System and methods for classifying free-form occupation inputs into prescribed occupation inputs are provided. In one embodiment, a machine receives an occupation; generates a meaning vector; compares the meaning vector against meaning vectors associated with a prescribed set of occupations; determines meaning scores for the prescribed set of occupations based upon an affinity between vector and the vectors associated with the prescribed set of occupations; selects a subset of the prescribed set of occupations based upon the meaning scores for the prescribed set of occupations; presents a selectable list of the subset of prescribed occupations; receives an indication of a selection a particular prescribed occupation for the selectable list; and provides the particular prescribed occupation to a downstream-processing system that is configured to only handle occupations in prescribed set of occupations.