Quintessential Careers Content Index: Workplace Topics

Quintessential Careers Content Index:
Workplace-Related, Success-at-Work Topics

Our comprehensive Content Index enables you to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets related to workplace topics.

Read summaries of each piece of our content pertaining to workplace and office topics (including success, politics, promotions, job burnout) to determine whether you'd like to click on the link and learn more. The Index leads off with the most recent content items at the top, so you know where to find the freshest and most up-to-date content; however, there are also items for which we have no publication date -- and these are located at the end of the list.

Use the pull-down menu at the bottom of this page to find additional topics that interest you -- or return to the main page of the Quintessential Careers Content Index.

15 Quick Tips For Excelling at Work
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2011, Sept. 12
Summary: Most of us want to be good employees -- and most of us want to excel at our jobs. To be a successful employee and excel at work, though, is not simply a matter of being good at what you do. Being a successful employee also involves issues such as professionalism, attitude, and teamwork -- all of which is the thrust of this article, which offers our list of the 15 best tips for how to excel in your job at work.

The Art of Workplace Diplomacy Distinguishes Successful Careerists
By: Alexandra Levit
Published: 2011, Sept. 12
Summary: In this excerpt from her book, Blind Spots, Alexandra Levit tells a cautionary tale in which a worker exacerbated a challenging workplace situation through poor diplomacy. She then offers four keys to successful workplace diplomacy.

As Long As the Work Gets Done: A Revolutionary Way to Make Work Not Suck
By: Liz Sumner
Published: 2011, Sept. 12
Summary: Imagine a world where everyone does what he or she wants to do. Wouldn't that be a great place to work? It's not a fantasy world. It's called a Results-Only Work Environment, and it exists now in organizations all over the globe. This article provides an overview of this approach to work.

15 Quick Tips for Obtaining Your Next Promotion
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2011, Sept. 12
Summary: At some point in all our careers, we are more than ready for the next challenge at work. Or, perhaps we've had our eyes on the prize all along, with a plan to move up the corporate ladder. While the old model of working at one company our entire careers has been replaced with a newer model of career advancement, it's still possible to get ahead in your career by obtaining a promotion with your current employer -- and this article with 15 best strategic tips will show you how.

Seniors Survive in the Workplace by Knowing What Works for Them
By: Rita Ashley
Published: 2011, July 11
Summary: Time-proven, field-tested techniques to keep seniors happily employed.

Nine Steps To Work Less and Do More: Book Excerpt
By: Stever Robbins
Published: 2010, Sept. 13
Summary: The quest to work less and do more comes down to 9 simple steps. Each step will help you work less. Each step will also help you do more. Once you've stopped with the work that isn't serving you, you'll learn to do what you're already doing, but in different ways. You'll learn to recognize when you can get a little more oomph out of life without putting in any more oomph. These 9 steps are excerpted from the introduction and first chapter of Get-It-Done Guy's 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More.

Facing Your Performance Review in a Down Economy
By: Joe Turner
Published: 2010, May-17
Summary: In today's economy, be careful how you handle performance reviews. You can't afford to take the same old mindset of entitlement. See your past performance as part of a bigger picture that has helped the organization's bottom line.

Handy (and Strategic) Tips for Dealing With Office Politics
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2010, May 17
Summary: Workers have three options when faced with a politically charged workforce: disavow that politics actually exists; decide to ignore the political landscape; choose to work within the system. In reality, the first two options have the same (often negative) consequences, while the third can provide you with insight and success. This article is about providing you with strategic tips for understanding and maximizing the political landscape of your organization -- helping you avoid dangerous landmines while working within the system to your benefit.

Dozen Top Presentation Tips
By: Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2009, June 22
Summary: Sooner or later in your professional career, you will probably be called upon to deliver a presentation. This article offers 12 tips to ensure you present engagingly.

Four Tips For Defending Yourself Against Rudeness at Work
By: Deborah Brown-Volkman
Published: 2009, June 22
Summary: Understanding why co-workers snap is important. They are overworked, and so are you. But behavior that feels inappropriate is inappropriate and must be addressed quickly. So what do you say to a co-worker who says something rude -- something that does not feel right to you? Defend yourself. This article tells how.

