careerist
/kə'riərist/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person whose primary goal and focus is to advance their own professional career, often prioritizing this advancement above other considerations, including personal integrity, ethics, or the well-being of colleagues.
Usage
- The term "careerist" is typically used in a critical or disapproving manner to describe someone perceived as overly ambitious, self-serving, and willing to compromise principles for professional gain.
- It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
Examples
- Noun:
- He was seen as a ruthless careerist who would sabotage colleagues to get a promotion.
- The company's culture changed, attracting careerists more interested in titles than in teamwork.
Advanced Usage
- "to be labeled a careerist": to be characterized or described by others as having the single-minded ambition of a careerist.
- After she took credit for the team's work, she was labeled a careerist by her peers.
- The concept can be applied adjectivally in phrases like "careerist motives" or "careerist attitude," though the primary form is a noun.
Variants and Related Words
- Careerism (n): The practice of advancing one's career as a primary goal, often with the same negative connotations of self-interest.
- The firm was plagued by a culture of careerism and internal competition.
Synonyms
- Opportunist: A person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage, with less specific focus on long-term career progression.
- Self-seeker: A person who pursues their own interests, especially in an aggressive way.
- Social climber: A person who seeks to improve their social status, which can overlap with professional ambition.
Antonyms
- Team player: A person who prioritizes group cooperation and success over individual ambition.
- Idealist: A person guided by principles and ideals, often in contrast to pragmatic self-advancement.
Noun
- a professional who is intent on furthering his or her career by any possible means and often at the expense of their own integrity