how to lose a job offer in one day

Welcome back to the office everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and that you're ready to take charge of the week ahead. I am excited to share a new guest post that I've written for CareerJunction today, thanks so much for everyone's great feedback on the previous post I wrote for them.

With Valentine's Day coming up, I thought it might be fun to approach interview advice from a different angle. It may take ten days to lose a guy (or girl for that matter), but one day is all it takes to lose a potential job offer - so let's have a look at a few pointers over here...

stunts that can harm your career

I love the idea that we can be the creators/architects of our careers. Gone are the days when you have to accept the first desk job that comes your way and stay with one company for 30+ years. There are no limits to how creative you can be with your career, and it's never been a better time to be your own boss or juggle multiple projects/roles. I love having a full-time job and combining it with free-lance projects and part-time studies.

But whether you work for yourself or for an actual boss, there are some things that can really harm your career and personal brand if you don't pay attention:

• A bad attitude: Weather you work in an office full of people or with clients you visit for consultation, people will be people, and if you leave your manners at home it will have a negative impact on whatever you do for a living. A client will often choose a provider they get along with above an arrogant one that does the job equally well.
• Missing deadlines: We all know the saying "under-promise and over-deliver". Promising your boss or client the world but not delivering on time will reflect very poorly on your sense of professionalism. An employee or consultant who does not keep to agreed timelines will most likely be perceived as unreliable.
• Not saying sorry: Just like respect and good manners, admitting your mistakes and being open to criticism will show your character and encourage people to trust you more. No one likes to work with someone who is too proud to admit that they are not perfect.
• Gossip: Even if some colleagues enjoy your gossiping at the office, it ultimately sends the message that you cannot be trusted with sensitive information. Your lunch-buddy who can't wait to get the next scoop from you will most definitely not trust you with his/her confidential information. Clients also need to feel confident that you will act in their best interest.
• Inconsistency: Any boss and any client will be frustrated if you perform inconsistently. Can they trust you with projects or not? Can you stick to timelines or not? Can you manage your personal life or will it constantly be interfering with your job? You don't want them to be asking these questions, so be sure to maintain some consistency in your performance, regardless of what kind of day you are having.

We are all human and it's impossible to behave perfectly professional every second of every day, but these are things that are within our control to a large extent. Working on these skills are just as important as knowing your job content and improving your performance if you want to be a rock-star employee.

What other stunts can you think of that can really your career?

help! my coworkers are having an affair!

Such a tricky topic today! I am lucky to say that I have never been in a situation where colleagues were (secretly) romantically involved, but some of my readers have asked about this. What can (or should) you do when you know what's going on and how it's affecting productivity and team morale?

Here are a few tips from the experts:

• How to Deal With a Workplace Affair (Careeralism)
• Coworkers are Having an Affair - Should I Say Something? (Ask a Manager)
• How Companies Should Handle Office Romance (Forbes)
• Why to Avoid an Office Affair (Office Life)
• Why an Office Romance is a Bad Idea (Ask the Coach)
• Office Romance: a Manager's Guide (Bloomsberg Businessweek)

There you have it! Lots of reasons not to get involved in an office romance if you can avoid it, and just as many reasons to steer clear of other coworkers' affairs.

I guess the biggest question people have is whether or not they should tell a cheating coworker's partner. Depending on the situation I would say it's a toss-up between minding your own business and making the call. Hopefully you have a very capable HR Manager you can tell when an affair interferes with business as usual!!

Any advice from readers who have been frustrated with colleagues having an affair?

how to know if you are the annoying co-worker

Welcome back after a very long weekend! We have a very fun and interesting topic to discuss this Monday. I had a few giggles while writing this one, because odds are that if you are in fact annoying others at work, you will most likely NOT be aware of it and not be interested in reading advice on the topic.

But for those of you who value their personal brands and the relationships you have with colleagues,  here are a few great posts I found to help you ensure you are not a source of frustration in the workplace:

• 10 Ways you are annoying your co-workers (HR People)
• Are you the annoying co-worker? (Career Builder)
• 5 Sings you are a bad co-workers (US News Money)
• Are you the annoying guy at work? (Ask A Manager)

Hoping you also had a smile on your face while reading these, even if you may have noticed a few annoying quirks of your own! Even the most pleasant person can have habits that annoy others, so here's to polishing your professional image and adding to the positive atmosphere at work!

the best ways to disagree with your boss

Depending on how much you and your boss have in common you are bound to have days when you disagree with something he says. There is nothing wrong with having different opinions, but many of us get anxious when we need to talk to our bosses about it. Sure, it might not always be easy, but doing what you can to maintain an open and honest relationship from your side will make all the difference.

