word choice - "To work for" vs. "to work in" vs. "to work at"



Is the preposition in universal in conjunction with the verb ‘to work’ and can it be used with any organizations and businesses?


For example:




  • He works as a cook in a local hotel near here.

  • He works in an office in Chicago.

  • She works in a big company.

  • She works in the emergency unit at the hospital.

  • She works in a shoe repair shop.

  • After leaving school, he worked in a restaurant for a year. military hospital.

  • His sister works in a bank.

  • She works in a shoe factory.

  • He works in a steel plant.

  • She works in a gift store on weekends.

  • Ann works in a research institute.



When should the prepositions at and for be used? For example:




  • Barbara works at a travel agency.

  • She works at the local supermarket.

  • Now he works for a bank.

  • I work for a small non-profit organization.



I’ve never heard:



She works for a shoe factory.



But with a law firm it’s OK:



She works for a law firm.



Why?




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