The Engineering Behind a World Wonder

The Engineering Behind a World Wonder The Engineering Behind a World Wonder The Engineering Behind a World WonderWonders of the World are usually so classified for a reason They defy easy explanation. The Pyramids. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Colossus of Rhodes. The average person simply cannot fathom how fellow humans, let alone ancient fellow humans lacking modern technology, were able to create such stunning monuments to the human spirit. The rock city of Petra, and particularly The Treasury, building - or Al Khazneh as it welches called for nearly two millennia before being discovered by the Western world in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who disguised himself as a Bedouin to gain access is a young Wonder. Named to the New Wonders of the World list in 2007, it is known to most people as the scene of the climax of the hit movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crustschs, in which it is portrayed as the location of the legendary Holy Grail. However, in reality , it welches built possibly as early as the fifth century BCE by the Nabataeans, a culture of traders who established the city and its Greek-themed architecture as a sort of welcoming overture to their primary trading partners in the Mediterranean. But as with all wonders, when studied closely, it turns out there is a great deal of engineering behind what the eye marvels at. The question has been asked time and again How did they do it? says Dr. Glenn Corbett, Associate Director of the American Center of Oriental Research in Amman, Jordan. What were the techniques they used to do it, particularly when you see the massive size when youre standing at the foot of one of these buildings. Petras open-air theater provided seating for over 6,000 people. Image Wikimedia Commons It turns out that in a world where gas-powered machinery and high-tech cutting instruments were millennia away, it took some incredible ingenuity and problem-solving to get the job done. One of the things that weve d iscovered relatively recently is that it was determined that for these rock-cut facades, and not just Al Khazneh or The Treasury, all of these were not sculpted from the bottom up, but rather from the top down, says Corbett. They the stonecutters would identify presumably the surface in the mountain that they thought was ideal for the faade that they wanted to create, and presumably they did have engineers and architects who had pre-planned what they wanted these facades to look like. Once the rock was selected by the engineers of the day and the site decided upon, the construction itself could take place, which may be the most intriguing aspect of the Petra story. They would then climb to the necessary level, to identify where the top of the rock-cut monument would be, and gradually, with teams of stonemasons, would carve an initial ledge in the rock, and they would sort of shave away an initial, almost blank faade in the rock, Corbett says. That would become essentially the blank canvas from which they would work. From there, the expert, detailed carving and shaping of the structures in the soft sandstone could begin, ledge by ledge down to the bottom, a painstaking job, particularly considering the tools of the day they had to work with. Mostly these would have been pickaxes, different types of chisels, and hand axes, says Corbett, resulting in a construction time of at least three to four years for Al Khazneh in his estimation. One aspect of the city that may surprise many modern observers was the builders focus on sustainability. While certainly not influenced by the concept in its 21st century sense, the builders were very concerned with reusing materials and with eliminating waste. The Nabataeans were actually very efficient in how they used all of this quarried stone. Much of the stone that was used to sculpt out Al Khazneh and other monuments was actually used throughout Petra in real buildings, says Corbett. So the massive, monumental blocks that the y used to build the large temples and the large civic buildings, many of those would have been quarried out from the excavation of Al Khazneh and other monuments. To many, Petra and its iconic Treasury building (most likely intended as a tomb in actuality) will always be the place where Indy went to face down the Nazis and rescue the holy grail from evil. Thats what Hollywood magic will do. But perhaps the next time this iconic scene plays out in this iconic movie, viewers will give some extra thought to the extraordinary feats of engineering that made it all possible. For Further DiscussionThe question has been asked time and again How did they do it?Dr. Glenn Corbett, Associate Director, American Center of Oriental Research

