Želim da se zaposlim.

In modern Serbian, after verbs like želeti (to want), it is very common to use da + present tense instead of an infinitive.

So Serbian says:

Želim da se zaposlim
literally: I want that I get employed

This is the normal, natural structure.

An infinitive can exist in Serbian, but after želim, the da + present pattern is much more common in everyday language. Also, zaposliti se is a reflexive verb, and putting se in the right place is easier and more natural in the da construction.

Se is the reflexive particle. In zaposliti se, it shows that the subject is becoming employed themselves.

So:

• zaposliti nekoga = to employ someone
• zaposliti se = to get employed / to find employment

In this sentence, se is essential. Without it, the meaning changes.

• Želim da zaposlim... = I want to employ...
• Želim da se zaposlim. = I want to get a job / become employed.

Zaposlim is the 1st person singular present-tense form of the verb zaposliti se.

It matches the subject I, even though in English we would often use an infinitive after want.

Breakdown:

• želim = I want
• da = introduces the subordinate clause
• se zaposlim = that I get employed

So the whole structure is:

Želim + da + se zaposlim
I want + to get employed

Even though English uses to get, Serbian uses a present-tense form after da.

In Serbian, se is a clitic, which means it usually takes a fixed position in the sentence rather than behaving like a fully independent word.

In a da clause, the normal order is:

da se zaposlim

not usually:

da zaposlim se

So the placement here is standard Serbian word order.

Not exactly.

Zaposliti se means to become employed, to get a job, or to find employment. It focuses on the change of state: going from not having a job to having one.

By contrast:

• raditi = to work
• imam posao = I have a job
• tražim posao = I’m looking for a job

So Želim da se zaposlim means:

• I want to get a job
• I want to become employed

It does not primarily mean I want to work in the general sense.

This is about aspect, which is very important in Serbian verbs.

• zaposliti se is perfective
• zapošljavati se is imperfective

Here, the speaker wants to achieve a result: to get a job. That is a completed goal, so the perfective verb zaposliti se is the natural choice.

A rough contrast:

• Želim da se zaposlim. = I want to get employed / I want to manage to find a job
• zapošljavati se would sound more like an ongoing or repeated process, which is much less natural here

So the sentence uses the aspect that best fits the intended meaning.

Sometimes, but I want is usually the best translation here.

Želeti often means:

• to want
• sometimes to wish

In this sentence, Želim da se zaposlim is most naturally understood as I want to get a job.

If you translate it as I wish to get a job, that is possible in English, but it sounds more formal.

Yes, it is completely natural.

Želim da se zaposlim is clear and grammatically correct. Depending on tone and context, native speakers might also say:

• Hoću da se zaposlim. = I want to get a job.
  This can sound more direct or conversational.
• Voleo/Volela bih da se zaposlim. = I’d like to get a job.
  This sounds softer or more polite.
• Želim da nađem posao. = I want to find a job.
  This is also very common.

So your original sentence is perfectly good and natural.

A helpful approximate pronunciation is:

ZHE-lim da se za-PO-slim

A few notes:

• Ž sounds like the s in measure or the g in genre
• j in Serbian sounds like English y
• stress in Serbian is not usually marked in normal writing, but here a learner can think roughly of ŽE-lim and za-PO-slim

So:

• Želim ≈ ZHE-lim
• zaposlim ≈ za-PO-slim

Not in normal English, but grammatically the Serbian reflexive form does literally involve the idea of oneself becoming employed.

Still, zaposliti se is a standard lexical verb meaning:

• to get employed
• to find a job
• to become employed

So you should learn it as a single unit: zaposliti se.

Trying to interpret it word by word as employ oneself can be misleading. The natural English meaning is simply to get a job.