Knowing the Difference between a Job and a Career

Many persons seemingly aren’t aware of the key differences between a Job and a Career.

While a job is an activity that an individual does to fuel his livelihood, a career is something related to pursuing your passion. There is always a buzz, whenever we talk about jobs and careers because many people see their job as their career. With the passage of time, the difference between the two terms is getting blurred. 

In simple terms, a job is a position of regular employment, that is paid. Conversely, career implies progress of an individual in a particular profession or in a company.

After completing their education, most youngsters want to get a good job. Although, within 2 to 3 years, they switch their job, due to various factors. Have you ever wondered that, did the best careers in 2016, exist in 2010? Every year some career opportunities evolve. So, everyone is keen to know the difference between a job and career. Continue reading this article and you will certainly get the answer of what is called a job and a career.

Content: Job Vs Career

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR COMPARISONJOBCAREER
MeaningA job is an activity or task performed by an individual to earn livelihood.A career can be defined as a journey of a work life of an individual.
What is it?TripJourney
Exchange ofTime for money.Time for pursuing your lifelong ambition.
ConceptA means to fulfill the needs.An end in itself.
DurationShort termLong term
RequiresEducation and other skills.Training in specific field.
Focus onRegular income and job safetyInnovation, learning more, taking risks.

Definition of Job

A task or activity performed by a person, as a part of regular employment to earn money is known as Job. The person who performs the job is known as an employee and the person for whom the job is performed is known as an employer. It involves mental or physical work or both. There is a fixed time for doing a job. Rights, duties, functions, responsibilities and powers are associated with each job.

No doubt, the job is one of the best sources of income to earn the livelihood. That is why, most youth settle for jobs, just after completing their education to earn a steady income, gain some experience, get independent and settled as soon as possible. Normally, people hold a job for a certain period. Once the purpose for which they joined the job is accomplished or when they get some better opportunity for life, the job holders will leave the job.

Definition of Career

Career is defined as the occupation endeavoured by a person, for an important period of his life. It is the series of jobs that a person has done all over his life. It is the long-term goal of an individual’s life. A career is not confined to a job only, but it is a course of life, in which a person employs his knowledge, skills, education, competencies.

Career is not just making money to earn bread and butter, but it is something bigger. It’s what a person loves to do, it is what a person interested in, it is what a person is passionate about, it is what that keeps a man working without getting distracted, it is something for which a person can take any kind of risk, it is what a person wants to see himself as, in the future.

When it comes to the career path, people pay more attention towards the job satisfaction rather than money. They will learn new things, research about their career as much as they can, make relations with clients or other parties create prospects. The career of a person depends on his history and his plans.

Key Differences Between Job and Career

The significant differences between job and career are indicated below:

  1. The job is defined as a task or duty performed by a person for getting a salary or wages. Career refers to an occupation carried on by a person for his entire life.
  2. A job is a trip, but career is a journey.
  3. In a job you invest your time and skills to earn money, but when it is about career, you invest your time in following your dreams.
  4. A job is when you work for a fixed time. Conversely, a career is when you don’t know whether it is morning or afternoon or night, you sleep late at night and wake up early just to learn and explore more and more.
  5. A job is a means for securing the needs of life, but a career is an end in itself, i.e. what a person endeavours until he retires.
  6. People hold a job, for a short term while a career is seen as a long-term goal of an individual.
  7. The job requires education and skills. On the other hand, career needs specialisation in a specific field.

Conclusion

Now, it might be clear, that a job is very different from the career. There can be some jobs in a person’s career. We can also say that there is only one career in a person’s life that incorporates all the jobs. A career is what you see yourself in the future. A job takes your time, provides you with some work and penny. However, a career not only gives you money but also opportunities to do what you love as well as satisfaction. One basic difference between job and career is that job is what you are doing at present, but career is what you have done so far and what you are going to do next.

Career Advice

Leave a Reply