How to Cut Small Talk and Get to the Point Faster - The Muse

How to Cut Small Talk and Get to the Point Faster - The MuseHow to Cut Small Talk and Get to the Point Faster If youve ever been asked for a favor, you probably know the pointless small talk conversation that leads up to the ask. Im sure Im not the only one whos scheduled a coffee meeting for something that could have been just as easily dealt with in three emails. Or wasted hours on back-and-forth emailing when a phone call with an explicit question wouldve been a heck of a lot quicker. As a designer who regularly takes on side work, its hard for me to decipher which projects are worth taking- for a variety of reasons. A potential client might have a cheap price point, a tight deadline, or not even know exactly what hes asking for. And while he negotiates those details aloud, our conversation slows to a crawl.When its obvious someones taking his time with his ask, I sometimes wish I could boldly say Just tell me what you want But lets be honest I dont want to come off as abrupt or c old, so I let the conversation inch its way forward. But what if there was a way you could get to the good stuff without being so brusque? As Marc Khlbrugge points out in this short piece on Medium, the majority of cases can be handled with just one question. According to him, you only need these four words to take a conversational shortcut, skip to the good part, and get things done How can I help? This is a clever move for two reasons. One, youre genuinely offering to help, which allows you to be both polite and forthright. And two, the question forces the person to articulate what exactly he wants- so you can know immediately if you can do the favor for him or not (and where to go from there).And aside from the bonus of skipping all the small talk, trying out this question has also saved me phone calls and in-person meetings- during which I would have reached the same conclusions anyway. This question gets to the meat of the problem, which means someone like me, who needs all the details to do a good job, can rest assured she wont be cutting any corners or risk leaving important information on the table. Do you use any conversation shortcuts you use to save yourself time? Tweet me your ideas at caroqliu

4 ways to make sure your next meeting doesnt go wildly off track

4 ways to make sure your next meeting doesnt go wildly off track4 ways to make sure your next meeting doesnt go wildly off trackIn a world with so many meetings that its hard to keep up with your work, youll need to do everything in your power to make sure that the next one you facilitate doesnt get derailed. With boredom levels raging and the need for some people to inevitably hear themselves talk, the vermgen for distraction from the gatherings real purpose is high.Heres how to run a meeting that wont follow this pattern.Give participants an agendaParticipants should have a crystal clear picture of the meetings goal, and what it will take to achieve it.Run your meetings like the ones at Amazon, where CEO Jeff Bezosreportedly has participants read through memosat the beginning of some meetings.You should also follow Elon Musks lead by making sure that employees contribute instead of staying silent, and that therea s clear reason for the gathering.Be upfront with the materials, like Mark ZuckerbergHint it involves getting the technical stuff out of the way first.Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org, spilled the beans on Quora in 2015 on how Mark Zuckerberg reportedly runs meetings at Facebook.Mark has done a really good job improving the efficiency of meetings at Facebook this year. He asks people to send materials in advance so we can use the time for discussion and we try to be clear about our goal when we sit down for a meeting - are we in the room to make a decision or to have a discussion? Sandberg wrote.Use this line when participants drone on, and on and onSomeone has to put an end to it.Bob Pozen, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, senior fellow at Brookings Institute, and author of Extreme Productivity, tells the Harvard Business Reviewabout how to get people back on track if they talk for too long during a meeting.If two or three people bring up things that are contiguous but not really related, the meeting can degene rate, he tells the publication.Pozen also suggests that you try and find out whats really going on instead of suggesting that theyre making the meeting get off track on purpose by saying something like, youve diverted us several times. Is there somethings that bothering you?Dont break without recapping the main pointsYoull need to tie up all the loose ends.LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner writes on the platform about what to do before you go.Dont end the meeting without summarizing key conclusions, action items, and points of accountability for delivering on next steps. This summary is usually the first thing to suffer if the meeting has run long and people start running off to their next scheduled event. However, its arguably the single most important thing youll do at the meeting (and is ostensibly the reason for the meeting to begin with). Have the discipline to ensure attendees sit tight and remain focused while next steps are being discussed and agreed to, he writes.Dont let your meeti ngsfall by the wayside.

