It is important to know how to present oneself if you want to get more hours at your job. To make a case for additional hours, focus on your strengths. Make sure you show up on schedule and recruit staff to replace you when it is not convenient.
Requesting more work hours
Before you ask for more hours, it is important to understand your manager's expectations. A manager wants their employees to be efficient and reliable. This means that the manager should expect employees to work hard, and to show commitment to the company. It is important to be punctual, and enthusiasm for the job. If necessary, you should be able to work weekends and overtime.
It is polite to ask for more time at work. Don't put your co-workers on defense. When things are going well, is the best time to ask. Your voice can have a big impact on whether you receive the extra time you need.
Arriving on-time
Time management can be difficult because it is so easy to forget about the importance of showing up on-time. Many people struggle to stay on schedule because they don’t have a clear expectation that they will arrive at work and be gone by a particular time. They work on everything that comes up, and don't plan for important work. This means that they have a mountain to complete when they leave work at 5pm. Instead, schedule a time for you to leave at the beginning of each day, make a note of it in your calendar, and then set an alarm on you mobile phone. This way, you can develop a psychological commitment to leave work on time.
Find staff to cover the shifts that you don't wish to work
It is possible to find staff to cover your shifts if you are unable to or unwilling to make the effort. However, it's important to find someone who is available to work on your schedule. Don't just find someone who has volunteered to cover before - make sure they'll keep their word.
A availability chart is useful to determine who is available for covering shifts. It can also help you avoid calling in employees who don't intend to work the shift. It is not a good idea to ask employees who work only on Tuesdays for their open shifts to work on Tuesdays. It is helpful to specify a timeframe within which employees must inform managers about cancellations last-minute.
Sending your request
To make your request a success, communication with your manager is crucial. Your approach to your manager must be respectful and polite. The reason you are asking for the benefits and the reasons why you expect them to provide it. Also, you can share any solutions that you have found in your job which will benefit the entire company. These ideas may be used to convince your manager to allow you to work more.
It is important to understand the expectations of your boss before you ask for more hours at work. It is important to let your boss know that your request for extra hours should not be considered urgent. Be sure to include examples and a backup plan for dealing with obstacles.