What Is The Difference Between A Career and A Job?

January 18, 2021
54 Comments

Last Updated on March 23, 2021 by NandiNN

Career vs a job

My readers are often asking what the difference between a career and a job is and it was about time I addressed it.

When someone tells you I am thriving in my career vs I really love my job, what does it really mean?

I am hoping to cover the difference between a job vs a career and to tell you which one is better in the long run.

A lot of people, including myself have often used a job or career to talk about the scope of work I do.

But I think there is a huge difference between a job and a career.

If you are struggling to decide exactly which path you should take, we will help you out.

I will definitely be looking at:

The main difference between a job and a career
What defines a career?
Can a job become a career?
And a list of unique dream jobs

Before we really dig into that, I want you to sign up to receive exclusive career tips designed specifically for entrepreneurs and those looking to up-level themselves career-wise!

You can sign up right here!

Jobs vs. careers which one is better for you?

In order to decide which road best suits your lifestyle, you really need to understand the difference between the two.

And honestly, neither way is wrong.

It really just depends on your lifestyle and what your priorities in life are.

But before we get started on the difference between a career and a job, we would love for you to like our growing Facebook page right here! Be sure to give us a quick follow on Instagram as well!

We also wanted to take the opportunity to let you know that we use Affiliate links on some of our blog posts. This means that we could make a commission if you click on an affiliate link and purchase something. Please check out our full disclaimer and policy page here.

What Is A Job?

When you say, I am going to get a job, what exactly does that entail?

A job is an activity that one often performs in order to earn money.

So you would go to work, perform duties required and in exchange you will get paid for doing so.

Most jobs focus on only one position, for example, you are a receptionist and your role is to answer phones, direct calls, perform specific customer service duties and so on.

And these typically don’t change unless you get promoted, moved around in the business or more duties are added to the role.

Some people have regular jobs others have part-time, on-call and even contract jobs that they perform in order to get paid.

In some cases, these jobs might not interest you at all, but you really need the money in order to survive.

Some people have learned to love what they do at work and do not mind going to work each day to get paid.

But when it comes to getting regular training, education or even mentorship to grow in that particular job is probably not a priority.

What is a career?

A career is something that you have decided that you want to do and you have worked in that position for a long period of time in some cases a lifetime.

You might have gotten a certificate in that field, a diploma, training, and been a master’s degree.

You have spent years, money and time invested in growing your skills to undertake this role.

You might have even held different positions in different places just to advance your career and skills.

Your experience has paid off in a few different ways such as

higher-paying employment opportunities
Great titles to your name in the workforce
More challenging roles and duties
And respect

A career will require to take extensive training, mentorship and education.

You have passion for this and you will take every opportunity that comes your way to improve that career if things present themselves.

Difference between a job and a career

Now that you know what a career is and what a job is, what is really the difference?

And is a job the same as a career?

They seem to overlap a lot and in most cases that is true.

With a job:

You can have multiple jobs that typically do not relate to each other and can be added to your resume
You could apply for any job as long as you are getting paid for your efforts
You may or may not like your job as it is just something you are doing to get paid
Your job may or not be your career
You can work at a job and the people you meet might not matter if you switch jobs especially in a different field

With a career:

Most of the job or work you do is related to the career you are building
Those building a career are typically only looking for opportunities in their field evening if it just unpaid volunteer work
The work you do to build your career will open doors to many opportunities in that field
Everyone you meet during your career will remain part of your circle for years to come
You will love your job in the field you are pursuing and it will at times not feel like a job
With a career, you are continuously pursuing opportunities that will grow you as a person.

That is really the big difference between work and career!

Can a job become a career?

In my opinion, yes it can.

Most people may argue this point as they believe that it is part of an occupation that is developed over time and with a plan

Honestly, if you are having fun at your job and really enjoy it, you may decide to turn this job into a career.

This means taking the necessary steps you need to turn that job into a career:

Getting more training
Getting educated
Building your resume in that field
Getting a mentor
And so on

Once you that a job you like is something you want to do in the long run, ask your bosses for more training on it.

Go above and behind and update your resume with all the knowledge you acquire.

A list of unique dream jobs

If you are looking for unique dream jobs that you can turn into a career, we have a few ideas below that you can consider.

Stand-In Actor or actress
Voice over actress or actor
Fashion stylist / Fashion designer
Art therapy
YouTuber
Concert promoter
Event Planner
Dog Walker
Video game designer
Interior designers
Blogger
Graphic designers
Blog Flipping
Mystery shoppers
Food technologists
Personal shopper

What is the difference between a job and a career and an occupation?

Someone wanted to know what it meant to have an occupation.

I already outlined the other differences.

Basically, an occupation is a type of job or profession which typically has the same job duties.

You have the same tasks and you need specific training to do that job such as a teacher, scientist, technician, lawyer or accountant.

I hope you now know the difference between a career and a job!

Don’t forget to sign up to get 15 days worth of career tips that will up-level you and make you more money this year!

Do you have a career or do you have a job?

And we also want to know, job vs career, which one is better?

Tell us in the comments below.

Find more amazing Finance and Career Tips Here!

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