Portfolio career

A portfolio career comprises a variety of roles rather than one job at a single organisation. It can be a career that combines multiple paid and/or voluntary roles. The philosopher and organisational behaviourist Charles Handy popularised the "portfolio" concept[1] in works like his 1994 book The Empty Raincoat.[2] Handy's recognition of the portfolio career-path came about when he realised that individuals would be required to develop portable skillsets to meet the needs of a fast-moving future workplace.[3] His prediction foresaw what is now known as the gig economy.[4]

In 2006 journalist Penelope Trunk wrote on her blog that the rise of portfolio careers came "as members of Generation X entered the workforce. Two-thirds of them were looking for an alternative to full-time employment as a more efficient path to self-discovery and finding the right career."[5]

Portfolio careers are often found in the creative industries where freelancing is the norm.[6] Economic conditions[which?] mean many are now[when?] actively choosing to pursue portfolio careers to make the most of their earning potential.[7][need quotation to verify]

  1. ^ Scanlan Stefanakos, Victoria (14 June 2013). "Why I Love Having A 'Portfolio Career' (And You Could, Too)". Forbes. Retrieved 26 September 2020. [...] economist and management writer Charles Handy, who popularized the idea, described in his book The Empty Raincoat:
    'Going portfolio means exchanging full-time employment for independence [...].'
  2. ^ Handy, Charles B. (1994). The Empty Raincoat: Making Sense of the Future (revised ed.). London: Random House (published 1995). ISBN 9780099301257. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. ^ "How to... become a portfolio worker". Personnel Today. 2003-05-06. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  4. ^ "Unknown". www.ft.com.(subscription required)
  5. ^ Trunk, Penelope (4 July 2006). "The Portfolio Career: To Find Fulfillment Try Simultaneous Careers". Penelope Trunk. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. ^ Quick, Miriam (23 July 2019). "Portfolio career". BBC Worklife. Retrieved 26 September 2020. Portfolio careers are common in the creative industries, where freelancing is normal and low incomes often make a second job a necessity.
  7. ^ Quick, Miriam (2019-07-19). "Portfolio career". BBC Worklife. Retrieved 2020-11-14.