Taxonomy of Common Types of Co-Workers
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2009, June 22
Summary: Co-workers come in all sizes and shapes -- each an individual, with specific traits and quirks. Yet, when we examine the workplace as a whole, most people can be placed in one of several categories. This article offers a categorization of co-workers:

Unhappy at Work? Change How You Feel About Your Work
By: Deborah Brown-Volkman
Published: 2009, June 22
Summary: How can you love what you do when you don't feel you best? How can you build momentum in your career when you are tired? How can you fulfill your dreams when you don't have the energy to make it happen? You can change how you feel about your work. This article reveals some things you can do to make this happen.

Workplace Relationships Quiz: What Kind of Co-Worker Are You? A Quintessential Careers Quiz
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2009, June 22
Summary: Just as it takes all kinds of people to make a world, any given workplace is populated with a variety of different personalities -- all forced to work together toward a common goal. If you've been working for any length of time, you probably know some of the common types of co-workers, from the competitor to the gossip, but do you know what kind of co-worker you are? Take our quiz and find out!

Do's and Don'ts for Keeping Your Job (In Good Times -- and Bad)
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2009, Feb. 9
Summary: Whether you love your job, hate your job, or simply see it as a means to an end, there are times when your focus is less on job satisfaction and more on job preservation. When your profession or industry is on the decline or when the economy is in the tank and employers are cutting jobs at a dizzying pace, it's time to hunker down and focus more on protecting your position within the organization. With this goal of job preservation in mind, this article offers some crucial do's and don'ts (rules) for keeping your job -- and these techniques can be used both in good times, as well as in bad times.

How Secure is Your Job? A Job Jeopardy and Layoff Assessment
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2008, Nov. 3
Summary: The reality is that most of us will be fired or downsized at least once in our careers, and while that event is traumatic enough, it's best not to be blindsided by a job loss. The value of this assessment is to help you gauge your job security so that you can take steps to protect your job and/or begin searching for a new job. Is your job in jeopardy? Take our assessment and find out!

Is Your Job in Jeopardy? Impending Layoff Warning Signs
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2008, Nov. 3
Summary: The purpose of this article is to help open to your eyes to an impending layoff so that you can be better prepared to find a new job whether the layoffs come or not.

Just Do It: Six Reasons to Ride a Bike or Walk to Work
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2008, Sept. 15
Summary: Why should you buy those new walking shoes or invest in a good bike? Here are our six reasons for riding a bike or walking to work:

Save Money and Help the Environment and Increase Your Health by Biking to Work
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2008, Sept. 15
Summary: While the recent increase in gas prices have caused people to look at alternative methods for commuting to work, riding a bicycle at least a few days a week offers many more benefits besides having a bit more money in your pocket. Assuming your commute is not unreasonable (under 10 miles), riding a bike to work is a great way to increase your physical and mental health while also reducing your carbon footprint. Our article offers additional reasons for biking to work.

Walking to Work to Save Money Help the Environment and Increase Your Health
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2008, Sept. 15
Summary: Even though we all do some amount of walking as part of our daily routines, before you consider something as strenuous as walking to work, consult with your doctor to be sure you are physically up to the challenge. Once you get the OK, start slowly, adding a few miles each couple of days until you build up the stamina and muscles for the full commute distance. Walking is said to be one of the best forms of exercise because of the many benefits received. Our article offers additional reasons amd tips for walking to work.

Workplace Wellness Programs: A Winning Idea in Which Employees Acquire Better Health While Employers Receive Higher Productivity and Perhaps Both
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2008, Sept. 15
Summary: There are two types of wellness programs. First, there are insurance-based programs (that lower premiums if employees agree to certain lifestyle changes). Second, there are employer-based programs (in which the employer is truly trying to change the lives of its employees for the better). This article focuses solely on the employer-based programs because of the greater benefits they offer to both employers and workers.

Seven Strategies to Recession-Proof Your Career: Build Your Future Regardless of Health of the Economy
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2008, Feb. 4
Summary: In uncertain times -- and really in any economic situation -- what can you do to stay focused on your career and protect your job? This article provides you with seven strategies to help you be prepared for any situation while proactively building what some experts refer to as your career capital -- your value to both your current employer and future prospective employers -- and what we refer to as building your brand.

Dealing With a Bad Boss: Strategies for Coping
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2007, Dec. 8
Summary: What can you do if you are working for a bad boss? This article provides you with the tools you need to manage the situation as best you can, but remember that sometimes the only solution is transferring to a different part of the company -- or switching employers.

