How to say "work as" and "use as"

[Jose]

What is the best way to translate the English expressions "to work as" and "to use something as"? I suppose such expressions should be translated using the verb 当, but I am not sure about the grammar.

To give some specific examples, could anyone tell me how to translate the following two English sentences:

"He would like to work as a journalist"

"You can use that plate as an ashtray"

Thanks in advance.

[anonymoose]

"He would like to work as a journalist"

他想当记者工作

"You can use that plate as an ashtray"

你能用那个盘子当灰缸

Translations not guaranteed!

[berylchan]

"He would like to work as a journalist"

他想当一名记者

Or, informal way: 他想做记者。

"You can use that plate as an ashtray"

你能把那个盘子当烟灰缸（用）。

把......当......（用） = use as

Maybe informal explanation but that's the way we are using...

[zackzhou]

I checked up it, my dictionary says ' work as ' is equivalent to 从事, 'use as ' means 把...用作....

so, 我想从事新闻工作 你可以把那个盘子用作烟灰缸