Career or Job:

Which One do You Have?

If you have to work 60% of every week day, why not make it a career instead of a job?

People often mistake the words career and job as synonyms, but in reality the two have vastly different meanings. A job is often just a job; a way to make some money and perhaps gain a little experience, but doing something you’re not really invested in. A career on the other hand is a long term journey of progress and achievement in a person’s professional life.

Most careers begin as jobs; a start in an industry you decided to pursue, a place to get your foot in the door. Sometimes in these jobs you realize that this field isn’t the right path for you and you change directions. Sometimes it’s where your future falls into place and you decide to launch your career.

In order for a job to become a career, you have to be passionate about it, whether it be the industry, the company, or the title. People can stay in the same job long term, but if they’re not interested in and excited about what they do then it won’t be a career. This isn’t to say that people with careers go into work cheering and clapping each day, but at the end of the day they feel accomplished and connected to the work they just did.

The majority of your week day is spent working, so it makes sense for you to be doing something that you enjoy. Here are some steps on how to launch your career path.

1. Set goals. Then map a plan to get there. What do you love? What do you want to accomplish? How do you envision your future?
2. Find something that you enjoy. The old saying “choose a job you love, and you never have to work a day in your life” is really something to live by. This might take a while to figure out, but once you try different things you’ll know what you like and don’t like.
3. Go get some experience. Take any job in the industry and use it as a stepping stone. Network with people who have your ideal career and build up any necessary skills.
4. More forward. The only place to go is up, so keep going until you get to the spot you’ve envisioned. Maybe along the way your dream will change, but your motivation got you one step further and you’ll be better prepared for the next plan.