What is the Difference Between Career and Occupation?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The terms "career," "job," and "occupation" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings:
- Job: A job is a specific role you are hired for, and it is a means to earn a living. It may or may not be long-term or lead to anything else by way of progression. For example, you might be a cardiologist for a specific hospital.
- Occupation: An occupation refers to someone's specific type of work or field, such as a lawyer, musician, or contractor. It is a narrower term than a career, as it focuses on the tasks, education, training, typical wages, work settings, and other factors associated with a particular line of work.
- Career: A career is the broadest term, encompassing a person's entire professional trajectory, from their first job to their last. It includes education, training, professional memberships, volunteering, and your entire history of paid work. A career is often associated with a specific industry or area and may involve several linked occupational jobs.
In summary, a job is a specific role you hold, an occupation refers to a particular line of work, and a career is the broader, long-term progression of your professional life, which may include multiple occupations.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Career and Occupation? Comparative Table: Career vs Occupation
Comparative Table: Career vs Occupation
Here is a table outlining the differences between a career and an occupation:
Feature | Career | Occupation |
---|---|---|
Definition | A career refers to the series of positions you've held during your working life, often within a single industry or field. | An occupation is an activity undertaken by a person to earn their livelihood, which can include business, employment, or a profession. |
Focus | A career is a broader, long-term perspective of an individual's professional life, often lasting their entire work-life. | An occupation is shorter-term and involves specific activities performed by a person for monetary compensation. |
Education and Training | Typically requires higher education and training, often leading to a degree. | May or may not require higher education or specialized training. |
Code of Conduct | Professions often have a set code of conduct established by the respective governing body. | Occupations may or may not have a code of conduct. |
Examples | Lawyer, medical professionals, engineers, IT professionals, teachers, etc.. | Shopkeeper, cashier, office clerk, receptionist, etc.. |
In summary, a career is a long-term, broader perspective of an individual's professional life, often within a single industry or field, while an occupation is a specific activity undertaken by a person to earn their livelihood.
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- Career vs Job
- Profession vs Occupation
- Career vs Profession
- Vocation vs Career
- Job Title vs Occupation
- Profession vs Job
- Vocation vs Profession
- Occupation vs Designation
- Work vs Job
- Discipline vs Profession
- Education vs Qualification
- Academic vs Professional Qualification
- Career Planning vs Succession Planning
- Part Time Job vs Casual Job
- Competence vs Competency
- Job Description vs Position Description
- Role vs Responsibility
- Job Description vs Job Specification
- CV (Curriculum vitae) vs Resume