What Job Suits Me?
Career v Job
So you have a job but you want a career? What’s the difference?
Well in basic terms a career is the total of your employment and commitments paid or unpaid over a lifetime while a job is what you do at any one time to earn money and pay the rent.
A person may hold several jobs during a career but usually doesn’t have more than one or maybe two careers during his or her working life.
So a career is the culmination of your experience, education, ambition and achievement in the workplace.
When people say they want to “have a career in law enforcement” that “career” might be built on the following:
A job on the other hand may be just one of these. A policeman, for instance.
Set your sights high
Most people these days don’t see themselves being in the same job for the duration of their entire working life but they do see themselves as having a career…and so should you.
By setting your sights on having a career rather than just a job you are ensuring that you will always be aiming higher.
The good news is that picking a career is easier than finding a job!
Louis Taylor, 25, always wanted to work in Television. He knew this from his early teens and he chose the subjects at High School that he thought could lead to a course at University in Film and Television.
He was right and after school he completed his Degree in Communications majoring in television at university.
But getting a job to kick off his career wasn’t so easy. “I spent two years working voluntarily at community television stations before an actual paid job opportunity in the industry came along,” said Louis who is now senior editor at a TV Production Company and well on his way to a career in his chosen field.
Choosing a career
Like Louis you should choose a course of study that matches your interests and skills. It is more likely that you will succeed at your school work if you are happy and interested in the subjects and you know where you want to go career-wise.
Some important points to remember when planning study and a career are:
Find out more
So you have a job but you want a career? What’s the difference?
Well in basic terms a career is the total of your employment and commitments paid or unpaid over a lifetime while a job is what you do at any one time to earn money and pay the rent.
A person may hold several jobs during a career but usually doesn’t have more than one or maybe two careers during his or her working life.
So a career is the culmination of your experience, education, ambition and achievement in the workplace.
When people say they want to “have a career in law enforcement” that “career” might be built on the following:
- A degree in public administration or law
- A job as a uniformed policeman or woman
- A stint as a detective
- A secondment to another country to implement law and order after a period of unrest...for example in East Timor where Australia provided police officers to the fledgling country after it gained independence from Indonesia.
- A senior appointment such as Commissioner of Police.
A job on the other hand may be just one of these. A policeman, for instance.
Set your sights high
Most people these days don’t see themselves being in the same job for the duration of their entire working life but they do see themselves as having a career…and so should you.
By setting your sights on having a career rather than just a job you are ensuring that you will always be aiming higher.
The good news is that picking a career is easier than finding a job!
Louis Taylor, 25, always wanted to work in Television. He knew this from his early teens and he chose the subjects at High School that he thought could lead to a course at University in Film and Television.
He was right and after school he completed his Degree in Communications majoring in television at university.
But getting a job to kick off his career wasn’t so easy. “I spent two years working voluntarily at community television stations before an actual paid job opportunity in the industry came along,” said Louis who is now senior editor at a TV Production Company and well on his way to a career in his chosen field.
Choosing a career
Like Louis you should choose a course of study that matches your interests and skills. It is more likely that you will succeed at your school work if you are happy and interested in the subjects and you know where you want to go career-wise.
Some important points to remember when planning study and a career are:
- Plan ahead
- Keep your options open
- Consider a number of different jobs
- Consider further study
- Be honest with yourself
- Decide what is right for you
- Be prepared for change
Find out more
- jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au - The Job Guide offers a detailed look into a range of occupations, and their education and training pathways. As well as this it provides valuable information about how to work out which occupations best suits you, based on your interests and skills.
- myfuture.edu.au - A service provided by the Australian government to help with all things career related. With thousands of resources available it’s a really easy way assist in career planning.
- careernav.com.au - Careernav gives students an understanding of various jobs through the eyes of people who work in those areas. The site helps in some big decisions made by many just before finishing high school.
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