A career is your entire professional journey, not just a single job.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A career is a long-term work journey.
- It involves progression and skill development.
- It's more than just one job.
Overview
The word 'career' refers to the path one takes through their working life. It's more than just a single job; it's the sequence of positions and experiences that shape a person's professional identity and development over time. Think of it as a long-term journey rather than a short stop. It often implies a level of commitment, growth, and advancement within a specific industry or area of expertise.
'Career' is typically used to talk about someone's professional life in general or their progress within a field. It can be used with verbs like 'have', 'start', 'build', 'change', or 'pursue' a career. It's also common to hear phrases like 'career path', 'career development', 'career opportunities', and 'career goals'. The term is generally neutral in formality but is most commonly used in professional or semi-formal contexts.
You'll often hear 'career' discussed in relation to education and training (e.g., 'choosing a career path'), job searching ('looking for career opportunities'), and professional development ('attending a career fair'). It's also used when people reflect on their working lives ('She had a long career in medicine') or plan for the future ('He wants to build a career in technology').
A 'job' is a specific piece of work that someone is paid to do. It's often temporary or a single role. For example, 'I have a job as a cashier.' A career is made up of many jobs. 'My job as a cashier is part of my career in retail.'
An 'occupation' is a person's usual or principal work or business, especially as a means of earning a living. It's a very general term, similar to job but can also refer to a longer-term activity. 'What is your occupation?' is a common question.
A 'profession' usually refers to a type of work that requires special education or training, like law, medicine, or teaching. It often implies a high level of expertise and ethical standards. 'Teaching is a respected profession.' A career can be in any field, not just professions.
Examples
He decided to pursue a career in medicine after university.
academicAnh ấy quyết định theo đuổi sự nghiệp y khoa sau đại học.
She had a successful career as a journalist for over 20 years.
formalCô ấy đã có một sự nghiệp thành công với tư cách là một nhà báo trong hơn 20 năm.
What kind of career are you hoping to have?
neutralBạn hy vọng có loại sự nghiệp nào?
Starting a new career can be both exciting and challenging.
generalBắt đầu một sự nghiệp mới có thể vừa thú vị vừa đầy thử thách.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
career change
thay đổi sự nghiệp
career ladder
thang sự nghiệp
career advancement
thăng tiến sự nghiệp
Often Confused With
A 'job' is a specific role or task you are paid for, often short-term. A 'career' is the overall sequence of jobs and experiences that make up your professional life over a longer period.
'Work' is a very general term for activity done to achieve a purpose, especially for payment. It can refer to a single task, a job, or the concept of employment itself. 'Career' is more specific, referring to the long-term progression within a field.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word 'career' is most often used when discussing long-term professional plans, development, and achievements. It implies a sense of progression and commitment. While generally neutral, it carries a more formal or serious tone than 'job' when discussing one's working life.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'career' when they mean a single 'job'. For example, saying 'I have a career as a waiter' might sound odd if they only mean their current part-time job, not a long-term plan in hospitality. It's better to use 'job' for specific, current roles unless you are talking about the broader path.
Tips
Think long-term about work
When you hear 'career', think about the future and your professional growth over many years, not just your next task.
Don't confuse with 'job'
Remember that 'career' is broader than 'job'. A job is a single position; a career is the whole sequence.
Career aspirations matter
In many cultures, having a defined career path is seen as a sign of ambition and stability. People often discuss their career goals openly.
Word Origin
The word 'career' comes from the Old French word 'carriere', meaning 'road' or 'racecourse'. This relates to the idea of a path or a race that one follows throughout their life.
Cultural Context
In many Western societies, a 'career' is often seen as a central part of a person's identity and a measure of success. There's often an emphasis on planning and advancing within a chosen field from a young age.
Memory Tip
Think of 'career' as a 'car' driving you through different 'errands' (jobs) on a long journey. The car represents your professional life, and the errands are the specific roles you take on.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsA job is a specific role you do to earn money, often short-term. A career is the overall path of your working life, involving multiple jobs, growth, and long-term development in a particular field.
