Job vs Work
- Niamaat
- Nov 13, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: May 21, 2024
Job is a noun. Work is a noun, too. Job is never a verb. Work is sometimes a verb.
So, if you need a verb use work! Easy! Here are some examples.
You and I both normally work from home.
She worked for another pharmaceutical company a few years ago.
He used to work at the south campus, but now he works at the north campus.
Will you work remotely?
Please work carefully.
I am working at the desk in my bedroom.
If you need a noun, then you have a choice. You can use work or you can use job, but those two words are not interchangeable.
I have a job. (correct)
I have a work. (incorrect)
I have work. (correct)
I have job. (incorrect)
We can do the above correct examples in any verb tense, not merely the simple present.
We can do the above correct examples in the negative as well, not merely the affirmative.
I don't have a job. (correct)
I don't have work. (correct)
job (noun)
You can count jobs.
One job, two jobs, three jobs, four jobs, and so on
How many jobs has he had in his lifetime?
He has had his current job for over 20 years.
He has one job.
We cannot substitute "work" (noun) for "job" (noun) in the 3 numbered sentences above.
work (noun)
You cannot count work.
You cannot count school work.
You cannot count homework.
You cannot count housework.
You can count works of art.
Something else about "job" is that it is used in lots of compound nouns such as:
job candidate
job opening
job opportunity
job vacancy
job hunt
job hunter
job seeker
job listing
job site
job requirement(s)
job qualification(s)
job board
If you are responding to a question that uses the word job or work, respond to the question using the same word used in the question. That way you will not make a mistake in usage. As we have just seen job and work are not universally interchangeable.
There is so much to say about job and work when they are used as nouns! They initial key is to realize that they are NOT interchangeable and that work also functions as a verb.
Try these exercises. Record your score for each of these three groups of exercises.
For More Exercises
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=work+vs+job+difference This link will show you a list of Youtube videos that explain job vs work.
And here are some specific links to specific explanations.
https://whatsup.es/blog/cual-es-la-diferencia-entre-job-y-work
https://www.mansioningles.com/errores-gramaticales-ingles/diferencia-uso-work-job.htm
https://metoo.es/blog/diferencia-entre-job-and-work/
Below is a copy paste from here: https://www.espressoenglish.net/difference-between-job-work-and-career/
JOB (Noun)
A job is a regular and official activity that you do, and receive money (a salary) for your activity. You can have a full-time job (40 hours per week) or a part-time job (around 25 hours per week).
When someone is looking for a job, this is sometimes called the “job hunt” or “job search.” If you have a friend who’s looking for a job, you can ask them, “How’s the job hunt going?”
To find a job, you can check the job listings online or in the newspaper – these are small advertisements about job openings (job opportunities). The process of trying to get a specific job – when you send your resume or CV to a company – is called applying for a job.
If the company offers you the job and you say “yes,” then you have gotten the job!
To describe a person’s job, you can say it is:
a demanding job (requires a lot of effort) “Being an emergency surgeon is a demanding job – you have to be on call 24 hours a day.”
a fulfilling / rewarding job (it makes you feel good) “Working with refugee children was one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve had.”
an entry-level job (a job that can be done by someone who is just beginning their career, which doesn’t require much experience or many skills) “Daniel got an entry-level job as an administrative assistant.”
a dead-end job (a job that has no opportunities for advancement or promotions) “Being a truck driver is a dead-end job.”
a high-powered job (a dynamic and important job) “After she published her book, she got a high-powered job as director of a national newspaper.”
a lucrative job (a job where you earn a lot of money) “My mother wants me to marry a guy with a lucrative job – like a doctor or lawyer.”
The word job is a countable noun:
Right after graduating from college, I worked two jobs so that I could pay off my student loans faster.
Terry has had seven jobs in the past five years.
WORK (Noun AND Verb)
The word work is more general than “job” – whereas “job” is a specific occupation/profession, “work” refers to general efforts and activities done to accomplish a goal. “Work” can be done both inside an official job and outside a job!
You can say you work at / for (a company): “I work at General Motors.”
You can say you’re working on (a project / task): “I’m working on a market analysis” or “I’m working on improving customer satisfaction.”
You can say you work with (people / objects): “I work with special needs children” or “I work with hazardous chemicals.”
The word work also refers to the context of your place of employment – so we can say:
“I start work at 7 AM.” (not “I start my job at 7 AM”) “I finish / leave work at 4:30.” (not “I finish my job at 4:30”) – An informal way to say “leave work” is “get off work” “We go to work by car.” (not “We go to our job by car”) “I went to the bar with some friends from work.” “I can’t access Facebook when I’m at work.” (not “at my job”)
“Work” is an uncountable noun, so it is not used in the plural:
I have three works to do this week.(incorrect)
I have three projects to do this week. (correct)
I have three things / tasks to do this week. (correct)
I have three assignments to do this week. (correct)
Exception: when talking about works of art / literature.
Try these exercises, again. Record your score for each of these three groups of exercises.
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