Before we begin, it’s important to understand that the focus of this blog is not to encourage you to haphazardly ask your employer for more work.
Your time and expertise are resources. And like all resources, they are limited and highly valuable. So, we’re not advising that you ask for more responsibilities simply because you want to be in the good graces of your employer. This is a give-and-take situation—not a give-and-give.
You probably have goals for your career. Asking for more responsibilities is one of the most effective strategies to accomplish those goals. Read on to learn more about how to create and use a track record of increasing workplace responsibilities as a highly effective and strategic career-pathing tool.
Why Now Is a Good Time for Employees to Ask for More Responsibilities
These days, your employer probably needs all the help they can get. They need help finding enough workers to fill their open positions and accomplish the work that will make their business a success. Recently, many companies have had to adapt to new ways of working, such as remote work or a hybrid model. This has led to a need for employees to take on more responsibilities and be more self-sufficient.
Secondly, the current economic climate has led to a highly competitive job market, and taking on more responsibilities can help you stand out and demonstrate your value to your employer.
Thirdly, with the current need for companies to be more agile, taking on more responsibilities can help your team and company adapt to changes more quickly—ultimately making the company, and you, more successful and profitable.
The Benefits (and Balancing Act) of Taking on More Responsibility
Taking on more responsibilities at work won’t just be beneficial for your employer—it can be helpful to you as well for several reasons. It can:
- Demonstrate initiative and a willingness to take on new challenges
- Provide opportunities for learning and skill development
- Drive your personal growth and career development
- Make the company more efficient and profitable which can help increase your pay and/or bonuses
Many people report that taking on more responsibilities can even lead to increased job satisfaction and a higher sense of accomplishment.
However, it’s important to consider that taking on more responsibilities may only sometimes be a good idea. Taking on more work takes skills, time and support. Take inventory of all three of these in your current role to consider whether you truly have the capacity to take on more.
Why You Should Document Your Extra Responsibilities
Perhaps the most important reason to take on more responsibilities is the “why.” Why would you want to take on more responsibilities at work? On the surface, taking on more work and possibly more hours for the same pay doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Savvy workers keep track of their “extracurricular” duties to get ahead in the job market. But one of the key factors of this strategy is documentation. We’ve seen many people create lists on their resumes that make it easy to understand the many ways they’ve gone above and beyond in previous roles. But overall, it can give anyone reviewing your work history the impression that you’re not just coasting in your role but are always looking for ways to improve yourself and your company.
Documentation will come in especially handy when you’re looking for a raise, a promotion or a new job. Your employer will want to know why you deserve a raise or a promotion. Likewise, a prospective employer will want to know why you are the best candidate to join their company.
When you’ve kept tidy records of your extra accomplishments, you’ll have an easy and compelling answer for why you are the best candidate for a role or why you deserve a promotion.
When you’ve kept tidy records of your extra accomplishments, you’ll have an easy and compelling answer for why you are the best candidate for a role or why you deserve a promotion.
Now, Here’s How to Do It
There are two primary approaches to communicating your desire to take on increasing responsibilities:
- Just start doing the extra things and let your boss know as you go. Plus, note the results you’re getting from the extra duties you’ve taken on. Assume an authentic attitude of gracious helpfulness and a service mindset, and you’ll shine bright (and stand out from the crowd) without much effort.
- Set up a short meeting with your boss to let them know that you’re interested in lending more value to your team. Lay out your ideas for how you’ll do exactly that. And then make extra sure that you follow through on what you’ve proposed. Lastly, consider reporting the “results” of the value that your extra efforts are creating on a quarterly basis.
The first option might be better applied to low-risk activities, like helping a colleague with easy but time-consuming tasks when they’re over capacity. The second option is great for when you’re truly taking responsibility for expanding your role into related areas based on your career path or interests. So, it’s best to get buy-in from your boss and/or team before you forge ahead to avoid causing problems or overstepping the boundaries of your role.
Turn Your Hard Work Into Results
If you’re one of the rare employees who has taken on extra responsibilities at work, bravo! You could be poised to get ahead in the workforce in a major way. And we can help further transform your hard work into meaningful results.
When you work with Vector Technical, you get an expert partner and advocate in the job market. We can help you improve your career by using your successes to make more money, gain more experience, improve your skills, and have a better work-life balance.
Curious to learn more? Contact Vector Technical today.
