Asking your boss for a promotion can be hard. You want to let your employer know you’re competent, but you don’t want to come off as pompous. Finding the middle ground takes practice. Remember, it’s okay to brag in this correspondence, but you should never lie.If you’ve been in the same job for a long time, you may feel passed over for more advanced positions in the past. This can leave you feeling bitter toward your boss. However, you need to keep this letter focused on the position at hand rather than on missed past opportunities, or you could miss the next chance for a change in position.Take some of the guesswork out of asking to step up in your company by using our letter of interest for promotion templates. The following writing tips can help you figure out exactly how to ask for a better job.
Tabitha Jones wrote the letter below to let her boss know she wants a promotion. She’s shown interest in other positions in the past but never received an offer. Tabitha knows she would do well in this new position, so she focuses on her abilities rather than mentioning the other opportunities she should have received.
Dear Sadie McCook,I’m interested in the newly available shift manager position. I’ve been a retail specialist for five years, and I have a strong understanding of what needs to get done. I’m currently working under Brad Smithson, and he has given me extra responsibilities to prepare me for a managerial role. I’m eager to continue earning advanced responsibilities and think a supervisor role will help me achieve my professional goals. I feel I would excel as a shift manager because of my proven customer service skills and understanding of company policies.
Throughout my tenure here, I have dealt with a variety of customer conflicts. Just last week, a regular customer came in upset about a defective product. Brad was busy with another customer, so I worked with her on my own. At first, she was so dismayed she talked about ending her patronage. However, I helped her return the defective product and find a new one that was a better fit for her needs. By the end of the interaction, she showed great pleasure with the final result.
Not only can I help keep customers happy, I am also exceedingly familiar with the corporate policies. In fact, I make it a point to read through memos updating policies to ensure I understand the intricacies of new guidelines.
I love working for this company, and I look forward to playing a more active role in the store’s success. Thank you for taking the time to look over my resume.
This type of business letter not only tells your employer you desire a promotion, it also explains why you are a solid candidate. A brief synopsis of your greatest professional experiences and skills shows your boss you are a top contender for the higher-level position. Using the right type of language to focus on your strengths can play a big role in your chances of getting the promotion. If your document is full of mistakes, you might not receive consideration for the new position.
You should start the note off by informing your boss what position you hope to get. You can see in the letter of interest for promotion template that the sample writer says exactly what position she desires right away in the first sentence. This directness makes it easy for her audience to know what she wants.
Next, mention your current position. If you work in a larger company, the audience of your letter may not know what you do or who you work under. Giving this information makes it easy for him or her to learn more about you. After that, start discussing the experience you have that make you right for the promotion. Mention important skills and accomplishments that help you succeed. Don’t forget to mention how your abilities in the new position can help the company.
Finally, end the letter by thanking your employer for looking over your resume. Remember to reiterate how excited you are for a promotion to ensure your boss knows you genuinely desire the promotion.
As you write your letter of interest for a promotion, you may compare yourself to your coworkers in an attempt to make yourself look like the best fit for the job. However, this technique may not be the most effective. Instead, focus on your proven strengths. Your boss can compare you with other applicants on his or her own.
You should also avoid stretching the truth to make yourself seem more experienced. If you’ve been with the company for four years, say you’ve been in the company for four years. Telling a lie can come back to haunt you. First, your boss can easily find out the truth, and second, the lie could lead to a freeze on any promotions, which could seriously hurt your career trajectory.
Finally, you need to avoid coming off as bitter. It can be hard to move up in a company, and if you’ve tried to get several promotions, you may be angry with your boss for not giving you a new position sooner. Letting this bitterness show in your letter may damage your relationship with your employer. Instead of focusing on the past, keep your eye on the new promotion.
Your boss likely has a lot of applications coming in from inside and outside the company. If you want your interest in a promotion to stand out, you need to follow up in person. Because your boss is busy, don’t expect to have a lengthy, unscheduled discussion. Instead, poke your head in and ask if he or she received your letter of interest for a promotion. Mention how excited you are to receive consideration for the new job.
If you still don’t hear a formal reply, send your boss an email to find out when the interview process is going to start. Being persistent about the opportunity shows how eager you are to grow within the company.
Start your letter off by letting your employer know exactly what you want. Being anything less than direct wastes everyone’s time. Include a phrase such as “I’m interested in the editor-in-chief position” in the first sentence or two.
2. Discuss your experience
Your boss may already be familiar with the skills you have, but pointing out the experience you possess makes it easy for your employer to see you’re a great candidate. This is especially helpful if you work in a larger company.
3. Give examples of your skills in action
It’s one thing to give a list of your skills and experience, but it’s more engaging to actually give examples of how you have used your professional abilities in the past. Not only do these narratives show your supervisor your capabilities, they can also help your employer better understand how you will help improve the company.
4. Maintain a professional tone
If you’ve never received promotions in the past, it might be tempting to use a disparaging tone. However, using a professional, respectful voice can help you maintain a good relationship with the higher-ups in your office.
5. Show an understanding of the process
Sending in an interest letter does not guarantee you a new job, so show your boss you know you have to go through the interview process. You can do this by including a short line at the end of the letter such as “I appreciate you reviewing my application.”