Adams & Garth Blog

In a perfect world, everyone would have a boss who is a strong leader and motivator; who is understanding and compassionate, while still expecting excellent work; and who recognizes and rewards going the extra mile.

However, in this world, if you’re like many people, you who have to face a boss each day at your Charlottesville job who falls a bit short. Perhaps, they aren’t a natural leader and don’t inspire confidence. Maybe they’re too soft, allowing employees to get away with murder. Or they could be too hard, micro-managing and nit-picking every detail.

The worst situation, though, is when your boss treats you with disrespect. When this happens, you can begin to question your value as an employee and want to quit. But before you do, know your options for handling this sticky situation.

Look Inward First.

Bosses have tough jobs. Not only are they responsible for delivering the best results, but they also need to rely on other people – people like you – to get the job done. And if you’re delivering a sub-par performance, you could be making their job harder; hence the poor treatment.

So, while it might be difficult to hear, perhaps you need to do a better job. Come in early, stay later, and work harder to make sure you’re meeting expectations. While your boss should never treat you with contempt, regardless of your performance, he or she will probably go a whole lot easier on you if you’re doing great work at your Charlottesville job.

Talk to Others.

Ask a few trusted co-workers whether they’re experiencing similar problems with the boss. If they are, then at least you know that you’re not alone. Maybe your boss is stressed out about a personal problem or about new sales quotas or a big project deadline…and is taking it out on his team.

Regardless, if the behavior continues, then you’ll need to talk to your boss and get to the root of the matter. But if your co-workers are experiencing the same treatment from your boss, at least you have some allies.

Talk to Your Boss.

If you feel like you are doing good work and truly don’t understand your boss’s treatment of you, then schedule a private meeting to discuss the situation. Sometimes people don’t even realize they’re behaving badly until you point it out to them. When you do talk to your boss, try not to get emotional. Stay calm and be professional.

Bring in HR.

Before taking this step, make sure you’ve done all you can do to resolve the situation. If you have, and your boss’s behavior is truly impacting your ability to do your job, then report your boss to HR. They will take steps to deal with the situation.

Consider Quitting.

If you’ve taken all the steps above, to no avail, then it may be time to leave the company for a more productive work environment. Don’t sacrifice your personal health and well being if you feel terrible going to your Charlottesville job each day.

And if you need some help searching for great jobs in Charlottesville or in Central Virgina, let us know. We partner with leading employers throughout Central Virginia to offer you outstanding opportunities in a variety of fields. Search Charlottesville jobs now.

If you’re searching for jobs in Charlottesville, then you probably know you should apply to those that are a good match for your background.

What happens, though, when you come across a job that you know you’d be a great fit for, but requires an MBA, when you only have a Bachelor’s degree, or five years of experience, when you only have 3½?

Should you apply and hope for the best, or not waste your time at all?

The answer is: It depends.

As one of the top employment agencies in Charlotte, we can tell you that if, for instance, the job is for a senior level manager and you’re barely out of the entry-level phase of your career, it’s a waste of your time to apply (unless you’re some kind of whiz kid).

However, don’t trash the job posting.

If that’s really your “dream job,” then keep a copy of it so that you know what kinds of skills, experience, and background companies are looking for to fill this kind of position. As you search for job openings, keep your eyes open for ones that can help you acquire those skills and gain the experience you need to land your dream job in the future.

On the other hand, if the discrepancies between your background and the job posting are more subtle – such as a year or two of experience, then there’s no harm in just “going for it.”

In your cover letter, you really have to sell yourself, though. Explain why you’d be a great fit for the job. Give specific examples of how your skills and experience have produced positive results for past employers. Make yourself hard to resist for the hiring manager.

Your resume could wind up in the trash…or you could wind up with an interview.

You never know unless you try.

And if you need some extra help in finding the right jobs for your background, give us a call. As one of the top employment agencies in Charlottesville, we know where to look to find great jobs that are a match for your skills and background. Start Now>

So your boss “friended” you on Facebook? Now what?

While Facebook is a great place to catch up with friends and stay connected to family, you’re probably asking yourself if you really want to give your boss access into your private life.

The answer is: It depends.

It depends on you.

What kind of content do you post on Facebook? If the answer is pretty benign, then you may want to accept your boss’s friend request.

If, on the other hand, you regularly post political rants and photos from wild weekends, then it’s wise to conduct a quick clean up of your profile before accepting.

But keep in mind, just because you’re not “friends” with someone, doesn’t mean they can’t view your profile. If, for instance, you belong to your alma mater’s Facebook page, then everyone in that network can see your profile, unless you’ve changed your settings otherwise. In other words, no online content is every really private.

It depends on your company’s culture.