Five Tips for Finding Seasonal Workers

Five Tips for Finding Seasonal WorkersFive Tips for Finding Seasonal WorkersFive Tips for Finding Seasonal Workers Training CornerIts that time of the year again, and you need to hire a team of hourly employeesto fill your seasonal hiring needs. As usual, youre multi-tasking and juggling too many projects and cant find the time to start engaging in the hiring process. But the fact is it needs to be a priority, even in the current economy.Keep in mind that you are competing for top talent with organizations across the spectrum, so competition is fierce. So, what is the best approach? There are a myriad of articles and opinions on the subject, and many of them have very helpful advice. In this article, the approach is a straightforward one. What five tips should be top of mind when attracting top talent in your peak business season?Hire your own customers.Really, who best to hire than the people who already know and love you? Although often overlooked, enticing your own customers to be come employees can be a fantastic source of seasonal workers. They will most likely have some knowledge of your brand and products and will be excited to talk about them. This is also a fairly easy audience to reach since you can openly advertise in your establishment (whether that is online and/or offline) and you can speak directly to them. An effective strategy could be to advertise your policy to offer employee discounts on your merchandise, which is especially attractive during the holiday season.Start before others.Have your strategy clearly outlined and already be posting positions as early as 3-4 months in advance of your seasonal need. This will only help you build a more extensive pipeline of candidates, and will ensure that you make contact with those qualified candidates before other organizations seeking seasonal workers. Employers and managers who believe that the current employment conditions mean that they dont have to worry about starting the process early will inev itably find themselves scrambling to hire this will undoubtedly affect the quality of who they hire.Be direct and specific in how you write your job description. This piece of advice does indeed apply to every job description, whether they are seasonal or not. But it is especially important to give as many details as possible when hiring for these types of positions. Be very specific about the nature of the job, the organization, the schedule (flexible or not?), the skills that you are looking for in candidates, even the attitude that you are seeking. Also describe any incentives that the position has. If you believe that the job could lead to something permanent in the future, mention it. The saatkorn rules apply to anything that could be construed as negative. If the job has some elements that might not be appealing to some, it is better to make that information available from the start. This way, youll avoid wasting your time and money down the line. To help get you started, chec k out basic Retail Salesperson Job Description and Retail Store Manager Job Description.Ask existing employees for referrals.Loyal and hard working employees often know like-minded people. Generally speaking, they will be inclined to bring people they would want to work as potential candidates, and that usually translates to strong employees. Why not give them an incentive to do so? Consider starting an employee referral programthat gives them a small bonus at the end of the season for each employee that successfully works throughout the time period in question. Or if you have an employee discount program, how about augmenting it for every successful employee they bring to the organization? Try to think of the current employees you have and understand what might be particularly motivating to them.Attract retirees. Retirees are becoming a more and more attractive option for seasonal work, especially as the baby boom generation continues to enter this milestone. They offer a diverse c andidate pool with extensive work experience, one that is generally open to flexible work arrangementsand ever-changing tasks. They are also a group that, health allowing, may return for more than one season, which may not be the case for a large number of college students who will likely move on once they graduate. If youre not already thinking of ways to target this group, start now.Regardless of the economic situation or the state of hiring, finding talented seasonal hourly employees with the right skills is always difficult to do. They will be the face of your organization during your busiest times, so make sure to give this task the attention it deserves.

Standard Resume Template Fundamentals Explained

Standard Resume Template Fundamentals Explained Youll locate cover letters obtainable for a myriad of different jobs in various formats. To begin with, it must be in a position to make a jaw-dropping summary near the top of page one. Your resumes are going to have properly aligned bullet points that make it simple for recruiters to rapidly scan through and pick out the critical elements in your document. The issue is that, while templates may provide you a simple format outline, it doesnt tell you exactly what to actually write in it or how to write it. Put yourself in somebody elses place and imagine that youve got to sort through a lot of distinct resumes. There is bedrngnis anybody set correct means to gather a resume. There are a lot of distinct rules to follow and so many possibilities to create a job-costing mistake. Theres no opportunity to be spineless and search for an excuse not to do what you know you have to do. The Debate Over Standard Resume Template There are not any set rules to writing a resume but theres certain information thats regarded as essential that needs to be included. On the exact same note, there are a few dos and donts you should bear in mind. There are at least hundreds of free resume cover letter examples on the web. Furthermora one of the benefits of a printed copy is that it is possible to highlight areas which you feel may need more work and also make notes on the true page. A Startling Fact about Standard Resume Template Uncovered It is possible to carry on reading in case you do not understand how to write one which is very professional and also will get you quite several jobs. The educational experience also needs to be clear and concise. Legitimate, professional resume writing services might not be for everybody, but they do help a terrific deal of job seekers. Bear in mind, free resume templates are made to grab your attention, not the interest of the folks who actually matter, like hiring managers an d recruiters. Hiring managers want to understand what youve already done for your prior employers. Many of the folks who seek jobs do not however understand the value of a resume. If you would like to change jobs or even when you need to get started searching for one, the most essential thing you will need is a resume. Customized Your Resume There are several distinct kinds of jobs that folks are applying for. Keep learning about the industry you need a job in and know whatever you can about not merely the company who youre seeking work from but their competitors also. So not only must you to submit the work application but in addition a resume with this. You need your resume to best reflect your abilities and experience and your capacity to be in a position to do the job which you are applying for. When applying for most jobs, you would incorporate all your previous work experience, no matter whether its pertinent to your existing career targets. Benefits of Resume Templa tes The templates are helpful because it is going to help you to make a professional resume even in case you dont have the idea about formatting a customized resume which could incorporate all the crucial info. To discover almost all photos within Useful Standard Resume Template photos gallery make certain you abide by that internet page connection. Jobseekers frequently underestimate the significance of resume covers. The Meaning of Standard Resume Template Compiling a resume can be a tough activity but doing so is generally critical for obtaining nearly any sort of job. Because it doesnt just provides the employer a quick introduction of your but also tells that how you are able to be reached. Most likely its the very same as it welches in 2015, but there are a few changes you want to understand. Developing a nursing resume is difficult, notably since there arent any rules. Youre basically searching the world wide web but without needing to open an online browser window. When you use a desktop program, youre able to search thousands of sites simultaneously. So should you need help, dont be scared to perform a simple Google search and find yourself some expert assistance. If youre searching for a free resume template its probably likely to be in your very best interest to take what you like from a couple of different examples and, create your own customized resume template that youll be in a position to easily merge with your present content. Sometimes youll need to pay some sum of money for your resume. There is a variety of of resume templates readily available online and youre able to select the one which is suitable for your need. You will locate a lot of different free resume templates to select from. You will receive results from all over the world. Generally, you would use a functional resume in case you have held several jobs, providing you the chance to list your wisdom and skills connected with each. Job searching is never enjoyable and can be frustrating sometimes. Spending just a little money to acquire a great job and become employed where you need to be does not matter at the conclusion of the day as its for your own good.

