ComparisonCareers
Career Success vs Career Satisfaction: What's the Difference?
Career success often refers to achievement, progression, recognition, income, responsibility or other externally visible outcomes.
Career satisfaction refers to how positively a person experiences their career in relation to their expectations, values, needs and sense of fulfillment.
They can overlap, but they are not identical.
External achievement vs internal fulfillment
Someone may be highly successful but dissatisfied.
Another person may have a modest-looking career but experience significant satisfaction because the work fits their values, strengths, lifestyle and desired contribution.
This does not mean achievement is unimportant. It means achievement should not be treated as the only measure of career quality.
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