| It may seem that jobs and careers are | | | | career, athletes undergo years of practice, training |
| interchangeable terms. Although there is a strong | | | | and participation in their chosen field. Every step |
| relationship between the terms there are some | | | | forward is built upon skills gained as a junior. Every |
| significant differences that will most likely affect | | | | employment opportunity (job) builds skills that are |
| earning potential, security and even lifestyle. | | | | transferable to their new team. For this reason, |
| A job refers to an employment agreement. When | | | | players become incredibly valuable at the height of |
| the employment agreement seems favourable for | | | | their careers. |
| the employee we call it a 'good job'. A job on its own | | | | The notion of personal value based of transferable |
| does not call on, or add value to ongoing personal | | | | skills is not unique to the sporting world, however. |
| development in other aspects of life. | | | | Every profession applies this notion to some degree. |
| A career, on the other hand, is a grouping of roles, | | | | And just like sports stars, careers can begin at a |
| education, training and experiences in a field over a | | | | young age. Just ask Britney Spears. |
| period of time. The outcome of these grouped | | | | My personal career has developed in Information |
| experiences is professional development because | | | | Technology. I know that experiences in this particular |
| career decisions build on many different experiences | | | | field begins at a young age, but I am also aware that |
| to fortify existing and transferable skills. | | | | many school and university students have not |
| A job may well be part of a career, but the transfer | | | | considered the notion of a 'career' before they are |
| of the skills learned in that job is what makes a | | | | employed. Remember, a career includes roles, |
| career valuable. Employers generally seek people with | | | | education, training and experiences in a particular field. |
| well rounded abilities and a career can demonstrate | | | | It is certainly possible to begin to develop these |
| just that by showing a particular range of skill sets | | | | attributes without paid employment, and the good |
| applied to a number of unique situations. | | | | news is that these skills will be applicable for future |
| High profile careers such as sports stars are good | | | | job hunting. |
| examples of the difference between jobs and | | | | The question is - which skills should one develop in |
| careers. You will often hear high profile players refer | | | | order to begin a career in Information Technology? |
| to their 'basketball career' or their 'baseball career', | | | | That answer would take one hundred articles just to |
| whatever the case may be. It is rare to hear any | | | | scrape the surface, but for now it will suffice to say |
| reference to 'my basketball job'. Why? | | | | that an informed decision may be the best approach. |
| In order to reach the elite heights of a sporting | | | | |