How to distinguish job & work

When do we use “job” and when do we use “work”? Here are some simple rules to help you understand:

A. Work

• Work is general. It is what everyone does to earn money. We can also use ‘work’ to talk about doing some general tasks. It can be a verb or a noun.

Q: Do you work or go to school?

A: I work. I am a business owner.

• Work is uncountable when we use it as a noun.

Q: How much work do you have today?

A: I have a lot of work. I’m very busy.

B. Job

• A Job is specific. It is the kind of work that you do. Usually when people ask “What do you do?”, they are asking about your job. It is only a noun.

Q: What do you do?

Q: What kind of work do you do?

A: I’m an accountant. It’s a very interesting job.

• Job is a countable noun. Example:

Q: How many jobs have you had in your life?

A: I’ve had many jobs. First, I was a teacher, then I was a business owner, and now I am a tour guide!

PRACTICE