Do you have a Career or a Job? 9 Points
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Previously in the industrial age, people were employed to do repetitive tasks, like digging deep into the earth to excavate coal or working on an auto assembly line. Work like these even continues today, and they are called “jobs”.
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Passion or Pension?
Times are changing and changing fast. The world is more open to ideas now; hence people can aspire and work on their ambitions. At least they can think of taking challenges, dream big and have a vision for their career.
But, in this noisy world of shiny consumerism, comparison and show-off, it is easy to lose life’s goal. Unfortunately, only economics is defining individual’s role in society.
"Money" is an essential defining factor, no one can deny and measure of success in these times. It is more so in countries plagued with poverty and lack of opportunities. So, naturally, people want to grab any opportunity that gives them monetary benefits.
These compelling factors make the boundary between the two, job and career, extremely blurry. People may think they have a ‘career’ but unknowingly are in a ‘job’. It can happen to anyone, which is the case with many of us.
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If you choose your work, even when employed, then it is a career.
Before one embarks on a journey to pick employment or make any major life decisions, one must understand the difference between a career and a job. Therefore, keeping a periodic check on the career path is also vital.
NATURE OF WORK
A job is generally considered a repetitive task one completes in exchange for payment. Therefore, motivation for keeping a job is typically external, such as being able to pay for basic monthly expenses.
A fancy job gives a higher salary and attractive designation but is usually a controlled task with fewer opportunities.
It is a space where the world seems to operate currently.
CHECK – If your motive for employment is only money, try discovering another meaningful and long-term goal.
MOTIVATION
The differentiation between a job and a career is often one of motivation: A job is something people do to earn money to buy food and shelter. In contrast, a career is something people do to fulfil their dream.
Having a vision of self far into the future that matches life goals can keep motivation high daily. Hence, people must have a reason as to why they are doing today’s work.
CHECK – If you have a dream and are committed daily, you are on the right path. If not, find one.
3. GROWTH
Careers offer more growth opportunities. For example, a career in management typically provides opportunities for lateral or upward mobility. Consequently, careers come with higher salaries and greater fulfilment than jobs.
In brief, a career brings a real vision of future growth, while a job provides a false sense of hope.
CHECK - If your work allows you to move laterally or higher in your chosen fields, you are on the right career path. If not, then, unfortunately, you are trapped in your job.
4. FUTURE
It can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends in a rapidly changing world. It is also complicated to plan for future risks and opportunities. Jobs that once seemed secure can vanish overnight, and if money is the only goal, then the job market becomes overcrowded. It attracts innovation, and hence there is a risk. Thus, this job can be obsolete anytime.
How many times have you visited a bank to use a teller service? Bank tellers were once a fancy job. All banks were full of them. So, it lasted for a few decades until ATMs and internet banking replaced most of them.
Mine workers, tailors, carpenters, railway signal masters, watchmakers, cobblers, telephone linesmen, cinema projectionists, etc., are obsolete. Likewise, HR personnel, accountants, real estate agents, shop assistants, travel agents, office clerks, and traffic police are quickly depleting jobs and may be obsolete soon.
However, careers are different. They have long-term goals and provide more stability based on the principle of fulfilment using a competence.
CHECK - Today, in your assessment, if you suspect that technology can replace your work, you are sitting on precarious employment.
5. AMBITION
A career is a long-term commitment that one undertakes for self. It may come with many options for growth or may not, but it is driven by a sizzling desire to do something challenging.
Careers tend to give more opportunities for individual autonomy and intellectual growth. They also tend to be perpetually fascinating.
In sum, a career is always an ambitious undertaking.
CHECK - If you don’t have an aspiring goal, then there is a good chance that you will be stuck in a job. Hence, finding the spark to launch your career is crucial, or it may soon extinguish.
6. EDUCATION
Careers necessarily involve work differentiation powered by advanced education. Jobs do not.
For example, a medical career usually requires completing medical school, while a career in law usually requires completing law school. The extra education provides the skillset to create a differentiation.
A skill set from higher studies doesn’t need to be a necessary condition, but it certainly helps offer credibility in pursuing a career. In addition, it differentiates oneself from the crowd. Still, there is a risk. If too many people pursue similar higher education, it gets crowded. The differentiation gets diluted, then.
Classic examples are the engineers, doctors, and management graduates in India. With millions of them plying on the Indian streets, it is difficult for an individual to find a career in these fields. So instead, they are pursuing a fancy job if they have one.
To build a career higher than higher education, one can break free from the crowd, but it needs to be accompanied by an ambitious goal.
CHECK - If you can be replaced easily by another employee without an intricate transition, your work is not differentiated, and your job is on edge.
7. AUTONOMY
While it is possible to have a job in one’s chosen career field, such as working as a doctor or teacher, many jobs are not related to one’s career goals. As a result, people may enjoy the monetary returns or the limelight, but it may not be gratifying at the journey’s end.
Unfortunately, the majority of us fall into this category.
CHECK - If an employer determines your work, it is a job. However, if you choose your work, even when employed, then it is a career.
8. PURPOSE
A career is strongly linked to a sense of purpose and accomplishment. The result of one’s career is supposed to be valuable to the world that helps to create a better future for everyone.
A ‘purpose’ is necessary to define a career; a career path is a personal journey that takes one’s 'purpose' forward. No two people’s journeys can be compared. Often, people make the unintentional mistake of comparing two in the same profession. Many reasons drive this habit.
A career path could be across multiple streams, industry sectors or in a single field of interest.
For example, many politicians are lawyers. It is a trend that one can observe across many countries. Ultimately these people want to be lawmakers for a higher purpose.
Similarly, many astronauts cross over from various fields to reach outer space. On the other hand, many are deep into their only field of interest, like journalists or scientists, who stick to just one, only to make valuable contributions there.
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A ‘purpose’ is necessary to define a career; a career path is a personal journey that takes one’s 'purpose' forward
It is different if people cannot achieve something remarkable in pursuing their careers. Success is a convergence of many factors. Instead, the constant presence of a higher purpose is all that matters while pursuing a career.
CHECK – Assess the valuable contribution your work made to the field. Indeed, there should be many. If not, redefine your work.
9. EFFECTS OF JOB
It is a sad truth that many jobs today give little opportunity for advancement as businesses are following watertight job descriptions. This restriction is often due to the motivation behind the hiring, as all fields have become specialized, requiring specific skillset.
Sometimes, it may take years to acquire the experience and decades to be an expert. Therefore, the employer discourages any task beyond the job description.
It is not the same when pursuing a career. Anything extra contributed is appreciated and rewarded by either the employer or society.
This restraint can be highly frustrating to an individual, as it can be tough to keep up motivation when there is no chance for advancement.
On the economic side, making ends meet can also be problematic when jobs allow little to save for the future. Again, this can create a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Worse still, if the job is highly paid, it can still lead to a feeling of being trapped, as it becomes increasingly difficult to leave a well-paid job that offers no hope for future growth. As a result, people will stay in a job out of compulsion rather than being genuinely interested in the work.
Highly paid jobs have another side effect. It leads to a false sense of pride, which can negatively affect the individual’s fulfilment in the long run.
CHECK - If you are discouraged from taking extra initiative in your field, you are stuck in your job, and it’s time to change employer.
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