Careers and Occupations
Investigate the concept of careers and occupations, which involve employment for the purpose of earning money. While the terms career and occupation are frequently used interchangeably, the term career more often refers to the sum of jobs held, titles earned, and work accomplished over a long period of time. People generally think of a career as involving advancement in a particular field, which distinguishes it from employment that does not have a discernible way forward to a better position. Other terms used include profession and vocation.
While some jobs do not require specific training or educational background, other positions may demand years of specialized training either at a college or university, in a trade school, or in an apprenticeship. Some people may choose to be self-employed, meaning that they work for themselves as a freelancer or owner of a business; others choose to work for others, either as employees or as independent contractors. Independent contractors differ from employees in that they are paid to work on a project for a particular amount of money; they are not eligible for the benefits offered to employees of the company.
