Can't find your dream job? Try creating your own from scratch

The best way to get a job in today's economy is to create your own – or adapt your current role to fulfil your talents and interests.

More and more companies are supporting employees who want to make these changes because if they don't, they will lose them to competitors. Intel, for example, has a tool called the Development Opportunity Tracker (DOT) where different groups post an opening for a temporary position to give employees a chance to experience a different part of the company.

In a survey by Millennial Branding and American Express, 73% of managers said they were willing to support employees who wanted to move within the corporation. And almost half of the employees surveyed said they were interested in making these moves because they wanted meaningful work that they were passionate about.

With a 13% labour turnover rate in the UK, it's very likely you'll end up changing jobs in your career. So, here are four tips on how to go about creating a role you're proud of.

1. Volunteer

Volunteering to do additional work within your company can be a good way of expanding your knowledge and proving your worth. But don't just randomly volunteer for any project; be strategic and choose the ones that will challenge you, allow you to network with new people and expand your skillset.

Susan Gambardella, vice president of the Global Account Team at Coca-Cola, describes how an associate carved out a specialism by being very involved with the company's Women's Foodservice Forum. "She was so passionate and so effective with this organisation that she is now an executive on loan from Coca-Cola to the Women's Foodservice Forum for three years," said Gambardella. Donating your time can be a career-changing move while simultaneously helping your company.

2. Experiment outside of the office

In 2007, I was working in a marketing role but I felt I had more to offer. So I started my own blog, a magazine and an online video show that focused on personal branding in the age of social media. After six months I was profiled by Fast Company. The article was picked up by my company's PR department and forwarded to the vice president, who decided to hire me as the organisation's first social media specialist. I was able to write the job description myself and evolve the role as I went.

As a result of proving myself with tangible results outside of work, I went from being told what to do to being asked what to do. It benefited both my career and my job satisfaction. You can experiment too by starting your own project outside of work. Think about a topic related to your profession or industry that you're passionate about and a subject you feel you can write about consistently. Use your own voice, have a point of view and write a blog about it. You can use Wordpress or host it on your own domain. As you tell people about the blog it will gain traction, which could lead to additional career opportunities.

3. Identify opportunities for the company to improve

Pay attention to what your company isn't doing well and think about how you can improve it using your skills. If the problem is important enough then it could even justify an entirely new position. For instance, if you work at a retail chain and you notice that they don't have a Pinterest profile to showcase their stores and products, then you could put together a presentation explaining what the site is, list the competitors who are using it already and any research that you find proving its value. Then convince your manager why you should be in charge of the Pinterest account and get other interested parties on board. By doing this you can expand your role, prove yourself and make your job more fun and interesting.

Companies need people who can identify and solve problems. Explain that if the problem is solved, operations will run smoother or that it will lower costs or increase revenues. You should ask for help from your fellow co-workers if the problem is too big for you to handle alone.

4. Make a deal with your manager

If you're willing to do additional work and take a risk to get what you want, then make an arrangement with your manager to split your time between projects. Before you ask your boss, make sure that you've proven yourself at your current job, which usually takes at least six months to a year. Then, have a clear plan of what that additional work or job would include, the amount of time you would spend doing it and how it would contribute to your role and support your company.

Dan Schawbel is a Gen Y career expert, founder of Millennial Branding and author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Building An Outstanding Career.

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