The Essentials of Email with Resume You Will be Able to Benefit From Starting Today

The Essentials of Email with Resume You Will be Able to Benefit From Starting Today A Secret Weapon for Email with Resume Dont use HTML or other formatting options as you dont know which schmelzglas client is used by the recruiter. Write the content of the email in a distinct document first It is highly advisable to compose your letter in another Word document first rather than typing this up on the authentic email client in 1 go. Most email companies make it simple to attach a document. Prevent any formatting in the resume email text If you would like your email to be read, it is wise to remove all of the formatting. The Fight Against Email with Resume You probably wont find a great deal of on-line transcription jobs that do not need the submission of a resume. Engineering CVs have quite straightforward format. It is always advised for candidates to send emails according to the employers preference. The significance of producing a resume for transcription jobs cant be em phasized enough. New Questions About Email with Resume Youre going to observe an ideal email titel letter sample. Send a duplicate of the message to yourself, and to the company, and that means you own a copy for your records. Even in the event you craft the ideal email to send a resume, its still true that you require a killer cover letter. Sending an email is cost-free, it doesnt take a stamp, see the post office or a visit to the organization youre applying for. The Chronicles of Email with Resume You may also add an email signature featuring your contact information so the recruiter can observe how to get hold of you at a glance. Just try to earn the email really short and easy, so the employer could read the email easily. Be mindful in regards to the time you opt to send your resume email. Since, when the email is set, theres not any way you could take it back. Your resume email must be short and sweet. The email you send is the very first thing they see so that it is crucial to receive it right. Top Choices of Email with Resume When you send an email to possible employer, make sure its flawless when it has to do with the spelling and the grammar aspect. As a consequence, the email ought to be short and easy and ought to be in point. Your email ought to be simple to read, and achieving that effect includes practice. Writing a perfect resume email is merely a fraction of all of the situations you must keep in mind before you click send.

Career Prospects for the Class of 2019

Career Prospects for the Class of 2019Career Prospects for the Class of 2019CAREER PROSPECTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2019Senior managers were asked, How likely is it that your company will hire new college graduates in 2019?41% Very likely42% Somewhat likely13% Somewhat unlikely5% Very unlikelyResponses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.Cities where companies are most likely to hire new college graduates1 Miami2 Raleigh3 Austin4 Pittsburgh5 Los Angeles6 Nashville7 Charlotte8 Houston9 Des Moines10 ClevelandBenefits of hiring new graduates35% Enthusiasm about starting a new career28% Fresh perspectives and ideas18% Ability to learn and be trained16% Strong technical skills3% Other

