Treat Your Career Like a Portfolio, Not a Resume

Linear career paths are a thing of the past.

Anna Burgess Yang
Index

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pop art illustration of a winding path through a forest
Image created via Midjourney

For generations, careers have been a ladder to climb.

You start at the bottom, grab each rung, and pull yourself up until you reach the top. You might slip and fall back a bit (like a layoff) or skip a few rungs with a promotion. Or maybe you get stuck somewhere in the middle and stay there. But overall, the task was straight and known.

Moreover, your chosen ladder was your chosen ladder. Forever. Forty years of working, going up and down on a single ladder.

Careers aren’t like that anymore. Nor do they always take place in a traditional office or corporate environment. As a result, you should think of your career as a collection of knowledge, experiences, and skills, whether you need to submit that next resume… or strike out on your own.

If you think of your career as a portfolio — a representation of all of your accomplishments — you’ll be better poised to control your career’s direction or handle any curveball thrown your way.

Non-linear careers are the future of work

The career ladder has disappeared in part due to rapidly changing technology. Entire industries have to reinvent themselves. Print…

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