Adams & Garth Blog

As an employment agency in Staunton, we’ve seen and heard it all. Job seekers who arrive at an interview wearing jeans and chewing gum, or in a mini skirt with sky high heels on. In a world where image and perception is everything, this kind of attire will most likely cost you the job.

So how can you ensure you’re dressed for success when you go to a job interview? Follow these tips:

For women:

• Wear a conservative, solid color suit with a coordinating blouse or top.
• Wear moderate shoes. Heels are fine, as long as they’re not too high.
• If you’re wearing a suit with a skirt, wear pantyhose. Light color or tan is best.
• Limit your jewelry to a few simple, yet tasteful, pieces.
• Your makeup should be light and your hairstyle should be neat.
• Avoid wearing a heavy perfume.
• Bring along a briefcase or portfolio case to carry copies of your resume or work samples.

For men:

• Men should also wear a conservative, solid color suit with a long sleeve white or light blue dress shirt.
• Your tie choice should be conservative as well and should coordinate with your suit.
• Wear dark socks.
• Your hair should be well groomed and neat.
• Limit your jewelry to a watch and wedding ring.
• Go easy on the cologne or aftershave.
• Bring along a briefcase or portfolio case to carry copies of your resume or work samples.

Also, here are some tips on what NOT to wear to a job interview:

• Any form of jeans (i.e. pants, shorts, or jackets).
• Sneakers, sandals or flip-flops.
• Visible underwear – bras, bra straps, boxers, etc.
• Shorts or short skirts.
• Clothing that is too tight or too small, or rides too low.
• Low cut blouses.

We know that work attire has changed dramatically over the years – from strictly suits and ties to more casual clothing. But the fact of the matter is that appearances do matter, and in order to make a great impression, you have to look your best.

So if you need some help preparing for a job interview or landing a new job opportunity, please contact Adams & Garth. As an experienced employment agency in Staunton, we can offer you outstanding job opportunities in a variety of fields.

Determining the right amount of staff for a fluctuating workflow can be difficult. You don’t want to hire too many employees and not have enough work for everyone. Nor do you want to hamper productivity by having too few employees on staff.

So how do you know when it’s time to hire again? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Are employees calling in sick more and more?
If there’s been a recent rise in sick time at your company, it may be caused be an overworked workforce. Your employees may be doing too much with too little.

• Are employees taking advantage of vacation time?
On the flip side, when employees are not taking the time off they’re due, this could also be a sign of an overworked staff. They may feel like there’s simply too much to do, so they can’t take time off.

• How many times over the past couple of months have you missed deadlines?
If deadlines are missed on a daily or weekly basis, then that may be a sign you’re understaffed.

• Are overtime costs consistently on the rise?
If your overtime costs are going up on a regular basis, then you may be understaffed. You simply do not have a large enough workforce to meet the needs of your workflow.

• Have you turned down new opportunities because you don’t have enough people?
You’ll lose your competitive edge without the right people with the right skills in place.

• Are you using temporary or contract workers a lot?
If you’re using temporary employers in the same departments to perform the same tasks over and over, it may be a sign you need to hire a full-time employee to fill that role.

• Are you following your business plan?
You created a business plan for a reason. But if you’re not following through with it, it may be due to lack of time and resources.

Now that you’ve asked yourself these questions, you should have a better idea about whether or not to hire. If you have questions – or are looking to hire additional full-time or temporary staff – please contact Adams & Garth. As one of Staunton’s leading employment agencies, we can source, screen, and hire, so you can focus on other priorities, like running your company.