Why is it so important for people to know wht u do for a living?

See, I don't see how the profession of one person would reflect on whether they're conventional or not, or what kind of person they are, because most people are pushed into a career that might not be their first choice, and it could be just a compromise, and there are lots of reasons why a person might be on a certain career path, with lots outside influences like parental pressure, finances, qualifications etc. But if you ask a receptionist(no offense to receptionists, just an example) why she chose the job she did, I'm sure she wouldn't say that this was her life's dream. But if you asked her what she likes to do and what her interests are, then you'll form a more clear picture of who she really is and hence know her better. So, you see where I'm going with this?

right friend but personal qualities are always there ,what i mean is even if someone is receptionist but her personal characteristics like flowers if she likes ,cleaniliness,dressing style and way of talking will be very individual ,then u can come to conclusion okk she deserved something better but she is here for some reason ,i guess u know what i mean,lol dear.

Yes, I know what you mean, but that's the whole point, that you would truly know a person not by asking them what they do for a living but what they would rather be doing.

Yes it is more important to ask about how they're feeling instead of what they're doing. Most people don't like their jobs anyway, so what they do will hardly be a reflection of who they are, so what do we have to gain from asking such a question, except to make small talk. I think people who ask that of you are just playing safe and don't really wanna know WHO you are, they just wanna make small talk and make it sound like they're interested. I know so, because, I too am guilty of asking this question, and I only ask it of the people that I don't really have much to say to, or have no interest in getting to know better. If I'm really interested in getting to know someone, I usually ask them what they LIKE to do, and not what they do for a living.

Yeah, that is the way things go I guess. I'm kinda lucky that I can usually make a conversation with anyone and avoid the topic of working...I don't care what job they are doing, as long as they are happy with what they are doing (whjich as you stated is usually not the case) and they support themselves and family then that's all that matters. Sure I'll talk about thier work if THEY bring up the conversation, but that is general courtesy.

Yes that's right if they bring up the topic, otherwise, it's more or less just small talk, take the example of friends, they hardly talk about work and yet they know so much about each other. That says something. I don't care what kind of work my friends do and usually I don't even know, but that doesn't mean we are not close, in fact it means we can talk about so much other stuff that we don't need to waste time talking about work.

Well you haven't convinced me and I still believe that it's not important for people to know what you do, to get to know who you are. Me, for example, I hate work and am unemployed right now, but that doesn't mean that I cannot work or that I don't have ambition, or dedication, if I start working on something I like, then there is no limit to my dedication, plus what about the fact that what you do for a living is not necessarily your choice and just something that came your way, like me, I was very bright in school, but due to financial problems never went to college, but that doesn't mean that I'm dumb and that really changed my life, otherwise I would be doing something completely different than now, but I would still be the same person. That's why I said that it's not important what I do for a living, but what I like to do that defines me. And just because a person is a lawyer, doesn't mean that he's respectable or a genius, it could mean he had a rich daddy who got him into Harvard and doesn't mean he's serious, I know some funny lawyers myself, he he.