By Donna Dunning

In the past the work world was structured and mostly predictable. Many people stayed at their job for a long period of time. Then, the period of time that people stayed at one job became progressively shorter and frequent job change became the norm. This resulted in books like Creating You and Co. by William Bridges published in the 90s, in which he emphasized the importance of directing and taking ownership of your career.

Now it seems there is much greater emphasis on working in a flexible way, taking part-time and contract work options. Books such as And What Do You Do? and The Renaissance Soul are embracing the philosophy of exploring and being engaged in many work options and finding multiple streams of income.

My daughter (ENFP preferences) is currently reading And What Do You Do?. She loves the idea of a portfolio career and is thriving while working at multiple jobs and projects. I realize that this style of working describes my career path as well (I also have ENFP preferences). For the past 25 years my husband (with INFP preferences) and I have managed our own business, which evolved in ways we would have never imagined. We strived to create “trickle incomes”, small contracts from multiple sources, which have resulted in many varied and interesting projects that generated income for our family.

In my work I often emphasize to my clients the importance of self-directed work paths – to identify transferable skills and to see themselves as individuals who are able to work in a number of settings. This focus on adapting and taking control of personal skill development and success has helped many of my clients to move through job loss and uncertainty.

Yet even as I embrace this approach, I can’t help thinking of my son (ISTJ preferences), a recent graduate of a technology program. It looks like he will be facing a portfolio career even though this career path does not excite him. He would be well suited to, and much more satisfied with, a stable job where he can learn what is expected of him, develop competencies, and become an expert in specific areas. He is not alone; people with SJ preferences are common worldwide. These individuals are often comfortable having routine and predictability in their lives.

So, although I applaud and encourage the renaissance souls out there, the highly changing and uncertain work world can be a challenging and uncomfortable place for those who prefer structure and security. I recommend taking the Is It For Me quiz to see if a portfolio career is for you. If not, here are some tips for surviving in a portfolio world.

• Accept that change is constant and build a step-by-step strategy for dealing with transitions.
• Frequently update your resume to include skills and competencies you are using. Every job has highly transferable skills related to working with others, self-management, and work management.
• Continue to learn. When possible take courses to update your skills and knowledge. Join any associations and groups that can help you network with others in your areas of interest. Add your coursework and association memberships to your resume.
• Volunteer. Even if this is a few hours a week or month, volunteer work will increase your skills and contacts.
• When seeking out work, look for projects, contracts, or part-time work that will build skills in your areas of expertise. Although your career may not follow a straight line, you may be able to control how far off track you go.

When you look at the photo above, taken last week on one of my daily walks, imagine two perspectives. One is excited to see the possibilities around the bend. The other is apprehensive, not knowing where the path will take them.