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I currently work as a “high-level” Executive Assistant involved in almost every aspect of a small business (compliance, human resources, marketing, client communication, etc.). I’m paid well, have good benefits and time off, and a great boss, so no real complaints.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a co-worker who was telling me he was thinking about going back to school, which I feel strongly about (I will graduate with my MBA in April after returning to school as an adult student) and I offered encouragement. He then stated that he knows the difference between a “job and a career” and would like to eventually have a career he enjoys. He’s currently working as a customer service rep. It got me thinking. When I was a kid, I don’t recall wanting to sit in a cube when I grew up. Honestly, I’m not sure what I want to do, still. My question, is when does a job ‘become’ a career or vice versa? Any thoughts?

I guess there's lots of factors, but I also think it's different for everybody.

The most important one, I think, is whether you can see yourself spending your working life in the same industry, though not necessarily the same position.

Which brings us to advancement opportunity and career progression. If there's no advancement opportunity, it's more likely that you're not going to be in it for the long haul.

I don't think it has to be fulfilling any childhood dreams in order to qualify as a career. What matters is that it fits with your current goals, and at least for me, my working life goals run more towards 'make money, so you can do fun things in your spare time' than anything else.

And it stops being a career when all you want to do is find a different job.

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The most important one, I think, is whether you can see yourself spending your working life in the same industry, though not necessarily the same position.

This is interesting. I would say I have made my career in marketing, but have gone from industry to industry in order to advance. I don't see career being tied so much to industry, or even a particular function, but rather continuing to advance and reach whatever goals you have set out for yourself.

For me, my career goals are to be constantly challenged and acquiring new skills, as well as building on my old ones. I see myself in marketing, but in different functions (I really like marcomm, but it is a good base to move into product management should the mood strike).

None of this is what I thought of doing when I was a kid. My dream was to be a high school teacher. When I got out of college and looked like a high schooler, the dream shifted. I also see a job being a function/part of a career (i.e. my career is in marketing, my job is a field marketing associate).

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I don't see career being tied so much to industry, or even a particular function, but rather continuing to advance and reach whatever goals you have set out for yourself.

I guess I would see 'marketing' as an industry in this context. Kind of like how I think of my current job (unfortunately, not a career for me) as being in the safety industry, even though the company I work for actually makes their money by doing surveying and engineering work.

I was thinking about this when I posted this thread.

I think your job becomes your career when you start letting your life shape itself around your job instead of the other way around? I have started thinking abt the importance of promotions, my career growth, not sounding like an idiot at work (or really, sounding like i know what i'm doing)...spending less time on BNA too made me realize I had a career and not a job.

My job is a career--part of it is that I LIKE it and I am passionate about the cause.

Others?