Portfolio Career

A new meaning for “career”?

Crystal ball or not, one thing is for sure – the definition
of career is taking on a whole new meaning.  Although there
are many differences between our generations there is one
common thread that brings us together.  When it comes to
employment, we all compete at the same watering hole called
the job market.  We all know that most employers are now
less interested in “long-term employees” who show up
everyday from 9 to 5 and want to hang around for ten for
fifteen years, taking the lateral climb.  In fact, these
days if you’re in the same job for too long you can be
viewed as a slacker.

Wondering what’s so different about the world of working
today?

Over the past few years employer needs have changed.  In
order to compete and succeed in today’s global economy
employers are now putting a higher value on your ability to
be more creative, imaginative and “think differently”, as
well as your ability to adapt as needed and/or morph to
market conditions, much like Proteus, the Greek Sea Goddess
who could change at will, we are now seeing the protean
model career.

Sure, employers are still using words like “loyalty”,
“generosity”, and “stability”, as a draw, but the forward
thinking individual will know that these are merely words
and in the end, the company’s bottom line dictates their
employment actions.  Employers are using globalization to
their advantage, as well they should be, and its time for
employees to use a form of this in their own career – a
“portfolio” career approach.

Why should you take advantage of a “portfolio” career
approach?

Well, there are plenty of reasons.  For one thing nothing
is carved in stone any longer with regard to your future
employment with any one particular employer.  The forces of
supply and demand are strong when it comes to whether you
have a job… or not.  Sure, the employer “feels” terrible
when they need to implement job eliminations,
restructuring, layoffs, etc., etc.  But, that doesn’t stop
them from taking necessary survival steps.  Where does that
leave you?  Knocking on doors – that’s where.

Many of you are ready to get off “auto-pilot” when it comes
to your life, as well as your career, and start doing the
necessary planning that will afford you to live with
security – the security you can provide for yourself
through your knowledge and skills.  Giving you the ability
to differentiate yourself from the pack.  To live with joy
– the joy you can provide for yourself by knowing where you
are strong and what you have to offer in the career market.
To find happiness – the happiness you know you deserve and
can give yourself through careful career planning and
support.

How do you grab onto to a fresh new approach while
maintaining an alignment between your needs and the
employer’s needs?

Change is constant and rapid.  The portfolio approach to
your career is the future.  You must keep updating and
adding to your skills and knowledge and matching your
portfolio to the particular employer and their needs at any
give time.  Establishing and selling yourself in a
portfolio manner will enable you to begin to lead the pack
and keep you in the forefront of managing your career.

Auto-pilot careers are over, its time to get the controls
into your hands and start steering.  The ball is moving
into your court now – the employment picture is rapidly
changing in your favor.  You may be able to obtain multiple
offers easily.  But, even if getting a job is “easy”,
getting the right job should be your goal.  Finding the
right match is much more than throwing your resume out and
seeing where it sticks.  It’s about knowing you and what
you have to offer and uncovering your true match.

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Robin Ogden has contributed her expertise in HR management,
recruiting and coaching in Silicon Valley for over 20
years. She is co-founder of FiredUP Careers, a career
counseling company for professionals who want to stay
aligned with their careers, achieve success without
compromising their life and truly dig what they do! Learn
more here => http://www.FiredUPCareers.com and
http://www.careeradvicetalk.com