student asking question

What does "profession" mean? Can I use "job" instead?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Excellent question. "Job" and "profession" are two words that are often used interchangeably by most. However the two words are not always interchangeable. A "job" is an activity that you performed in exchange of a monetary value. A job is often short-term and only done as a person requires money to live. Jobs do not make a significant impact to society of the person's life. If person is unhappy with a job, then tend to move on to a better one. However when we use the word "profession" we are usually refering to something based on specialized educational training. The person may or may not be also required to undertake regulated training. Or we are referring to an entire area of work, which is the case here. The "job" here would be a chef but the "profession" would be culinary arts. Ex: He's been out of a job since being made redundant in January. Ex: I need a new job. Administration is so boring. Ex: His behaviour is awful considering he is in the legal profession. Ex: He left the teaching profession after 17 years.

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