It took just 6 weeks from 'tentative phone call' with a friend to signing the contract as an evangelist for Snowflake. It's possible to find a rare job, so let me share how I approached this.

More of us work in jobs that have only existed for a few years and don't have a clear career path. Creating a new and unique role is exciting and fulfilling.

Unfortunately, when the times comes for change, you don't have 100s of options to choose from.

If your job is unique it's harder to find a similar role elsewhere

If you want to move on from a company but keep doing your unique job, here are the challenges you'll find:

• Only few listings will fit

• You may need to change roles

• Some may not understand your role

• Finding the hidden gems takes time.

But it's not impossible to move into a great new company and role. It just needs good preparation and the time to act is now, even if you're not looking:

Be clear on what you want

You must understand what you're looking for.

Articulate your current responsibilities, how they add value to your company and what your specific activities are. Translate this for potential employers so they know whether they have a place for you.

Build your brand

Without a personal brand this process is much harder.

A strong personal brand means hiring managers in your field are either aware of you before you knock on their door, or at least they quickly understand your skills and talents.

Nurture your network

Talking to the right people at the right time is essential.

You never know what roles people (and their colleagues) are hiring for. Nurture your relationships. Stay connected with people, especially those you cannot see personally.

Understand and show the value you bring, have a strong personal brand and talk to your network, to increase your chance of landing that rare job.