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CREATE YOUR OWN JOB
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THE CAREER PLAYBOOK GUIDE
TO SUCCESS
7. CREATE YOUR OWN JOB: If you show
you can produce results and contribute to their
future goals, employers may design a new position
just to take advantage of your unique talents,
skills and experience.
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Predict Your Future Success by Designing Your Next Job!
Can you write a job proposal? If so, you have an additional
option to your job search.
Companies are always looking for talented people and might
be willing to create a brand new position for you if they
see that you will bring valuable skills, enthusiasm and
a strong work ethic into their organization.
Employers typically dedicate a lot of time and energy to
strategic planning. Creating essential positions within
an organization provides a company with the opportunity
to realize its vision and add significant value to their
business.
A first step in the process of convincing a hiring manager
to create a position for you is to learn everything you
can about the companies for which you want to work. Researching
the needs of the companies you want to work for is critical
in determining how you can provide the solutions they require.
By thoroughly assessing your own strengths and qualifications
to determine what you do best, you can turn this into an
excellent employment opportunity. To ensure optimum results,
you must determine your strategy before you launch this
process.
Think of yourself as a new product a company is launching
into the marketplace. Ask yourself what you need to do to
position yourself for future success.
Begin by examining the critical needs of your target company(s).
Analysis of strengths, weaknesses and opportunities will
highlight new hiring needs. Write a detailed job proposal
that accurately reflects the critical needs you can solve.
Understand the organization you're targeting. Each company
has its own culture, and candidates who fit within that
environment will be in a better position to contribute to
its success than those who do not.
Differentiate yourself from the crowd. Emphasize your strengths
and accomplishments. Clearly explain job functions, levels
of responsibility, benefits to the company, cost effectiveness,
etc. Explain the advantages and unique concepts you'll bring
to the table.
If you know of a company that has created such positions
and benefitted from them, also include that information.
Make sure to focus on the outstanding benefits of creating
the position. Include all the information you believe would
answer any questions that your target audience might have
about your proposal.
Start the proposal with an overview page that summarizes
your presentation outlining the basic elements and benefits.
This will give the employer a quick summary of your idea
and motivate him or her to read the full proposal.
Outline their current situation in detail, highlighting
the area(s) that need improvement. Point out the problems
that will be solved, and the benefits that will ensue. Give
concrete examples from your recent personal experience that
demonstrate the need for your position.
Detail your solution and the cost savings/time benefits
that will result. Explain how you are qualified to evaluate
the situation and how you would be the appropriate person
to assume the new responsibilities. Reinforce your credentials
as being the best choice to guide this undertaking.
You'll need to take into consideration the scope of the
position, the time frame for achieving results, your geographic
parameters, and whether you have considered relocation.
Solicit input from key insiders who work for the company,
or in the same industry, to create and ensure accuracy.
Ask them what's working and what isn't. Have them review
and comment on your job proposal before you contact decision-makers
at your target company(s). This contributes to a significantly
more powerful and effective process.
3 Tips to Help You Succeed
1) Be proactive in contacting potential employers.
Persistency is key to your job search success. Being persistent
means that you may need to become more assertive than you
are used to being. It means that you will be willing to hear
many "no's" from employers. Remember that each "no" you hear
brings you closer to a "yes"!
Employers are always looking for exceptional candidates who
possess leadership, imagination, and problem-solving abilities.
They realize the benefits gained from hiring talented people
far outweigh the costs. If your proposal convinces the employer
to create a new position, it stands to reason that the person
they hire for this position will be you!
2) Identify the individual at each organization with
the power to hire or create a position. Rather than sending
your mailing to the HR department, address it directly to
the hiring authority of the department in which you'll work,
or the appropriate executive of the organization. Always take
the time to verify the individual's name, title, and business
address.
Promote the employer's needs, not yours. Instead of going
on at length about what you are looking for in a job, speak
to how you can solve the employer's needs. Can you save them
money? Maximize sales? Bring in new customers? Reduce turnover
or improve morale? Zero in on the employer's concerns, and
you will capture their attention.
3) Speak with confidence. If you sound like you
believe in yourself, an employer is more likely to believe
in you as well. Stress benefits, not features. Describe
your job proposal clearly and explain its expected financial
benefit. Clarify the strengths of your goals and vision
when combined with your expertise.
Ask the employer how they view your proposal. By asking
a few questions and listening carefully, they will tell
you what they really want. Make sure you maintain a balanced
conversation. Ask questions and make positive comments in
response to their remarks.
Give them sufficient information. Too little information
can leave the employer with unanswered questions about your
suitability for the position. Providing more details about
your background and experience, and the significant benefits
they might realize, can help to persuade the employer to
create your new job!
 
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