Flow to the work

I've been hunting for a job over the last few months. All the jobs I've seen and applied for come with very specific titles and responsibilities. To my wife's dismay, I've had trouble locating one that 'fits' me. I know that there are no perfect jobs and that in times like this one should just settle for whatever they can get. But after going through a few rounds of applications, tests, and interviews, I've been reminded of the importance of finding a job that 'fits' - both me and my potential employer. I've also discovered that I'm a connector. I have interests in multiple areas and I use this fact to bring together diverse ideas and people to make something work. When I look at my CV I see the discrepancies between my job titles and the work that I've actually performed. So what does one do when they find themselves in this nebulous place? 

Flow to the work. Roger Martin highlights this concept as applied by P&G's Global Business Services (GBS) in his book The Design of Business (2009). Martin equates the project-oriented structure of P&G's GBS to that of Design Consultancies. Martin writes:

Designers are accustomed to being assigned a clearly defined project that comes to an end at a specified date. Designers get used to mixing and matching with other designers on ad hoc teams created with a specific purpose in mind." (Martin, 2009, p.119)

As a result, Martin continues, designers have CV's that are more project focused as opposed to a list of progressive job titles. Throughout my career I've been hired for specific positions. But once in those roles I inevitably find myself moving fluidly throughout the organization trying to improve systems, services, and products. I see clearly the connections between various functions and activities. I then focus on getting the people with the right skills to help make it happen. 

At the moment I'm teaching and working on several pro bono projects to help bolster the breadth of my experience. But even in these roles I find it difficult to avert my eyes from the bigger picture. For instance, in going beyond my classroom teaching on leadership I've run a seminar on essay writing and referencing for my class. The School has asked me to do the same for the rest of their students. If any one else needs some assistance in pulling together large projects and groups of people let me know. If you're willing to pay - even better!