Dear Experts,
I interned at a company this past spring and really enjoyed my experience there. I’d love to work full-time but their are currently no job openings. I’m still volunteering on a part-time basis there so I can stay involved in case anything opens up but I think it may take till summer’s end for that to happen. I can’t wait that long!
How do you think my manager would react if I approached her about hiring me for a position or role I created? Basically, what if I made up my own job? A job that would suit me perfectly and be a benefit to the company. Would they laugh in my face? What approach would I take?
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Here is how our T.A.P. experts answered this question:
Q#204 Agree w/othrs: bld biz case 4 creating new job, mktg plan 2 sell it; cd start PT, grow 2 FT if $ issue. (@juliaerickson)
Q#204 I like the idea & initiative, but understand that the company finances will play a huge role in your plan’s viability. (@gradversity)
Q#204 You’re basically selling your services 2 them. Make a good enough case, and they’ll buy. Solve a problem! (@beneubanks)
Q#204 Make sure new job is needed/wanted-provide boss w/list of results you can deliver. (@teenarose)
Q#204 Create a job description 4 yourself & present a business case for how the role would benefit the company. Great idea! (@DebraWheatman)
Q#204 ABSOLUTELY pitch job idea. Won’t get laughed at. May not get hired now, but they’ll keep you in mind! (@jtodonnell)
Q#204 Try it. Won’t seem strange & you may get what you want. They may say no but won’t laugh at you. Good luck! (@askamanager)
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3 Comments
The key here is to take a “problem solving” approach. You need to identify a problem that is really hurting the potential employer, and propose a solution to the employer that you're uniquely qualified to fix the problem.
The problem needs to be real pain for the potential employer. In this economy, companies need pain killers, not vitamins.
You need to identify the real pain, and demonstrate that you have realistic plan (and maybe a preliminary solution) to address the problem. You can get a job this way, but you need to do a lot of homework before you approach potential employers.
GeekMBA360
http://www.GeekMBA360.com: Career Insights at the Intersection of Technology and Business
The key here is to take a “problem solving” approach. You need to identify a problem that is really hurting the potential employer, and propose a solution to the employer that you're uniquely qualified to fix the problem.
The problem needs to be real pain for the potential employer. In this economy, companies need pain killers, not vitamins.
You need to identify the real pain, and demonstrate that you have realistic plan (and maybe a preliminary solution) to address the problem. You can get a job this way, but you need to do a lot of homework before you approach potential employers.
GeekMBA360
http://www.GeekMBA360.com: Career Insights at the Intersection of Technology and Business
The key here is to take a “problem solving” approach. You need to identify a problem that is really hurting the potential employer, and propose a solution to the employer that you're uniquely qualified to fix the problem.
The problem needs to be real pain for the potential employer. In this economy, companies need pain killers, not vitamins.
You need to identify the real pain, and demonstrate that you have realistic plan (and maybe a preliminary solution) to address the problem. You can get a job this way, but you need to do a lot of homework before you approach potential employers.
GeekMBA360
http://www.GeekMBA360.com: Career Insights at the Intersection of Technology and Business