old job

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "old job" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a previous position or employment that someone held before their current job. Example: "After leaving my old job, I took some time off to travel and recharge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They gave him his old job back.

The New York Times

Marisa Velez applied for her old job.

The New York Times

Looper now inherits Benitez's old job.

The New York Times - Sports

Had his old job been filled?

The New York Times

(His old job was as a lobbyist).

The New York Times

His old job was in the RAF.

The Guardian

I went back to my old job.

The New York Times

Would Pennington expect his old job back?

The New York Times - Sports

The president shouldn't give Sherrod her old job back.

The New York Times

Could Mr Chaudhry now rightfully claim his old job back?

The Economist

But he later won his old job back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "old job", ensure the context clearly indicates which specific previous job you are referring to, especially if the person has held multiple positions.

Common error

Avoid using "old job" without sufficient context. If there's a possibility of confusion about which previous job you mean, specify the company or role to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "old job" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as a direct object, object of a preposition, or subject complement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across numerous examples. It refers to a previously held position of employment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "old job" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a previously held position. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is widespread across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral, it's essential to provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity. For more formal settings, alternatives like "previous position" or "former employment" may be more appropriate. Remember to consider the audience and purpose when choosing your wording.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previous position

Emphasizes the role held before the current one.

Former employment

Highlights that the job is no longer held.

Past occupation

Focuses on the activity or profession.

Prior role

Stresses the function or responsibility.

Previous work

General term for employment history.

Past post

More formal way to refer to a previous position.

Earlier job

Highlights the temporal aspect of the previous job.

Original job

Implies it was the first job held in a particular context.

Job before this one

Informal way to refer to the immediate prior job.

Position I used to have

Personal and descriptive way to refer to a former role.

FAQs

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

You can use "old job" to refer to a position someone held in the past. For example, "Since leaving my "old job", I've been freelancing".

What's a more formal alternative to "old job"?

Alternatives include "previous position" or "former employment", which are more suitable for professional contexts.

Is it correct to say "previous job" instead of "old job"?

Yes, "previous job" is a perfectly acceptable and often preferred alternative to "old job", as it sounds less colloquial.

How does "old job" differ from "past job"?

Both phrases are similar, but "old job" can sometimes imply a longer duration or a sense of nostalgia, while "past job" simply refers to a job held in the past.