In this article, we explain the difference between a job and a career, how one can affect the other and how to turn a job into a career.
Definition
A career has a natural progression, you’ll build up skills, and will be promoted to higher levels within a company. Whereas a job is something which pays the rent, and might not necessarily be enjoyable or interesting.
A career is a long-term professional journey you may determine based on your passion. It is the path you board upon to fulfill your professional goals and drives. You may require a certain level of education or training to achieve these goals. Individuals pursuing careers often have set salaries with benefits such as stock option, retirement plans, pension. They also gain benefits beyond money, such as personal pride, work satisfaction and self-worth. might last for your entire life. You could hold numerous jobs under many employers in your chosen industry that you progress through during your career.
Job is work you perform to earn money to support your basic needs. It can be a full-time or part-time job and may be short-term. You might earn an hourly wage or a set paycheck rather than a salary with benefits .You might need to learn certain skills connected with that role, but not all jobs require a specialized degree or advanced training.
How does a job affect your career
You will likely hold many jobs throughout your career, even if you don’t have a set career path in mind when you first join the workforce. It may be helpful to consider every position you fill as a step in your life’s work. Your job can affect your career in these ways:
Jobs make up your career
A career consists of all the jobs you have worked, regardless of whether they are associated with each other. You could spend decades working a job in the same department as one organization. Alternatively, you could work many seemingly unrelated jobs over your lifetime, such as greenskeeper, executive assistant and information technology specialist. They all define your career and can connect you with other opportunities you are passionate about. Think of jobs as short-term duties that can help you achieve your long-term goals.
You learn from each job
Every job you take teaches you lessons you can apply to future jobs. You will also gain a variety of skills, knowledge and experiences. For instance, maybe your job as a retail clerk taught you how to handle difficult situations with tact. Your receptionist position may have taught you good communication and customer service skills. Other roles might help develop your writing skills, develop your ability to handle rejection or teach you the value of perseverance and hard work.
Jobs provide you with networking opportunities
With each job, you build a network and community of professional contacts. If you maintain a productive and professional relationship with all your colleagues and clients you can provide yourself with the ability to reach out to these connections throughout your career.
ways to turn a job into a career
Continue learning and developing
Always aim to enhance your skills and knowledge. If you know what career path you want to pursue, figure out what knowledge and experience you need to get there. Once you are aware of the requirements, seek to develop your qualifications whether through practice in your current job or formal training, online courses and education. When trying to determine which skills will benefit your career most, look to successful professionals in that industry. Ask yourself what their strengths, talents or activities are. Reach out to individuals with similar careers, and ask for their advice.
Get a mentor
If possible, seek out a mentor or two with an upper-level position or experience in your desired field. Ask if they will consider supporting and advising you professionally. While working with a mentor, you may plan specific questions to ask or topics to discuss, like career development. Consider your mentor’s path and whether a similar one could work for you.
Expand your network
Workshops, conferences, seminars and social events can be great places to meet professionals in your field. You can expand your network to have more resources for sharing experiences, learning, gaining advice and gaining job recommendations.
Apply for an internship
Building experience in your career field, even if it is an internship, can help you advance or break into that sector. If you are currently working as an information technology consultant but desire a career in the publishing industry, for instance, you may seek educational or certification opportunities then look for internships that can help you gain editing or production experience.
The difference between a job and a career
There are many differences between a job and a career.
One defining difference is that career lasts a long time, usually lasting a person’s entire work-life.
Second is the amount of education and training needed. Careers take years of formal education and yearly professional development to keep up with the skills needed.
A third reason is that a person enters a career because they have a passion or desire to work in their chosen field. The primary reason a person takes a job is to earn money.
A job is a small part in the grand design of a person’s career. Not all jobs are a part of a career, but people will work a variety of jobs while working on their career path. For example, to become a manager, a person will usually work in the various positions they will eventually supervise.
CONCLUSION
One major difference is the effort and determination a person puts forth with the goal of advancement. Generally speaking, if a job is not part of a person’s long-term goal, then it is not a part of their career. The best example highlighting this difference are the jobs young people have in high school or college. Whether the job was fast food, retail, or some type of manual labor, the goal was to make money and had nothing to do with their eventual career paths.