Career vs. Profession
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Career and Profession is that the Career is defined as an occupation that is an outcome of training or formal education and is known to be one’s lifework, whereas a Profession is defined as a paid occupation that requires a long time training, formal education, and qualifications.

Difference Between Career and Profession
Career vs. Profession
A career is the job of an individual that is a part of his/her life, whereas a profession is an activity in which an individual applies his learned skills and knowledge.
Career vs. Profession
Career is defined as an occupation that is an outcome of training or formal education and is known to be one’s lifework; in contras,t profession is defined as a paid occupation that requires a long time training, formal education, and qualifications.
Career vs. Profession
The term ‘career’ derives from the Latin term ‘carrus,’ which means ‘wheeled vehicle’; on the flip side, the term ‘profession’ derives from the Latin word ‘profiteri,’ which means ‘declare publicly.’
Career vs. Profession
The use of the word career is attached with the preposition “as”; on the other hand, the term profession is linked with the preposition “by”
Career vs. Profession
Career depends on the ambitions of individuals and the desire that what they want to achieve, while the profession depends on the educational background, qualifications, and the training of an individual.
Career vs. Profession
Career is linked with the growth of a person over the years; inversely, the profession is concerned with the services that a person offers.
Career vs. Profession
A career does not have a set of guidelines, and a person chose it with his willingness; on the contrary, a regulating body has guidelines or code of conduct to govern a profession.
Career vs. Profession
The career is based on the ambition of a person in his life; on the converse, the profession depends on the education and the training imparted in a person.
Career vs. Profession
A career can be a business, employment, or profession; on the other side, a profession can also be the occupation.
Career vs. Profession
The term career is a less broad term; contrarily, the term profession is a broader term.
Careernoun
One's calling in life; a person's occupation; one's profession.
Professionnoun
A promise or vow made on entering a religious order.
She died only a few years after her profession.Careernoun
General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular part of it.
Washington's career as a soldierProfessionnoun
A declaration of belief, faith or of one's opinion.
Despite his continued professions of innocence, the court eventually sentenced him to five years.Careernoun
(archaic) speed
Professionnoun
An occupation, trade, craft, or activity in which one has a professed expertise in a particular area; a job, especially one requiring a high level of skill or training.
My father was a barrister by profession.Careernoun
A jouster's path during a joust.
Professionnoun
The practitioners of such an occupation collectively.
His conduct is against the established practices of the legal profession.Careernoun
(obsolete) A short gallop of a horse.
Professionnoun
the body of people in a learned occupation;
the news spread rapidly through the medical communityCareernoun
(falconry) The flight of a hawk.
Professionnoun
an occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)
Careernoun
(obsolete) A racecourse; the ground run over.
Professionnoun
an open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion;
a profession of disagreementCareerverb
To move rapidly straight ahead, especially in an uncontrolled way.
The car careered down the road, missed the curve, and went through a hedge.Professionnoun
affirmation of acceptance of some religion or faith;
a profession of ChristianityCareernoun
the particular occupation for which you are trained
Careernoun
the general progression of your working or professional life;
the general had had a distinguished careerhe had a long career in the lawCareerverb
move headlong at high speed;
The cars careered down the roadThe mob careered through the streetsComparison Chart
Career | Profession |
Career is an occupation that is an outcome of training or formal education and is known to be one’s lifework. | A paid occupation that requires a long time training, formal education, and qualifications is a profession. |
Word Origin | |
Latin term ‘carrus,’ that means ‘wheeled vehicle.’ | The Latin word ‘profiteri,’ which means ‘declare publicly.’ |
Occupation | |
It can be a business, employment, or a profession | It can be an occupation |
Preposition Attached | |
"As" | "By" |
Based On | |
Ambition | Education and training |
Orientation | |
Growth-oriented | Service-oriented |
Code of Conduct | |
No such code of conduct | Has a code of conduct |
Career vs. Profession
Career is defined as an occupation that is an outcome of training or formal education and is known to be one’s lifework. A profession is defined as a paid occupation that requires a long time training, formal education, and qualifications. A career is the job of an individual that is a part of his/her life. A profession is an activity in which an individual applies his learned skills and knowledge in any occupation. Career depends on the ambitions of individuals and the desire that what they want to achieve. The profession always has guidelines or codes of conduct that the regulating body frames.
A career does not have a set of guidelines, and a person chooses it freely. Profession depends on the educational background, qualifications, and the training of an individual. A career can be a business, employment, or profession, whereas a profession can also be the occupation. Career is linked with the growth of a person over the years. A profession is concerned with the services that a person offers, and that is the result of his acquired knowledge and skills during the training.
The use of the word career is attached with the preposition “as,” e.g., “My brother is destined for a career as a doctor like our father.” The term profession is linked with the preposition “by,” e.g.,” She is a doctor by profession.” The career is based on the ambition of a person in his life. The profession depends on the education and the training imparted in a person.
What is a Career?
Career is a role a person takes on his behalf and strives to have it. It is an occupation that is known to be one’s lifework, and it needs specialized training or formal education. The term ‘career’ derives from the Latin term ‘carrus,’ which means ‘wheeled vehicle.’ Career is the most significant decision that a person takes in his life, and his whole lies almost depend on it. People choose a career by their choice due to the interest in a specific field, and they then try to pursue it. Hence a career is the result of the decisions one takes in one’s life.
The definition of a career can be “an occupation that is undertaken by an individual for a major period of his life and with further opportunities for progress.” It influences a person’s educational, professional, personal, and social endeavors. It determines a person’s orientation, commitment to work, and willingness to grow and develop.
A career is different for different individuals based on an individual’s learning and interest. It can also be called as the sequence of jobs of a person, responsibilities, transition between the jobs, and the sense of satisfaction while working with the organization. A career is not confined to a single organization but with all the organizations that a person worked throughout his life.
Examples
- “Please contact your local careers center for information.
- “His career as an army doctor ended with the armistice.”
- Her career as an air hostess took her to many foreign countries.
What is the Profession?
A profession is defined as an occupation that is often paid, which requires a person to undergo prolonged training from a particular university, institute, or under an expert. It is a type of economic activity. A person undertakes a profession in case if he/she has the required knowledge and skills. The person who carries out a profession is known as a professional. The doctors belong to a medical profession, whereas the advocates are from the legal profession and the like.
A profession is also known as an occupation, and a person can undertake more than one profession. The term ‘profession’ derives from the Latin word ‘profiteri,’ which means ‘declare publicly.’ One can get the required skills and knowledge that are necessary for a profession from college, university, or a course-specific institute. Sometimes training is required in the specific field to become a professional.
There are professional bodies with guidelines or codes of conduct that govern the professions, and the professionals are bound to follow these rules. A profession is an economic activity, which means that it is paid. However, there are some professionals who either work on their own or free of charge for the services are called “Practicing professionals.” The word profession is linked with the preposition “by.”
Examples
- “She was dedicated to her chosen profession of teaching.”
- I saw a man at the bank who seems so right to his profession.
- She loved his profession because his profession was her dream, as well.
ConclusionCareer and profession are the two interrelated terms. Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably, but they are different from one another.