• Be the difference - Yes, instead of just listing what bothers you, see if you can suggest alternatives. Employers love problem solvers.
• Be respectful - Regardless of your opinion of or regard for your boss, see that you find ways to show respect while discussing the issue. Making sarcastic remarks in front oof your team regarding your boss's decision doesn't show much character from your side. Why not see this as an opportunity to build your personal brand at work.
• Check the attitude - Wild accusations and pointing fingers are sure to steer the discussion in the wrong direction. Sticking to the facts and discussing it in the most neutral way possible shows that you can handle yourself in a potentially sensitive situation without making things personal. Whatever you do with your tone of voice and body language may just rub off on whoever is with you,.
• Express it clearly - Take some time to formulate how you want to describe what is bothering you. Until you have a clear way of describing it, keep it in the back of your mind. Find ways to state simple facts and break it down into a couple of points/items for discussion.
• Ask questions - Instead of coming into the discussion with an accusing attitude, try to ask questions in order to better understand your boss's point of view. Maybe he has good reasons for making certain decisions you don't agree with.
• Agree to disagree - Sometimes we can discuss the issue as thouroghly and respectfully as possible and still not agree. Even though the outcome hasn't changed you may have had valuable discussions with your boss by now, so agree to disagree and do whatever is required of you according to his lead. Show that you are flexible and commited to company goals.

These tips work great at work but it can be useful in any conflict situation. Have any of you tried any of these approaches before?

coping in a job you really dislike

In an ideal world all of my readers would be doing challenging and interesting jobs that they love! But in the real world this is a tricky and very common problem employees face: what to do if you are stuck in a job that you can't stand. Most of us cannot afford to quit our jobs just because we don't like doing them - jobs are scarce and bills need to be paid...

If you currently spend all your time at work wishing you had a different job, here are a couple of questions I would like to run by you:

• What is it about your job you don't like? Your boss, your coworkers, the work load or the working environment? Some things (like work load) can be addressed with a little effort and resourcefulness while other reasons (like an abusive working environment) are reason enough to consider actually leaving.
• What steps have you taken from your side to address the issues? If you do decide to leave, can you say with complete confidence that you did your best to turn things around? If you can't say this, odds are you will leave feeling bitter and struggling to find closure.

If you have done all you can do, and you still wish you could leave but you cannot take the risk of losing your income, you can try a few of the following strategies to keep yourself positive and focused until you find a new opportunity to apply for:

• Career planning - Set up alerts to notify you when relevant positions open up. That way some of the best opportunities arrive in your mailbox before you need to go looking or them. Decide if you would like to stick to your current career path or try something new. What goals do you need to set in order to make a career change?
• Remember to smile - If your work drains you, find time to do things that recharge you and put a smile on your face. We often here people talk about work-life balance: just like a bad day at work can negatively affect your personal life, a good day away from work can carry some positive energy over to the office.
• Time for some training - Now that you know you would like to apply for other positions, are there short courses or workshops you can attend in order to add to your skill set? It might cost you a little money, but showing that you are committed to continuous education can give your job applications a bit more weight.
• Finish strong - Keep in mind what you would like your employer to say about you when you are no longer working for the company. Even though you may not be very fond of them, they will be on your reference list for a long time to come, so be sure you show integrity and professionalism despite your frustrations.

If you have ever survived a situation like this, what helped you stay strong to the end!?

crucial tips for quitting your job

Odds are each one of us may need to quit our jobs at some stage in our careers. Part of life.

I often read questions from readers about all the uncertainty that goes along with quitting their jobs, and it made me realise that quitting in the most respectful way possible can actually give your personal brand a boost and add weight to the reference your ex-boss gives you in future. Seeing this (sometimes uncomfortable) process as an opportunity to grow and build your network is the best advice I can give anyone who is considering to quit.

