What is the difference between a job and a career?

A job can be just going to work to earn a paycheck. You might hold many jobs with similar titles, but in the end, it is just a job that you do very well. It might even require certain specialized skills, training, over a period of time. However, in the end, they are usually still low-skill, entry level jobs that many people might qualify for. You might even need a specialty license, like a forklift operator, but in the end, it's still just a job.

If life were a video game, a job would be just one level. Having a career means that you are committed to playing the game to get better over time and advance to higher levels.

A career is a journey that includes all your jobs, experiences, and training in the same field or career cluster, or simply increasing knowledge and skill increases over time. Construction, guild type jobs like electrician, plumber, welder, carpenter, are careers, that require hands-on training, but may not be 'certified' with a degree, but are careers. Sales and other jobs can be careers, after multiple jobs in the same category, with greater expertise is developed over time.

A job is something you do only for money like cleaning motel rooms and the next job might be unrelated like retail clerk. A career is something you plan to do time after time for your working life like say hair dresser, you lose that job you look for another hair job so after years on the job you are one of the best. All career jobs progress over time like a bookkeeper might go from assistant bookkeeper to full charge or staff accountant. A job like pumping gas is pretty much the same as the day you started. Career often require more education like a two year degree in welding or dental hygiene. A profession requires at least 4 years of college and a license like CPA, Lawyer, Doctor, Dentist, RN. Career people often assist them.

In my own personal opinion I think of a job as something you do just to earn money and pay the bills. Whereas a career is something that you maybe went to college for and something that you will progress in. A bit vague but that's just what I've always thought.

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