work <for/at/with/in> a company (2025)

I'm confused about the use of prepositons in "work for/ at/ with/ in a company". Can all the prepositions be used here? Does it make any difference to use "for", "at" or "with"?

Can anyone help me clarify this, please? Thanks in advance!

In my opinion, 'I work for a company' is the correct option, if the company employs me directly, i.e. I work there all year round, and they pay me a salary.

'I work with a company' would most likely mean that I am freelance, but that I'm currently in collaboration with said company on one or more projects.

I don't think that the other options, 'at' and 'in' are viable.

Hi all,

If company X has hired my company to carry out some work, can I say: I work for company X?

I mean, they hired "my services", though they're not my employer. In fact, they are a customer...

Thank you.

If company X has hired my company to carry out some work, can I say: I work for company X?

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No; that would mean that you were an employee of Company X, while in fact you're still an employee of your company. Company X is a client, or customer, of your company. As a representative/employee of your company, you could say, "We're doing a job for Company X." ("We" = your company.)

Another way of looking at it is:

work for the company who directly provides you your wages

Parla said:

No; that would mean that you were an employee of Company X, while in fact you're still an employee of your company. Company X is a client, or customer, of your company. As a representative/employee of your company, you could say, "We're doing a job for Company X." ("We" = your company.)

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Hi Parla,

Thank you so much. As always, you're very helpful.

sdgraham said:

Another way of looking at it is:

You

work for the company who directrly provides you your wages

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Hi sd,

Thank you for your input. Yes, I get that. I just didn't know how to say that I am carrying out a job for company X, which now I do.

By the way, is saying "I am doing a job for company X" the same as saying "I am doing a work for company X"? I mean, are work and job interchangeable here?

Thank you.

No, sorry. We do not use "work" as a noun meaning "job." Neither do we "carry out a job."

Try "I have been assigned to work at [company]."

sdgraham said:

No, sorry. We do not use "work" as a noun meaning "job." Neither do we "carry out a job."

Try "I have been assigned to work at [company]."

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Hi sdgraham,

Thank you very much.
But we "do a job", don't we?
Oh, I thought we could almost always replace "do" with "carry out".

Ah_poix_e said:

Hi sdgraham,

Thank you very much.
But we "do a job", don't we?

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No we do not "do a job" or "carry out a job" meaning we are employed. Usage is context sensitive and highly idiomatic

Oh, I thought we could almost always replace "do" with "carry out".

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You have very bad information. Your not suggesting that "do the dishes" means "carry out the dishes," are you?

sdgraham said:

No we do not "do a job" or "carry out a job" meaning we are employed. Usage is context sensitive and highly idiomatic

You have very bad information. Your not suggesting that "do the dishes" means "carry out the dishes," are you?

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Hi sdgraham,

But Parla (in post 5) said "We're doing a job for company X": "we" would be my company (say company Z). This doesn't exactly relate to whether I am employed, though if I am doing a job for them, I must have an employer (or be my own boss at least ).

I was not suggesting that, no. I would never say "carry out the dishes", lol. I thought you could always swap both terms, at least when the word work is involved in the same sentence.

sdgraham said:

No, sorry. We do not use "work" as a noun meaning "job." Neither do we "carry out a job."

Try "I have been assigned to work at [company]."

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So, now that we don't use " work" as a noun meaning "job", can't we say "I'm looking for a work" meaning "looking for a job"? Thanks.

sdgraham said:

No, we do not say "a work."

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Thank you. But can we say "I'm looking for work" meaning "looking for a job", can't we?

You sure can, but that could also mean you're a freelancer and you are looking for projects, etc.

Welcome to the forum, nh01!

Englishmypassion said:

You sure can, but that could also mean you're a freelancer and you are looking for projects, etc.

Welcome to the forum, nh01!

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Thank you for your help and welcome. It's kind of you!