Hiring employees is an important part of running any business. And if you find that you need to increase your team's capacity or fill a vacant role, consider turning one of your part-timers into a full-time employee.
That way, you can take care of your staffing needs without a long and expensive hiring process. Another great benefit? It shows your employees you want them to succeed at your business, which helps you build a positive company culture.
An email or letter formally asking a team member to make the transition can be a great way to give your employee a heads-up and get them excited about the new role.
It also communicates that you take this role seriously, which gives your employee an opportunity to ask you any questions, pose any issues (that you could resolve together), and decide if it's the right move for them. That way, you can proactively handle any issues and make the transition as smooth as possible.
So, how can you write a letter asking your part-time employee to move to a full-time role? Here we provide some tips and a template to do just that.
Key Points to Include in Your Letter
Your offer email or letter should clearly state all the changes to your employee's current job you envision. That includes changes to their:
- Employment status: Make it very clear you're asking an employee to go from part-time to full-time and address whether they'll be exempt or non-exempt, so they know exactly what you're envisioning.
- Work schedule: Is the new role a 9-5 daily schedule, or are there some evening or early morning hours? Make it clear what hours are expected.
- Pay: What will the employee's new wage or salary look like? This is your chance to get them excited about the new role, so be specific.
- Job description: Explain to the candidate if there are any changes to the job title or job description, or whether they would be fulfilling the same roles as their current job but with full-time hours.
- Employee benefits: If there are more employee benefits available to full-time employees, be sure to mention that because this could help your part-timer agree to take on the full-time role.
Full-Time Offer Letter Template
Here's a letter template you can tailor to your own needs. Just click "Make a copy" to start editing this sample letter.
Company Name
Address
Phone Number/Contact Information
Date
Dear [Employee Name],
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the amazing work you've been doing with us. Your dedication and hard work haven't gone unnoticed. You've been a real rock star and we're so pleased to have you on the team!
Our business is growing and we're getting ready to expand the team. Given your excellent performance, we immediately thought of you for a full-time position. We believe your skills and dedication will make an even bigger difference as a [title of role].
In this new role as a full-time [title of role] with [exempt or non-exempt status], you'll still be doing what you've been doing but with some added responsibilities, which include [list responsibilities, such as:]
- Send personalized follow-up emails to leads
- Organize monthly meetups and special events
- Run surveys to better understand customer needs
- Troubleshoot issues customers are facing and coordinate with other departments if need be
- Handle returns
You'll be reporting to [name and title].
As a full-time employee, you would have access to our [list benefits, such as:]
- Comprehensive health insurance that covers medical, dental, and vision
- Paid time off
- 401(k) matching
- Wellness programs designed just for our team
Your new working schedule will be [list new hours, such as: 40 hours per week, 5 days a week, including some weekends.]
The specific days and hours will be determined based on both our operational needs and your personal preferences. Your [wage or salary] will be [$$].
We'll provide you with a new employment contract outlining all these perks and your new responsibilities.
If you're interested in this opportunity, you'd start on [date]. If you're not keen on the change, it's absolutely okay–just let us know by [date].
I’d love to chat more with you once you’ve had time to absorb this information. I’ll put some time on the calendar for us to meet. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions.
Warmly,
[Name]
[Role, such as Director of Human Resources, CEO, or other.]
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Tips for Offering a Full-Time Role to an Employee
When asking a part-time employee to consider a full-time position, it's important to approach the conversation with clarity, respect, and understanding. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Test the waters: Before diving in with a job offer, have a casual chat with your employee. See if they're interested in more hours or new challenges. If they seem open to it, you can move to a more formal chat.
- Get into the details: When you make the offer, be clear about what the new gig involves. We're talking job duties, hours, pay, and anything else they need to know. Giving them a written job description is super helpful so they've got all the details to mull over.
- Showcase the perks: Make sure they know all the cool stuff that comes with being full-time. It might be health insurance, a 401(k), or just more money in their pocket every month. Career advancement? Yep, that's usually a big one too!
- Be flexible: Remember, switching from part-time to full-time can be a big change. So, be ready to chat about flexible working hours or even a gradual increase in hours over time.
- Don't rush them: This is a big decision, so give your employee some space to think about it. They might need to chat with their family, consider their other commitments or just sleep on it for a few nights.
- Keep chatting: Make sure they feel they can come to you with any questions or concerns. Good communication makes the whole process smoother for everyone.
- Be prepared for a No: If they decide not to go full-time, that's okay. Everyone has different priorities and commitments. Just keep it professional, respect their decision, and carry on with your great working relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ask my employer to go from part-time to full-time?
If you want to move into a full-time role from your current part-time one, then communicate this clearly with your manager.
Whether or not the company has advertised that new job, it is important to let your manager know that you are interested in working full-time. This signals that you are engaged and willing to work and makes the hiring manager more likely to think of you when they sit down to think about staffing needs at your company.
It might be helpful to write an email draft or a cover letter that outlines your motivations for taking on a full-time role so that your company knows you're serious.
Highlight your experience at the company and how your skills align with those of the job posting. Be prepared to answer some interview questions, but most importantly, try to indicate that you love working at this company and think you'd be a great fit for a full-time position.
You can indicate these points in writing or by talking with your company, but the main point is that you want them to know you are ready to take on an expanded role.
How do you write a letter requesting a full-time position?
In your letter, focus on your experience at the company and how you would be a great fit for full-time employment.
If you took the part-time job because of time constraints (or other personal considerations), it might be helpful to explain why you are now able to commit to a full-time position and discuss what expanded roles you might be willing to take on. This can help reassure your manager you have the capacity and motivation to step up.
Make Hiring a Whole Lot Easier
Hiring full-time employees can be a tough job for any business. But bumping your part-timers up to full-time roles can be an effective way to cover your staffing needs.
You're hiring your tried-and-true team members–people who've already shown they're all in when it comes to your business.
So, if you're thinking about making this move, draft a formal business letter or an email. Make sure to tell them why you think they'd be great in a new position and let them know what's in it for them.
And now that you know all there is to know about writing a full-time job offer, all that's left to do? Get it down on paper (er...or computer screen)!
