This is a blog about portfolio careers by Rachel Brushfield, The Talent Liberator from Energise – The Talent Liberation Company.
Introduction
I have been running my own business Energise for over 24 years and have always enjoyed variety. In 2011, I was lucky to read the book ‘The Shift’ by Lynda Gratton, a Professor at London Business School about changing work trends and what the world of work would be like in 2020.
I am so glad that I did, because having implemented its recommendations myself, I am now in a good position to help people at this challenging time in the world, with Covid-19 having accelerated a decade of change into 1 year.
What is a portfolio career?
A portfolio career is work/a career made up of multiple components, for example freelance work, a contract, a part time job, non-executive directorships, trustee and volunteering, rather than just having 1 job or running 1 business.
As a metaphor, a portfolio career is like choosing Dim Sum or Tapas in a restaurant, a variety of different dishes, rather than just one single main dish, giving you a variety of flavours and textures and a moreish combination.
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Why are portfolio careers growing?
Portfolio careers have been growing for a while, because of 2 growing segments:
· The ‘want a portfolio career’ market – pre-retirees wanting a gentle ‘slope’ rather than a steep ‘cliff’ to retirement, and millennials (young workers) who have different career aspirations to previous generations.
· The ‘need a portfolio career’ market – this has grown massively because of the impact of Covid-19 on both the employed and self-employed sectors; shrinking markets, forced career change, reduced consultancy projects with
greater competition, more people becoming self-employed, and a raised ‘bar’ of the standard required to secure a job or project.
How do portfolio careers vary?
Portfolio careers have been around for centuries – think holiday destinations with seasonal tourism, who need a different way of earning a living for the rest of the year.
Portfolio careers vary a lot, and they also change a lot!
They can be segmented into:
· Similar e.g. associate work with different companies
· Contrasting e.g. leadership coach and historical author
· Synergistic e.g. bee-keeper and dentist
A portfolio career isn’t the right career choice for everyone, so thinking it through carefully is essential. Working with an experienced career coach, specialising in portfolio careers can be invaluable.
A portfolio career is like a kaleidoscope.
You can adjust it and create new work patterns that suit you, as your needs change, and market trends shift.
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Everyone is unique and so is each portfolio career!
What are the benefits of a portfolio career?
Benefits include:
· Variety
· More fulfilment and flexibility
· Constant learning
· Increased career agility
· Enhanced career resilience
· A future-proof career
· Reducing your career risk
What are the drawbacks of a portfolio career?
Drawbacks include:
· Constant change
· Less certainty and security than a traditional career
· Need to focus on trends and take stock regularly
· Must embrace marketing and networking
· Need to be super-organised
A portfolio career is like having a ‘safety net’
![](https://oxfordbusinesscommunitynetwork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Safety-Net.png)
Is it really a good idea to put all your career ‘eggs in one basket’ in an uncertain world?
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What next?
To receive a free Energise report: ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’ including a free 15-question suitability questionnaire and/or to arrange your free 20-minute no-obligation meeting to explore whether a portfolio career is right for you, get in touch with Rachel Brushfield using this link: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/contact-us/
Recommended reading
Lynda Gratton ‘The Shift’ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shift-Future-Work-Already-Here/dp/0007525850
Andrew J Scott + Lynda Gratton ‘The 100 year life’ https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Year-Life-Living-working-longevity/dp/1472930150
Andrew J Scott and Lynda Gratton ‘The new long life’ https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Long-Life-Framework-Flourishing/dp/1526615169/r
More about Energise
View Rachel Brushfield’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/energiseliberateyourtalent/
Rachel’s portfolio career
Inspiring Portfolio Careers https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/
EnergiseLegal https://www.energiselegal.com/
Energise LLClub – Inspiring Portfolio Careers for Women Lawyers. https://www.llclub.org/
PWHub – Inspiring Professional Women – a network for senior employed women, all sectors, with quarterly CPD style events. Rachel is a co-founder. https://www.pwhub.org.uk/