How To Know if You Chose a Job or a Career
There's a huge difference between a job and a career, and many ways to tell the difference. In fact, you might find that you chose one or the other, despite what you think. Here's how you can tell the difference:
Job: You Work Just To Pay the Bills
Many people work just to pay their bills, and they don't pay much attention to what their jobs entail. You may be working a job if that's your primary reason for working. Jobs are just ways to get a paycheck, while careers are positions that can last for many years. A backbreaking low-level warehouse position is an example of something that is more likely a job. It's only a career if you desire to stay in it for decades and move forward.
Career: You Have a Passion for What You Do
Careers are jobs you love. They're things that put a smile on your face when you go to work. You can enjoy a career even if you go through most of the nonsense that occurs in the workplace. At the end of the day, you'll still want to go back to your place of employment because you love what you do and can't imagine yourself doing anything else. You are most likely in a career if you feel that way.
Job: There's Only Short-Term Potential
Jobs usually have high turnover, with workers only staying a few weeks or months. The environments are normally disorganized and don't have very high morale. Thus, you are most likely in a job if your work environment is like that, and you may not be very successful in trying to transform it into a career.
Career: You Can Envision Yourself Advancing and Progressing
You're most likely in a career if you see yourself advancing and progressing. Another tell-tale sign that you chose a career is that you desire to stay with the company.
Those are a few ways to tell if you are currently working in a job or career. Think about what you're doing right now and what your goal is for the future, and you'll have the answers you need.
