Question

the difference between a job and a career is not always so black and white. some work will be some of both! for example, if your dream career is one day owning your own restaurant, you might need to start along that path by taking a job as a busboy, just to start earning money and to get some experience. clearing and washing dishes might not be \just right\ for you, but it is a step forward along a path you set for yourself.
a career comes from a set of decisions over a lifetime of work
over a lifetime, the average person has 12 different employers, and possibly different jobs with each employer. youll likely have a lot of jobs, and that means that youll make many decisions about what job you should take, or whether its a good time for you to look for another job. each of those decisions can be a job - oriented decision or a career - oriented decision, depending on what youre thinking about when you make that decision.
a job - oriented decision is one where you only compare jobs in the short term. for example, which one pays more, or is closer to your home. in the example above, betty took the job in accounts receivable at princeton electronics mainly because it was convenient, not because she cares about the work.
a career - oriented decision is one where you think about the future. is this a place youd like to stay for a while? does the job help you grow and advance? what future jobs could this lead to? tabitha stays in her position in accounts receivable because she likes helping the company and enjoys working with people on the phone. she is looking forward to growing her skills and advancing in the company.
if you make career - oriented decisions over and over again, youll almost certainly be better off over the long term.
questions
your friend liam works as a teller at hutterville first national bank. he likes that he earns enough money to spend every weekend in the winter skiing. he hasnt given much thought about what type of work hell be doing five or ten years from now.
how would you best describe liams work?
○ a job
○ a career
your friend isabella also works as a teller at hutterville first national bank. she loves interacting with customers, and is very precise in her work. isabella is interested in eventually becoming a loan officer, and has spoken with her supervisor about how the bank can help her earn her mortgage loan originator license. working at the bank is a good fit with her interests, skills and goals.
how would you best describe isabellas work?
○ a job
○ a career
reflections
think of a person in your life (for example, family, friend, co - worker, or other) who has a job but not a career.
what is that persons job?
why is this work a job and not a career? check all that apply.
□ the work doesnt give this person a chance to grow and advance
□ the work is not a good fit for this person
□ other
think of a person in your life who has a career.
what is that persons career?
why is this work a career and not just a job? check all that apply
□ the work gives this person a chance to grow and advance
□ the work is a good fit for this person
□ other

Explanation:

For Liam: His work focuses on short-term benefits (earning money for skiing) and he doesn't plan for long-term work growth, which fits the definition of a job.
For Isabella: Her work aligns with long-term goals (becoming a loan officer, getting a license) and she's focused on growth, which fits the definition of a career.

Answer:

1. For Liam's work: A job
2. For Isabella's work: A career

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Reflections Example Responses (illustrative):

1. Person with a job:

• What is that person's job? Part-time retail cashier
• Why is this work a job and not a career?
• The work doesn't give this person a chance to grow and advance
• The work is not a good fit for this person

1. Person with a career:

• What is that person's career? Elementary school teacher
• Why is this work a career and not just a job?
• The work gives this person a chance to grow and advance
• The work is a good fit for this person