Recruiters are failing to exploit the growing market for executives pursuing so-called ‘portfolio careers’.

According to Garry Sharp, director of the Independent Directors Advisory Service (IDDAS), there is a growing need for careers guidance for independent executives who, rather than work full-time, follow short-term projects at different companies or sit as non-executives on a number of companies’ boards.

Although there is an established market for both non-executive and interim manager recruitment, most executives find work through networking or colleagues they have worked with on projects before, rather than using recruitment agencies, added Sharp.

A recent survey by IDDAS found that executives who pursue independent careers are far more satisfied with their working lives than their counterparts in conventional, full-time employment.

However, the unpredictability of a portfolio career can have its downsides. A third said they had difficulty finding suitable roles, 24% said that uncertainty was one of the major challenges of this type of career and 21% said they disliked the constant need to network.

This is where recruiters could exploit a lucrative opportunity with value-added services such as consultancy and mentoring.

“When asked whether they would do it again, many executives said they would market themselves more actively. There’s a huge market there for anyone who can help fill in the gaps in their knowledge,” said Sharp.

One of the most high-profile executives to follow a portfolio career is Allan Leighton, who is currently a director for BSkyB, Royal Mail and Leeds United Football Club.