RJ Samantha 
An open position represents a company’s vision for addressing its needs and achieving its objectives. But what if you have a better vision? What if businesses aren’t even aware of their most significant inefficiencies?
Instead of approaching your job search like a traditional applicant, think like a business consultant pitching a solution.
With creativity, research, and a proactive mindset, you might just convince a company to create a role tailored to your skills – on your terms.
Below, we’ve outlined five key business needs that many organizations overlook. With some innovation and a strong pitch, you can craft a role that addresses these gaps and delivers measurable results.
1. Customer Service Specialist
The Opportunity:
Customer service is often neglected or outsourced, with many businesses failing to recognize its connection to sales growth and customer loyalty.
Your Solution:
If you’ve worked in a call center, retail, or customer support role, you know that great service drives sales. Craft a proposal that highlights:
- Increased customer retention rates
- Upsell and cross-sell opportunities
- Enhanced customer satisfaction metrics
The Pitch:
Present data-driven projections that showcase the tangible financial benefits of improved customer service. Position yourself as a customer relationship expert who can build long-term loyalty and drive revenue growth.
2. Marketing Strategist
The Opportunity:
Too many businesses rely on outdated or minimal marketing strategies—think a sign on the door, a Yellow Pages listing, and occasional flyers.
Your Solution:
Find a business with a strong product but a weak connection to its audience. Show how an effective marketing plan can:
- Boost brand visibility
- Drive customer engagement
- Increase sales through targeted campaigns
The Pitch:
Develop a simple, actionable marketing strategy with a focus on ROI. Position yourself as the missing link between their product and their audience.
3. Web Administrator
The Opportunity:
Many small businesses with significant online potential are stuck in the brick-and-mortar mindset. Their websites are outdated, non-functional, or non-existent.
Your Solution:
Instead of offering a one-time freelance website setup, propose an ongoing role where you:
- Build and optimize their website
- Manage content updates and user experience
- Track website analytics and improve performance
The Pitch:
Explain how a professional online presence can:
- Attract new customers
- Expand their market reach
- Generate consistent online sales
Position yourself as the digital architect who can transform their web presence into a powerful sales engine.
4. Social Media Manager
The Opportunity:
While large corporations dominate social media, many smaller businesses are either hesitant to engage online or lack the expertise to do it effectively.
Your Solution:
Become the go-to social media strategist by:
- Developing tailored social media plans
- Managing content calendars
- Running ad campaigns and analyzing results
The Pitch:
Create a social media playbook that outlines strategies for engagement, growth, and lead generation. Show businesses how you can:
- Build brand awareness
- Foster customer loyalty
- Drive measurable sales through social channels
5. Customized Role – You Name It
The Opportunity:
Every growing business eventually hits a tipping point where they need new roles or departments but lack clarity on how to structure them.
Your Solution:
Identify a company at a growth stage where your experience can make a difference. Whether you specialize in operations, logistics, analytics, or HR, propose a role that fills a gap they might not even recognize yet.
The Pitch:
Leverage your experience with larger organizations or industry competitors to offer valuable insights. Present a clear action plan that outlines how your expertise will help them scale efficiently.
The DIY Job Creation Mindset
- Think Like a Consultant: Identify a problem and offer a tailored solution.
- Be Data-Driven: Back your pitch with measurable goals and projections.
- Show Initiative: Companies appreciate proactive thinkers who identify opportunities others overlook.
- Be Flexible: Propose a trial period or freelance arrangement to reduce perceived risk.
Apply This Strategy at Your Current Job
Innovation isn’t limited to job hunting – you can use this mindset within your current company.
Many employees have designed their own promotions by identifying inefficiencies, proposing solutions, and demonstrating their value.
Approach management with a well-researched proposal showing how your new role will solve problems and contribute to business goals.
Is It Forward Thinking or Overstepping?
Creating your own job role might seem bold, but in a competitive job market, boldness often wins. Companies need innovative thinkers who can:
- Spot unseen problems
- Deliver actionable solutions
- Drive measurable results
Have you ever pitched your own role or created a position that didn’t exist before? Share your experience and let us know – is designing your own job forward-thinking or just too forward?
