Career is a term defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as

an individual's "course or progress through life (or a distinct

portion of life)". It is usually considered to pertain to

remunerative work (and sometimes also formal education).

The etymology of the term is somewhat ironic in that it comes
 
from the Latin word carrera, which means race (as in "rat race,

" a pejorative implying the opposite of a useful career).