career

I. ca‧reer¹ S2 W2 /kəˈrɪə $ -ˈrɪr/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: carrière, from Old Provençal carriera 'street', from Latin carrus; ⇨ ↑car]
1. a job or profession that you have been trained for, and which you do for a long period of your life
career in
a career in journalism
a teaching career
He realized that his acting career was over.
career development/advancement/progression etc
Career prospects within the company are excellent.
a physiotherapist who wanted to make a dramatic career change by becoming an author
Nurses want an improved career structure (=better opportunities to move upwards in their jobs).
2. career soldier/teacher etc someone who intends to be a soldier, teacher etc for most of their life, not just for a particular period of time:
a career diplomat
3. the period of time in your life that you spend doing a particular activity:
She had not had a very impressive school career up till then.
My career as an English teacher didn’t last long.
Beating the defending champion has to be the highlight of my career.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ a successful career David had had a successful career in banking.
▪ a distinguished/brilliant career (=very successful) She retired last year after a distinguished career as a barrister.
▪ a glittering career (=very successful, especially in sport or acting) Winning the gold medal was the highlight of her glittering career.
▪ a promising career (=likely to be successful) She gave up a promising career in advertising in order to look after her children.
▪ a political/medical/military etc career The scandal ruined his political career.
▪ a teaching/acting/sporting career Her acting career lasted for more than 50 years.
▪ a professional career You have to be outstanding to have a professional career in music.
▪ sb’s chosen career His parents encouraged him in his chosen career as a scientist.
■ verbs
▪ have a career All my sons had careers in education.
▪ make a career It isn’t easy to make a career in journalism.
▪ pursue a career (=try to make a successful career) She left teaching to pursue a career as a psychologist.
▪ begin/start out on/start a career Jacobson started his banking career in 1990.
▪ launch/embark on a career (=start one) Rita went to New York where she launched her dancing career.
▪ build a career (=make it develop) She built her literary career by writing about crime.
▪ change career People may change careers as many as seven times in their lives.
▪ revive/resurrect your career (=make it successful again) The singer is seeking to revive his pop career.
▪ sb’s career takes off (=starts to be successful) His career took off and he started making a lot of money.
■ career + NOUN
▪ career development/advancement/progression A good job offers a programme of training and career development.
▪ career opportunities Students often know little about the career opportunities available to them.
▪ career prospects (=opportunities to get a good job or a better position) Good computer skills will improve your career prospects.
▪ a career path (=a way of making a career) There’s no fixed career path for becoming an actor.
▪ a career structure (=a system for making progress in a career) Teaching offers a clear career structure.
▪ the career ladder (=the way to higher positions in a career) Having children can disturb your progress up the career ladder.
▪ a career change/move After ten years in the job, I realized that I needed to make a career change.
▪ a career woman (=one whose job is very important to her) Career women tend to marry later.
▪ careers advice/guidance Most universities offer professional careers advice.
▪ a careers officer (=someone who gives careers advice) If you’re not sure what to do, why don’t you talk to a careers officer?
■ phrases
▪ a career in journalism/politics/teaching etc At the age of 15, he knew he wanted a career in politics.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ job noun [countable] the regular paid work that you do for an employer: a full-time job | John got a job in a car factory.
▪ work noun [uncountable] activities that you are paid for doing – used either when you work for an employer or when you work in your own business: I started work when I was 18. | He graduated from college last year and is still looking for work.
▪ profession noun [countable] a job for which you need special education and training: There are now a lot more women in the legal profession. | Many teachers are leaving the profession.
▪ occupation noun [countable] formal a job, or a type of job – often used on official documents: Please give your name, age, and occupation. | a traditionally male occupation
▪ career noun [countable] the work you do or plan to do for most of your life: I’m interested in a career in journalism.
▪ position noun [countable] formal a particular job within an organization: I am writing to apply for the position of technical assistant. | We regret that the position has already been filled. | Please state the position which you are applying for.
▪ post noun [countable] formal a job, especially an important one in a large organization: She has held the post of managing director for two years. | He applied for the post of Senior Manager.
▪ vacancy/opening noun [countable] a job that is available for someone to do: The hospital has been unable to fill the vacancy. | There are very few openings in scientific research.
▪ appointment noun [countable] an important job which someone is asked to do: He took an appointment as US trade ambassador in Geneva.
▪ posting noun [countable] a situation in which someone is sent somewhere to do a job for a period of time by the organization they work for: This was his first posting outside the UK. | an overseas posting | His next posting took him to the Ministry of Defence.
▪ trade noun [countable] a job that involves using your hands, and for which you need special training: Most of the men had worked in skilled trades such as carpentry and printing.
▪ employment noun [uncountable] the fact of having a job: The factory will provide employment for local people. | She was offered employment in the sales office.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

career

car·eer [career careers careered careering] noun, verb [kəˈrɪə(r)] [kəˈrɪr]

noun
1. the series of jobs that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes
• a career in politics
• a teaching career
• What made you decide on a career as a vet?
• She has been concentrating on her career.
• a change of career
• That will be a good career move (= something that will help your career).
• a career soldier/diplomat (= a professional one)