Surviving the Office Holiday Party: How NOT to Lose your Job or be the Topic of Conversation Around the Office
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2007, Nov. 26
Summary: This article focuses on five tips that should just about guarantee that you safely navigate the sometimes dangerous waters of the holiday office party.

How Do You Like Your Work?
By: Liz Sumner
Published: 2006, Aug. 14
Summary: How does a person design work that he or she likes? Job descriptions talk about required skill sets, but other qualities need to be considered to see if this situation is a good match for you. It's your choice. This article offers a few questions to ask yourself.

Mastering the Art of Teams and Team Building: Ten Tips for Top Quality Teamwork
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2006, Aug. 14
Summary: How can you be a better team member? How can you get your team to work more effectively as a team? How can you lead your team to success? This article offers 10 tips for creating better teams.

Team Player Assessment (Are You a Team Player? A Quintessential Career Quiz)
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2006, Aug. 14
Summary: What kind of team player are you? Take our quiz and find out for yourself!

Marketing Yourself with Internal and External Promotions
By: Teena Rose
Published: 2005, Dec. 5
Summary: Surveys have shown that up to 80 percent of those employed are unhappy. Unhappiness results from being overworked/underpaid, a deteriorating relationship with colleagues or management, or possibly, disappointment in oneself. If you plan to sell your time and abilities, why not take complete advantage of your efforts. Being in control of your career and promoting yourself can dissolve dissatisfaction by providing more career options and opening more doors to opportunity.

Job Burnout Quiz: How Close Are You To Burning Out?
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2005, Aug. 1
Summary: Job burnout can affect all workers at one point or another. There are many signs of burnout, and if you are feeling fed-up with your job, your co-workers, and your employer, you may be suffering from burnout. Take our quiz and see for yourself.

Managing Job Stress: Ten Strategies for Coping and Thriving
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2005, Aug. 1
Summary: Job stress is something we all face as workers -- and we all handle it differently. There is no getting around it. But, not all stress is bad, and learning how to deal with and manage stress is critical to our maximizing our job performance, staying safe on the job, and maintaining our physical and mental health. This article provides 10 tips for dealing with the stress from your job.

Survey Says Telecommuting Ranks High On Job-Seekers' List
By: Pamela La Gioia
Published: 2005, Aug. 1
Summary: We asked survey respondents who have been successful in finding and keeping telecommuting positions for their input the factors that contributed to their success. This article reveals those factors.

Are You or Someone You Know -- a Workaholic?
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2004, Aug. 30
Summary: Does this scenario sound familiar to you? You love your work and are responsible for multiple projects and tasks that continue to be assigned to you or your group. You actually thrive on the multiple deadline pressures. Or perhaps you hold multiple jobs or own your own business. Your work hours are long, your at-home hours short, and your sleep hours few. Vacations and social visits with friends are a distant memory. Your only hobby is your job. This article discusses traits of workaholics.

Workaholics Quiz: Do You Focus on Work Too Much?
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2004, Aug. 30
Summary: Do you work long hours -- and enjoy it? Do you hold multiple jobs? Do you own your own business? Do you take your cell phone with you on vacations (if you even take vacations) to call in to the office? Do you have problems with your family because of your job? Do you know someone like this? Are you -- or is someone you know -- a workaholic? Take the quiz.

Low-Wage Worker Do's and Don'ts
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2004, June 7
Summary: Almost a quarter of the U.S. workforce -- some 30 million Americans -- can be classified as low-wage workers, toiling in jobs that are often part-time, with little or no benefits, and pay under $9 an hour. This afrticle presenats the keys to surviving low-wage jobs -- and moving beyond them whenever possible. Follow these rules and you should achieve success in moving ahead in your job/career.

How to Leave Your Dead-End Job
By: Liz Sumner
Published: 2004, March 15
Summary: The No. 1 reason people stay in bad jobs is fear of the unknown. Are you hanging on to something that doesn't fit just because it's familiar? What if the unknown weren't scary? What if it were filled with joy and delightful possibilities? Sure, there's that transition period where you leave what you can do in your sleep and head into new territory. I assure you that the downhill slide of staying too long is far greater than the steepness of a little learning curve. How might you make unknown territory more comfortable? This article explains.

