By Debbie Bunch
November 18, 2024
Everyone wants to get ahead at work, and for most people, that means being promoted to a higher-level position. In the respiratory care profession, you will likely start by moving up the ranks from one level of therapist to another, then go after a shift supervisor, educational coordinator, assistant manager, or even department manager position.
Getting from point A to point B, though, is tricky. Do you hold tight until your boss asks you if you’d like to take on a new role? Or do you take the bull by the horns and request that promotion you believe you deserve?
The first path is easy because you just sit back and wait. The second is filled with landmines you’ll want to avoid. Here are some tips from the experts on asking for a promotion that you may want to consider before you knock on your manager’s door.
Make sure you really deserve a promotion first
Moving from a level I therapist to level II and beyond is straightforward because there are definite milestones you must meet. But when it comes to breaking into managerial roles, the process is a little more subjective. Before you ask for a supervisory position, take some time to carefully assess your job performance to date, making sure you are excelling in all areas of responsibility. Look back at your last two or three performance reviews to examine the goals your manager set for you and the areas in which they thought you could improve and make sure you have hit all those marks.
Consider your level of education and compare it with the level of education attained by other supervisory personnel in your facility
Many departments either require or prefer to promote people with bachelor’s degrees or above, and if you are still sitting at the associate degree level with no intentions to pursue your bachelor’s degree then this might not be the right time to ask for a higher-level position. However, if you are working on a bachelor’s now and will complete it soon, you might be just the person your manager is looking for to fill a supervisory role.
Examine your credentials
Before you ask for a promotion, you will definitely want to have earned your RRT credential, and it would be beneficial to add some other credentials behind your name as well. For example, if you work in an adult acute care hospital, the ACCS can boost your chances, and the same is true of the NPS for therapists working in a children’s hospital. The NBRC offers a range of specialty credentials that can enhance your chances of promotion no matter what type of facility you work in.
Review of your recent continuing education courses
Most therapists are required to complete continuing education classes to maintain their state licenses, but managers will be impressed by those who have gone above and beyond the minimum requirements to invest in courses that provide more in-depth knowledge relating to specific areas of care. AARC University has courses on everything from pulmonary rehabilitation to management, and members can take advantage of all of them at discounted member rates. Longer courses may even lead to a certificate that you can add to your resume.
Be prepared to wait for an opportunity to emerge
Regardless of your qualifications, a promotion must first become available before you can get it. So, when you do talk to your manager, frame the conversation around your abilities and goals but make it clear that you are willing to be patient for the right thing to come long. By exhibiting patience, you will get the chance to go over all the reasons why you think you deserve a promotion without making the manager feel pressured to give you something they don’t currently have to give.
Nurture the seed you have planted
Once you’ve had that initial conversation with your manager, come up with a plan to keep things moving forward, whether that’s by taking on additional responsibilities in your current role, starting or completing your bachelor’s degree, earning a new credential, or taking more courses that will add value to your organization. Each time you reach a milestone, share it with your manager. The more you accomplish, the more likely your name will be at the top of their list the next time a promotion opens up.
