Job facts for kids
A job is what a person does regularly, often to earn money. It's like their role in society. Many people have a job to earn money so they can live and buy things they need. Sometimes, people have more than one job, like being a parent, taking care of their home, and also working for a company.
You can get a job by working for someone else (an employee), helping out for free (volunteering), starting your own business, or even by becoming a parent. Jobs can be short-term, like helping with a quick task, or they can last a whole lifetime, like being a judge.
Any activity that takes your mental or physical effort is called work. If someone is specially trained for a certain type of job, it might be called a profession. Usually, a job is part of a person's career. A career is a longer journey, while a job can be a single step. People usually retire from their career, but they might quit or be let go from a specific job.
Contents
Why People Work
Most adults spend many hours each week working for pay. This is called employment. However, some people, like children, retirees (people who have stopped working), and people with disabilities, might not work full-time. Even in these groups, many people work part-time, volunteer, or work as a homemaker (taking care of their home and family).
From about age 5, many children's main role in society is to learn and study as a student. This can be seen as their first "job"!
Different Kinds of Jobs
Jobs can be grouped in many ways:
- By hours:
- Full time: Usually 35-40 hours or more per week.
- Part time: Fewer hours per week than full-time.
- By length:
- Temporary: Only for a short time.
- Odd jobs: Small tasks done occasionally.
- Seasonal: Only during certain times of the year, like summer jobs.
- By how you work:
- Self-employment: Working for yourself, not for a company.
- Consulting: Giving expert advice to different companies.
- Contract employment: Working for a specific project or period.
Paid vs. Unpaid Jobs
Some jobs pay money, and some do not.
- Paid jobs are what most people think of when they hear "job."
- Unpaid jobs include being a volunteer, a homemaker, a mentor, or a student. Sometimes, even an intern might not get paid, but they gain experience.
Experience Needed for Jobs
Jobs also differ in how much experience or training you need:
- Entry level: Jobs for people with little or no experience.
- Internships: Short-term jobs, often for students, to learn about a field.
- Co-ops: Similar to internships, often part of a school program.
Some jobs need special training or a college academic degree.
People who want a full-time paid job but can't find one are called unemployed. If they have a job but it's not enough hours or doesn't use their skills, they might be called underemployed.
Moonlighting
Sometimes, people work an extra job, often at night, besides their main job. This is called moonlighting. They usually do this to earn more money. Someone who moonlights might not have much time for sleep or fun activities.
What is a Day Job?
The phrase day job is often used for a job someone does just to pay their bills, while they try to succeed in a different field they truly love. For example, someone might work as a waitress (their day job) while trying to become an actress. Or a professional athlete might work as a laborer in the off-season if their sports team doesn't pay enough yet.
The idea behind "day job" is that the person would quit it if their dream job paid enough to live on.
You might hear the funny phrase "don't quit your day job!" if someone performs poorly at something. It means they aren't good enough at that activity to make a career out of it.
How People Get Jobs
Getting a first job is a big step for young people in many cultures. Young people might start by doing household work, odd jobs, or helping out in a family business. In many countries, students get summer jobs during their long summer vacation.
Students in college or university can apply for internships or co-ops. These experiences help them learn skills and make it easier to find an entry level job after they graduate.
To get a job, people usually create a résumé. A résumé is a summary of a person's education, skills, and past job experiences. Employers read résumés to decide who to interview for an open position.
Jobs and Life
Some studies suggest that the type of job a person has can affect their health and how long they live. For example, jobs that involve a lot of physical labor might be harder on the body over time. Jobs with high stress or anxiety can also have a negative effect on health. On the other hand, jobs that offer more control, security, and less stress might be linked to a longer life. Many things can affect how long someone lives, including their job, gender, and where they live.
Related pages
Images for kids
-
A blacksmith working
-
A World War II aircraft worker, Vega Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, California, 1942
-
Cleaning the floor in a Virginia community center
-
Serving staff is an example of a common profession.
-
Piano tuner is an example of an unusual profession.
-
Bal maidens with traditional tools and protective clothing spalling ore, 1858
-
Women carpenters working at the Tarrant Hut Workshops, 3 miles from Calais, 26 June 1918
-
A thatcher at work
-
Women working at the Dun Emer Press, c. 1903
-
A woman at work in an English biscuit factory
-
A potter shapes pottery with his hands while operating a mechanical potter's wheel with his foot, 1902
-
Men at work on a building site in the City of London
See also
In Spanish: Trabajo (sociología) para niños
