A portfolio career is a perfect fit if you are multi-passionate, curious about many things, and are a lifelong learner. You do you to be happy! Love what you do!

Maybe you are a unicorn or a purple squirrel, have a hybrid professional identity, or are a multipotentialite. Be authentic!

As a career coach who has worked with and presented to thousands of job seekers, career changers, and entrepreneurs, I’ve seen firsthand how the world of work has evolved over the past three decades when I jumped into the start of my entrepreneurial journey.

Traditional 9-to-5 jobs are no longer the only path, and with the current mass layoffs, especially in the Federal Government, individuals are thinking about their next steps.

Enter: the portfolio career—a dynamic, flexible approach to work that allows you to combine multiple income streams based on your skills, passions, and lifestyle.

Lifestyle is key for me. When I think of 8 AM, that may be REM time, while 1 AM might be “in the zone of genius” productivity time. You might be the opposite, so you do what works for you. I prefer living in PST or Aloha time in EST!

What Is a Portfolio Career?

A portfolio career is when you have more than one professional role simultaneously. Instead of working a single full-time job, you may combine:

• Freelance or contract work
  
• Consulting
  
• A part-time job
  
• A side hustle
  
• Speaking engagements
  
• Teaching or coaching
  
• Creative work
  
• Board or advisory roles (check out our nonprofit resources if you are a mission-driven servant leader)

This approach offers flexibility, financial diversity, and a chance to do more of what you love—on your own terms.

Why Consider a Portfolio Career?

• Diversified income – Reduce financial risk by not relying on a single employer
  
• Purposeful work – Mix passion projects with income-generating work
  
• Continuous learning – Explore new interests and gain skills across industries
  
• Flexible schedule – Control your time and choose your commitments

How to Start Building a Portfolio Career: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Inventory Your Skills and Interests

• Make a list of your strengths, interests, certifications, and experience.
  
• Highlight areas where you can offer value independently—consulting, coaching, writing, designing, etc.

Step 2: Identify Income Streams

• Think about which services or skills people are willing to pay for.
  
• Explore part-time roles, freelance gigs, speaking, or online teaching options.

Step 3: Start Small

• Begin with a side hustle or freelance project while still employed.
  
• Test the waters before leaping into a multi-stream career unless you just lost your job and need to start NOW!

Step 4: Set Up Business Basics

• Create a separate email address, website or portfolio, and invoicing system. I have only worked on a retainer basis for several years after learning the hard way with clients who did not pay.

My emails are custom Gmails, and I have the entire Google Workspace available with every basic tool I need, and the price is right.

If you are tech-savvy, you can build a website on Wix or Squarespace. I am mainly a fangirl of WordPress, though I have been tinkering on the backend of WordPress for years. I have learned much about SEO and keywords (hence the bonus for my resume and LinkedIn clients). My new favorite Rank Math SEO platform is available for WordPress websites.

Reading articles on WPBeginner is a great place to compare and contrast different website platforms. Your choice of a website hosting platform can make or break whether you have a pleasant or frustrating experience.

• If needed, register an LLC or business name to formalize your work. You can take free workshops and get free mentoring from your local SCORE chapter. Not only have I been mentored by SCORE, but I have been on the Speaker’s Bureau since 2013. Check out my upcoming speaking events, and learn with me!

Setting up an LLC in Pennsylvania and filing fictitious name filings on two news outlets is easy. Ensure that when you get your Tax ID number, you ONLY use a .gov website.

If you are starting as a solopreneur and need to track your income and expenses and keep your costs down by not using subscription online bookkeeping platforms, I have a solution for you!

I have an awesome VA who can build you an amazing Google Sheets (or Excel) system for a one-time fee. You can copy and paste it year after year.

This system was customized to my needs and has saved me thousands of dollars. My tax prep guy told me I should teach people how to do their tax prep as I make it easy for him to plug in my numbers! Ha! Imagine that!

Step 5: Market Yourself Strategically

• Update your résumé and LinkedIn to reflect your multiple roles.
  
  
• Create a personal brand that ties together your services under a common thread.

Know that it’s okay to have a mix of W-2 and 1099 income, or have multiple part-time W-2 jobs, or multiple 1099 sources of revenue. You do what works for you.

Step 6: Build Your Network

• Let your network know you’re available for new opportunities. Join supportive communities to learn and network, like the Great Careers Network and the Thought Leadership Branding Club.
  
  
• Attend in-person and online events, post content on LinkedIn, and stay visible. Commenting on LinkedIn can create visibility, discoverability, and credibility. Comment with 13 words or more BEFORE you click that one-click thumbs up bottom.

If you can, spend 15 minutes or so a day commenting before you create your own post. If you can, don’t post more than once in an 18-24 hour period. I do not follow all the suggestions I have learned about, but I try when I can.

Step 7: Manage Your Time

• Use project management tools or calendars to track tasks across income streams. Trello and Asana are easy to use, and I am excited to learn about some new AI tools with upcoming speakers (see below).

I love being able to color-code my Google calendar, including adding time-blocking for productivity or time open to reserve for client meetings. It all syncs with my Calendly scheduler.

• Prioritize based on client needs, revenue goals, and personal fulfillment. Ah! My personal fulfillment is living out my #DisneyNerd and enjoying my annual pass and my daughter’s Disney Vacation Club (DVC). It’s my

How to Present a Portfolio Career on LinkedIn

1. Update Your Headline

Instead of one title, show your versatility. Craft a standout LinkedIn headline that reflects all that you do.

2. Add Roles to the Experience Section

• Use multiple entries to showcase your different roles, group them under a single business name if they’re related, or create LinkedIn company pages for your different facets or roles under your company page.
  
• Example:
  
  • Your Company Name
    
    
    • Role 1
      
      Role 2
      
    • Role 3

3. Tell Your Story in the “About” Section

Explain how your different roles connect. Make your About section skimmable and scannable, and include your contact links at the bottom for people who are not yet connected to you. Make it easy to do business.

4. Post Content Consistently

Share updates, tips, behind-the-scenes stories, or client wins. Let people see the variety in your career. Here are 57 LinkedIn post ideas.

5. Use a Custom Banner

Highlight your services and keywords with a clean, branded banner. Here are some step-by-step instructions to get you started on Canva in less than a half hour, even if you are not a graphic designer.

Final Thoughts

Portfolio careers are not just a trend—they reflect how modern professionals want to work. With a bit of planning, courage, and creativity, you can build a career that is uniquely yours.

And if you ever want to brainstorm ideas or explore how your skills can turn into income streams, I’m just a Calendly Book a Call away, and I will add Zoom!

Did you read the article from last week? How to Keep Your Side Hustle on the Down Low While Working a W-2

NEXT STEPS

• Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn™ for bright ideas on how to manage your career.
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UPCOMING EVENTS

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• Tue Apr 22 – LinkedIn for Nonprofits
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• Wed Apr 23 – Beating the Applicant Tracking System
• Thu Apr 24 – Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
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• Thu Apr 24 – What do you do when you can’t do what you used to do?
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• Mon Apr 28 – Immigrant Professionals Career Support: Get Ready for Your Interview