on the job
Actively at work
On the job means while working or during employment: She learned most of her skills on the job.
The phrase often modifies training or experience gained through actual work rather than formal instruction: on-the-job training.
It can also mean actively engaged in one's duties: The security guard was on the job when the break-in occurred.
- assignmentAllocated work or duty
- hands-on experienceLearning through direct involvement
- hands onInvolving active participation
- employeeHired organizational member
- new hireRecently employed staff member
duty · training · trial-and-error · shadowing · apprenticeship · at it · probationary · workplace · mentorship · manager · learn the ropes · learning curve · occupation · baptism by fire · trial by fire · sink or swim · skill-building · learning by doing
- practical learninghands-on, hands-on learning, learning by doing, experiential, vocational
- persistingpersisting, persevering, persistence, perseverance, continuing
- operationaloperational, functioning, working, running, active
on the joboff duty
Not at work
off the clock · on leave · clocked out · on vacation · after hours
on the jobasleep at the wheel
Failing to supervise properly
slacking off · goofing off · phoning it in · checked out · not paying attention
on the jobunemployed
Without a job
out of work · jobless · laid off · between jobs · retired
job, jobs, jobless, joblessness, jobbing, jobber, on duty, on-the-job training