Do you have a JOB or CAREER? Inspired by "Occupation" thread

[sweet angel]

Puffkin -- I love your sig pic. The poor dog looks like he/she is terrified of the cat (or worried that it's touching him/her). It's too cute!

 

[SillyMe]

I'm an Office Manager for a real estate/appraisal company. I would consider mine a "job", but I do take work home sometimes, I have set hours, but there are times I come in early, stay late or work weekends. I cannot go away on vacation and just leave my work behind. Someone from the office always calls me for something.

 

[sweet angel]

When I last went on vacation, I told my two bosses not to call me, that I'd have my cell phone off. The younger of the two joked, "Hmmm, doesn't seem like a team player." I said, "So be it" and left for my vacation.

 

[ckret01]

I have a "job" -- never wanted a "career". I define the difference as:

job = working set hours, not bringing work home, work stays at work

career = working set hours and other hours, bringing work home, working on vacation, etc.

I do my job to the best of my ability, but my time is my time. Perhaps it's just my interpretation of the two words.

Discuss. (Poll coming)

If you flip that around the I have a job that I do take home and work on vacations. This job isn't something I love nor ever wanted to do. I went for the job b/c I needed one and it pays good so I stay. But it's nothing I love to do so I don't consider it a career.

 

[cardaway]

IMO the defintions are flawed since many careers do not require ANY work to be done outside the workplace. Seems to be saying it isn't a career unless you have to do work on off hours.

Taken to the extreme, everybody could say they take their work home with them if they think/stress about it during their time off. I certainly do that, but rarely ever do anything else at home.

IMO both my wife and I have careers, things thta we plan on doing until we don't have to work anymore.

 

[sweet angel]

IMO the defintions are flawed since many careers do not require ANY work to be done outside the workplace. Seems to be saying it isn't a career unless you have to do work on off hours.

Taken to the extreme, everybody could say they take their work home with them if they think/stress about it during their time off. I certainly do that, but rarely ever do anything else at home.

IMO both my wife and I have careers, things thta we plan on doing until we don't have to work anymore.

Again, they are MY INTERPRETATIONS of the words...not Webster's definitions.

By your interpretation of career (thinkgs that we plan on doing until we don't have to work anymore) -- I also have a career, yet I consider it a job. I have no intention of changing fields and starting at the bottom of the totem pole at this stage in my life. I don't HATE my job and I'm paid well enough to cover my bills and allow me to save and vacation. I'm quite content...although I'd be even more content if I didn't HAVE to work.

 

[etwinchester]

Right now I consider where I work as a job leading me to a career. I work part-time (2 days a week) at a Real Estate company as an Administrative Assistant.

In April, I'm taking my pre-licensing classes, which will lead me to a career as an Agent.

 

[GoofyDad869]

sweet angel -

That is exactly ("team player" comment) what we will NOT let ourselves become. I've been there, done that. I married my wife, had my family - I don't recall EVER saying vows to any workplace.

All that being said, when I'm on vacation I personally do have my cell phone on and everyone knows how to get in touch with me for technology-related emergencies. I'll check in every couple of days, but beyond that I don't want to hear from them. When I'm traveling on business, I'm available 24/7 with remote access set up to our system.

But, I'm not a 'face' partner - I'm the little guy nobody outside the firm sees that does all the infrastructure (computers) and production management (making sure everyone knows what they need to be working on every day). For client contact, my partners are available 24/7, if needed.

Like I said in an earlier post, it's a constant balancing act. If it's necessary, then it is necessary - we DO have to pull all-nighters to meet deadlines every now and then. When we do that, we ALL do that (so that it's not just that one person who always seems to be overworked). But we also kick back early some Fridays to do Beer:30 or go see a movie, or just go home (that's a popular choice right after deadlines).

Not perfect, but I feel safe in saying that all of our people (owners & employees) love working here.

Definitions: I'd say a career would be something you would CHOOSE to do regardless of the pay, perks, etc. I'd say a job would be something you do to get by - whether that's just to maintain minimal living standards, or to save a little extra, or whatever. A McJob in other words. If where you work resembles "OfficeSpace" (every place does that I've been, including now) too much AND you resent it, then that's a job.