• (BrE) a careers adviser/officer (= a person whose job is to give people advice and information about jobs)

2. the period of time that you spend in your life working or doing a particular thing
• She started her career as an English teacher.
• He is playing the best tennis of his career.
• My school career was not very impressive.
Word Origin:
mid 16th cent. (denoting a road or racecourse): from French carrière, from Italian carriera, based on Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle’.
Thesaurus:
career noun
1. C
• a career in journalism
profession • • occupation • • vocation • • work • • employment • • job •
have/pursue (a/an) career/profession/occupation/vocation/work/employment
find (a/an) career/occupation/vocation/work/employment/job
go back/return to (a/an) career/profession/work/employment/job
2. C
• the best tennis of his career
life • • lifetime •
in/of/during sb's career/life/lifetime
sb's school career/life
a career/life/lifetime of doing sth
Collocations:
Jobs
Getting a job
look for work
look for/apply for/go for a job
get/pick up/complete/fill out/ (BrE) fill in an application (form)
send/email your (BrE) CV/(NAmE) résumé/application/application form/covering letter
be called for/have/attend an interview
offer sb a job/work/employment/promotion
find/get/land a job
employ/ (especially NAmE) hire/recruit/ (especially BrE) take on staff/workers/trainees
recruit/appoint a manager
Doing a job
arrive at/get to/leave work/the office/the factory
start/finish work/your shift
do/put in/work overtime
have/gain/get/lack/need experience/qualifications
do/get/have/receive training
learn/pick up/improve/develop (your) skills
cope with/manage/share/spread the workload
improve your/achieve a better work-life balance
have (no) job satisfaction/job security
Building a career
have a job/work/a career/a vocation
find/follow/pursue/ (especially NAmE) live (out) your vocation
enter/go into/join a profession
choose/embark on/start/begin/pursue a career
change jobs/profession/career
be/ (both especially BrE) work/go freelance
do/take on temp work/freelance work
do/be engaged in/be involved in voluntary work
Leaving your job
leave/ (especially NAmE) quit/resign from your job
give up work/your job/your career
hand in your notice/resignation
plan to/be due to retire in June/next year, etc.
take early retirement
Synonyms:
work
employment • career • profession • occupation • trade
These are all words for the work that sb does in return for payment, especially over a long period of time.
work • the job that sb does, especially in order to earn money: ▪ It's very difficult to find work at the moment.
employment • (rather formal) work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed or the situation in which people have work: ▪ Only half the people here are in paid employment.
career • the job or series of jobs that sb has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes: ▪ He had a very distinguished career in the Foreign Office.
profession • a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education: ▪ He hopes to enter the medical profession.
The profession is all the people who work in a particular profession: ▪ the legal profession. The professions are the traditional jobs that need a high level of education and training, such as being a doctor or lawyer.
occupation • (rather formal) a job or profession: ▪ Please state your name, age, and occupation.
trade • a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and requires special training and skills: ▪ Carpentry is a highly skilled trade.
in/out of work/employment
(a) full-time/part-time work/employment/career/occupation
permanent/temporary work/employment
(a) well-paid work/employment/profession/occupation
(a) low-paid work/employment/occupation
to look for/seek/find work/employment/a career/an occupation
to get/obtain/give sb/offer sb/create/generate/provide work/employment
Example Bank:
• He did a film for Hollywood to boost his flagging career.
• He had a distinguished career as a diplomat.
• He has had a somewhat chequered career.
• He made a good career for himself in football.
• Her stage career spans sixty years.
• His performance as Al in the movie was a career high.
• She achieved a lot in her chosen career.
• She had a long and prolific career as a director.
• She has spent her entire career in education.
• She pursued a successful career in medicine.
• She started her working career as a waitress.
• She was at the peak of her career when she injured herself.
• She won many awards during her acting career.
• The movie revived his flagging career.
• The profession has no clear career structure.
• a brilliant career with the Royal Ballet
• a car crash which wrecked his career
• a career break to have children
• a career in computers
• a move higher up the career ladder
• a smart career move
• the album that launched his recording career
• the first golfer to surpass $2 million in career earnings
• young actors just starting out on their careers
• After a brief career in journalism, she trained to be a teacher.
• Career women often find they do more than their fair share of domestic work.
• He had a very distinguished career in the Foreign Office.
• His career spanned four decades.
• I didn't think it was a very good career move.
• I never wanted a military career.
• It's time for a career change.
• John began his career as a psychiatric nurse.
• Kelly's career took off when she was spotted at a talent contest.
• She was on the first step of the career ladder.
• Students can get free careers advice between 6.30 and 8.30 each evening.
• The course focuses on your career development.
• a career soldier/diplomat