Is Job Flexibility Right For You? A Quintessential Careers Quiz
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2003, July 7
Summary: Experts agree that most employers are open to flexible work scheduling, even if they don't currently offer it or have a relevant policy. Many employers see the benefits of boosting loyalty, strengthening morale, and minimizing turnover while reducing recruitment costs, training program expenses, and lost productivity yet incurring minimal new expenses. So, how do you decide if job flexibility is right for you? Take our Job Flexibility Quiz and see for yourself.

Making Your Case for Telecommuting: How to Convince Your Boss
By: Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2003, July 7
Summary: For many, telecommuting is seen as the answer to the desire to work from home. The term "telecommuting" is used interchangeably with the more recent term "teleworking," which some experts suggest you use when proposing an off-site arrangement to your boss -- since "telework" sounds more like working. This article dicusses how to tak your boss into a telecommuting arrangement.

Your First Days Working at a New Job: Twenty Tips to Help You Make a Great Impression
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., and Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2003, June 9
Summary: How can you improve your chances for making a great first impression when you're starting a new job? This article reveals 20 tips -- along with some comments and suggestions from job-seekers who have been there -- to help you make a great impression.

Real World Advice How to Make the Best Impression in Your First Days on the Job
By: n/a
Published: 2003, June 9
Summary: New college graduates give advice on making a good first impression.

Do's and Don'ts for Requesting a Raise
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2003, May 26
Summary: This article offers the keys to successfully requesting an increase in salary. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in getting the raise you deserve.

Getting the Raise You Deserve
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2003, May 26
Summary: The strategies in this article are designed to prepare you better, reduce your anxiety, and help you achieve your raise and salary goals.

Resigning With Class How to Diplomatically Resign From Your Job
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2002, Dec. 16
Summary: This article is really two articles in one. The first part discusses the strategies behind making a graceful departure from your employer and the second part shows you how to write a letter of resignation.

Job Resignation Do's and Don'ts
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2002, Dec. 16
Summary: Are you preparing to resign from your current job? This article offers general rules (do's and don'ts) about resigning from your job gracefully -- and carefully.

Holiday Office Gift Giving Do's and Don'ts: A Guide to Surviving the Season
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2002, Dec. 2
Summary: This article addresses all these office gift-giving questions and more. Here are some basic rules of etiquette for enjoying (and surviving) office gift giving.

Holiday Office Party Do's and Don'ts
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2002, Dec. 2
Summary: Going to the company office holiday party this year? You can take advantage of the office party to have some fun and advance your career or misbehave and cripple your career. This article offers some basic rules to survive and thrive at any company-sponsored party.

Workplace Values Assessment: Do You Know the Work Values You Most Want in a Job and an Employer -- and Does Your Current Employment Reflect Those Values? A Quintessential Careers Quiz
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2002, Feb. 18
Summary: How well do you know your workplace values? If you're like most people, you may have done some self-assessment years ago when you were first starting out in your career, but have you taken the time recently to stop and see who and where you are now? After several job changes and promotions, are you still doing the kind of work that really suits you? After several ownership changes, mergers, and acquisitions, are you really with the type of company (with upper management) that respects and rewards your values? As you begin thinking about a job or career change, have you really spent the time thinking about the right job and right employer for what you value -- and what you need in your life? Perhaps it is time for this work values check-up.

Moving Up the Ladder: Ten Strategies for Getting Yourself Promoted
By: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Published: 2001, July 30
Summary: Promotions are not a given. It used to be that workers progressed along specific career paths during their careers, but the impact of technology, globalization, and flatter organizational structures, has changed that paradigm. Today, employees have to create and manage their own career paths -- through one or multiple organizations. And remember that a promotion is not always an upward path. Sometimes -- especially in today's business environment -- you may need to make a lateral move to position yourself for a later upward move. How do you develop your promotion plan? Incorporate the 10 strategies in this article into your plan.

Clever Ways to Get a Raise: Perks You Might Not Have Thought About
By: Jack Chapman
Published: 2000, June 12
Summary: Benefits and perks, when added to a base salary, can turn a low offer into a lucrative one. These same "bennies and perks" aren't limited to initial negotiations; they're at your service whenever you want a raise. This article explains.

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Quintessential Careers Content Index: Workplace-Related, Success-at-Work Topics

Our comprehensive Content Index enables you to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets related to workplace topics.

Quintessential Careers Content Index:
Workplace-Related, Success-at-Work Topics