No Idea How to Start Networking These 5 Tips Will Help You Get Going

No Idea How to Start Networking These 5 Tips Will Help You Get GoingNo Idea How to Start Networking These 5 Tips Will Help You Get GoingWhen youre hunting for a job, theres no better shortcut than having an in at the company youre approaching. After all, the business world stands and falls on relationships. If youre ever felt like all successful people know each other, you werent too far from the truth. But what if you dont know how to start networking?Once you know the right people, only sky is the limit. But how can you become a member of that secret group?1. Make friends, not networking connectionsWould you want to work with someone who only sees you as a networking connection? Probably not. No one wants to be taken as a mere stepping stone on your way to getting what you want. And you probably dont want to see yourself as a networker either.As the old saying goes When money is involved, everyones a liar. As a result, most people in the business sector have developed a keen nose f or people full of bull. People want to foster reliable relationships, not utilitarian connections. If you approach people with the latter kind of attitude, you will often come across as disingenuous.You already know how to network.Whats my advice then? These are real people, just as we are. Always think of them as multifaceted human beings with their own problems and motivations (and then try to help them solve their problems). Dont forget - you already know how to network. Youve been building relationships all your life. Now use the saatkorn skills to intentionally build relationships with a bunch of highly interesting, creative, and successful people.Dont be all about business. Foster meaningful relationships.Be different, upbeat, cheerful, yet professional. Have a good vibe about yourself.Make conversations about them, not yourself.Know your boundaries. Never hard sell.Try to understand their problems first. Youll learn something valuable and itll pay off later.2. Beginwith peop le you already knowYou dont need to meet new people to start networkingeffectively. Actually, you probably already know some people who might help you out - even if they dont work in your target industry.If youre a fresh graduate, you can always turn to your friends and family. Since they already know you and trust you, theyre much more likely to help you out than complete strangers.they already know you and trust you.Find your universitys alumni database and look for people in your field. Reach out to them and ask them for short interviews to get advice on your career. Since youve studied at the same university, you probably have many things in common already. Still, try to find the ones who have background similar to yours. For instance, maybe youre an expat from the US whos looking for a marketing job in France. Trust me - if you find someone with a similar story, therell be a special bond.Also, dont forget about people who have given you guidance before. Perhaps youve had univ ersity professors who took you under their wings. Or senior co-workers from your brde job who taught you a great deal. Update them on where youre in life at the moment and ask them to meet and catch up over coffee.Once youve reached to the people you already know, you can expand to their acquaintances and finally strangers once the process becomes second nature.3. When approaching someone new, find a way to help them firstIf someones worth approaching, their time is probably more valuable than yours. Take Bill Gates, for instance. He earns $114 per second hes alive. Its literally not worth his time to pick a dropped $100 from the ground. Imagine the audacity of asking him for 5 minutes of his time.Even when youre not approaching the wealthiest man in the world, never assume their time or advice comes free of charge. This could easily close the door for you indefinitely. For this reason, you want to want to provide your network with value first.Never assume their time or advice comes free of charge.It doesnt really matter whether youre a fresh graduate or someone with years of experience under your belt. Research the company/person youre approaching and find something small to contribute. Dont forget its not only about being actually useful, its also about making the gesture.Most importantly, do it without expecting anything in return. If you get rejected anyway, dont show disappointment. Next time will be better.In any case, once youve established a new contact by providing something valuable, dont ask for a favour straight away. For the time being, its all about them you need to invest your time and effort first. Dont worry, it will pay off eventually - sometimes in the most unexpected ways.4. Follow up. Dont let your relationships collect dustMost connectionshave an expiration date. Some networkers reach out to someone and as soon as they get what they want, they disappear until they need something again. Dont be that person and keep your relationships aliv e by reaching out to your contacts regularly. Once you disappear off their radar, youll be easily forgotten, the trust youve built will diminish, and youll have to start again from scratch.Moreover, you always want to follow up on your previous meetings and emails. Never forget to thank them for their help or advice. If you discussed any further steps with your contact, reaffirm your intention to follow through and thank them specifically for anything they have offered to do.5. Never ask for a job directly. Ask for advice and information instead.Why? After all, you might feel like you dont really need more information. It can even seem counterproductive. Still, when you simply ask for adviceYou dont put them in an awkward position. After all, they dont know you, theyll naturally hesitate to recommend you for a job. When youre being too pushy, you destroy opportunities that could arise later down the line.You dont look like you want others to solve your problems for you.When you ask for advice, you make an impression of someone who wants to learn and improve. Most people are eagerto help those who are already grappling with a problem on their own.Theyll get to know you better.If you show yourself as a likeable and dependable person, they might even recommend you for a job in the end.This brings me to my last point. As you have probably already figured out, networking is not about getting what you want. It revolves entirely around building a network of inspiring relationships that can lead you to the most unexpected of places. Who knows, instead of getting what you want,youmight even get into situations youd consider too good to be true. Thats the magic of having a network of great relationships.Few more tipsUpdate your LinkedIn profile. It will be the first place your contact will look once youve contacted them. At the same time, LinkedIn is like a speed dating site for professionals. You might get noticed even if youre not looking for something new.Establish n ew contacts both online and offline. Dont be just an anonymous email - be a friendly face. On the other hand, dont forget to develop a robust online presence.Dont limit your outreach to people who are obviously connected to your target industry. This will greatly limit the opportunities youll find.Dont be a hater. Dont say anything negative. Never badmouth your previous employers or colleagues. Youll be seen as a negative person and quickly dismissed by your potential contacts. Remember that negativity doesnt build trust.Sit with the right company. When youre at social gatherings, dont sit with your co-workers and get to know new people. If you never roam outside of your social circles, youll never get further than where youre now.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

