Forbes Women
The Career Portfolio
Spring, 2009

Similar to business guru Charles Handy's "portfolio life" concept—different bits form a balanced whole greater than the parts—a career portfolio is a collection of projects and other part-time opportunities that create the equivalent of a whole job. For some people this approach could be a smart way to bridge a difficult period of time, to learn new skills after losing a job or to transition into a different field. For others it might even become a permanent solution.

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"This is an important option to consider right now," says executive recruiter Patricia Cook, Ph.D., CEO of Cook & Co. "Companies have laid a lot of people off, but they're very open to bringing qualified people in on a project basis—especially when they have a legitimate area of expertise." A career portfolio can include consulting, teaching, sitting on a board, volunteering and maybe taking a class or two to expand your skill set. At the same time, it gives you opportunities to see where full-time positions are emerging, if that's your ultimate goal. —L.S

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