I. ca ‧ reer 1 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.
II. career 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
British English to move forwards quickly without control, making sudden sideways movements SYN careen American English
career down/along/towards etc
The truck careered down the hill and into a tree.