German for Future Work Goals: Saying What You Want to Be and Do
Learn to talk about career aspirations and work plans in German with möchte, will and habe vor, including werden for future professions.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson you will learn how to talk about your future work in German: what job you want to have, what you are aiming for, and what plans you have made. German uses different structures for wishes, intentions and firm plans, and choosing the right one makes you sound natural. We focus on work and career, not on study routines, so you can say things like 'I want to be a doctor' or 'I'm aiming for a promotion.'
By the end, you can…
- say what profession I want to have using werden.
- express wishes and intentions with möchte and will.
- talk about concrete work plans with habe vor and plane.
- ask another person about their career goals.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich möchte Arzt werden.
I want to become a doctor.
ikh MÖKH-tuh ARTST VER-den
möchte is a polite, common way to express a wish. Use Arzt for a male doctor, Ärztin for a female doctor.
Ich will mich beruflich weiterentwickeln.
I want to develop professionally.
ikh vil mikh buh-ROOF-likh VY-ter-ent-vik-uhln
will is stronger and more direct than möchte. beruflich means professionally or career-related.
Ich habe vor, die Stelle zu wechseln.
I plan to change jobs.
ikh HAH-buh for, dee SHTEL-uh tsoo VEKS-uhln
Ich habe vor, ... zu ... expresses a concrete plan. The verb goes at the end in the infinitive.
Ich strebe eine Beförderung an.
I am aiming for a promotion.
ikh SHTREH-buh VY-nuh buh-FÖR-duh-roong an
anstreben is formal and often used in professional contexts. The prefix an- goes to the end of the sentence.
Was möchtest du beruflich machen?
What would you like to do professionally?
vas MÖKH-stuh doo buh-ROOF-likh MAKH-uhn
A natural question to ask about someone's career wishes. beruflich makes the question clearly about work.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say what profession you want to have, use werden plus the profession: Ich möchte Lehrer werden (I want to become a teacher). Ich will Ingenieurin werden (I want to become an engineer). Note that German does not use an article before professions here: Ich bin Arzt, not Ich bin ein Arzt. For plans, use Ich habe vor, ... zu ...: Ich habe vor, mehr Verantwortung zu übernehmen (I plan to take on more responsibility). The infinitive comes at the end.
When to use it
Use möchte for polite wishes, especially with people you do not know well: Ich möchte gern im Ausland arbeiten (I would like to work abroad). Use will when you are determined or speaking casually with friends: Ich will endlich mehr verdienen (I finally want to earn more). Use Ich habe vor for plans you have already decided: Ich habe vor, nächstes Jahr zu kündigen (I plan to quit next year). For formal applications, anstreben sounds professional: Ich strebe eine Führungsposition an (I am aiming for a leadership position).
Regional note
In Germany and Austria, Ausbildung refers to vocational training, while in Switzerland people often say Lehre for the same thing. In Swiss Standard German, ß is written ss, so you may see gross instead of groß. These are spelling and vocabulary differences, not grammar differences.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Was möchtest du beruflich machen, wenn du fertig bist?
What would you like to do professionally when you are finished?vas MÖKH-stuh doo buh-ROOF-likh MAKH-uhn, ven doo FER-tikh bistIch möchte Krankenschwester werden. Und ich habe vor, im Krankenhaus zu arbeiten.
I want to become a nurse. And I plan to work in a hospital.ikh MÖKH-tuh KRAN-kuhn-shves-ter VER-den. unt ikh HAH-buh for, im KRAN-kuhn-hows tsoo AR-bai-tuhnDas klingt gut. Ich strebe eine Beförderung an, weil ich mehr Verantwortung übernehmen will.
That sounds good. I am aiming for a promotion because I want to take on more responsibility.das klingt goot. ikh SHTREH-buh VY-nuh buh-FÖR-duh-roong an, vail ikh mehr fer-ANT-vor-toong oo-ber-NEH-muhn vilDann drücke ich dir die Daumen!
Then I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!dan DRÜK-uh ikh deer dee DOW-muhnA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking workplaces, it is normal to talk about career goals in a measured way. Using möchte and Ich habe vor sounds more polite than will, which can seem demanding. In job interviews, anstreben and sich weiterentwickeln are common and appropriate. Directly asking about salary early on may be seen as too forward in some contexts, so many people first discuss responsibilities and development.
One thing to watch for
Ich will ein Arzt werden.
Try this instead: German does not use an indefinite article before professions after werden or sein. Say Ich will Arzt werden or Ich möchte Arzt werden. If you are a woman, say Ich möchte Ärztin werden. The article ein is only used when describing someone: Er ist ein guter Arzt (He is a good doctor).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I want to become a teacher' politely in German?
Show a sample answer
Ich möchte Lehrer werden.
möchte expresses a polite wish, and werden takes the profession without an article. Ich will Lehrer werden is also correct but more direct.
2Translate: 'I plan to change jobs.'
Show a sample answer
Ich habe vor, die Stelle zu wechseln.
Ich habe vor, ... zu ... is the standard pattern for plans, with the infinitive at the end. Ich plane, die Stelle zu wechseln is also possible.
3What is the difference between Ich will and Ich möchte?
Show a sample answer
Ich will is stronger and more direct; Ich möchte is more polite and softer.
Both express wanting, but möchte is preferred in formal or unfamiliar situations. In casual conversation with friends, will is common.
Use möchte for polite wishes, will for strong intentions, and Ich habe vor for concrete plans. Remember: no article before professions after werden.
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