How to know if a portfolio career is the right globaldev path for you

Some global development professionals follow a traditional career path, specializing in one particular area and often working for the same organization over several years. But if you have a broad skill set, want to work in a variety of sectors, and like the idea of being your own boss, then a portfolio career path might be the best one to pursue. The commonly cited definition of a portfolio career is an approach to work that mixes several different income streams through a combination of part or full-time, freelancing, or consulting roles. The work not only encompasses different specialty areas and industries, but it also utilizes different skills depending on what’s required for a role. “[You might use] your writing skills in one area … but in other areas, you might use your relationship management skills,” said Simone Anzböck, career coach and development expert, during a recent Devex digital event. “You're basically using different skills on different projects and you're building that over time, and that means you have a portfolio as a career.” Being able to work in many different areas and owning a variety of skills builds resilience, Anzböck said, and it comes with other potential benefits, such as allowing you to explore passion projects and having flexible working arrangements. “For me, it was very much around freedom. I wanted to be my own boss, I wanted to do different things,” said Anzböck, who is pursuing her own portfolio career as the founder of the startup Prosper Abroad while doing additional work as a career coach and an international development consultant. “I actually felt that I wasn't using all my skills in my traditional role, so I wanted to branch out.” Given the project-based nature of development work, this type of career path may appeal to many working in the sector. But those who succeed with portfolio careers already possess certain attributes and have particular goals in mind. Here are a few soft skills to think about when deciding if a portfolio career is right for you. Self-motivation and confidence When you have a portfolio career, “you are the product, … so believing in yourself [and] having motivation to find the next gig … is definitely something you need,” Anzböck said. If you don’t consider yourself strong in these areas, it can still be developed, she said, adding that “it's about this kind of experimenting and failing, and over time, you might find — you will find this combination of skills,” referring to building the confidence required to embrace a trial and error approach. You want to get to a point where you’re “standing up for yourself, saying that you have something to offer,” she said. Patience and flexibility Becoming comfortable with trying and failing also requires patience and being prepared for the inevitable twists and turns, Anzböck said, adding that it helps to avoid trying to predict the future, because “the door that you think might open might not open, but another one will.” For example, an entrepreneurial idea may not gain traction, but you have other skills to fall back on in order to continue doing other work that is meaningful to you while you recalibrate your overall goals. Organization and time management skills If you’re juggling simultaneous projects and planning ahead for how to spend your work hours in the months to come, you’ll need an effective time management strategy. “If you want to build a portfolio career, you are your own boss … so you have to be in control of your time,” Anzböck said. Having the freedom to set your own schedule is a perk, but there should be enough structure so that you can enjoy one of the other benefits that a portfolio career can provide, which is a healthy work-life balance. Being able to set and stick to boundaries will go a long way in developing this, Anzböck said.