a question, I usually come up with a funny answer.  Tell the person you're still trying to get your dream job of professional ice cream taster or queen of the universe or something like that, but in the meantime you've settled for a career as a mild mannered reporter for the Daily Globe.