Do you have a Job, Career, or a Calling?

The terms "Job," "Career," and "Calling" are often used interchangeably in a corporate environment referring to employment. Though it is understood broadly the same, there are key differences between them from a personal perspective.

"Job" is a position of employment that is typically temporary and does not require a significant investment of time or training. Jobs are often seen as a means to earn income.

"Careers" typically require more education and training than jobs, and they offer the opportunity for advancement and growth. People with careers often find a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in their work, and they may identify strongly with their chosen field.

?"Calling" is more likely to have a feel of a deep alignment with their purpose and emotional connection?to their work. They are enthusiastic, have a sense of purpose, and are willing to work harder and longer to make a contribution or create an impact to make a difference.

Same work, different faiths – Let us understand the difference.

As a Human Resources leader for two real estate companies, I regularly visit construction sites to connect with employees and learn more about their work. During one such visit, I had the opportunity to connect with a group of civil workers at a re-purposed site. I was curious to gain business acumen, so I discussed in-depth what they do at the site. I found their responses to be the best example to make this context more simplified.

One of the helpers told me that he is a bricklayer and that laying bricks of a certain quantity gets him daily wages to feed his family. From his belief the helper sees his work as a “Job” and the purpose of working for him is to get paid daily,?so he manages his living.

The other helper said that he is a bricklayer and a shadow mason, learning the ropes. He gets daily wages for laying bricks and supporting a mason in constructing a wall or structure of desired quantity as per the plan. From his belief, he sees a “Career Focus” and the purpose of working for him is to get paid daily and also develop skills that set him up for future growth in the construction site.

The third helper, who was partially engaged in the discussion and busy with his work, responded that he was repurposing a theater into a hospital so that many patients could be treated if the next COVID-19 wave hits. I was stunned by his response and his belief in what we could call a calling. He was doing the same work as the other helpers, but he infused it with a sense of meaning. For him, laying bricks contributes to a more significant effort in building a place for treating patients.

One experiences their work as a job, a career, or a calling. It doesn’t matter what type of work you do. What matters is your beliefs about the purpose of work. Having a calling doesn’t mean one should be worried about compensation or progressing in a career. Instead, relate jobs, careers, and callings like a pyramid of Maslow, and each build on the last by adding a layer of meaning.

People who experience work as a calling still need to make money and are interested in advancing professionally and building skills. But they also believe their work matters.

If you want a calling but don’t have one, you might choose to change jobs or careers to do work you believe matters. But you also might reflect on how your current work positively impacts you.

What kind of work do you have?

A job, a career, or a calling. Which do you have now??When you go to work in the future, which do you want?