Occupation vs. Career — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 30, 2023
Occupation refers to a specific job or profession, often focused on tasks and responsibilities at present. Career encompasses a long-term journey of professional development, usually involving multiple occupations.
Difference Between Occupation and Career
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Occupation is a specific job or role performed for pay or livelihood.
Career is a long-term pursuit of a lifelong ambition or the general course of progression towards lifelong goals.
Occupation focuses on immediate tasks, duties, and responsibilities that come with a particular job title.
Career includes a series of connected employment opportunities, where you build up skills at earlier employment opportunities to move you into higher paying and higher prestige employment opportunities later on.
Occupation is often a part of one's career; you can have multiple occupations within the span of your career.
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Comparison Chart
Time Span
Short-term
Long-term
Scope
Specific Job
Professional Journey
Skill Development
Task-specific
Broad Skill Development
Changeability
Easily Changeable
Usually Planned and Steady
Financial Growth
Limited to Job Position
Cumulative Over Time
Compare with Definitions
Occupation
Paid employment offering specific duties.
His occupation involves data analysis.
Career
A series of job experiences and roles played over a span of time.
She has had a varied career, from marketing to teaching.
Occupation
A job or profession.
Her occupation is a software developer.
Career
A profession for which one trains and pursues as a life's work.
His career in law spans over three decades.
Occupation
A job or profession
People in professional occupations
Career
The pursuit of consecutive progressive achievements in professional life.
Her career has always been on an upward trajectory.
Occupation
The action, state, or period of occupying or being occupied by military force
The Roman occupation of Britain
Career
An occupation undertaken for a significant period with opportunities for progress.
He made a career out of wildlife photography.
Occupation
The action of living in or using a building or other place
A property suitable for occupation by older people
Career
The career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways.
Occupation
For the sole use of the occupiers of the land concerned
An occupation bridge
Career
An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress
He seemed destined for a career as an engineer like his father
Occupation
An activity that serves as one's regular source of livelihood; a vocation.
Career
Move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way
The coach careered across the road and went through a hedge
Occupation
An activity engaged in especially as a means of passing time; an avocation.
Career
A chosen pursuit; a profession or occupation.
Occupation
The act or process of holding or possessing a place.
Career
The general course or progression of one's working life or one's professional achievements
An officer with a distinguished career.
A teacher in the midst of a long career.
Occupation
The state of being held or possessed.
Career
A path or course, as of the sun through the heavens.
Occupation
Invasion, conquest, and control of a nation or territory by foreign armed forces.
Career
Speed
"My hasting days fly on with full career" (John Milton).
Occupation
The military government exercising control over an occupied nation or territory.
Career
Doing what one does as a permanent occupation or lifework
Career diplomats.
A career criminal.
Occupation
An activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is regularly paid; a job.
Career
To move forward at high speed, often with minimal control
"that lordly car ... How smoothly it ran. In what style they had come careering along the country roads!" (James Joyce).
Occupation
The act, process or state of possessing a place.
Career
One's calling in life; a person's occupation; one's profession.
Occupation
The control of a country or region by a hostile military and/or paramilitary force.
Career
General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part of it.
Washington's career as a soldier
Occupation
The act or process of occupying or taking possession; actual possession and control; the state of being occupied; a holding or keeping; tenure; use; as, the occupation of lands by a tenant.
Career
(archaic) Speed.
Occupation
That which occupies or engages the time and attention.
Career
A jouster's path during a joust.
Occupation
The principal business of one's life; the principal work by which one earns one's livelihood; vocation; employment; profession; calling; trade; avocation; as, these days many people continue to practice their occupation well into their seventies.
Absence of occupation is not rest.
Career
(obsolete) A short gallop of a horse.
Occupation
The principal activity in your life that you do to earn money;
He's not in my line of business
Career
(falconry) The flight of a hawk.
Occupation
The control of a country by military forces of a foreign power
Career
(obsolete) A racecourse; the ground run over.
Occupation
Any activity that occupies a person's attention;
He missed the bell in his occupation with the computer game
Career
To move rapidly straight ahead, especially in an uncontrolled way.
The car careered down the road, missed the curve, and went through a hedge.
Occupation
The act of occupying or taking possession of a building;
Occupation of a building without a certificate of occupancy is illegal
Career
Synonym of serial
A career criminal
Occupation
The period of time during which a place or position or nation is occupied;
During the German occupation of Paris
Career
A race course: the ground run over.
To go back again the same career.
Occupation
A person's usual or principal work.
His occupation as a chef keeps him busy.
Career
A running; full speed; a rapid course.
When a horse is running in his full career.
Occupation
An activity that occupies one's time.
Writing is more than an occupation for her, it's a passion.
Career
General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part or calling in life, or in some special undertaking; usually applied to course or conduct which is of a public character; as, Washington's career as a soldier.
An impartial view of his whole career.
Occupation
A field of employment.
Medicine is a highly specialized occupation.
Career
The flight of a hawk.
Career
To move or run rapidly.
Careering gayly over the curling waves.
Career
The particular occupation for which you are trained
Career
The general progression of your working or professional life;
The general had had a distinguished career
He had a long career in the law
Career
Move headlong at high speed;
The cars careered down the road
The mob careered through the streets
Career
The overall progression of one’s working or professional life.
Career growth often involves skill development.
Common Curiosities
How do Occupation and Career differ?
Occupation is a specific job, while a career is a series of connected job opportunities.
What is Occupation?
Occupation refers to a specific job or role performed for pay.
Can one have multiple Occupations in a Career?
Yes, multiple occupations can be part of a single career.
Is Career always long-term?
Generally, yes; careers usually involve long-term planning and development.
What is Career?
Career refers to a long-term professional journey involving multiple jobs or roles.
What factors define a Career?
Factors include education, skill development, and employment history.
Can an Occupation turn into a Career?
Yes, what starts as a single occupation can develop into a long-term career.
Does Career include education?
Education is often the starting point or a part of one's career.
How important is networking in a Career?
Networking can be vital for career advancement but is usually less significant for a single occupation.
Is Occupation limited to paid jobs?
Usually, but occupation can also refer to principal activities that are not paid.
What role does passion play in Occupation and Career?
Passion can make an occupation more fulfilling and can be the driving force behind a career.
Does Career planning affect Occupation?
Yes, career planning can guide the choice of occupations.
Is it easy to switch Occupations?
It's generally easier to switch occupations than to change your overall career.
How is Occupation related to skills?
Occupations often require specific skills or qualifications.
Do all Careers involve Occupations?
Most careers involve multiple occupations, but some might focus on research, education, or other non-occupational activities.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
