Wednesday, March 18, 2020

How to write a salary increase request letter (with examples)

How to write a salary increase request letter (with examples) You’ve been plugging along at your job, picking up responsibilities, and rocking it for a while now- and even if you don’t have an annual review coming up for a while, maybe you feel like it’s time to start thinking about a raise. But unless you’re a seasoned negotiator, that may be no small task. If you don’t feel ready to sit down with your boss and talk it out, it’s best to start with a basic pay raise request letter or email to get the process started. Why to put your salary request in writingMost negotiation tips are created with a face-to-face interaction in mind- how to use effective body language, how to use active listening strategies, and how to frame your verbal request. However if you’re not quite at that stage yet, putting your request in writing gives you a chance to collect your strongest talking points (and spin them exactly how you want to) without having to worry about the ebb and flow of a negotiation conversation. I t’s also a paper trail, for better or worse, which can help you later.What to include in your letterAlways start with a friendly professional greeting and some background about your history in your job or with your company.For example:Hi Phil,As you know, I’ve been with the company for two years now, and I find it to be a challenging and rewarding environment every day. I have become a crucial member of the marketing team, working on initiatives that have increased our productivity and improved our results.Once you’ve set the tone, it’s time to touch on the specific achievements that you think merit a raise. You don’t need to go into great detail on each one- succinct, specific bullet points are the way to go. The letter shouldn’t be a long slog for the reader. Instead, think of it as a highlight reel.For example:In my time here, I have made significant contributions to the team’s success, including:Implementing a new SEO program that increased web traffic by 15%Improving social media response time by an average of 20 minutesDeveloping a promotional program that uses giveaways to increase brand awareness and customer engagementThen tell ‘em what you came for: what you’re seeking, and why. When you’re writing this, be sure to stay focused on your own achievements and growth. It’s not about what your colleagues get or what you feel like you’re owed- it’s about building a case for your value to the company.For example:I’ve exceeded the goals that were set out for me when I was hired, and I believe that going above and beyond my existing role merits a pay raise of 5%. This is in line with the industry standard for someone of my experience in this kind of role, especially with the goals I’ve met and exceeded in my time here.Again, this should be straight to the point. You should definitely have a number in mind, even if you don’t feel comfortable spelling it out as a starting point. Before you even start writing your request, do your research: check out sites like Salary.com or Glassdoor to see what people like you are making throughout the industry. If you make an unreasonable request, it could shut down your negotiation before it even really starts.Next, having made your initial pitch, it’s time to start wrapping up your letter. Offer to set up some time to talk about this in person or ask to talk about it in a standard one-on-one meeting with your boss.For example:I look forward to speaking with you in more depth in our next monthly meeting, and am excited about the projects we have on the horizon.Best,Jo Your letter doesn’t have to be hyper-formal, especially if you have a fairly casual relationship with your boss. But it should always be direct, polite, and professional. Even if you’re buddies with your boss, now is not the time for jokes or sarcasm. This letter or email should show you at your career best, and highlight you as a competent and productive professional.The note you write now will help set the tone for the negotiations to come and help you pull your thoughts together to ensure that you’re in a good position to get the raise you deserve.Good luck!

Monday, March 2, 2020

Take These 6 Steps to Become a Travel Nurse -The JobNetwork

Take These 6 Steps to Become a Travel Nurse -The JobNetwork If you love the idea of supplying patients with quality medical assistance but aren’t crazy about working in the same environment every day, then you may want to consider becoming a travel nurse. Travel nurses work at temporary jobs in locations all over the country, usually for periods of a dozen weeks or so. Since being a travel nurse comes with its own particular set of challenges, you may need some extra direction when pursuing this particular career. Here are some tips that should help you achieve your goal of becoming a travel nurse.1. Become a registered nurse.To become a travel nurse, you must first become a nurse. That means you have to graduate high school or get your GED, complete an accredited nursing program at the college level, and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Some hospitals might also require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and if its relevant to your area of specialization, Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Cardiac Life S upport (ACLS) certification. Before becoming a travel nurse, you also need a minimum of one year of specialized nursing experience. For travel nurses, those specializations include ER, PEDS, TELE, and Home Health. If ICU or OB is your area of specialization, you may need more than one year of experience.2. Consider your goals.In what kind of environment do you want to work? To where do you want to travel? You should consider such goals to pin down your ideal position since all travel-nursing agencies are different. You must also think the salary and benefits you expect to earn. Since moving around is involved in your work, such benefits as housing, travel stipends, and rental cars might be considerations along with more standard benefits such as medical and 401k packages. Make a list of your ideals so you know what to look for when viewing job listings and deciding where to apply.4. Compare agencies to find the one for you.Travel nurses get jobs through agencies, and all agencies ar e different. If you have specific goals, you will want to find an agency most in line with your particular ones. Consider these agency’s online ratings as well. A great online tool is BluePipes, which is like LinkedIn for healthcare professionals. If you know trustworthy travel nurses, perhaps they can refer you to a quality agency.5. Prepare your paperwork.There’s quite a bit of paperwork involved in securing a travel nurse position. An application, skills checklist, and clinical references will be included in your submission profile. Your nursing agency will provide you with these documents and expect you to complete them. However, if you use BluePipes to prepare your submission profile, you may not have to fill out a new one every time you visit a new agency. Also be sure to have all required licenses and certifications, as well as recently obtained medical records, in order.6. Establish a tax home.In order to qualify as a travel nurse with tax-free stipends, you wi ll have to establish and maintain a â€Å"tax home.† In order to qualify, you must work far enough away to have to stay overnight in a place other than your residence when working. You must fill out a form to qualify for tax-free stipends. The good news is that even if you fail to qualify for tax-free stipends, you can still work as a travel nurse.