The words job, career, and occupation are often used interchangeably. To be specific, a job is what you show up to for work; a career spans your lifetime and includes your education, training, professional memberships, volunteering and your full history of paid work. There is also an occupation which describes a type of work with associated tasks, education and training, typical wages, work settings, and more.

For example, you may choose to get trained for a career in nursing.. Then apply for a job as an emergency room nurse at your local hospital. After several years, your career might include that experience in the ER, as well as jobs in pediatrics, patient education, and cardiac rehabilitation.

For simplicity, on BCW|Workforce we generally use “career” and “occupation” to mean a type of work, and treat “job” as a specific arrangement with an employer.