start a job

USAGE SUMMARY

"start a job" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to begin working at a new job or to begin a new job task. Example: I am excited to start my new job at the marketing agency next week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I just want to be able to go back to school and to start a job.

Independent

"They start a job, and they give all the complications to somebody else".

The New York Times - Magazine

They must have a work permit and a doctor's note to start a job.

Independent

I mean, when I’m about to start a job, I’m unbearable, you know?

The Guardian - Film

client: for coproc jobs, don't start a job while a quit is pending.

University of California, Berkeley

"I always take clients to the workroom when we start a job," Hadley said.

The New York Times - Magazine

I always have a long discussion with a client before I start a job.

The Guardian - Money

"But a lot of young people start a job and then walk out the next day.

The Guardian - Sport

On Monday he was going to start a job & would be allright.

The New Yorker

You don't want to start a job getting paid less than others doing the same work.

Harvard Business Review

He managed to graduate from high school and start a job with an electricians union.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing future plans, use "start a job" to clearly indicate the commencement of employment. For example: "I plan to "start a job" in marketing after graduation."

Common error

Avoid using "start a job" when you mean to "start a business". "Start a job" implies becoming employed by someone else, while "start a business" refers to creating your own company or enterprise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start a job" functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation of employment. It is commonly used to describe the act of beginning work in a new role or position, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "start a job" is a very common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the commencement of employment. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is versatile and appears in diverse contexts, from news reports to academic papers. While generally neutral in register, it's important to differentiate it from similar phrases like "start a business". When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the beginning of employment. Be mindful of the specific meaning you aim to convey and choose alternatives carefully for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begin employment

Focuses on the commencement of employment, emphasizing the state of being employed.

commence work

Emphasizes the act of beginning work, suitable for formal contexts.

take up a position

Highlights the acceptance and beginning of a specific role.

embark on a career

Suggests starting a longer-term professional path or vocation.

initiate a project

Refers to beginning a specific task or undertaking within a job.

launch a career

Implies a more ambitious or strategic beginning to one's professional life.

enter the workforce

Describes the entry or re-entry into the general working population.

secure employment

Highlights the successful attainment of a job and its subsequent beginning.

assume duties

Focuses on the responsibility taken on when beginning a job.

take on responsibilities

Emphasizes the new obligations and tasks that come with starting a job.

FAQs

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

You can use "start a job" to describe the beginning of employment. For example, "She will "start a job" as a software engineer next month."

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

A more formal alternative to "start a job" is "begin employment", which sounds more professional in certain contexts.

Is it correct to say "start on a job" instead of "start a job"?

While "start on a job" can be used, it usually refers to beginning work on a specific task within an existing job, not beginning a new job entirely. "Start a job" is generally used to mean beginning new employment.

What is the difference between "start a job" and "find a job"?

"Find a job" refers to the process of locating and securing employment. "Start a job", on the other hand, describes the action of beginning work in that newly found position.