maintain a job

USAGE SUMMARY

"maintain a job" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone keeping a job or staying employed for a period of time - generally over a long period. For example: Susan has been able to maintain a job for the past five years, despite the difficult economic conditions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

" It teaches you to maintain a job".

The New York Times

This consequence is called job lock — the need to maintain a job to get health insurance.

The New York Times

"Regular things like being able to take public transportation, getting a girlfriend, and being able to maintain a job".

The New York Times

"It was impossible to maintain a job and train the way I have to for the Olympics," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

It would mean their health would deteriorate further, which would make it harder to maintain a job and, therefore, their ability to maintain a home.

The Guardian - Opinion

This at least sometimes means that the Benefits Agency and the Department for Work and Pensions have to acknowledge that people are not in a position to get and maintain a job in the often inflexible, discriminatory and poor-quality labour market that is out there.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It may seem daunting to tackle schoolwork while maintaining a job.

Harvard University

Long and stringy of limbs and wiry of hair, with a piercing stare and a penchant for loud shirts, Boyle writes books at a furious speed, whilst somehow maintaining a job as a professor of English at the University Of California.

The Guardian - Books

On the train platform, at the bus stop, in the car pool lane: these days someone there is probably faking it, maintaining a job routine without having a job to go to.

The New York Times - Health

Relatives said that George Ray had been treated for schizophrenia before his marriage, and while he maintained a job and a semblance of normalcy, he drank heavily, possibly as a means of self-medication.

The New York Times

I've almost always continued this dual path, doing cartooning while also maintaining a job in the legal/business fields.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's ability to "maintain a job", consider specifying the duration or context, for instance, "maintain a job for several years" or "maintain a job while attending school."

Common error

Avoid using "maintain a job" when simply referring to having a job at a single point in time. The phrase implies a continuous effort or ability to keep the job over a period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain a job" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the action of keeping or sustaining employment. Ludwig indicates that it is a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts related to employment and personal capabilities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

28%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain a job" is a common phrase used to describe the ongoing effort of keeping or holding onto employment over a period. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science, but also in Wiki. To ensure clarity, specify the duration or context when using the phrase. Avoid using it to simply indicate having a job at a single point in time. Some alternatives include "retain employment" and "hold down a job", offering slightly different nuances. Keep in mind these points to enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Retain employment

Focuses on the act of keeping someone employed.

Keep a position

Emphasizes holding onto a specific role or job.

Hold down a job

Suggests overcoming difficulties in keeping a job.

Sustain employment

Highlights the ongoing nature of maintaining a job.

Preserve one's job

Implies protecting a job from being lost.

Continue working

A more general way to express the idea of staying employed.

Remain employed

Highlights the state of being currently employed.

Secure job tenure

Focuses on achieving long-term job security.

Avoid unemployment

Emphasizes the negative aspect of losing a job.

Keep one's livelihood

Broader term, referring to means of financial support.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain a job" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain a job" to describe someone's ability to keep their employment over time, such as, "She has been able to maintain a job despite the economic downturn."

What are some alternatives to "maintain a job"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "retain employment", "keep a position", or "hold down a job".

Is it better to say "maintain a job" or "hold a job"?

"Maintain a job" emphasizes the ongoing effort to keep a job over time, while "hold a job" focuses more on simply possessing or having a job at a given moment. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "maintain a job" and "get a job"?

"Get a job" refers to the act of finding and securing employment, while "maintain a job" refers to the act of keeping or holding onto that employment over a period of time.