Building your Career Portfolio

You do your best in order to find a job so that you can earn money. You work hard and do your best to improve your chances to earn more. You feel that you have achieved something because you have a job and your salary is good. Then you find out later that the economic turndown or the political events has affected the company where you are working. A cut in personnel services takes place. You are one of the many victims.

This frustrating event is not uncommon. There are many workers who have gone thru this episode. That is why it pays to build your career portfolio. In so doing, you will achieve some financial stability and you will develop strong personal confidence.

A career portfolio is almost similar to financial portfolio. However the latter is more focused on financial stability. A career portfolio not only develops your financial standing but also gives you personal enhancement and therefore improves the quality of your life. It is a strategy for financial security and a sense of purpose.

A career portfolio starts with you identifying your purpose in life. This means answering basic questions about you. You should also identify the important things in your life that really made a difference and the kind of work that you really like. This could lead you towards financial security. This may sound strange but I think you would agree that financial security stems from identifying where you should work and how could you earn additional income. If you know yourself, you become aware of your assets. Then of course, your assets are your best resources.

Financial stability does not depend entirely on how much you earn from a company you are working with or the business you are engaged in. You should find ways and means to earn something from your skills and hobbies with which you are passionate about .For instance, if you are good at baking, you can sell bread and cakes to customers in the neighborhood.

If you are good in horticulture you can sell your produce. If you are a good photographer or carpenter you can earn something out of your hobbies. In short, you should not be contented with your main job. Have an extra source of income. Who knows? Your extra job could even level or surpass your main source.

Another important aspect of a job portfolio is your endeavor to constantly learn. I know of many people in their forties or fifties who attend skills trainings and career enhancement programs just to keep themselves abreast of the latest on this or that field of work. Keeping yourself interested to learn not only improves your skills but also gives you the youthful outlook of idealism and encourages you to live life to the fullest.

Then the final ingredient in building your career portfolio is voluntary work. Try to reach out to other people your community. This would give you the chance for knowing many people and through this you can discover many opportunities to improve yourself. You will also be doing something noble and worthwhile for others. A career portfolio acquires strength and security through the spirit of volunteerism because through this you are with a group who would really appreciate what you are doing for them.