What do people mean when they say "I want a career not a job?"?

Answer 1

A job is just a crappy thing you do to make money. Most of the time it's a dead end. A career is something you do with the promise of bigger and better things in store.

Answer 2

Many people say this without truly understanding the meaning. While a job is usually a short term job, it does not define the meaning.
A career is something that takes perseverance and skill, and can be taken with you anywhere that you may go in the world.
Often people get a job doing paper work and building their way up in a company. They may become part of the board and have a respectable title with the people that they work with. Then one day (at age 35 when they are no longer part of the new and young crowd) they suddenly get fired. Only then do they realize that they have no marketable trait, other than their former title, to try to get a new "job".
When someone pursues a career such as doctor or lawyer, (these are exaggerated examples, and there are so many amazing careers out there) They don't need a single company to work for, nor do they rely on others for their business. They usually can open up a business of their own, or create a business based on their knowledge.
In other words, chose a career early in life, stick to it, and pursue it for the rest of your life, and only then will you not be constantly looking over your shoulder looking to make sure the new guy don't take your place.

Answer 3

I can answer this. A job is some place you have to go to every day and work and get a pay check. It sucks and it goes no where. A career is a job you go to that you like or at least respect, and is a building block to the next step up. You see, with a career you can move up. Not only in salary, but social status and the the way you and others respect you and treat you. You can have more social standing and responsibility.

Answer 4

Careers are long term while jobs are short term. In a career, you chose a field you want to work in. You make the preparations necessary to enter the field, and constantly make improvements and changes to move laterally across the field in different positons or vertically up the ladder. Jobs are typically dead end. There is no or limited chance for advancement. It is not related to other jobs that you have had or will have. More security is involved in a career. Your research, or experience, or education helps you to move in a career. It is your life. You can quit a job but you can't quit a career.

Answer 5

It usually means that they want to enjoy what they do for a living, not just clock in-work-clock out.. ANY JOB CAN BE A CAREER! It just depends on how you want to look at it, and what you expect to get out of it. For instance many people view teaching as a career, some just view it as a job.

Answer 6

There is a LIMIT to your growth potential when you have a job, you may not even have a genuine interest in what you do, and you are compensated with a WAGE.
A career is a field of work to which you must have must some schooling/training that usually begins with a SALARY that places you in the middle class status. Most people who go to school for something have a particular interest in their careers and have a better chance at financial stability because:

PASSION FOR YOUR CAREER generates expertise in your chosen field of work.
EXPERTISE IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK = $$$MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY$$$

Growth potential in a CAREER has no limit.

Answer 7

A career gives you more freedom to do what you want to do. Careers ex would be Lawyer, Dr, Budget analyst, certified public accountant, teacher. Job ex would be bag boy, grocery store clerk, gas station attendent. make up counter clerk. Main difference is the freedom, most careers you could work for your self or someone else. A job is always a service you exchange for pay from someone or a business.

Answer 8

A career involves a job that is not a dead-end job and that you feel very passionate about.

A job is just something you get to pay the bills.

Answer 9

The most fulfilling jobs are jobs you enjoy, that you learn from and will move you forward in life, hopefully learning more and getting promoted. A job you hate that you perform just to make money to live is a job. A career is more or less a succesful path.

Answer 10

Having a job means you've literally sold your time to your employer. On the other hand, pursuing a career is working towards your goals, whether they are short-term or long-term goals. There is a saying that goes: The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. When you are working towards your goals work ceases to be "work"!