You've no doubt come across the concept of the elevator speech question:

"What if someone asks, 'What do you do?' and you have 20 seconds to answer?

What do you tell them before the doors open and one of you gets off?"

This smacks so much of "just sell".

Why not have a conversation?

An accountant may say something like "I add value to small businesses by addressing their taxation and record keeping issues ensuring they keep compliant with all applicable laws."

Ouch!

Is this grab yet another myth perpetuated by those desperate to apply the latest "thing" to their business tool kit.

What is really meant by the asker of the question ... So what do you do?

Do they want a canned facsimile of a snap shot lecture in the hope that the listener is their target client and will buy what ever they are selling?

Conversely they don't want a vague dissertation either.

Clarity is wonderful and getting clear about the value you deliver serves to keep your focus, but genuine conversation is way more important in this instance.

Loosen up. Just connect this is way more valuable to you and them.

Remember the true nature of the question and say something like ..."I'm an accountant, but I'm looking for something less boring and rigid. I'm about to change careers as I want to become a paramedic. How about you?"

Make it sound like you are human connected and caring and interested in them, this is worth way more than

And the lesson here is ... ?

You really do need to be able to describe what you do in English.

Remember that most people who ask "What do you do?" aren't wanting to be sold or lectured so please don't dump on them.

Have a conversation instead.