Honestly it’s just one of a long list of questions I ask when I am first getting to know somebody. When people tell me things about themselves, I don’t really judge them, nor do I ask questions with ulterior motives.

It's always a double edged sword. I've seen woman have a complete attitude change when they lean what kind of job I have. If a woman is a "gold digger", that can mean they are nobody to trust for mariage, but a one-night stand opportunity.

Depends on who is asking and why. It could be innocent in just making conversation and or a way to get to know the other person. What someone does certainly provides some information about who they are.

It's generally just small talk. I'm not looking for what you do so much as what do you spend your time thinking about. I wanna use that to open up the conversation.

I always ask because so much of our time is devoted to earning a living. It would be worse if I asked 'How much do you earn?'

I don't tend to ask a guy that early on as I feel it's kind of like asking "How much money do you make?" I also feel awkward when people ask me the same question as my work is about the opposite of glamorous.

It opens the door for more questions.
I use it as a gage. It can show a lot of the woman's personality. Depending on the follow up questions it allows one to dig into her personality.
To see how her ego is and gives a glimpse of her of lifestyle.

Encouragement

Some women don't like to talk about what they do for a living because they feel that it doesnt help them better themselves or because they feel the income earned isnt enough. When I ask, I also ask if they like what they do, and I encourage them to keep doing what they are doing. Gotta remember we live in a world of fake economies and "jobless recoveries" so having a job is better than being unemployed or victimized by "jobless recoveries".

I am under the impression this is often attributed to Americans, as we culturally seem to place higher immediate value on income and social standing derived from profession.

I think of it as a general curiosity. For many people, their work lives are either part of who they are, or just a job. Either way, by asking about their line of work, you learn a lot about a person in their response.

My 2 cents, as always.

Just to make conversation if you what you do for a living is your passion it says a lot about you and therefor paints a good picture of what type of persone you are and if you don't like your job can still be a good conversation as why your in this line of work and what you can do to change that

It is an icebreaker, I get asked this by both men and women (I am male) and am just as apt to ask it of males as females. Typically anymore at my stage in life I already know what someone does for a living when we start talking, though.

I would ask women that question too, but not first. I am more interested in who they are as a person than what they do, although I realize there can be a link between the two. It will come up anyway, sooner or later, but getting to know a person in other ways is much more fascinating.

I'm a woman and have been asked this question by men and I have asked this question myself. I don't mind the question and I don't mind answering it. It's just a piece of information that can help you to see how a relationship with that person fits together. I always thought guys just wanted to see if I was self sufficient and can take care of myseIf and not become overly financially dependent on them. I understand how people are concerned about being in a relationship where they could end up being the sole provider. Most of us want a partner you can build a future with and work together towards a decent life. Myself, I just like to know that they have a job! I mean it's just a practical and real life question. However, I have been asked how much I make. That's not cool. It doesn't matter how much you make. That's just someone looking for money. I think what you do for a living is a very practical question and leads to us feeling a little more secure about entering into the relationship. I'm cool with it.

I am an older man and I have found that question very male by nature. Men, when they meet, will soon be talking about what they do for a living. Yes, it is a bit strange when you think about it. Perhaps, and I can't say for sure, young men still do that and they do it with women now. In a way it is a matter of equality. I like to know what a person does. I am a film editor and I compose music. Have a nice day.

I, for one, recognize profession as the tip of the iceberg when learning about an individual. If I were to discover someone who has a career rather than just a job, that is rare and fascinating to me.
But to apply a mosaic of stereotypes based on profession, culture, race, religion or political bias is to miss the point of asking questions in the first place. IMHO.

I think I ask it just to continue the conversation, it usually leads to some more questions and insight about that person and maybe a way to find common ground.

I think it's about getting a base to work from rather than going into the heady arena of emotions! It does open the way for further questions; Do you live to work or work to live? Are you following your dreams? Do you think you are part of the system? Etc

It's less about what they do for a living and more about why they do it. Are they at that job because they love it and it's really important to them? Or are they strictly there for a paycheck? If they like it, why? What does their job say about their values?

It tells you if the woman is pro active and is ambitious. Having no job highlights inactivity. Student highlights working towards something. Having a job highlights pro active member of society.

Most men in this society feel that they are defined by their job. Them asking what someone does for a living is a way to help define who the person is.

I do not feel at all defined by my job. I don't ask what a woman does for her living, I ask how she spends her time? The answer reveals a lot about her and her priorities. If she spends 20 minutes telling me about her volunteer work rescuing kittens before she mentions her job, I know which matters more to her, or at least which she finds more fulfilling and rewarding.

Another reason for asking about someone's job is to find out what her schedule is like. Is it compatible with mine to the point that we will be able to spend time together? Will she have time to travel? Will that be weekends or weekdays? Fortunately I have some flexibility in my schedule, but it's helpful to know what to expect.

24 hours a day - 8 for sleeping - 1 or 2 commuting - 1 or 2 eating - 8 working.... work is something a person spends a significant portion of their lives doing. Depending on the vocation, you might spend more time doing that than being with anyone else in a day. It is synonymous with asking "what are you passionate about in life?" If it isn't, then you aren't living as well as you could.

Conversation starter

I'm a woman but maybe if I were a man I'd want to know if she's a co-dependent bum type. Some women still have their brains in 1952 and if I were a man I don't think I'd be interested in supporting a grown adult as though they were a child. I wouldnt be interested in a stay-at-home wife. Also, it seems lately that these types usually use pregnancy to get out of actual employment and still expect a high fallutin lifestyle. If I were a man? Hell to the NAW.

Just want to find out how you spend your time. Nothing more sinister or complex. But then I'm kinda gormless when it comes to the ladies.