How To Tell if You Have a Career or a Job

If you’re like most people, you may look at your job and wonder whether it can take you somewhere. No one wants to be stuck in a dead-end job for their entire professional life. Instead, they want the sense of purpose and direction a career can give them.

That doesn’t mean that every job you take won’t contribute to your career. On the contrary, different jobs can help you carve out or make up your career. Let’s look at the career versus job debate.

What do the words "career" and "job" mean?

Think of the words “career” and “job” as the difference between forests and trees. A forest is a collection of trees that represents the big picture. Trees are individual and are part of the details that create a forest. That said, a single tree is not a forest or always part of one.

Likewise, a career is an overall path or journey. The word “career” comes from the words we use for road and wheel, which gives people a picture of movement over time. For example, you might start a career in marketing as a research or communications assistant. Then, as you gain experience, you move into manager and director-level roles.  

Historically, the word “job” had to do with a lump sum or single payment made for work. A job is more transactional and represents a single work experience. For example, working as a cashier in a supermarket is a job. But a career in customer service is a collection of jobs, degrees or certifications, and experiences.

You might earn a degree in hospitality, work as a front desk clerk, transfer to a call center job that processes reservations, and earn a promotion to be a hotel manager. This journey tells a story.

Does a career or job pay more?

When looking at lifetime earnings for a career vs. a job, careers tend to pay more. With a career, you’ll usually get more growth opportunities. In addition, the chance to develop your knowledge and skills often comes with a boost in pay.

For example, college graduates tend to out-earn their peers with only high school diplomas. Males with undergrad degrees earn $900,000 more in lifetime pay. And females with bachelor’s degrees bring home $630,000 more over their working years.

Jobs tend to pay less than careers for a couple of reasons. A job may not be full-time or offer benefits, such as 401(k) matches. Another reason is jobs typically don’t have the same entry requirements and skills that in-demand careers require.

For example, most people with a high school diploma or GED can qualify for a job as a level one customer care rep. But it takes more specialized education and knowledge to become a licensed financial advisor. Both provide customer service and guidance, but a financial advisor often needs a bachelor’s degree and a passing score on the Series 7 exam.

Which has higher requirements?

Since careers involve progression or taking on more complex responsibilities, they tend to have additional requirements. These standards or qualifications include higher degree levels, additional skills, and more years of experience. For example, it’s challenging for someone to step into a managerial role without knowledge of a business’s operations.

A manager’s daily tasks may also require advanced math and soft skills. Someone may need an educational background in business and experience working with others to develop these skills effectively. Careers offer the chance to take on more responsibility, so employers want to know that those they hire can handle it.

Jobs, on the other hand, don’t always demand advanced or complex skills and backgrounds. Instead, the responsibilities may be intuitive or more simplistic, meaning most people can figure them out with minimal training. For example, working as an attendant or a cashier at a car wash requires basic skills. You’ll be successful if you know how to clean cars and do simple math.

You can think of jobs as being entry-level or the gateway to more advanced positions. The caveat is that some entry-level jobs call for specialized knowledge or experience. For example, computer support technicians may need A+ certification or an associate’s degree in information systems.

What’s the biggest difference between a job and a career?

The biggest difference between careers and jobs is the number and types of opportunities you’ll have. A job may not offer much when it comes to advancement. You might not have any way to move up in the company or advance your pay. For example, you might earn overtime once in a while. But there won’t be any way to get a substantial raise or bonus.

Even if you have a college degree or earn one while working in a job, your upward mobility may become limited. For example, a truck driver doesn’t have a lot of advancement opportunities. They’re stuck doing the same type of job regardless of the organization they work in. There isn’t a logical career path, even though they might move on.

On the other hand, careers have clearly defined journeys or paths. For instance, you might start as a marketing communications specialist. Then, after three to five years of experience, you can move into a content manager or senior communications role. Finally, with a degree in marketing and an additional five years of experience, you can move into a marketing director position.

Closing thoughts

Pursuing a career versus a job has several advantages. First, while careers are more demanding, they usually offer higher salaries and more learning opportunities over time. With a job, your skills and pay can grow stagnant, leading to burnout and frustration. But with a career plan, you can develop your skills and find ways to climb the ladder.

Determining whether you’re in a career or a job might seem confusing at first since jobs often lead to careers. However, look at what opportunities are available to you (to make more money, move up in the organization, and so on) for a straight answer.