So here are a few links to save for when you may need it in future:

• How to Quit Your Job (by Alison Green for US News: On Careers)
• Etiquette: The Right Way to Quit Your Job (Classy Career Girl)
• How to Resign Gracefully (Corporette)
• 7 Awesome Ways People Have Quit Their Jobs (Huffington Post)
• How to Quit Your Job with Style (Harvard Business Review)
• How to Quit Your Day Job (Illuminated Mind)

I hope these tips have been helpful. Quitting a job is part of any normal career journey, so try to see it for what it is instead of making the process too personal or emotional. Sometimes we're sad to leave and other times we count the minutes to our last day, but regardless of how we're feeling we can go through the process with style!

Enjoy your Monday everyone!

getting the job done on a tough day

I’m sure some of us are made of steel and never allow a tough personal day to influence our performance at work, but I just have to say that I am not one of those! It might be a girl-thing, or even something to do with my personality type, but the truth is that when I have some personal problem on my mind it’s really hard for me to put on a brave face and focus on my work. How about you?

It might not even be a big issue, but just knowing that I have to spend 8 hours at work before being able to resolve it feels a little gruelling sometimes. Telling the whole office how fragile I’m feeling might not be the best option because I don’t want to send the message that I am incapable of coping with personal stress. But on the other hand just ignoring the fact that you are human might burn you out in the long run. So I have tried the following ways to still get the work done despite my tough personal day.

• Try using your work to distract yourself: Even though I really prefer to sort things out as soon as possible, the fact is that I need to plant myself in front of my computer for 8 hours, so I might as well try focusing on the work instead of the issue at hand. Time usually seems to fly when I’m focused and working hard, so it’s actually a good way to take my mind off the problem for a while, and very often it helps me cool off and see the issue from a different perspective.
• Be honest: Trying to hide that you’re not feeling 100% yourself may just make the day harder. If you have a friend or trusted colleague at work, why not tell them not to worry if they see you isolating yourself a little during the day, you just have some things on your mind that you don’t really want to talk about. If they know you’re having a tough day they are likely to understand and give you some space. No need to tell them all the gory details, just let them know you'll be fine and you would like to focus on work.
• Figure out what works for you: Some find it helpful to put on their earphones and listen to music while working and others need to call their moms before the working day starts to blow off a little steam J. Many people recommend chocolate (I wonder why) while others take a walk outside during their lunch breaks to get some fresh air. Knowing what works for you will allow you to manage your emotions instead of lashing out at a colleague or being rude around the office all day.
• Embrace the challenge: I try to see a day like this as a challenge to my resilience. I know I don’t need to be made of steel, but being able to cope and perform well while dealing with challenging emotions reminds me that I can be strong and mature under fire. Also, being known for performing poorly because of your personal problems is not something you want to be known for around the office (see more about personal branding here).

We will all have those days when we just can’t seem to get our minds off things happening in our private lives. But, like any other challenge, you can see them as opportunities to practice and show your inner strength. There is no shame in shedding a tear or two at work, but try to keep it from interfering with your productivity (and that of others) as far as possible.

What works for you on a tough day at the office?

are you a clock-watcher at work?

Companies approach working hours in whichever way suits them best, and for many of us working 9-5 is standard procedure. This means that work often feels like school and you may find yourself counting the minutes until the final bell rings so you can rush outside to head home. In many ways this keeps us employees in a mode where our goal often changes from performing well to simply getting through another day - would you agree? 

It’s not surprising that “flexible working hours” is one of the most desirable traits employees seek in potential employers these days. Working flexible hours may allow parents more time with their children or give employees the opportunity to be part of extracurricular activities/hobbies without interfering with their performance at work. I'm sure these people will report better work-life balance and employee engagement.

If your job allows you to manage your own hours (or even just adjust them a little), how would you describe your productivity and engagement at work? If you are someone who really enjoys the security and predictability of working set hours, do you think you would ever want to try a more flexible arrangement?

Always remember that it's easy for your boss to spot the clock-watchers, and you don't want to be sending those vibes. Showing that you can create work for yourself when days are slow can really improve your personal brand. Working on a project until it's complete instead of rushing home when the clock strikes 5 will do the same.

If I were forced to sit at my desk from 9-5 I would try to find ways of focusing on "outcomes reached" instead of "hours worked" by listing goals or outcomes for each day and aiming to tick off as many as possible. For those of you who don't have the luxury of bending your working hours, what effects do you think it has on your performance, engagement and attitude towards your work? What are some things that help you get through the day without looking at the clock and wishing the time away?

