The difference between a job and a career
1 August 2025 at 9:00 am
The following article was originally published at Seek.com.
Whether you’re pursuing a career or content to work a job will depend on your own professional goals. While both will earn you money, a career offers long-term progression beyond the day-to-day. In this article, we explore the difference between a career vs job, what each term means, and how to choose which pathway is right for you.
What is a job?
A job is a role that you take on simply to earn money; often an hourly wage. They help you meet your current essential needs, like food, shelter and clothing. A job may be short-term, contract work, or long term, but it tends to offer limited opportunities for growth or promotion. Some examples of jobs include barista, farmhand, wait staff, casual retail assistant, and teacher’s aid.
What is a career?
A career could be defined as a lifelong professional journey, with long-term development and future goals. Careers typically involve an upward trajectory that allow you to eventually progress from entry level positions into leadership roles and upper management. Careers are more likely to include roles that are long-term and ongoing, where you’re a permanent staff member with a salary and additional benefits.
There are many industries that you can pursue a career in. For example, a career in engineering might start with being a junior engineer, stepping up to senior engineer, then project manager, senior project manager then eventually engineering consultant.
Breaking down job vs career
The main difference between a job and career comes down to long-term growth. However, there are factors that clearly differentiate the two.
| Job | Career | |
| Duration | Can be short term or contract-based | Long term and ongoing |
| Pay | Usually hourly wages | Salary-based, often with potential for bonuses |
| Benefits | Generally, there are no benefits beyond the mandatory benefits such as leave entitlements. | Can include additional benefits such as wellbeing programs, gym memberships, extra leave, bonuses, discounts. |
| Skills | Basic or specific to the role | Paid training and development in addition to on-the-job skills development. Mentorship opportunities. |
| Growth | Limited opportunities for advancement. | Clear path for advancement and development. |
| Focus | Immediate needs (earning money to meet fundamental living costs) | Long-term goals and professional fulfilment |
| Stability | Varies depending on market demand | Generally more stable and secure |
| Commitment | Lower level of commitment | High level of commitment and personal investment |
| Job Satisfaction | Depends on the individual | Can be higher, due to meeting personal goals |
| Work environment | May change frequently | Typically set hours and schedule |
How jobs affect your career
Every job offers opportunities that can help you carve out a career. Here are a few reasons why.
- Developing skills: jobs present a great opportunity to develop and refine skills that can be transferred into other roles.
- Experience: gaining experience in different roles can help build your understanding and improve your value to potential employers.
- Networking: working in a range of jobs can help build your network with colleagues and other work contacts the role brings you into contact with.
- Finding a career that suits: jobs can be a great way to experience a field or industry before committing to a long-term career.
Turning a job into a career
How do you transform a job into a career? Start by deciding what your goals are. Is there a role that you would eventually like to advance to, such as chief financial officer or hotel general manager? Once you have the end goal in mind, look at the steps you’ll need to take to get to that point.
With this in mind, set achievable goals for each year or quarter that will slowly move you towards the main goal. Invest in yourself by upskilling through education and take advantage of any in-house training and development opportunities to build your knowledge and skills. Seeking out mentorship or informal guidance from people in your industry can also be a great way to develop new skills and open up networking opportunities.
By understanding the difference between a job and a career, you can make an informed decision that matches your long-term goals and potentially get more satisfaction out of your professional life. Whether you enjoy the flexibility of different short-term jobs or want to climb a career ladder through full-time roles, each comes with their own pros and cons. It’s important to reflect on your goals when considering which path is right for you.
FAQs
Can a job turn into a career?
Yes, just about any job can be turned into a career. Each job can help you develop skills and experience that carry your career forward. By focusing on long-term growth and development opportunities, you can work towards turning your job into a career.
Is it better to have a job or a career?
Whether a job or a career is better depends on your priorities and goals. The main difference between a career and job is long-term aspirations vs short-term needs. A job will earn money to meet your essential needs, while a career provides long-term stability, growth opportunities, and a clear path for advancement. Consider your own goals and aspirations to better understand which one is the right fit for you.
How long does it take to establish a career?
The time it takes to establish a career varies depending on your goals and the industry you work in. A career is a journey, with each role a stepping stone to something better, so it can take several years of continuous learning, skill development, and gaining relevant experience to establish a career.
What should I prioritise: job satisfaction or career growth?
The answer to this depends on what is most important to you. For some, job satisfaction is more important than career growth, while others find the reverse. You can also try to strike a balance between job satisfaction and career growth to get the best of both worlds.
