I’m a career “Slasher”, are you????

Attitudes towards this growing phenomenon amongst employers are proving fascinating…… a recent report says that our concepts of work and employment are going to have to change with organizations relying more on a small core workforce supplemented by an army of temporary or project workers. Portfolio workers typically are self motivated, self starters and reliable. They have to be as they will not survive unless they are excellent time managers and organizers. DR BARRIE HOPSON, “And What Do You Do?: 10 Steps to Creating a Portfolio Career”

I’m a SLASHER, are you?

While “slasher” might conjure up images of those bad ’80′s horror movies, the term has been reinvented to mean self-employed people who are pursuing “portfolio careers”, deriving their income from various part-time or freelance jobs. 

Recently I have come across more and more people who like myself, cannot answer the question “what do you do for a living”? in a simple sentence.  

In fact this could be the fastest growing segment of workers – people pursuing multiple career paths in sometimes unrelated fields. This trend is especially strong amongst the 40+ plus crowd and recent college graduates (I happen to be both) – there are various terms used for this emerging career segment -

• “Slasher”
• “Multipotentials 
• “Portfolio Worker”. 

“Slasher” is by far the most commonly used term and was coined by author Marci Alboher, in her 2007 book “One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success”.  

In my case, my career portfolio includes:

• Consulting with small to medium size companies on marketing and creative initiatives. 
• Interior design work.
• Design and deployment of digital projects.
• Writing and blogging.
• Freelance Producer. 

And although I would like to find a full time career opportunity that I love, I will admit that in the meantime I am enjoying the flexibility of being able to take off at a moments notice for a job anywhere in the world, and the variety that this path offers. I don’t enjoy the instability or the fact that I have to fend for myself on things like healthcare Insurance and retirement . 

There are several reasons why professional “slashers” are pursuing this new and somewhat unorthodox career track.

• The economy, If you have lost your good paying job, and you just can’t find another job that provides a decent income, but you can cobble together an income with several jobs.
• Career transitions, if you are moving into a new career, doing part time, volunteer or internships allows you to gain some experience in a new field.
• You are NOT a 9 – 5 person and corporate culture does not suit you.
• Entrepreneur - if you are starting a new venture it’s great to keep your day job while the new takes off – especially in the early stages of a new venture.
• Seasonal jobs - you are in great demand as Mrs. Claus but in the warmer months you do something else.
• Working in varied jobs keeps people relevant and constantly learning.
• Diversification of income is a way to protect yourself in this volatile economy. As someone who got laid off in early 2009 at the height of the economic meltdown, I can tell you that loosing all of your income in one day is like getting sucker punched in the gut AND getting the rug pulled out from under you.
• Doing jobs you love, but can’t afford to do full time, pro-bono or volunteering.
• Entering your second act – if you are an older professional it’s a nice way to transition into retirement while staying active and engaged.
• Looking for more fulfillment or meaning in work, working towards your ‘dream’ job”.

Challenges include:

• Focus, it’s tougher to focus on one thing and be GREAT at it.
• Having an “easy” elevator pitch.
• The switch is never “off”.
• Steady income and, security (but honestly in today’s environment is there such thing as job security anymore???)
• Finding time for yourself and a balanced life.

Opportunities for Slashers

Recruiters will tell you to focus your experience in one area because potential employers don’t want a “jack of all trades” and “master of none”, and personal branding experts insist that you must define your singular brand with a unique focus, but I think it might be time to re-think that notion. 

Being a “Slasher” might imply to employers that you lack depth of knowledge, but today, most jobs require us to “wear many hats”, perhaps being able to adapt and have a wider skill set might be a good thing?  What’s interesting is that we are seeing that more progressive companies like Google embrace the “slash” careerist, instead of the traditional “subject matter expert”. 

In the creative millieu of my career, I don’t know too many people who describe themselves as just “Writers” or “Guitarist” or “Directors”, in fact most people I know professionally are “slash” careerist, that is a good thing, because often crossing the boundaries of disciplines can lead to something new and unexpected.

Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else. Leonardo da Vinci

The original “slash” careerist

It was after all, in one of the greatest periods of human advancement and “rebirth” of the arts, politics and intellect aka the European Renaissance that the polymath genius of DaVinci, Michelangelo, Copernicus and Gallileo where venerated. The very term “Renaissance Man” refers to a person who is skilled in multiple disciplines – hence the modern day “slash” careerist.

This trend will no doubt continue, and we should encourage polymaths/“slash” careerist because it is this kind of thinking that will lead to future innovations, entrepreneurship, growth and perhaps an American Renaissance. 

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1. Accelerating with a Career Coach
2. Where are the opportunities in the “New Normal” economy
3. What roads lead to career and life reinvention?
4. Potential Career Niches to Survive the Recession
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