Job

A job is a regular activity you do, usually for money. You might have a full-time job, in which you work about 40 hours a week, or a part-time job, in which you work only three days a week or just in the morning. A job that is safe and earns you regular money is a (good) steady job:

• He’s got an interesting job with Siemens.
• It’s time you stopped playing in a band and got a good, steady job.

A job you do for only a limited period of time is a temporary job:

• He managed to get a temporary job on a building site over the summer.

Odd jobs are various small jobs you do for a short time:

• She did quite a few odd jobs between finishing school and starting university.

If you want to work for a company, you apply for a job, and if they like you, they may offer you a job. You can accept (or take) the job or you can turn down the job (= not take it).

Jobs (plural) can be certain things you do without getting paid. You might need to do jobs around the home – for example, put up a bookshelf:

• Sorry, I can’t meet you for lunch. I’ve got too many jobs to do today. (= too many things I have to get done)

A job can also mean “the work you’re expected to do” (= your duty):

• You shouldn’t complain about the police. They were just doing their job.
• As a flight attendant, it’s my job to make sure passengers are safe.