<d, b...> and then several choices, yes. <f> for forbid, <c> for claim, <d> for dump, <D> for "un-dump", and so on.
Gets to be second nature after a while.
edit: man deciding who does what is kinda annoying. still changing professions
Well, stop it. One dwarf, one serious profession. Don't be tempted to use "whoever is idle" for the task that needs to be done, unless it's a non-skill task.
"Non-critical" professions are fine, but even then specialize - it becomes a time saver later when your Master furnace operator knocks out those bars in a fraction of the time.
You need 3 miners? Okay, pick 3 dwarfs - they will be your miners, and no one else. Turn off all hauling tasks - no quitting the mines to go move a dead rat from the dining hall. If one is a Novice Leather Worker, decide whether you want them to quit mining whenever some leather needs to be worked, or you want to spend the 17 hides to get a new Novice LW'r and never look back.
Concentrate on one Miner to become Legendary asap. When you hit a vein of something valuable, that ONE dwarf will do the mining, and get 99% of it. Weak skill levels can get maybe 75% or less - not acceptable when you're talking aluminum or your map is iron poor.
I use doors/hatches on my shafts, and send lesser miners to do other chores while my legendary does the important work, locked in safe and alone.