Portfolio Careers
MEET young Avinash. He completed his B.Tech two years ago and had dreams of becoming the greatest environmental engineer of his time. Now, holding on to multiple part-time jobs, he's living the good life and believes he's on cloud nine. But, as with all good things, there's a hitch. His parents are a little sceptical about his career choices and are constantly nagging him about never being able to `settle down'. A word to the wise - Avinash is as settled as anyone holding down a full-time job.
He has what is now called a `portfolio career'. It is a mish-mash of traditional employment, contract based work, temporary jobs and a home-based business. In radical cases, elements of a person's portfolio may even interchange seasonally; one could be a lifeguard in summer, and a journalist in winter. Interesting?
Charles Handy, the mod-man pundit, predicted in the early 1990s that people would become more empowered by working multiple small jobs instead of one main one in the future. What he probably didn't know was that the future would be now.
People with multiple skills, and chronic multi-taskers with an urge to express themselves are ideal candidates for this kind of career. The `Jack-of-all-trades master-of none' adage has become the career of the future.
If anyone out there is seeking a better work / life balance, variety, autonomy, want a break from office politics, are looking for personal fulfilment, relish constant change and the fast life, or just want an after-retirement career, consider the following tips before embarking on a portfolio career jumble:
Take stock of your hobbies and interests - Think about activities you do in your spare time, vacations or weekends that give you pleasure, and what you know you're good at. What could be better than turning avocation into vocation?
Go over your academic interests - Find subjects going as far back as Class 10 and 12 that you enjoyed immensely. Look for career opportunities that use the knowledge you have gained throughout your educational experience.
Examine your work history - If you go through your work history, you may notice a common denominator linking all your jobs together. It may be the soft skills required, the learning experience, the work culture or even the money prospect. This will give you some insight into your innate sensibilities.
Deconstruct past work-related experiences and list skills acquired, required and savoured - During your experience as an employee, volunteer or a student, you have probably acquired a great many skills, perhaps some of which you are not aware.. This set of skills may not necessarily be technical. It could mean traits like leadership and inter-personal or motivating skills that you have imbibed over time. Seek opportunities where these skills could come in handy.
Weigh the advantages against the disadvantages - The pros of managing a portfolio career have been articulated above, but what you probably don't know is that there are just as many cons. Finding employers willing to hire (especially in India where this is a relatively novel concept), balancing conflicting demands on your time, making the effort, loss of benefits, a possible drop in earnings (very likely initially), higher level of uncertainty, absence of a routine, and isolation are some of the most common limitations of portfolio careers. If you think the pros outweigh the cons, go for it!
Conceptualising a PoA - If you've made up your mind, the next step, and probably the most important one is chalking out a Plan of Action. It should ideally include making a list of prospective employers or clients and available jobs, a weekly or monthly agenda, layout for a home workspace, and a comprehensive budget plan.
Organise - If you are a naturally organised person, this is a cakewalk for you. But for others, you may want to invest in a book or two on developing an organisational structure.
Mobilise a support system - Improvising a little on a cliché, "Behind every successful portfolio career candidate is a patronage party!" Making a shift from a nine-to-five to an adventurous portfolio career is not easy, and it is crucial to have the support of family and friends, especially during the first few months.
Roping in your Network - This is one time when all the advice you got from judicious mentors about networking will come in handy. Use your contacts to obtain clients, make further contacts, and get information about their companies and outsourcing activities relevant to your career. Join professional associations to further your interests.
Be your Crackerjack best - Now's the time to be more professional than you've ever been. Polish your soft skills. Your reputation for professionalism will be the quintessence of your career and will determine its fate. No room for compromise here!
In a recent study, it was revealed that among executives who had taken early retirement, nearly two-thirds reported that they were satisfied with their success in setting up portfolio careers. So if a portfolio career sounds interesting, take that leap of faith today. It could be just as rewarding as it could be punishing. You'll never know unless you try.
BUSHRA HAMEDUDDIN
Bushra.hyd@cnkonline.com
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