Does ‘What do you do for a living?’ frustrate you?

This author and PR pro hates getting asked this question because she doesn’t know how to respond. Can you help?

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By the way, I’m Jeri Cartwright, this is my blog and I’m in public relations.

Here’s Pollack’s story:

“At a recent dinner party, the conversation at our table of eight, centered politely on the introductory question—’what do you do’—and went slowly around the table to each guest. When it was my turn and told that I am in public relations and marketing, my dinner partner to the left, a dentist, probed further as to what that really means and exactly what do I really do. By the time dessert came around, I had given him a detailed rundown of all the tools and strategies that we, PR professionals, employ to impact marketplace perceptions and changed behaviors. It didn’t make a dent. He was still at it when dessert came around and, in total defeat and exasperation, I made a lame excuse and left the table.”

Pollack, I relate. When people ask me what I do, I’ve given up trying to answer. On the back of my business card, I list my best guesses:

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