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change jobs — switch employment

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

to leave your current job and start working in a different one, usually with a new company or in a new role.

Say it like a native

Textbook I am contemplating a transition to alternative employment.

Native I'm thinking of changing jobs.

'Transition to alternative employment' is corporate; 'changing jobs' is plain.

Pattern: change jobs

In use

  • After five years at the same company, she decided it was time to change jobs.work
  • In my opinion, people should change jobs if they feel they are not learning anything new or if they want to develop their career.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ I want to change my job to a better company.

✓ I want to change jobs. / move to a better company.

'Change jobs' (plural, no possessive) is the set phrase for switching employment.

Common collocations

  • change jobs — change, thinking of, decide to, switch

Don't confuse it

'Change jobs' means to move to a new job. 'Change the job' means to make changes to your current job, which is not the same.

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