Today's my last day at my old job, a gig I've held for almost ten years.

I've turned down a couple of offers over the years despite the fact that I've been ready for a change for some time.

To me, it wasn't just the money or the hours or the people I would be working with that led me to take my new position though those were certainly all factors.

No, for me the real reason was something much simpler. I wanted a bootstrapping job. But isn't bootstrapping mainly associated with starting your own business?

Well, it can be, but the concept of using your own internal resources to bootstrap solutions can be very welcomed at some established companies too!

When trying to find a job with bootstrapping potential, look for the following qualities:
• Make sure you're part of the 10 percent. The 70, 20, 10 rule put in place by Google to drive innovation has become a model in high tech business circles. The idea is to spend 70 percent of the company's time and resources on the established business, 20 percent on related efforts and 10 percent developing new business possibilities. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out where in the ratio the bootstrapper wants to figure.
• Look for opportunities to create new value. Your job should give you the opportunity to add value, quality or efficiency to your employer's existing operations. This would be different than a job where you are hired to fill a particular vacancy. Here too you may add value by performing better than a previous employee but clearly you are not part of the 10 percent.
• The only new investment should be your salary. A big budget for a totally new or expanding venture is just more money to loose if you get it wrong, and remember, you're in unexplored territory. Lots of money up front can be just as dangerous in an employee work environment as it is in an independent business venture. Focus on making your employer more money first in the hopes that some of it will be reinvested to expand your efforts.
• Try to find out who's in the driver's seat. Of course, in any job you answer to your employer. But be sure the position you will occupy allows for some independent action. Nothing is more discouraging to a bootstrapper than a position that allows no latitude for reaction to new problems as they arise.
• Don't be afraid to make your own rules. The best bootstrapper jobs are relatively undefined. If, in the job interview, a perspective employer explains that he wants you to use your experience to make his company better or accomplish some qualitative or quantitative future goal, you've got a bootstrapping job. If the position involves a long list of duties, this may not be the job for you.

Whether you're a bootstrapper working on an independent venture or one working for a growing company, consider joining our bootstrapper's group on Yahoo! It's free and we'd love to have you!