So… you’ve checked the Careers page and while your dream company is hiring, there isn’t anything up your alley.

Or maybe you’ve been in one role at your firm for a few years and are looking to pivot internally or take on more responsibility.

Or maybe there’s a new company coming to town and you think you could help them out.

In all of these situations, I would strongly recommend that you try to Create Your Own Position.

Creating your own position can be one of the most fulfilling ways to get hired, secure new responsibilities, and/or add value to a company.

It is also incredibly difficult to do.

Red tape, the status quo, and “that one coworker” will all inevitably get in your way.

Regardless, creating your own position and securing your dream job IS possible.

Here’s the 5-step system to do just that:

1/ Identify a Gap

2/ Drop Hints

3/ Write a JD

4/ Build a 30/60/90 Day Plan

5/ Make the Ask

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1/Identify a Gap

All jobs are created because there is a certain problem that needs to be solved.

Projects are messy and need to be organized —> Project Manager.

There is a line out the door —> Hostess.

People get sick and need medicine —> Doctor.

Unfortunately, we don’t just get to do what we want because we want to do it. (If that were the case, I’d be in the NBA right now.)

If you want to create your own role the first step is to identify a pain point within your organization.

Chances are you are probably already aware of a few (every company has them).

If not, here are a few ways to spot potential gaps within your busy day-to-day role:

• What are clients/customers always complaining about?

• What takes up most of your boss's time?

• What roles have tried to be filled, but never have?

Once you’ve identified a gap the most crucial thing is to start filling it!

Don’t wait until you have an official title to start doing the work.

The fastest way to Create Your Own Position is to already be doing the job.

2/ Drop Hints

Now that we’ve identified a gap we want to fill it’s time to plant some seeds.

There are two ways to go about doing this.

1. The Subtle Way or

2. The Upfront Way

Don’t be subtle and petty. The Upfront Way is the preferred method.

Do you want something?

Tell your team what you want and WHY.

Articulate how you can be more valuable in a new position.

Don’t hide your intentions. Lead with them.

3/Write a Job Description

Now that your intent is known, the next best thing to do is actually start thinking through the roles and responsibilities of this hypothetical job.

Some ideas to get you started:

• What would your KPIs be?

• Who would you be working with?

• What does success look like?

• Who will report to you? Who will you report to?

Don’t just think about these things!

Putting together an actual JD is a power move and a great asset you can pass up to leadership.

4/ Build a 30/60/90 Day Plan

Now that you’ve written a JD, let’s take this thing to the next level.

Nothing turns a hiring manager on more than a fully fleshed out 30/60/90 Day Onboarding Plan.

Here’s how to structure it:

30 Days: Learn

• Understand everything you can about the problem and the potential solution

• Meet the new people you will be interacting with

• Research and study everything you can

60 Days: Audit

• Take note of what can be improved and why

• Start documenting the processes/systems that are efficient and ready to be scaled

• Hold informational interviews with clients/customers and team members

90 Days: Implement

• Begin creating workflows around the problems you’ve identified

• Implement the changes you outlined in the first 60 days. Iterate.

• Outline your key objectives and goals for the next 90 days

When you Create Your Own Position you must onboard yourself.

5/ Make the Ask

You’ve put in the legwork, now it’s time to pull it all together.

Go to your manager/boss with printouts (yes, physical copies!) of the above assets and present your case.

Use this framework:

• Re-establish the problem

• Discuss the work you’ve already done to fix said problem

• Establish yourself as THE ONLY SOLUTION

• Share your JD and Onboarding Plan

• Calm any nerves with a secession/backfill plan

Congrats - if you followed these 5 steps you’re well on your way to creating your own position!

Until next time,

Ben

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