You can have a job and not have a career. A Job and a career are two different concepts. Although they are interwoven and work together, they still vary distinctively. This is because a job is a stepping stone to a career and without first having a job, you cannot say that you own a career. While anyone can take a job because they are trying to make ends meet, not everyone plans on building a career. This and many more are what make them different from one another.
What is the role of a job in a career?
A job is a position or role that you assume in a company depending on the skills and experience that you have. At the end of every month, you get some amount of money because of the work that you have done. This basically means that you are working a job because of the possibility of receiving a paycheck afterward. As we mentioned earlier, it is important to have a job before deciding that you want or have a career.
While you are planning to build a career, you need funds to activate some of your plans and the income you make from your job can help you to pull this off. Also, whatever lifestyle you are trying to live by, your salary helps you cater to it. Furthermore, a career will most likely require you to develop your skills. Come to think of it, jobs offer several opportunities for you to get the proper skills and experience that you desire to build your career.
Networking and career growth work hand in hand. However, you need a job to help you build professional relationships that can enlarge your network. Regardless of the number of jobs that you’ve done or the organizations you have been a part of, you can achieve great networking if you are willing to meet new people who can help you in your career.
Most importantly, jobs help you to discern your career path. You can have a job and not know what career path to take. You can explore different skills, organizations, and jobs until you decide on a particular career path.
What are the major differences between a career and a job?
There are a number of major differences between a career and a job. Major enough to help you decide which is which and here are some of them:
Career | Jobs |
A career is a long-term decision and along the line, you may have to invest so much time and resources and also be committed to achieving your goals. | A job can happen for a short term. You can move on from it quickly if you come across another job that suits you. |
It is always important that a career aligns with your purpose, passions, and values. | A job does not have to be inclined towards your passion. Most times, it’s about how much you can earn after working the job. |
A career can come with better benefits such as a retirement plan or a healthcare plan because you have invested time in the career. | Most jobs may only reward you with a salary. |
There is always a chance for advancement in your career. | Considering that you can change jobs whenever you want. There is no solid advancement attached to jobs. |
You may get a high level of satisfaction because your career is a long-term goal and you have chosen it because it aligns with your values. | Sometimes, you may not get the job satisfaction that you need depending on the organization that you work for. |
You will most likely need mentorship and guidance for your career to work. | You necessarily do not need a mentor while working a job. |
Careers can leave a lasting legacy and have a significant impact on society or a community. | A job may allow you to make just a little impact that lasts while still working the job. |
Having a career helps you to build deeper and substantial relationships for a long time. | Relationships at a workplace only last for a short time may not be deep considering the brief time. |
You can stay in your career for as long as you want. | You can lose your job, especially if your position is an easily replaceable one. |
While careers and jobs may constantly appear together, they mean different things. Technically, you don’t go about both the same way. It is therefore important to understand the differences and how they both work while you progress in your profession.