Yes, it's possible to change your career path. People sometimes switch fields entirely, starting a new career after spending years in another.
Not necessarily. A career is about the journey and development in a field, which can be in any area of work, regardless of salary. Some careers are focused on passion or helping others.
It's generally considered neutral to semi-formal. You'd use it when discussing your work life in most professional or educational settings, but perhaps less so in very casual, everyday conversation unless talking about future plans.
Test Yourself
She wants to build a successful ______ in digital marketing.
The sentence talks about long-term success and development in a field (digital marketing), which is characteristic of a career.
Which sentence best describes a career?
This option accurately reflects the definition of a career as a long-term professional journey involving multiple experiences and progression.
my / a / career / in / have / I / teaching / long
This sentence correctly uses the words to describe a long professional history in the field of teaching.
Score: /3
Summary
A career is your entire professional journey, not just a single job.
- A career is a long-term work journey.
- It involves progression and skill development.
- It's more than just one job.
Think long-term about work
When you hear 'career', think about the future and your professional growth over many years, not just your next task.
Don't confuse with 'job'
Remember that 'career' is broader than 'job'. A job is a single position; a career is the whole sequence.
Career aspirations matter
In many cultures, having a defined career path is seen as a sign of ambition and stability. People often discuss their career goals openly.
Examples
4 of 4He decided to pursue a career in medicine after university.
Anh ấy quyết định theo đuổi sự nghiệp y khoa sau đại học.
She had a successful career as a journalist for over 20 years.
Cô ấy đã có một sự nghiệp thành công với tư cách là một nhà báo trong hơn 20 năm.
What kind of career are you hoping to have?
Bạn hy vọng có loại sự nghiệp nào?
Starting a new career can be both exciting and challenging.
Bắt đầu một sự nghiệp mới có thể vừa thú vị vừa đầy thử thách.
Quick Quiz
She wants to start a ______ in medicine because she loves helping people.
Correct!
The correct answer is: career
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This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
More Work words
abformize
C1To structure or give a specific, standardized form to an object, idea, or process, often based on a pre-existing model or mold. It is frequently used in technical or theoretical contexts to describe the transition from an amorphous state to a defined configuration.
abmissery
C1To formally discharge or release an individual from a specific duty, mission, or administrative post, typically due to a failure to meet requirements or an organizational change. It implies a structured removal from a position of responsibility before the natural conclusion of a term.
abregship
C1To systematically condense, streamline, or narrow the scope of duties and authorities inherent in a formal leadership position or institutional office. This verb is typically used in the context of organizational restructuring to describe the reduction of a role's breadth to increase efficiency.
absigntude
C1To formally and publicly relinquish a position of authority or a professional responsibility, specifically as an act of moral or ethical protest. This verb implies that the departure is accompanied by a documented statement of principles or a refusal to comply with compromised standards.
accomplishment
B2An accomplishment is something that has been achieved successfully, especially through hard work, skill, or perseverance. It refers both to the act of finishing a task and the successful result itself.
achievement
C1A thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill. In an academic or professional context, it refers to the act of reaching a specific level of performance or completing a significant milestone.
adantiary
C1To strategically adjust or modify an existing plan, process, or structure in anticipation of specific future obstacles or changes. This verb describes the proactive act of refining a strategy before a problem actually occurs.
adept
C1Highly skilled or proficient at a task that requires specific knowledge or practice. It describes a person who can perform complex actions with ease and precision.
adflexship
C1To strategically and dynamically adapt one's professional approach or methodology by flexibly integrating new skills or environmental shifts. It describes the active process of mastering situational changes to maintain a competitive or functional advantage.
adhument
C1To provide support, assistance, or reinforcement to a person, organization, or project. It specifically refers to the act of strengthening an existing foundation or effort through additional resources or effort.
