WHAT IS A CAREER?           

The following definitions are important to an understanding of 'career' as a concept.

A JOB is a paid position requiring a group of specific attributes and skills that enable a person to perform tasks in an organisation either part-time or full-time for a short or long duration.

An OCCUPATION is defined as a group of similar jobs found in different industries or organisations.

A CAREER is the sequence and variety of occupations (paid and unpaid) which one undertakes throughout a lifetime. More broadly, 'career ' includes life roles, leisure activities, learning and work.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT is the process of managing life, learning and work over the lifespan.

CAREER GUIDANCE is an inclusive term that has been used to describe a range of interventions including career education and counselling that help people to move from a general understanding of life and work to a specific understanding of realistic life, learning and work options that are open to them. Career guidance is often thought to incorporate career information, career education and career counselling.

The context for career decision-making

It is important to be aware of the context in which career development and career decision-making occur. Career decision-making is not simply matching a person to an occupation. There are many influences that impact on a person's career decisions. The following table lists these influences.