held a job

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held a job" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone who has been employed in a position or role at a company or organization. Example: "After graduating, she held a job at a marketing firm for two years before moving on to a new opportunity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Held a job.

The New York Times - Books

Never held a job," he said.

The New Yorker

He's held a job.

The New York Times

How many have ever held a job?

The Guardian

He hasn't held a job in two years.

The New Yorker

When she was older, she never held a job.

The New York Times

It didn't appear that he held a job.

The New Yorker

Last week, Georgetown University held a job fair.

The New York Times

Aside from a short stint in the Army, he never held a job outside of football.

The New Yorker

He said he had done some work for his stepfather but hasn't held a job yet.

The New York Times

He held a job at a prestigious university and worked on films in his spare time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's professional history, use "held a job" to clearly indicate that the person was employed in a specific role or position.

Common error

Avoid using vague alternatives like "did some work" when you need to convey the specific nature of someone having "held a job" in a formal employment context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held a job" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone has been employed in a specific position or role. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The examples show its usage in various contexts, mostly related to personal or professional histories.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "held a job" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that someone has been employed in a particular position, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe professional history. While adaptable across different registers, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity and specificity regarding the nature of the employment. Alternatives like "was employed" or "worked in a position" can provide nuanced meanings depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a job

A simpler and more general way of expressing the same idea.

was employed

Focuses on the state of being employed, rather than the action of holding a job.

worked in a position

Highlights the activity of working and the specific role.

gained employment

Emphasizes the act of obtaining work.

secured a position

Focuses on the act of successfully obtaining a job.

maintained employment

Highlights the continuous aspect of having a job over a period of time.

occupied a post

More formal and emphasizes the role or position held.

served as

Implies a role of service or duty within a job.

was on the payroll

Focuses on the aspect of being paid by an employer.

undertook work

Emphasizes the action of performing tasks or duties.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "held a job" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "was employed" or "occupied a post". These options emphasize the state of being employed or the position held, rather than the action.

What's a simpler way to say "held a job"?

A simpler way to express the same idea is to say "had a job". This option is more direct and suitable for informal contexts.

Is there a difference between "held a job" and "worked in a position"?

"Held a job" emphasizes the fact of having been employed, while "worked in a position" highlights the activity and role within that employment. The choice depends on whether you want to stress the employment status or the work itself.

How to use "held a job" in a sentence?

You can use "held a job" to indicate that someone was employed in a particular role. For example: "She "held a job" at a marketing firm for two years."