Work can start to get a bit repetitive after a while; a bit ‘same old same old’.
Some people find this comforting, others brain numbing. I am the latter. How about you?
Many many people have been sitting tight in the same job during the downturn years. Staying put for security. A wise strategy. Or is it?
If your career is starting to feel a little stale there are 5 strategies to explore:
• Portfolio career
• Job sculpting
• Sabbatical
• Attitude shift
• Secondment
An interesting book about the revolution of work shaped my thinking 4 years ago. It is by Lynda Gratton – ‘The Shift: the future of work is already here’.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Shift-Future-Work-Already/dp/0007427956
My decisions during the downturn years have been the opposite of most people. They have been shaped by Lynda Gratton’s predictions and other reading. 2020, about which the book focuses, is now just 5 years’ away and it really concerns me that most people don’t have a career strategy, they leave it to chance.
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Abraham Lincoln and Peter Drucker. (both have been credited with this quote).
The rest of this blog gives an overview of portfolio careers, a major trend according to Lynda Gratton.
Portfolio careers have been growing for a while. Some people have them because they have to as a source of work is going out of fashion or cut-backs are being made, others because they want variety and stimulation. I am the latter – it fits my values.
What is a portfolio career?
A portfolio career is when your work is made up of different components which you flex, in response to changing market conditions and/or changes in your personal circumstances or life stage. This makes your career future-proof too.
Portfolio career components
The components of a portfolio career might be a part time job, volunteering, consultancy or freelance projects/contracts, travel, study or a non-exec directorship (s).
My portfolio career
My portfolio career is made up of career coaching, executive coaching, events, content creation, content curation, books, chapters and articles and consultancy work. It can be very full on but never a dull moment!
Employers and portfolio careers
Companies are starting to take note about portfolio careers for a number of reasons.
– Flexible resourcing – as needed
– Generation Y/Millennials demand flexibility
– Talent/skills shortage in business critical areas
I am writing an article on this topic next week and one recruitment agency I interviewed predicts that recruitment will not look the same in 4 years’ time. I agree. Why then are so many people carrying on as though nothing is changing?
Portfolio career example
Read about our client Jon’s portfolio career:
Part 1:
Part 2:
How do we help?
Here are 4 ways:
• We offer early bird and weekend Skype appointments.
• We help you create, edit, market and manage your portfolio career
• We define your personal brand
• We assist you in creating a career strategy
What next?
If you are interested in exploring a portfolio career, want to create or review your career strategy, or know someone we can help, get in touch.
Don’t wait until the General Election result in May 2015, start future proofing your career now. Get in touch.