Why (Sometimes) the Best Roles at Startups Don’t Exist Yet
You know that feeling when you’re waiting for the “perfect” job to show up? The thing is, at startups, that job doesn’t usually exist yet. It’s not handed to you in a neat little package. It’s something you have to build yourself.
I don’t mean to sound frustrating. Honestly, I think this is a good thing. When you realize that roles aren’t set in stone and can be shaped as you go, that’s when the real opportunity shows up.
Something Sam Melnick, VP of Marketing at Postscript, said really stuck with me. He talked about waiting earlier in his career…waiting until he had the right title to move up. But what he figured out was that it’s never about the title. It’s about taking action, owning what’s needed, and making things happen before anyone asks you to. The people who grow fast aren’t just waiting for permission, they’re stepping in where there’s a need and they’re doing the work.
This really hit home for me. When I started my career doing admin work. I knew I could do more, but I wasn’t sure how to make that happen. When our Chief Marketing Officer joined, I saw an opportunity. I pitched him my photography skills, thinking it’d help. But it ended up turning into something bigger, creating a whole new role in video production. I had to make it up as I went along, but by just jumping in and doing it, I was able to carve out something that actually fit my skills and passions.
I won’t lie. Creating your own role can get messy. When you’re not following a strict job description, people might wonder what exactly it is you do. That’s normal. The key is to make sure you’re clear about how your work fits into the bigger picture. The clarity comes with time, and the more you show that you’re adding value, the more trust you’ll build.
So here’s what I’ll leave you with. If you’re early in your career or working at a startup, don’t sit around waiting for a job to fall into your lap. Instead, figure out what excites you, see where the gaps are and take action. The best roles are the ones you create for yourself.
Want to dive deeper into this? Sam Melnick and I talk about all of this in the latest episode of Non-Founder Crew.
Tune in to the entire episode