Cool MateJob vs Position
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Job
High-frequency chunkA1noun
Position
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Job | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dʒɒb/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dʒɑːb/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈzɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pəˈzɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A paid position of regular employment. | A specific place or location where something is or someone is. |
| Example | I have a job in a restaurant. | She applied for the position of manager at the company. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | decent, good, great, have, carry out, do, pay, disappear, go, search, ad, advertisement, in a/the job, on the job, out of a job, change jobs, move jobs, a loss of jobs, adequate, decent, good, carry out, do, handle, job in, job on, get the job done, make a good, poor, etc. job of something, odd jobs, bank, inside, do, bungle | correct, exact, central, take, take up, jostle for, in position, into position, out of position, correct, exact, central, take, take up, jostle for, in position, into position, out of position, comfortable, uncomfortable, crouched, assume, change, shift, business, economic, financial, achieve, attain, reach, in a/the position, position of, extreme, ideological, philosophical, adopt, take, defend, position on, first, second, etc., establish, gain, secure, position among, position in, a position of authority, a position of influence, a position of power, full-time, part-time, current, have, hold, occupy, in a/the position, position at, position in, correct, exact, central, take, take up, jostle for, in position, into position, out of position, correct, exact, central, take, take up, jostle for, in position, into position, out of position, correct, exact, central, take, take up, jostle for, in position, into position, out of position |
| Antonyms | unemployment, idleness | displacement, removal, departure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'occupation' vs 'job'; 'occupation' can imply a broader career., Saying 'Jobs are important' instead of 'Jobs is important' when referring to the concept., Using 'job' only for manual labor and forgetting it applies to all employment types. | Confused with 'posture'; both involve positions but in different contexts., Using 'positions' when referring to roles without clarifying the context., Mixing up 'position' as a noun and 'to position' as a verb. |
| Usage notes | Use 'job' in both formal and informal settings. It's appropriate to refer to work in any context, but be cautious with implications of stability or permanence when discussing careers. | Use 'position' to refer to a physical location or a role in a company. It's neutral and appropriate for most contexts, including formal and informal settings. Avoid using it in very casual speech when simpler terms like 'spot' or 'place' might work. |
Frequently asked questions: Job vs Position
What's the difference between Job and Position?
Job: A paid position of regular employment. Position: A specific place or location where something is or someone is.
Are Job and Position the same CEFR level?
Job: A1, Position: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Job and Position interchangeably?
Not always. Job and Position are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.