What is Occupation? Explanation, Examples & Related Terms

Occupation(literally translated as "career")is a specific activity or field of work that an individual undertakes to generate income, cultivate professional skills, or simply to make meaningful use of their free time. This term is oftenapplyin formal contexts such as administrative forms, immigration declarations, or legal documents to determine a person's current occupation.
Illustrative examples of how to use the word "occupation"
- When completing various documents, you will often encounter the classic question:"Bạn làm nghề gì?"What is your profession?
- A number ofoccupationcommon ones include: "STUDENT" (this can also be considered an occupation), "ENGINEER," "BUSINESSMAN."
Distinction from related terms
- Job (công việc):Oftenonlya specific position or task, performed for an employer and paid on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis. This is a more personal, short-term aspect.
- Career:Bringgeneralizationand a longer-term vision,descriptionan ongoing process of professional development within a specific career field, encompassing variousjobdifferent.
- Profession:Alluding toa type of work that requires a profound knowledge base, often the result of formal training at official schools and adherence to strict professional ethical rules.
What is an occupation?Occupation (roughly translated as "profession" or "job") is a specific activity or field of work that an individual undertakes to generate income, develop specialized skills, or simply use their free time meaningfully. This term is often used in official contexts such as administrative forms, immigration declarations, or legal documents to identify a person's current work.
Occupation in daily life
Concept and purpose of Occupation
In Vietnamese, the concept of "occupation" is often understood as the job or profession that a person pursues to earn a living. However, it is broader than that. A homemaker can list "Homemaker" as their occupation, even without direct income. Students also have "Student" as their occupation. The main purpose of identifying an occupation is to classify and understand an individual's role in society or in a specific system, such as a tax, insurance, or immigration system.
When we fill out administrative documents, from tourist visa application forms to bank loan applications in Vietnam, the question "What is your occupation?" always appears. This is not just a procedure but also important information that helps authorities or organizations better understand your personal situation, financial capacity, or even risks associated with your job.
Illustrative examples of how to use the word "occupation"
To better understandWhat is occupation, we can look at some practical examples:
- When completing paperwork for a chip-embedded Citizen ID card in Vietnam, you will often encounter the "Nghề nghiệp" declaration field – this is the "occupation."
- Some common occupations include: "STUDENT", "ENGINEER", "BUSINESSMAN", "TEACHER", "DOCTOR", "FREELANCER", "RETIRED". Even those working in informal jobs such as "Farmer" or "Freelance Worker" can declare their corresponding occupation.
- In customs declaration forms when entering countries, declaring your occupation is mandatory. For example, if you are a graphic designer, you would write "Graphic Designer".
Accurately declaring one's occupation is not only a matter of regulatory compliance but also demonstrates civic responsibility. For students, listing "Student" as their occupation is very important, especially when undertaking procedures related to tax exemptions, reductions, or applying for preferential loans at banks such as Agribank and Vietcombank.
Differentiating Occupation from related terms
In English, there are some words commonly used interchangeably but actually carry different meanings than "occupation." A clear distinction helps us to use them in the correct context and understand the true nature of each concept.
Job (công việc)
"Job" usually refers to a specific position or task, performed for an employer and paid hourly, daily, or monthly. This aspect is more personal and short-term. A person can change "jobs" many times in their life, but their "occupation" may not change.
Example:A person with the occupation "Teacher" can have the "job" "English Teacher at Chu Van An High School" for 5 years, then switch to a different "job" which is "English Teacher at ABC Foreign Language Center". Both of these "jobs" fall under the same occupation "Teacher".
Career
"Career" is more general and long-term, describing a continuous professional development journey within a specific professional field, encompassing various "jobs." "Career" relates to advancement, accumulated experience, and long-term goals.
Example:A person can start a "career" in the field of marketing. Their first "job" might be a "Marketing Intern" at a small company, then a "Marketing Specialist" at Vinamilk, and finally become a "Marketing Manager" at FPT Retail. This entire process forms their "career" in the marketing industry, even though their occupation remains "Marketing Specialist" or "Marketing Manager."