Check out this post on changing a culture of clock watching and let me know your thoughts!

how to rock corporate events

How January has flown by! I'm sure we're all back in the swing of things with only a few vague memories of the holidays in the back of our minds ☺

Does your job require you to attend workshops, off-site meetings or networking events? Looking professional and acting the part are always important when you are representing your employer at an event, so let's have a look at the links I have selected for you on this topic:

• Represent Your Company With Style (by Presentation Pointers)
• Effective Networking at Conferences and Events (by Work Etiquette)
• How to Act at a Networking Event (by Cerebral Stew)
• How to Act During A Web Conference at Work (by Conference Call)
• How to Work the Conference (by TheProfessorIsIn.com)
• How NOT to Act at a Networking Event (by AintAGeek.com)
• Navigate Company Events (by Monster)

I hope you enjoyed these tips! Have a fantastic week!

over sharing at the office

To be an open book at work or not? To tell your colleague the details of your last medical procedure, your mother in-law's gambling problem or an inappropriate dream you keep having... What do you think, do these qualify as over sharing? Have a look at some more examples of things your colleagues probably don't want to hear from you:

Sharing a few details of your personal life (like the sports teams you love or your hobbies) is an essential part of building relationships with your colleagues. After all, we all find it easier to relate to someone with common interests or opinions. It's a great way to show that you are (also) human and that you are more than what your job title suggests.

Social media platforms are encouraging us to share every detail of our lives to the world. Are you doing the same at work? It might be a good idea to draw some kind of line for yourself to ensure you don't become known at the office for spilling too much (or inappropriate) information.

Let's have a look at some guidelines to keep your personal life (mostly) personal:

• Train your brain: Take some time to evaluate and train your impulse to over share. Identify if you may be doing it to be liked or to get attention at work. You CAN say no to that impulse and you WILL still be liked even if you don't share every detail about yourself. Give it a try!
• Friend vs colleague: Some colleagues are actually good friends so be sure to make this distinction before sharing. If John is my good friend and Joey is a pleasant colleague I get along with, it may be OK to tell John about an issue regarding my brother-in-law and Joey about how much I enjoyed the office year-end party.
• Getting the job done: Are the personal details you share with colleagues affecting productivity by either distracting them or influencing their impression of your abilities? I wouldn't want to disrupt the flow of work with my shocking stories, or for my boss to doubt my focus because I am constantly talking about my personal problems.
• Remember your personal brand: Ask anyone you know if they have an over-sharing colleague and see how quickly they identify him/her. Building a reputation at work for always sharing too much of your personal life may create the impression that you are unprofessional and this can actually hinder your career growth.

While showing your personality and interests is always a good idea, try thinking about ways in which you may be sharing too much at work. Have a look at these posts on the TMI (too much information) phenomenon and honesty vs. over-sharing - enjoy!

there is no substitute for good manners

It doesn't matter where you come from, what language you speak or what your cultural background is - good manners will open doors for you. People will connect with you more openly, co-workers will respect you, seniors might just recommend you more often - all because you take the time to show respect to those around you.

Do you consider yourself to be someone with good manners? Or do you tend to shove them to the background when you're in a hurry or a stressful situation? We often justify our own rude behaviour when the pressure is on and "there's no time" to think about being nice. But there is really no excuse to be rude to others, even when you're having a bad day. In fact, showing respect and courtesy towards others when you aren't feeling up to it may just be an opportunity to show your character and build your personal brand (I don't want to be known for being rude when I'm under pressure, do you?)

Obviously this is easier said than done. We all grew up in different settings, with different parenting styles and values, and ways to show respect may differ entirely between different cultures. So here are a few things you can do to improve how you show respect to others at work:

• Working in a multicultural environment will give you wonderful exposure to people from other cultures and backgrounds. Once you get to know people who are different it becomes easy to value and acknowledge them, and you can see the unique contribution they bring to the workplace more clearly.
• Think about how you would like to be treated. If you would appreciate someone holding the door for you, why not try doing the same for others. Placing yourself in someone else's shoes is what drives acts of kindness, and your ability to do so will strengthen your relationships at work.
• Check your ego at the door. When you walk into your office, make an effort to view yourself and your co-workers as equals. Treating all groups with the same amount of respect says a lot about your character and is sure to leave a positive lasting impression with others.

