A job is a specific piece of paid work, a post or position you're paid for now; a career is your whole path in a profession over the years, often with promotions along the way. You can find, lose or change a job within a month, but a career takes a long time to build, and one career usually includes several jobs.
career or job — can you pick the right one?
Pick a word and write a sentence — we'll check right away that it fits the meaning and explain any mistakes.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
have/get/find/lose a job; a full-time/part-time job; build/have/start a career in + field; career change, career path
- He got a part-time job in a café while he was at university.
- After ten years in teaching, she started a new career in software testing.
- My first job paid very little, but it was the start of my career in journalism.
What changed
First versionShe moved to Moscow to do a career in fashion.
RevisionShe moved to Moscow to build a career in fashion.
It's tempting to use do with career, the way you do a job, but do a career isn't English. A career is built: build a career. People also say have a career and start a career in + field.
Job also means a task or piece of work: The painting job took two days. That's where the praise You did a great job comes from, meaning you handled it really well. Career isn't used like that.
Your turn
I need some money for the summer, so I'm looking for a temporary ___ in a shop.
Show the answer
job — A temporary summer job in a shop is a specific paid position, so it's a job. A career is a path in a profession over many years, and it's never temporary.
Talk about a profession you'd like to work in a few years from now. Say which position you'd start in.
I'd like to build a career in data analysis, and I'd start as a junior analyst at a bank to learn how real reports are made.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.