It’s important to think about how you earn money. Jobs and careers influence the income you make, and education plays a big part in many careers. Sometimes the words “career” and “job” are used to mean the same thing, but they’re actually different. Let’s see how they fit together.
What’s a job?
A job is a short-term position that usually focuses on earning money. Remember Noah? He wanted to earn some money to buy an electric guitar, so he began walking dogs for the people in his neighborhood. He created a job for himself just to earn money.
What’s a career?
A career, on the other hand, is the type of work a person pursues for the majority of their life that may involve formal education, special training, or be within a specific industry. While walking the dogs, Noah met a dog trainer and a veterinarian. While not all dog trainers are doctors, this dog trainer was actually a doctor in animal behavior, and she helped train support dogs for veterans. The veterinarian was a surgeon that fixed animals who were sick or wounded. Both of these people and his interest in dogs made Noah want to know more about working with animals. He and his parents were invited to watch the dog trainer work with a couple of dogs. He and his parents were also invited to watch the veterinarian perform surgery on an abandoned dog. Noah, because of his dog-walking job, is now interested in learning more about careers with animals.
Noah knew both the dog trainer and the veterinarian were doctors, which meant each of them had gone to college for at least eight years after high school. When he and his parents visited the dog trainer and the surgeon’s offices, Noah noticed other doctors like the veterinary dentist and the veterinarian who studied eye diseases. He also met employees who weren’t doctors such as a kennel assistant, a groomer, a veterinarian surgical assistant, and a veterinary nurse. Noah was surprised at how many careers his dog-walking job introduced him to and how some of them required a lot of school while others didn’t.
Finding a career that interests you can sometimes take years because you need to learn about what’s important to you and what you like and dislike doing. Your likes and dislikes may change often over time, so it’s important to explore all kinds of interests. Right now, Noah is really interested in animals and maybe a career working with them. But, Noah is also interested in music; he may want to explore a career in the music industry, too.
Why’s a job or career important?
Job or career choices determine your income, and your income influences the ability to have more choices as you budget, spend, save, and share. Your income can determine where you live, where you work, how you get there, and how you spend your free time.
What should I focus on right now?
Have fun exploring, reading, and researching any job or career you might like. Think about problems you would like to solve and investigate what it would take to solve them. Your interests may change so it’s important you discover all the things you might like. Your interests may lead you to a job or a career that doesn’t even exist today so be open to all the possibilities you find.
To find a career you’ll enjoy, take the time to learn about yourself, determine your likes, dislikes, and interests so you’re happy as you save, spend, and share your money.