Forget about the rat-race and getting to the top for just a moment and think about how you are getting there. Reaching your goals and getting that promotion is bound to be much more satisfying if you didn't get there by stepping on others.

Have a look at these posts on Why Manners Matter at Work, Good Manners in the Office and Why Good Manners Mean Less Work for Everyone.

romance at the office

What a hot topic we have here today! Do you think it's a good idea to get romantically involved with someone from work? I'm sure there is no way to completely avoid it as we spend the biggest parts of our day with our co-workers, but what are the effects it can have on your career growth?

So many people, so many different opinions - let's have a look at a few of them:

• Office Romance: How to Handle a Work Romance (video by howdini.com)
• Monster's Guide to Office Romance (by Monster.com)
• Office Romance Survey 2010 (by Vault.com)
• Think Twice Before Dating a Coworker (by Alison Green of AskAManager.org)
• Office Romance 101 - Relationship Advice for Managers (by ITworld.com)
• How Companies Should Handle Office Romance (by Forbes.com)
• Office Romance Etiquette (by Life123.com)

You are certainly not breaking any laws by getting romantically involved with someone at work, but it's important to calculate whether it is worth the risk. If you do fall in love with someone at work, there are many ways to go about it in a professional manner.

The one thing I would always try to keep in mind is how a romantic relationship at work will affect my personal/professional brand:

• Does it look like I am giving my partner preferential treatment?
• Are we known for our public displays of affection and advances around the office?
• Are we creating the impression that we bring our personal problems to work everyday?
• Does tension or friction between us affect how well our team works together?

What are your thoughts?? Yay or Nay?

meeting-101

Many of us attend (or lead) meetings on a regular basis. Sometimes they run smoothly and other times things spin out of control into a clumsy mess. Here are some short tips to help you stay focused, professional and effective in meetings.

sure you want to talk office politics on facebook?

A reader asks:

Dear Wannabe|Employee,
Some of my colleagues at work are also my Facebook friends. I don't think this is an issue, but when they start talking office politics or complaining about their bosses in their posts I do feel that they are being inappropriate. Is it OK to talk shop on personal sites when you know colleagues can view your comments? Should I not be adding colleagues as friends at all?

Excellent question! There are various outlooks on this topic, so in stead of giving you a list of do's and dont's, here are some questions you can ask yourself:

• Do I really want to mix business with pleasure?: In order to avoid this ambiguity, I have decided to spare myself the confusion and separate the two. I add personal contacts on Facebook and professional contacts on LinkedIn. There is no rule against mixing the two, but separating my contact groups is the easiest way for me to avoid this dilemma in the first place.
• What is the message I'm sending?: Like I mentioned in a previous post, everything you do and say affects your personal brand either positively or negatively. If you are polite in the office, but everyone can see your accusing and rude comments online, do you think people view you as someone with integrity? You might be giving everyone the impression that you are just another average employee who enjoys complaining about their job, so why not use Facebook as yet another way of building your reputation and posting things that show your positive attitude and strong character?
• What if my friend becomes my manager?: The reality is that things can change at any time in your organisation, and your friend may end up being your boss. Do you think he will trust you with sensitive information if he knows you love online office gossip? Do you think he will recommend you for promotions? Any negative thing you say about your employer online becomes reason for him to doubt your loyalty to the company.
• Looking like a coward?: Let's face it, complaining about your boss or organisation online (behind their backs) instead of being part of the solution will send the message that you are someone who is quick to throw stones and not interested in taking positive action. It won't get you fired but it does show that you are not interested in making a difference or handling issues head-on.
• Should I just delete all my colleagues as Facebook friends?: I'm sure it will come across as being insensitive if you just delete them all, but letting them know that you're making an effort to move all your professional contacts from Facebook to LinkedIn may be received positively by some. If you have good friends at work you would like to keep as Facebook friends, have you considered adding them to a "colleagues" group that you can hide selected posts from? This means screening each comment or photo album before sharing, but if you're willing to spend the extra seconds each time you post, this might be your best alternative.

This is something we could talk about for hours. In the end something as casual as Facebook is a way of communicating your values. Regardless of who you share with, your comments will always influence the way people perceive you and the level to which they respect you, even in a personal capacity.

What are your thoughts on this? Check out some other related posts:

• Can you get fired because of something you post on Facebook?
• Work Etiquette: How to Handle Gossip and Negativity
• 6 People who were fired because of Facebook
• Office Etiquette: What You Should Know About Friendships at Work
• Ways to use Facebook for your job search

help! my boss is a bully!

