Vocabulary of Professions in Spanish: Complete Guide

Imagine this: you are at your Spanish-speaking partner’s family gathering. Everyone speaks only Spanish, but you are not worried because you have been studying for a while.

Everything is going well until someone asks the classic question:

"¿A qué te dedicas?" (What do you do for a living?)

And suddenly, the words do not come out.

You realize that you do not know how to talk about your profession, the one you love so much.

If something similar has ever happened to you, do not worry. It is not the end of the world.

Today, I will teach you how to talk about professions in Spanish so that next time you are asked this question, you can answer with confidence and pride.

Let’s get started.

Professions in Spanish That You Should Know

There are many professions, so why not categorize them?

Here are some of the most common ones:

Health & Well-being:

• Médico/a (doctor)
• Enfermero/a (nurse)
• Psicólogo/a (psychologist)

Arts & Entertainment:

• Bailarín/a (dancer)
• Cantante (singer)
• Actor/Actriz (actor/actress)

Education & Teaching:

• Profesor/a (teacher)
• Maestro/a (school teacher)

Business & Office:

• Empresario/a (entrepreneur)
• Director/a ejecutivo/a (CEO)
• Asesor/a financiero/a (financial advisor)

These are just some of the names of professions in Spanish that we will explore today.

There are many more.

How many did you already know?

Essential Phrases to Talk About Your Job in Spanish

Now that we know some of the most common professions, let’s explore different ways to talk about our job or someone else’s.

Here are some useful examples:

1. "Soy…" (I am…)

Using the verb "ser" is the quickest and easiest way to talk about your profession.

It is used to refer to something permanent or essential, like your job.

Example:
A: ¡Hola! Me llamo Alex, soy abogado. (Hi! My name is Alex, I am a lawyer.)
B: ¡Hola, Alex! Mucho gusto, me llamo Andrea y soy veterinaria. (Hi, Alex! Nice to meet you, my name is Andrea, and I am a veterinarian.)

Extra Tip:
Be careful. Do not confuse “ser” with “estar” when talking about professions in Spanish.

Saying "Estoy doctor" is incorrect.

Always use "ser" to talk about your job.

2. "Trabajo como…" (I work as…)

This is another common way to talk about your profession.

It is a bit more flexible and allows you to be more specific.

Example:

• Trabajo como analista de datos. (I work as a data analyst.)
• Trabajo como fotógrafo de bodas. (I work as a wedding photographer.)

Extra Tip:
This expression is ideal if you have two jobs.

For example, you can say:

• "De lunes a miércoles trabajo como asistente virtual y de jueves a sábado trabajo como investigador científico."
  (From Monday to Wednesday, I work as a virtual assistant, and from Thursday to Saturday, I work as a scientific researcher.)

3. "Me dedico a…" (I specialize in…)

If you want to talk about your profession in a more informal way, this expression is perfect.

It expresses your specialization in something.

Example:

• Me dedico a la creación de contenido para redes sociales. (I specialize in content creation for social media.)
• Me dedico a la fisioterapia animal. (I specialize in animal physiotherapy.)

Extra Tip:
Even though this phrase sounds more informal, it conveys a lot of passion for what you do.

Talking about your passions in this way not only shows what you love doing, but it also helps you connect authentically with others.

Talking About Your Career: Past & Future

Now that you know how to talk about your current job, what if you want to talk about a past profession?

Or maybe one you would like to have in the future?

Here’s how to do it.

Talking About Past Jobs in Spanish

"Me desempeñaba como…" (I used to work as…)

This phrase is very useful when talking about past jobs in Spanish.

"Desempeñar" means to carry out a task or fulfill a role, so we use it to refer to professions we had in the past.

Example:

• Hace unos años, me desempeñaba como diseñador gráfico, pero luego cambié mi rumbo. (A few years ago, I worked as a graphic designer, but then I changed my path.)
• En mi primer trabajo, me desempeñaba como guía turístico. (In my first job, I worked as a tour guide.)

"Ejercí como…" (I practiced as…)

"Ejercer" is used to talk about the profession you performed, in a more formal way.

Example:

• Cuando viví en España, ejercí como periodista en un periódico importante. (When I lived in Spain, I worked as a journalist for a major newspaper.)
• Durante mi juventud, ejercí como chef en uno de los mejores restaurantes del país. (During my youth, I worked as a chef in one of the best restaurants in the country.)

Talking About Future Careers in Spanish

Talking about your career goals is always exciting.

Here are some useful phrases to talk about your future profession.

"Pronto planeo ser…" (I plan to be soon…)

This phrase not only shows your future plans but also conveys enthusiasm and hope.

Example:

• Pronto planeo ser desarrollador de software. (Soon, I plan to be a software developer.)
• Pronto planeo ser experto en marketing digital. (Soon, I plan to be a digital marketing expert.)

"Mi objetivo es…" (My goal is…)

This phrase is simple but powerful. It demonstrates commitment and determination.

Example:

• Mi objetivo es ser especialista en finanzas. (My goal is to be a finance specialist.)
• Mi objetivo es ser escritor de best-sellers sobre crecimiento personal. (My goal is to be a best-selling author on personal growth.)

Your Career, Your Passion: Speak with Pride About What You Do

Talking about what we are passionate about is simply amazing.

Our eyes light up, we smile without realizing it, and our voice sounds more confident.

Now, you not only know many profession names in Spanish, but you also know how to talk about your past jobs, your current career, and your future aspirations.

Thank you for joining me on this new linguistic adventure.

Keep practicing, keep enjoying, and most importantly, keep progressing.

See you next time.