Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 3rd edition

Work and jobs

A job is the thing that you are paid to do. It is a countable noun. I got a job in a bank when I nished college. Work is the activity of having a job, being paid, etc. It is an uncountable noun. A lot of people come to London to nd work. If you work for a person or company, you are an employee. Your company is your employer. The company employs you. If you work for yourself and do not have an employer, you are self-employed. If you work for different companies when they need you, you are a freelance worker.

Asking about someones job

What do you do? What (sort of) work do you do? What do you do for a living? (formal) Whats your occupation? Im a nurse. I work for a car company as a manager . I work at/in the supermarket. Im a teacher .

Types of job
Ive got a part-time job two days a week. (The opposite of part-time is full-time. A part-time job can be for a few hours every day or for less than ve days in every week.) Ive got a temporary job at the garage until April. (The opposite of temporary is permanent.) Casual work is a job that you only do sometimes and it is usually not on the same days each week: I do a bit of casual work as a receptionist.

Leaving a job
The words we use depend on the reason for someone leaving a job: A person might choose to leave: Are you still working for Kett & Smith? No, I left there months ago. I was so angry at the way my boss treated me I resigned/quit. An employer might not be able to continue to employ them: 120 people lost their jobs/were laid off/were made redundant when the factory closed. If a person is dismissed, red or sacked, they leave their job because their employer is not happy with their work or their behaviour.

Not having a job and looking for a job

I havent got a job at present. Im unemployed/out of work at the moment. Im looking for work. I applied for a job with Saunders and theyve invited me to an interview.

When a company needs someone to do a job

The new factory will bring over 500 jobs to the area. For information about current vacancies, contact our Personnel department.

Cambridge University Press 2008