Northwest Staffing Blog

Most employees dread them. But did you know that most managers dread them, too? That’s right. Annual job performance reviews are an unwelcome activity for all involved. However, there are steps you can take to prepare for your review and help ensure it is as painless as possible.

Step 1: Create a list of achievements.

Write down all the achievements you’d like to discuss during your job performance review. You may have to spend a little time thinking about them if you haven’t kept track of your achievements.

Once you have your list going, consider how your employer benefited from all you accomplished in the past year. For instance, did you increase sales, reduce costs, grow the company’s client base, or help to hold onto an important customer?

Be sure to keep your list concise, though. Don’t just detail the tasks you’ve performed everyday.

Step 2: Take a look at last year’s review.

Chances are, you created a list of short- and long-term goals you wanted to achieve. Ideally, you will have achieved or be working on achieving these goals. If not, though, then what are the reasons? For instance, did your boss assign you a new project or task that took up more time than you anticipated? If so, then be sure to present your case so that your boss doesn’t think you just blew off one or more of your goals for the year.

Step 3: Be prepared if you’re asking for a raise.

When the conversation turns to money, know how much of a raise you will ask for and how much you will settle for. Expect to negotiate and eventually reach a compromise.

To ensure you’re prepared, do a little research ahead of time. Find out what the going salary is for people in similar positions as yours. If you don’t receive the raise you want, find out what you need to do to get it.

What should you do if your review doesn’t go well?

If you feel you received unfair criticism, wait a few days to respond to it. Emotions can get in the way if you react immediately. Then ask yourself this question: Was the criticism really off the mark, or were you just upset about being criticized? If you feel like you were being unfairly criticized, then back up your argument with specific examples. However, if you just don’t like being criticized, then now’s the time to start preparing for next year’s review. Develop a plan for applying your boss’ suggestions and start a file to keep track of your achievements.

Bonus Tip!
If part of the reason your job review didn’t go well is because you’re unhappy at work, then now may be the time for a change. Contact Northwest Staffing. We are the Northwest’s leading employment agency serving Everett, Seattle, and Snohomish County.

Many employees are afraid to voice frustrations with their bosses. As a result, they say nothing, letting the negative feelings pile up until they explode or quit. But by being pro-active and communicating openly with your boss, you’ll build a stronger, more mutually respectful relationship.

Here are some tips for effective communication:

Talk to your boss directly.
If your boss isn’t the owner of the company or the top manager, don’t seek out his or her manager. Even though you want to avoid confrontation, going around your boss will only create animosity. So give your boss a chance to solve the problem first.

Don’t talk to your boss when you’re angry.
It’s never a good idea to have important conversations when you are emotional or angry. So let the dust settle for a day or two before approaching your boss. You’ll be more clear-headed and reasonable, rather than accusing and judgmental – which will lead to better results.

Don’t storm out or threaten to quit.
Even though it can be tempting in the heat of the moment, your boss just may take you up on your offer to quit – even if you just said it out of anger. So don’t make a foolish threat you will regret or that makes you look unprofessional. Simply tell your boss that it would be best if you both cooled off and walk away.

Realize that some blame probably rests on your shoulders.
With most conflicts involving the boss and an employee, both parties are usually somewhat to blame. Therefore, talk with someone who can offer you some objective advice before meeting with your boss, like a colleague or friend. They may be able to offer you a fresh perspective for looking at the issue, which can lead to more positive results.

Don’t talk badly about your boss to co-workers.
Bad mouthing your boss is never a good idea – and it can be something that comes back to bite you. If you have an issue with your boss, take it to him or her directly. Don’t lower yourself to gossiping and trash-talking.

Today’s workforce has different needs than the workforce of 20, 30, or 40 years ago. Responding to those diverse needs is critical if a company wants to remain competitive now – and in the future. Here are some ideas for adopting a diversity program at your company:

Analyzing diversity at your company.
The first phase is to analyze where you are and where you want to be in terms of diversity. That may mean conducting either formal or informal affirmative action analyses, and then establishing a vision for the future.

Creating targeted recruiting efforts.
If your company hasn’t met its diversity goals, the next step is to refine recruiting efforts to directly speak to certain groups, such as blacks, women, or seniors.

Implementing sensitivity training.
Educate and inform your managers and employees about diversity issues through sensitivity training. These seminars and presentations help to ensure that both groups work together to create a comfortable and supportive environment for everyone.

Ensure equal opportunity for growth.
If you’ve found that your company’s culture is not open to diversity, you may need to make major modifications to ensure that all employees have equal opportunities for growth and advancement.

Holding management accountable.
In order for a diversity initiative to succeed, managers need to be held accountable. Performance criteria and bonuses must be based upon the effective management of diversity, including recruitment and retention.

By effectively managing diversity in the workplace, your company can embrace new opportunities, meet the needs of your workforce, and remain more competitive for years to come. If you need help implementing a diversity initiative at your company, contact Northwest Staffing. We can help.

The Northwest job market is more cutthroat than ever, which can make the task of finding a good position seem overwhelming. It can be done, but don’t sabotage your efforts by making these common job search mistakes:

Mistake #1: Ignoring the basics.
Be sure to include your name, address, phone, email, work history and education on your resume. These are the basics and every potential employer is expecting them.

Mistake #2: Using an inappropriate email address.
As an employment agency serving the Northwest, you’d be surprised by the number of resumes we see with emails like pookybear102@aol.com. Don’t make this mistake. Instead, create a simple and professional email address that includes your first and last name.

Mistake #3: Sounding unprofessional in your voicemail.
If you’re sending out resumes and know that employers will be calling you, make sure that your voicemail greeting reflects the professional that you are. “What up?” doesn’t cut it.

Mistake #4: Not proofreading your resume.
Proofread your resume every time you send it out. Don’t simply rely on spell check to do the job for you. Why? Because your computer’s spell check program will ignore mistakes like using “untie” instead of “unite.”

Mistake #5: Posting unflattering photos online.
Nowadays, many prospective employers will receive your resume and then Google you. If that’s the case, then you better hope there’s nothing racy or inappropriate posted about you, like those drunken pictures from your bachelor party. Either set your profiles on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to private, or better yet, use this rule of thumb – if you don’t want an employer to see it, don’t post it.

Mistake #6: Using just one tool, like big name job search engines.
Big name job websites are a great way to search for a new position; however, you shouldn’t depend 100% on them. Many smaller companies don’t advertise on these sites, so you could be missing out on some rewarding opportunities. It’s also important to take other steps to finding a job, like attending a job fair, networking with others, and working with a staffing agency like Northwest Staffing.

Mistake #7: Sending your resume to every company and recruiter under the sun.
You’re setting yourself up for failure if you do this. Instead, take a targeted approach to submitting your resume. Only submit your resume for those positions that you truly qualify for and be sure to tailor your resume and cover letter for each position.

Mistake #8: Not following up.
Once you’ve had an interview, send a thank you note or an email to the person that interviewed you. Even if the interview didn’t go so well, or you realized you are unqualified for the position, you always want to make a good impression. After all, you never know what could happen in the future. A position you are qualified for could open up at the company or the person that interviewed you may refer your resume to a colleague at another company.

Whether you’re just beginning your job search, or you’ve been at it for a while, the employment recruiters at Northwest Staffing can help. We work with some of the leading companies in Seattle and Spokane and can give you access to a variety of exciting opportunities. Best of all, our job search service is free for candidates.

Contact Northwest Staffing today to learn more or search our current job openings now.