apply for job

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apply for job" is correct but slightly incomplete; it should be "apply for a job." You can use it when discussing the action of seeking employment. Example: "I plan to apply for a job at the new restaurant downtown." Alternative expressions include "submit a job application" and "seek employment."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

More than a career fair, BBIE offers the opportunity to learn about company culture, see the latest research and industry trends, apply for job opportunities, and exchange scientific dialogue between employers and Stanford students and faculty.

Stanford University

You set up your profile, set your rates and apply for job postings on the sites.

Forbes

First, every applicant needs to hold a bachelor's or master's degree in relevant disciplines in order to be eligible to apply for job positions in the bank.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

The first studies investigating ethnic discrimination in the labor market consisted of audits made in the USA, where people from different ethnic groups (White, Hispanics, and Afro-Americans) were asked to apply for job offers and to attend job interviews (Newman 1978; McIntyre et al. 1980; Heckman and Siegelman 1992; Heckman, 1998; Altonji and Blank, 1999).

Genus

She said her group has campaigned for a mother with a spinal injury who was injured at work and found unfit to work but scored zero on her assessment meaning she must apply for Job Seeker's Allowance, find waged work or rely on relatives.

BBC

So why is it then that when I apply for job after job after job, virtually no one ever responds?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

They apply for jobs.

The Guardian

One day soon these teenagers will apply for jobs.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I can't apply for jobs or internships," he said.

The New York Times

3) So Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson decide to apply for jobs at Google.

The Guardian - Film

Ready to apply for jobs, internships, and co-ops?

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use 'apply for' when mentioning the position itself and 'apply to' when mentioning the company or institution.

Common error

Avoid omitting the article in formal correspondence; writing 'I want to apply for job' sounds non-native compared to 'I want to apply for a job'. Additionally, do not confuse 'apply for' with 'apply to'; you apply for a role but apply to a manager.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apply for job" acts as a verb phrase where 'apply' is the head verb, 'for' is the preposition, and 'job' is the object. In many instances recorded by Ludwig, it appears as part of a larger structure or as a shorthand in headlines and lists.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

A linguistic review of "apply for job" through Ludwig reveals that while the phrase is common in search queries and shorthand, it is often a truncated version of "apply for a job". Ludwig AI notes that the inclusion of an article is standard for grammatically complete English. The phrase frequently appears in high-quality sources like the BBC and Stanford University, often within contexts discussing labor market trends or career guidance. For professional writing, it is best to use plural forms like "apply for jobs" or specific articles to ensure your writing remains polished and precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apply for a job

Adds the indefinite article for a more natural and grammatically standard flow.

apply for jobs

Uses the plural form to refer to the general process of seeking multiple positions.

submit a job application

A more formal way to describe the administrative act of applying.

seek employment

Professional and elevated terminology for the job search process.

pursue a position

Suggests a more active and targeted interest in a specific role.

look for work

A common and slightly more casual alternative to seeking a job.

apply for a post

Uses 'post' instead of 'job', which is common in academic and governmental contexts.

put in an application

An idiomatic and slightly informal way to describe applying.

request a role

Focuses on the specific function or role within an organization.

register for work

Specifically refers to signing up with an agency or government service.

FAQs

How do I use "apply for job" in a sentence?

You can use it in compound phrases or titles, but for standard sentences, it is better to use "apply for a job". For example: "I need to go online and apply for a job today."

What can I say instead of "apply for job"?

Depending on the context, you can use "submit a job application", "seek employment", or simply "apply for work".

Is it "apply for job" or "apply to job"?

The correct preposition is 'for'. You "apply for a job" because the job is the objective. You use 'to' when referring to the entity, such as "apply to a company".

Is "apply for job" correct in professional emails?

In professional emails, it is highly recommended to use the more complete phrase "apply for the position" or "apply for the job" to maintain a formal tone.