7 Ways to Build Your Executive Portfolio
Moving to the executive-level is not as simple as having an executive CV or executive resume. You need to position yourself for that move. If you’ve been lucky enough to have progressive roles and mentors to prepare, great. But you may not be in that position. There are ways to expand your professional portfolio to help you move up the corporate ladder. While you might be focused on getting an internal job, there are options outside of your company that you may not have considered.
If you are already at a senior level, you may feel that you’ve reached a plateau and are unsure of how to develop yourself further. Here are some things you can do. Choose two or three options and get started.
Join a board. One of the best ways to up level your career is to join a board – nonprofit, private, or public. You can list your interest in joining a board on LinkedIn, but that's not going to take you very far. You need to network and become known among top company leaders. One resource for doing just that is BoardProspects, which is like LinkedIn but exclusively for aspiring corporate directors.
Assume a community leadership role. Schools, religious organizations, and nonprofits are often in need of volunteers to offer their expertise. The marketing or sales skills that you use at work could be beneficial to fundraising or enhancing participation in an organization. Volunteering could turn into a role as chairman or secretary of an organization. In addition, you can get involved in organizations in your field or another area of interest, and look into chairing committees for local, regional, or national conferences. Not only will these positions give you experience to add to your resume, but you will also meet other professionals who can help you.
Perform pro bono work. If you are passionate about a certain cause you can offer to do pro bono work. Organizations are always looking for outside expertise and help to further their goals. This gives you additional credibility in your field and you can commit to whatever amount of time you are able. This may open up unexpected possibilities for the future, either with other organizations, nonprofit boards, or create a path to the career transition you’ve been looking for.
Become a mentor. Along the lines of sharing your knowledge with organizations or causes, you may want to serve as a mentor. There are mentorship programs for entrepreneurs, young professionals, women, and others that are always looking for mentors. Some groups offer more formal programs than others and vary based on location. Search online and contact your local chamber of commerce to find out about such opportunities.
Teach. You’ve built up years of invaluable expertise on the job, so why not share it with students? Check out local colleges and universities to find out how to become a lecturer. Look at current openings, and if you don’t see anything relevant to your background, contact the head of the department that you are targeting or the school’s administration to find out how to become a lecturer.
Identify speaking engagements. As a panel moderator or speaker at a conference, you expound on your area of expertise and thus become better known by others in your field. This is a great way to increase your professional reach and enhance your network. If you don’t already know of some, search for events and conferences in your industry and reach out to the organizers to propose a brief chat.
Write. Much like taking on speaking engagements, writing can also position you as a specialist or thought leader. Start small by considering local publications where you may be able to successfully pitch an article topic. Then consider trade magazines that may value your insights. Propose an article on a recent trend in your field and offer your perspective on it.
Don’t limit your potential by only thinking about what you can do inside your company. If you have your eyes on personal growth, take the time to invest in some activities that will help you advance. This can take on many forms, and allow you to become better known in your field and grow your network for potential opportunities down the road.