A New Colleague Asks What You Do. Can You Tell Them Using Professional English?
Don't let the simplest question catch you off guard.
Welcome to the Friday Fix!
👉 Each Friday, we break down a real-world professional problem and replace “textbook” phrases with the authentic, native-level language that actually gets results.
This week’s scenario is one of those situations that sounds easy until it happens.
Someone new joins the team. They smile, shake your hand, and ask: “So, what do you do here?”
And suddenly, your mind goes blank. You know exactly what you do. You do it every day. But explaining it clearly, in English, to someone you have never met? That is a completely different challenge.
The Situation
It is your colleague Anna’s first day. During a team coffee break, she turns to you and says:
“I’m still getting to know everyone. What’s your role in the team?”
The rest of the team is listening. Your manager is standing nearby. You want to sound clear, confident, and professional. Not robotic. Not vague. Not like you are reading from your job description.
The Challenge
Say exactly what you would say to Anna. Aim for 3–4 natural sentences that cover:
What your role is (your title or function)
What you actually do day-to-day (the practical stuff)
How your work connects to the team (why it matters)
Give it a try before scrolling down.
Phrases you’ll need for this one:
“I’m responsible for...”
“On a typical day, I...”
“I work closely with...”
“My role feeds into...”
👇 Ready to see how a professional would handle this? The model answer, a breakdown of why each phrase works, and the trap most ESL speakers fall into are below. 🔒
