Check out these responses for when someone inquires about your job.
When someone asks, “How’s work?” they’re trying to find out what’s happening at your job. Whether you're enjoying your role or feeling a bit overwhelmed, there are plenty of ways to respond that will help you keep the conversation going. Keep reading, and we’ll explain the meaning behind the question, share great responses, and offer different ways to ask about someone's work situation.
Sample Replies to “How’s Work?”
- If you're enjoying your work, express your positivity with responses like, “Work has been fantastic,” or “I’ve been loving my job lately.”
- When things have stayed pretty much the same, a neutral response like, “Work’s been okay, but not much has changed,” or “It’s been fine” works well.
- If you’re struggling at work, stay professional without focusing on the negatives by saying something like, “Work has been challenging, but I’m handling it,” or “It’s stressful, but I’m managing just fine.”
Guidelines
How to Respond to "How’s Work?"

"Work’s been going great, thanks for asking!" If you’re enjoying your job and things are going well, use an upbeat response to express your enthusiasm. Keep it short if you don’t want to elaborate, or provide a brief explanation on what’s been making your work experience positive.
- "Work has been good."
- "Work’s been really nice lately."
- "It’s been fantastic! I really love what I do."
- "Work is amazing. I have the best coworkers."
- "Work is exciting lately! I’m starting a new project, and I’m learning so much."

"Work’s okay. Same tasks as usual." If you feel neutral about your work or there haven’t been many changes, let the person know that things are steady.
- "Work’s fine, nothing too exciting happening."
- "It’s okay. Not much has changed."
- "Work’s been pretty routine."
- "Work is decent. Can’t complain much."

"It’s been a bit tough lately, but I’m managing." When work is challenging, try to remain professional and avoid sounding too negative. Let them know things are tough, but you’re staying positive. If you’re speaking to close friends outside of work, you can explain what’s been stressing you out.
- "Work’s been a little stressful, but I’m getting through it."
- "I’ve got a big project taking up a lot of time, but I’m almost done."
- "I’ve been struggling a bit lately, but things are starting to improve."
- "Work has been a lot recently, but I’m hanging in there."
- "Work’s been tough these past few weeks. We’ve had a lot of new hires, so training them has been extra work."

"It’s a living!" If you're talking with close friends, it’s fine to offer a lighthearted, humorous response. Just avoid using this kind of reply when around your boss or colleagues, as it could seem unprofessional.
- "Just another day!"
- "It’s work."
- "I’m living the dream!"
What does "How’s work?" really mean?

They're asking about the state of your job. When someone says, "How was work?" or "How was work today?" they’re inquiring about your work experience. They may be curious about the tasks you completed or how your job has been making you feel lately.
Other Ways to Ask “How was work?”

"What did you do at work today?" Instead of just asking how work went, try asking about what the person did to dive deeper into the conversation. This shows you’re interested in their day, and they may be more willing to open up.
- "What happened at work this week?"
- "What was the highlight of your day at work?"
- "Who were you working with today?"
- "Was it a productive day at work?"

"How did your day feel?" If you want to know how someone feels about their job, ask them a more personal question to get a deeper connection. An open-ended question like this shows that you’re truly interested in their perspective.
- "Was work stressful today?"
- "How do you feel about your job?"
- "What’s been the most exciting part of your work lately?"
What’s the difference between “How’s work?” and “How’s your work?”

“How’s your work?” is asking about a specific task you’re handling. When someone asks, “How is work?” they are typically interested in your general work life, so a broad answer about how you’re feeling is fitting. On the other hand, “How is your work?” suggests they’re asking about your current projects and responsibilities, and you should provide more detailed responses about your workload.
What does “How is the work coming along?” mean?

“How is the work coming along?” asks about your progress on a particular task. When someone asks, “How’s the work going?” or “How’s the work coming?” they want to know how much progress you’ve made on a project. They might be interested in how close you are to completing the task and your feelings about the work itself.
- If you’re in the middle of a project, you might say, “I’m about halfway through, and it’s been a bit challenging,” or “I’m almost done!”
-
Don’t forget to ask the other person how their work is going to keep the conversation flowing.