 

[keepinitreal]

I believe there are some similarities between the two with a career being the extension of a "job." A career involves progressing in a chosen field, advancing through the ranks while increasing job skills and contributions. I have both.

I have a career, but I choose to treat it like the OP's definition of a job. This could potentially hurt my timetable for advancement because I choose this but my DD will only be little once and I'm not going to miss it sitting in an office. I've got 30-40 more years of work for that.

 

[mickeyfan2]

By your definition I have a job (many might have picked career for me).

 

[sweet angel]

GoofyDad - I can see why your employees like it there. Sounds like a good balance.

Does it count as a job even if you don't resent it? I've never seen "Office Space" -- keep meaning to!

 

[Bob Slydell]

I have a career. Fortunately, right now, I have a career that affords me the flexibility that I need right now. I'm near a crossroads, though, as I might have to begin passing up promotions (thus probably making this more of a "job") in order to maintain that flexibility rather than having to sacrifice more time from my family in order to be able to handle greater responsibility.

 

[GoofyDad869]

I didn't really mean resenting the workplace, just some (or all) of the inane things that can & do happen there. More the vibe of the place, rather than the people. I think you'll know what I mean when you experience it. There are some days when I resent coming in (I'd rather be home curled up under a blanket with a book, or if I just got a cool GameCube game I'd rather be playing, or the day before we leave for WDW, etc.)

Some other good, subversive workplace-related entertainment:
The Office (TV) - I prefer the BBC version to the more recent US one with Steve Carell
Joe vs. the Volcano - older movie starring Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan. The first part of the movie is OfficeHell - the rest of the movie isn't worth watching (IMO).
Brazil - older movie with some of the guys from Monty Python. Kind of an Orwellian Big Brother satirical thing, very much "out there" and not for everybody.
Dilbert - I'm the Dilster most days, but every now and then I get to pull a Wally. I try not to be Pointy Haired Boss. Ever.

 

[sweet angel]

It's important to strive not to be the Pointy Haired Boss. I get what you mean though.

 

[cardaway]

Brazil - older movie with some of the guys from Monty Python. Kind of an Orwellian Big Brother satirical thing, very much "out there" and not for everybody.

Great movie. Only Python connections are the director, Terry Gilliam, and Michael Palin has a bit part. Many people who don't like the movie have only seen the butchered US Theratrical version. Catch the Directors cut if you can. Most of the added material helps the movie make more sense.

The movie really nails the typical big corporation work environment.

 

[binny]

Well I should have read your definition I suppose before I voted.


I always thought of a career as something you WANT to do and you have put effort into. I think of a job as something you do to pass the time or to make ends meet but its not what you " want to be when you grow up".



I guess either way though I have a career, it follows me when I go on vacation ( because all my vacations are working vacations) and I work from home anyway LOL

 

[Miss Jasmine]

i voted career and then read your post. i don't agree with your definitions. for the most part i keep work at work, but i definitely have a career.

Yeah I agree. Though I do work late (or early) at least once a week. I am currently working on an accreditation that should help my further advancement in my industry (not necessarily my field).

 

[GoofyDad869]

Cardaway-
Yep. We watched the "Brazil" Director's Cut in August. Right after "OfficeSpace". It was a wonderful movie evening. Lots of beer also helps one to appreciate the movie (actually both movies - err, actually ANY movie). I want a car like the ones they have (sort of like the BMW Isotta, if I recall).

 

[sweet angel]

Well I should have read your definition I suppose before I voted.


I always thought of a career as something you WANT to do and you have put effort into. I think of a job as something you do to pass the time or to make ends meet but its not what you " want to be when you grow up".


I guess either way though I have a career, it follows me when I go on vacation ( because all my vacations are working vacations) and I work from home anyway LOL

Binny - good call. This definately isn't what I want to be when I grow up. Unfortunately, I'm at a point in my life where I'm not willing to sacrifice the time or money to change directions, and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Luckily, as I said before, I don't hate my job.

I'm lucky enough to work in a small office situation where rules are generally made up as needed, not in a huge corporation where they document every second of everyone's day and where one person taking advantage of something ruins it for 1000 others.

 

[Monte Cristo]

When we are at BWV this past Sept., I ended up getting the internet for 24 hours, and checking my email and doing a cost report while the wife napped. You gotta do what you gotta do I guess.....