Work & Career in Russian
«Кем ты работаешь?» — literally as whom do you work? — is the second question of every Russian acquaintance. The answer runs on the instrumental case, and the workplace itself runs on a naming system worth understanding: the patronymic.
The Professions
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| учитель | teacher |
| врач | doctor |
| инженер | engineer |
| программист | programmer |
| продавец | salesperson |
| журналист | journalist |
Working AS Someone
работать + instrumental — your profession is the instrument:
| Russian | English | Case |
|---|---|---|
| Я работаю в банке. | I work in a bank. | в + prepositional — the place |
| Я работаю врачом. | I work as a doctor. | instrumental — the role |
| Кем вы работаете? | What do you do? | кем = instrumental of кто |
Becoming
Я хочу стать программистом.
I want to become a programmer.
Note: стать + instrumental — becoming is wearing a new role.
And studying toward it: учиться в университете (at university), учиться на курсах (on a course).
Иван Петрович: the Patronymic
Кем вы работаете, Том?
What do you do, Tom?
Я студент, но хочу стать журналистом.
I'm a student, but I want to become a journalist.
Отлично! А я работаю инженером. Двадцать лет!
Excellent! I work as an engineer. Twenty years now!
Common Mistakes
- Я работаю врач. The role takes the instrumental: врачом.
- Addressing Иван Петрович as «господин Петрович». Петрович isn't a surname — use имя-отчество whole: Иван Петрович.
- стать + nominative. Стать программист → программистом. Becoming bends.
What You Can Do Now
You can answer «Кем вы работаете?» properly, talk about career plans, and address Russian colleagues the way they address each other — имя-отчество and вы.