How to make your current job your dream job

3. Write a proposal. After you've researched each issue and come up with viable solutions, send a written memo to your manager. It should cover these points:

• The change you'd like to make
• The benefits of allowing you to make the change (you'll learn new skills, it will save the department money, it will help the company recruit other desirable employees… just make sure you emphasise the benefits to the company rather than to yourself)
• The steps you consider necessary in order for the change to be made, with suggested timings (this is where you put your research into action)

4. Meet with your manager. After your boss has had time to reflect on your proposal, arrange a meeting to discuss the details. It's helpful to draw up a list of possible objections, along with your suggested solutions (remembering, of course, to respond to each objection in a way that demonstrates your company loyalty).

5. Celebrate your victory -- or plan your escape. If the company values your contribution, a job spec can often be adapted to meet your needs, but you might also get a flat refusal. If your desire for change is greater than your need for your current job, it's time to circulate that CV. But of course you’re now streets ahead - you know what you want and how to ask for it. You just need to find a receptive employer...