For instance, if your job is with a Charlottesville technology company and everyone at work is connected via Facebook, then you may want to accept. At some companies these Facebook interactions are the online equivalent of chatting around the water cooler – and you don’t want to be left out.

At other companies, though, it’s unlikely you’ll find senior managers on Facebook, interacting with their employees or vice versa.

It depends on your relationship with your boss.

There are definitely advantages to connecting with your boss via Facebook. For instance, you’ll have the opportunity for networking in a more personalized way. You can get to know your boss better, as well as their likes and dislikes. As a result, you may find out that the two of you have more in common than you think. And that strong personal connection could become a big asset in your career.

On the other hand, if you don’t really want to accept the friend request, there’s no rule that says you must. If you’re not comfortable with the idea, then don’t force it. Just let your boss know that it’s nothing personal; you simply want to keep your personal and professional lives separate. To reiterate that point, send your boss an invitation to connect via LinkedIn instead.

Just remember, if you do accept your boss’s friend request on Facebook, there’s no turning back. So make sure you won’t live to regret what you’ve posted in the past – or post in the future.

What about you? Are you already “friends” with your boss on Facebook? Has it impacted your working relationship in any way – positive or negative – at your job in Charlottesville? Let us know!

You have a rewarding job in Charlottesville with great benefits. Your spouse, on the other hand, has been unemployed for six months. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.

While we regularly hear about the challenges faced by people who are unemployed, we don’t hear so much about their families – and how the loss of a job can impact them. But the fact of the matter is that even if your career is going well, having an unemployed spouse can create a lot of stress at home. What’s more is that the added stress can impact your performance at the office, which could put your job in jeopardy.

In fact, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, increased levels of stress can cause you all sorts of problems at work – including a rise in the number of conflicts with co-workers, as well as a constant feeling of being overwhelmed.

So what can you do to lower your stress levels?

One positive way is by making sure you stay social. When you’re stressed or depressed, it can be easy to withdraw. But isolating yourself will only make the situation worse. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, schedule a lunch with co-workers or meet them after work for drinks. Not only will you have time to let off some steam, but you’ll also be building a stronger bond with co-workers, which can lead to positive results in the workplace. In addition, if you come home from work in a better mood, that positive energy can make an impact on your home life, as well.

Speaking of positive, try to look on the bright side as much as possible. Treat the situation as temporary. Your spouse will find another job in Charlottesville and this challenging time will eventually be behind you.

In the meantime, make sure you talk about your feelings with your spouse. It’s easy to live in a state of denial or pretend like there’s nothing wrong, when stress is eating you up inside. Instead, have honest discussions about your fears and develop strategies that can help you cope – together.

If your spouse would like some additional help finding a job in Charlottesville, please contact Adams & Garth. We’re a leading employment agency in the area, and can give them access to a variety of rewarding opportunities.

Feeling stressed out over a recent job loss? You’re not alone. The unemployment rate is stuck at around 10%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. So what can you do to survive a lay off and come out swinging? Here are some ideas:

Be tactful in an exit interview.

Many companies grant exit interviews. If you are going to partake in one, be direct and honest, yet tactful. Ask important questions like how to extend your health care benefits and when you can get a letter of recommendation. Whatever you do, don’t burn any bridges by getting nasty or denigrating the company.

Don’t jump into your job search right away.

You’re probably a little panicked, but it’s a good idea to hold off on looking for a new job for a few days. Chances are, you’re still reeling from being laid off, and that’s not a good mindset to be in when you’re interviewing for a new position. So take a couple days off to calm down and create a game plan.

Sign up for unemployment.

With unemployment, there’s typically about a two-week waiting period before you will start receiving assistance – so be sure to sign up immediately.

Make a new budget.

Now that you’ve been laid off, you may want to consider creating a survival budget. Jot down all your monthly expenses and put them into one of two columns – essential (mortgage, car, gas, food, etc.) and non-essential (gym membership, nail salon, cleaning person, etc.). Now consider canceling or holding off on some of these non-essential expenses in order to save money.

Maintain a normal routine.

Whatever you do, don’t stay in bed until 2 p.m. It’s important that you continue to get up each morning at the same time and get ready for the day. Also, don’t spend eight hours every day looking for a new job because you’ll burn out. Simply schedule a few hours each morning or afternoon for your search and then devote the rest of your time to other activities.

Think about working for a temporary employment firm.

Working for a temporary employment firm is a good way to maintain your existing skills and learn new ones. Plus, many temporary positions can turn into full-time opportunities.

If you’re looking for a job in Charlottesville or anywhere in Central Virginia, contact Adams & Garth. Whether you’re interested in a temporary job or want to find a full-time opportunity, we can help. We work with some of the leading employers in the region and can give you access to a host of job opportunities you may not otherwise know about.

Have you ever been downsized? What advice would you share with people who have been recently laid off?