A reader asks:

Dear Wannabe|Employee,
My boss is very unpredictable and emotional, we never know which version we're going to get when a new day starts at the office. He changes his mind about what we need to do every day (or sometimes every few hours), leaving us a little clueless and stressed because we're afraid to approach him with questions. Sometimes he is even unhappy when we give him exactly what he asked for. He throws big tantrums and always makes us feel like it's our fault. I don't expect him to be perfect, but because this happens so often it's becoming a problem for our whole team.  How do we deal with this?

Wow, I'm sure many of us have had a bad experience with a boss or manager similar to this. There is no easy answer, but here are some things to consider:

• The 'why' of it all: Sometimes it's possible to figure out the reason behind someone's emotional behaviour. Personal problems or issues never justify treating someone badly, but understanding the reason he acts the way he does may help you shield some of the blame that's been flying your way. He may be going through a tough time personally, or someone higher up in the company is bullying him in the same way. Maybe he's just very insecure or unable to take responsibility for his own actions.
• Who's involved?: If your boss is doing this with everyone, at least you can know that it isn't personal and you're probably doing a good job even though it's not being acknowledged. If it's obvious that your boss is picking on you alone, I would try asking something like "I notice that the way I do things tend to upset you, and I would like to know if there is anything in my approach that is causing this. If  I am offending you in some personal way I would like to ensure it doesn't happen again, because I really want to deliver on what's required of me and work well in our team". Show that both the job and the relationship are important to you. If he still yells at you after that, at least you tried.
• Anything you can do?: Even though your boss may be very unpredictable (or just plain scary), have you thought about things you can try from your side to strengthen the relationship? Instead of becoming his sworn enemy at the office, have you tried getting to know him and understand his management style? Whether this works or not, you will be able to say with complete confidence that you tried reaching out and strengthening the relationship. Even if he is 20 years your senior, showing that you care about him as a person might just build enough trust between you to change the way he has been treating you.
• Talk to HR: Yes you really can (and should) talk to Human Resources if this problem is serious and affecting people's ability to do their jobs in peace. This way you won't need to face it alone and they may be able to help with finding a solution that benefits all the parties involved.
• It could be worse: I know this doesn't solve your problem, but realising that you are not the only person in the world with a horrible boss may help take the edge off a little. You may not be stuck in this particular team or company for too long, so if you need to bite down for a while longer it helps to know that it could have been worse. Check out these posts I found: 10 Signs that You Have a Bad Boss, How to Deal with a Horrible Boss, My Bad Boss Contest (get ready to laugh a little for this last one!).

In the end you do need to decide if it's worth staying in your team or company when there is nothing more to do and no one that can help. If your stress levels are over the roof and you are fearing for your life every day, it may be time for a fresh start. After all, you cannot be responsible for anyone else's behaviour but your own.

why can't we all just get along...?

Something I really enjoy about watching employee behaviour is how different things irritate different people. And in the workplace, where we spend big chunks of our time in relatively close proximity to others, there are bound to be a variety of potential triggers.

I was trying to think of a couple of things that get on my nerves from time to time:

• Rudeness - This really gets me worked up sometimes. I find it hard to keep quiet when I see an employee throwing his/her weight around and disregarding others to feel better about themselves. I know that it's impossible for everyone to like each other, but I believe that liking someone should not determine whether or not we respect them as a person.
• Office gossip - Being in HR, I’ve noticed some employees who will always try to ask me questions they know they shouldn’t. “But can’t YOU tell us what’s going on with so-and-so? We won’t tell anyone, we just really want to know”. These are also the same employees who take any hint of a rumour and distribute it through the office at record speed. I’m not a fan.
• Grown-ups behaving like spoiled children - I have to admit, we all may occasionally have one of these moments ☺, but there are days when an employee reminds me again that being older doesn’t necessarily mean you are mature. I’m sure we’ve all encountered one of those... 

These are really personal irritations, but let’s not forget those pet peeves that send blood pressures through the roof sometimes! An employee who always borrows your pen and never returns it, someone who dresses inappropriately, bad lunch manners, or a colleague stepping into your personal space. What are the things that get on your nerves in the office?

I also found a whole laundry list of colleague irritations – ENJOY!!