Job Work and Career
1. JOB (Noun)
A job is a regular and official activity, task, and/or responsibility that you do, and you receive
money (a salary) for your activity. It is also called a profession or an occupation. 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 is looking for a job, you can ask them, “How is 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. a demanding job: (it requires a lot of effort)
“Being an emergency surgeon is a demanding job – you have to be on call 24 hours a day.”
b. a fulfilling / rewarding job: (it makes you feel good)
“Working with refugee children was one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had.”
c. 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.”
d. a dead-end job: (a job that has no opportunities for advancement or promotions)
“Being a truck driver is a dead-end job.”
e. 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.”
f. a lucrative job: (a job where you earn a lot of money=profitable)
“My mother wants me to marry a guy with a lucrative job – like a doctor or lawyer.”
2. WORK (Noun/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.
You can say you work at / for (a company): “I work at General Motors.”
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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. For instance, I
work at EMSI School – 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”)
“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.
I have three things / tasks to do this week.
I have three assignments to do this week.
3. CAREER (Noun)
Your career is the total progression of your professional life. It can include many different
jobs over the years.
You can have a career in (a field) – for example, a career in politics / journalism /
teaching / finance
Here are a few more collocations (words that often go together) with career:
embark on a career = begin a career
pursue a career = make an effort to have a career
a promising career = a career with good future potential
a varied career = a career with jobs in many different areas
switch your career = change your career
career takes off = when someone’s career starts to become very
successful
at the height / peak of your career = at the most successful point in
your career
ruin your career = when your career is destroyed
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EXERCICE
Complete the following sentences with the right answer:
a. He retired in 1980 after a brilliant __________ as a motivational speaker.
Career
Job
Work
b. My boss always gives me too much __________ to do, and expects me to do it all immediately.
Career
Job
Work
c. We’ve made 300 sales today thanks to Dana’s hard __________.
Career
Job
Work
d. At the peak of her __________, she was managing a company with five international branches.
Career
Job
Work
e. I didn't think my interview went very well, so I was surprised when they offered me the
__________.
Career
Job
Work
f. Gary's not home yet. He's still at _________.
Career
Job
Work
g. Brad was fired because his ________ was often sloppy and full of errors.
Career
Job
Work
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h. I've applied for a few _________ in the non-profit sector.
i. He didn't take the teaching _________ because he felt it wouldn't advance his ________ in politics.
career / job
job / work
job / career
j. This graphic designer has done some excellent freelance _________ for us - I think we should offer
him a permanent ________.
work / career
work / work
Work/Job
