Good job! means “well done!”: it praises someone for a task they've done well. It's especially common in American English, from a teacher, coach or parent. The British it's a good job (that)... means something else: “it's lucky that...”: It's a good job you took an umbrella. There's no work and no praise here at all.
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Good job!; good job on + noun/-ing; do a good job; it's a good job + (that) clause
- Good job on the presentation! The client loved your charts.
- You fixed the washing machine on your own? Good job!
- It's a good job we left early, because the motorway was completely blocked.
What changed
First versionDear Professor Lee, good job on yesterday's lecture.
RevisionDear Professor Lee, thank you for yesterday's lecture.
Good job judges someone else's work from above, the way a teacher praises a student. That's why you shouldn't write it to a professor or a manager: it sounds as if you're grading them. Thanks fit better than praise: thank you for the lecture.
Well done! means almost the same, but it sounds more neutral and is more usual in British English: Well done, you passed! Good for you! doesn't praise the work; it shows you're happy for the person: You got the job? Good for you!
Your turn
Your essay got the highest mark in the class. ___!
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Good job — The essay has already been written and marked, so you're praising a result: good job. Good luck is what you wish someone before a task, not after it.
Praise a friend or colleague for a specific result. Say what exactly they did and what you liked about it.
Good job organising the team dinner, Anna! The restaurant you chose was perfect, and everyone loved the desserts.
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