Take timing out of the equation and apply for positions that don't exist

Being hired for a position requires the intersection of two scenarios: a company realizing they have a need and creating a position, and the availability and interest of the candidate. Those two things are really the bucket on the ledge of the Rube Goldberg Machine that is the recruiting process. And in a simple world, the candidate and the company would find each, other proceed through a simple interview process and work happily ever after. Except it's never simple. And there's no universal force controlling the timing.

Have you ever taken a new position only to get a call about your dream job months later? Or search for positions online wondering why that "just right" position for you doesn't seem to be out there right now...while you are looking? Man, I can sure identify with that last scenario. When I was at Microsoft, in my last skip level, I was asked what I wanted to do down the road and when I described it, I found myself telling the person that the work doesn't exist at Microsoft. It should but it doesn't...or it didn't. Again...timing...and stuff. I'm doing that work now so it's all good.

Employers do a good job of exerting some control over the timing problem. When they don't have a candidate for a job, the look for that just right candidate (or typically, several of them) and they reach out and try to sell them on a new position. Recruiting 101.

What would happen if professionals interested in something new took that control and recruited the company they wanted to work at? Could they generate interest from a company the same way a company generates interest from a not-on-the-market candidate? It can happen. I've seen it.

Naomi Garnice wrote a short piece on how to do this.  If you're actively searching, I'm not saying this should be your whole job search plan, but why wouldn't you give it a shot; especially if it meant having your dream job?