The Rise of the Portfolio Career

The Rise of the Portfolio CareerThe Rise of the Portfolio CareerThe Rise of the Portfolio CareerThe prospect of a career for life is one that is sadly in decline these days. Unless you set out in life with the dream of becoming a doctor, a teacher, a carpenter or similar, chances are you end up stumbling across your career a bit further down the line. After all, with so many different jobs out there, its virtually impossible to know exactly what you want to do when you leave school and consider which course to take at college or university.Courtesy www.cio.co.nzIf youre anything like me, you took a degree in a subject that interested you at the time. It wasnt until I started my degree that I really discovered what I liked and didnt like and even then, I had no fixed career in my mind. When I was at university, it was drummed into me that you need to know what you want to do and find a job that is secure and work your way up within it. This wasnt something that ever appealed to me but I followed the advice I was given.Ive managed to carve a good career path. All my roles have fit nicely together and I have progressed as Ive moved from job to job but I never found that career for life. Ive worked on many short-term contracts and worked freelance as well as working for big organisations. Im all about variety and change and I wouldnt enjoy being in a single profession forever. That is why Im so interested in the rise of the portfolio career.A portfolio career is a varied, flexible approach to work which allows people to focus on different skills and enjoyments. We dont all fit nicely into a career box and a portfolio career is a wonderful way of allowing people to work on a number of different things that they are passionate about. These can be a number of part-time jobs, freelance work, short-term contracts and small businesses. It creates a career that is varied, flexible and that makes use of all of a persons skills and experiences.Portfolio careers are enjoyed by people in a number of industries and indeed may cross over between industries. They are a popular option for creatives and people in the medical professions who enjoy a number of different elements of their work. This approach allows them to combine all of the things they enjoy rather than just focusing on one aspect.Pros and cons of a portfolio careerAdvantages of a portfolio careerThis is no doubt that a portfolio career will give you more variety than a traditional single career. Portfolio careers became popular in the recession when working on several jobs was a necessity for some, rather than a choice. The difficulty in finding work forced people to take several part-time jobs or to take on contracted work alongside existing employment. However, since then it has become a lifestyle choice for many who enjoy the variety and freedom to try a number of different things as Ive already mentioned.This option also allows a greater amount of flexibility and freedom. Rather than bein g tied down to one job, someone with a portfolio career can choose their contracts and tailor their work so that they only do the bits they enjoy. Short-term or freelance contracts mean that work is forever changing and allowing the development of new skills. It also creates more flexibility and so is popular amongst parents and part-time workers who are aiming for a work-life balance that cannot be achieved in a full-time job with regular hours.Disadvantages of a portfolio careerMany people considering a portfolio career will be worried about job security. Its true that finding work will be a big factor. If contracts are short-term or freelance, you will have to make sure that you are on the ball and have work lined up for when your current work ends. Without a long-term contract, you can be left vulnerable but the beauty of a portfolio career is that if one source of income dries up, you will have several more to fall back on. After all, how secure are jobs these days? Even people on a long-term contract can be made redundant and are at the mercy of someone else. With a portfolio career, you are creating your own work and you have the power to make sure that being out of pocket isnt an option.Finding your own work requires discipline and motivation. This could be a daunting factor for some people. However, with the option to utilise all your skills, not just those youve honed in your current career, you should have lots of options. It can also be very difficult to express yourself on a CV when you have been involved in so many different kinds of work. A traditional, chronological CV would not do justice to someone with a portfolio career and you will need alternative ways to express your career history. Fear not though, you can always search forresume writing services or hire a professional to write your CV for you.