Profession
"Profession" refers to a type of work that requires a deep foundation of knowledge, typically the result of systematic training at formal educational institutions, and adherence to strict professional ethical rules. Professions often have professional associations, requiring specific degrees and certifications for practice.
Example:"Doctor," "Lawyer," "Auditor" are typical professions. To become a "Doctor" in Vietnam, you need to study for 6-7 years at prestigious medical universities such as Hanoi Medical University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and must obtain a practice certificate issued by the Ministry of Health. The starting salary for new doctors in public hospitals usually ranges from 5-8 million VND, while in private hospitals it can be higher, from 10-15 million VND. This is a clear example of a profession that requires a significant investment of time and knowledge.
The importance of accurate Occupation identification
The identificationWhat is an occupationaccurately has significant meaning in many aspects of life:
- Legal and Administrative:From declaring personal income tax (PIT) to applying for a business license, occupation information is mandatory. For instance, according to regulations by the General Department of Taxation, the PIT rate applicable to employees with contracts of less than 3 months or without contracts is 10% if the total income is 2 million VND or more per payment.
- Statistics and Research:Agencies like the General Statistics Office of Vietnam use occupation data to analyze labor structure, forecast market trends, and formulate socio-economic development policies. For example, the proportion of agricultural labor in Vietnam decreased from approximately 49% in 2010 to around 28% in 2022, indicating a clear shift in occupational structure.
- Insurance and Social Security:Occupation information affects health insurance, social insurance packages, and occupational risk allowances. For example, people in hazardous occupations such as miners and construction workers will have different contribution levels and insurance benefits compared to office workers.
- Career Orientation:A clear understanding of occupations helps students better orient themselves for the future, choosing majors that align with their interests and abilities. Universities such as the National Economics University and Hanoi University of Science and Technology always publish information about potential career paths after graduation for prospective students to consult.
Conclusion
Understand clearlyWhat is occupationnot only helps us complete administrative procedures but also helps us gain a deeper insight into our role in society and shape our personal development path. From a student to an engineer or an entrepreneur, each occupation carries its own value and meaning, contributing to the overall functioning of the economy and society.
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The information in this article is for reference only. Please consult current legal documents and relevant experts for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Bình luận (8)
Marvellous là gì?
@Khoa "Marvelous" là một tính từ trong tiếng Anh, mang nghĩa tuyệt vời, kỳ diệu, phi thường, dùng để mô tả một điều gì đó gây ấn tượng mạnh hoặc khiến người ta phải kinh ngạc vì sự đặc biệt, xuất sắc của nó. Từ này tương đồng với các từ như wonderful (tuyệt vời) và amazing (kinh ngạc), nhưng nhấn mạnh hơn vào sự kỳ lạ và phi thường.
Ẻmerge là gì?
@Nam "Emerge" có nghĩa là nổi lên, hiện ra, xuất hiện, hoặc phát triển từ một trạng thái ẩn giấu. Từ này có thể dùng để chỉ sự xuất hiện vật lý, sự phát triển của một hiện tượng hoặc xu hướng, hoặc sự nảy sinh của một vấn đề hay một sự thật mới.
Sự thờ ơ tiếng Anh là gì?
@Yến "Sự thờ ơ" trong tiếng Anh có thể là indifference, apathy, hoặc nonchalance, tùy thuộc vào ngữ cảnh. Indifference dùng để chỉ sự thiếu quan tâm chung, apathy mô tả trạng thái thiếu cảm xúc hoặc phản ứng, còn nonchalance ám chỉ sự dửng dưng, lãnh đạm trước sự việc.
Occupation điền gì?
@Dũng Khi bạn gặp từ "occupation" trong đơn từ, bạn cần điền nghề nghiệp hoặc công việc chính hiện tại của mình. Ví dụ, nếu bạn là nhân viên văn phòng, bạn có thể điền là "Company employee" (nhân viên công ty) hoặc nghề nghiệp cụ thể như "Teacher" (giáo viên).