So what is a portfolio career?

A portfolio career is broadly interpreted as having diverse sources of income, not all of them stable or regular, rather than a single salaried job. It also encompasses working in different fields at different times. I'm getting the impression that people are becoming increasingly familiar with, and accepting of the term.

For me a portfolio career involves combining teaching and education consultancy with editorial and website work. Portfolio careers change and develop over time and at various points may include a mixture of full-time, part-time and freelance roles.

If I'm careful with my time, this career choice also leaves flexibility for other things in life: volunteering with three of my favourite charities, spending time with my family, walking our dog, tending to our allotment, even trying my hand at homemade bread and DIY projects from time to time. I got quite creative recently, there's a picture below of my makeover of our plain and tatty table and chairs (I had a go at this guy's idea)...

I'll admit, the table was an unusually creative and energetic feat but more or less everything else on my little list of hobbies, in my mind, also forms part of my portfolio career. I do some voluntary and paid teaching which helps me stay connected to education which is important to me in terms of CPD in relation to my freelance work in education. Putting myself out there and getting involved in other things like having an allotment and taking part in local action projects makes me more open-minded, more engaged in the world and in turn I know this all makes me better at what I do for a living.

I love the variety. I can work all day and all night when I feel alive and inspired by it. So far a portfolio career hasn't presented many opportunities for boredom. I'm sure they'll come but it will be down to no one else but me to change it and that in itself is exhilarating and exciting.

Is the downside then that you never become a specialist in anything? I'm not sure that's true; the portfolio career might involve long stints in some types of roles that you can really develop in but does that mean you have to then do that one thing and that one thing only forever? Of course there's the lack of benefits of being an employee of a larger organisation to consider and some worry they'll find it isolating. I don't - I feel more connected with the world because of the sheer variety of things I'm involved in. As for the perks, there may not be a gym loan and free life insurance anymore but I don't have to get the tube and I can work at ridiculously anti-social hours if I so choose! The pension is the biggie and does require serious thought though.

I'm writing this blog as I think in these tough economic times there might be others considering a similar route. I hope to hear from you to share views and experiences.