A portfolio career is a non traditional path for people who work on projects, retainers, and other business endeavours. You build a portfolio of work that brings income in from multiple sources rather than having just one full time job.
Note, this is not have three or four part time jobs that accumulate towards your income. A portfolio allows you to explore new avenues of creativity and money making while already having a base income from other avenues.
The Benefits of a Portfolio Career
Multiple Income Streams
One benefit of having a portfolio Career is the ability to earn more and have multiple sources of income.
Creative Outlets
As a creative person working a 9 to 5, there tends to be a lack of creativity or control over what you create. Opting for a portfolio career gives you the option to work in a variety of different ways allowing you to be more creative.
Fulfillment
There tends to be this pressure to pick a career that fulfills you in some capacity. That can be a lot of pressure to pick just one career path. With a portfolio career you have projects and jobs that fulfill you more than others. You also get the opportunity to pick what you work on a case by case basis.
Interest
And lastly, as a multi passionate creative it can be hard to stay at a job that does not pique your interest. Building your portfolio career will allow you to find the things that interest you the most and build around that.
How to start building your portfolio career?
The journey begins with you understanding that you are not built for the corporate ladder and working a 9 to 5 for forty years. I would argue that no many people are built for the corporate 9 to 5 but many people just accept that that is the only way to earn a living.
Most people will start their portfolio careers while working their current position. In fact, many creatives will have a part time or full time corporate role in order to have enough income to cover bills or save enough money to fall back on while you build your portfolio.
What does a Portfolio Career look like?
A Portfolio Career is pieced together from a variety of opportunities. It usually centres around your skillset that can be translated to multiple industries.
5 Different Job Formats to Build Your Portfolio Career?
- Freelancing
- Part Time Job
- Consulting
- Fractional Employee
- Entrepreneurship
Many Portfolio Careers will start with one of these formats above and then expand into more. The essential part of building your portfolio career is to allow yourself to pursue your passions. If you are adding on project after project that you don’t enjoy you are going to back at that overwhelming corporate 9 – 5 feeling that sucks the fun out of everything.
To get started with a Portfolio Career start to dissect your skills, interests and network. See where there are gaps in your current industry and fill those in with a freelance gig or consulting offer.
Remember, Portfolio Careers take time to build. And they are not ever expanding. You can only manage so much with you time. This will allow you to work on projects that light you up but also keep things novel enough to never get bored because there can be something new right around the corner.