Job-Hunting Tools:

  Search for Jobs
  Corporate Job Sites
  Order a New Resume


  Career Tools:

  Content Index
  Career Resources
  Career Tutorials
  Job-Search Samples
  College Planning
  Job/Career Bookstore
  Search this Site


  Career Categories:

  Career Networking
  Personal Branding
  Resumes and CVs
  Job Interviewing
  Salary Negotiation

 

Are You Sabotaging Your Career?
A Quintessential Careers Quiz


 

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

 

We all know someone like my father. A great man with good intentions -- maybe even a star contributor, someone who takes on extra work and even ventures to the office on the weekend to test out some new ideas -- someone who can definitely list many revenue-enhancing accomplishments on your resume.

 

Yet, even with all these positives, you know something is not quite right because it's the other folks in your office who get the promotions, big bonuses, or high-profile assignments while you sit by quietly (or not so quietly) steaming.

 

What gives? An easy target is your boss -- maybe s/he is envious of your successes, or maybe s/he is just a bad boss. If you honestly decide it is all about your boss -- then read our article on bad bosses, Dealing With a Bad Boss: Strategies for Coping.

 

Maybe it's your co-workers. Perhaps they are envious of you and stabbing you in the back -- or perhaps you have a bit too inflated view of yourself.

 

The solution? Take a step backwards away from the situation. Is it really your boss or co-workers -- or are you sabotaging your own career? Take our Quintessential Careers Quiz and find out!

 

Just complete this form. Click on Submit button when ready to send.

 

You will receive the answers and a scoring guide via e-mail.

 

IMPORTANT: To ensure that you receive a response to this quiz, please be sure to (a) enter your full e-mail address in the space provided and (b) please enter your email address twice to ensure that we get your correct e-mail address. We cannot provide you with feedback if your e-mail address is incorrect or not supplied. Read our Privacy Policy if you have any concerns about providing your email address to us. If you don't want to take this quiz interactively, print out this page and mark your answers. Then go to our Career Sabotage Quiz Scoring Guide to see your results.

 

Your name:
Your email address:
Re-enter your email address:

 

If You Use Yahoo, Read This Note!

Do you have an unfriendly email server? If you use Yahoo for your email, the answer is yes. Yahoo consistently is bouncing email sent from the QuintCareers server -- and you will not receive your quiz/assessment response. You can certainly contact Yahoo and encourage it to whitelist quintcareers.com, but in the meantime, you should use an alternate email account for this test.

 

Directions: Read the following statements and respond as truthfully as you can. The more introspective you can be, the more accurate the results. Respond to each statement with one of five responses: Always True, Sometimes True, Sometimes False, Always False, Not Sure.

 

  1. When things go wrong at work, it's easier to blame others than to take the responsibility.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  2. I'm not one to hide my disappointment when someone I don't respect gets recognized or promoted -- especially when I don't.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  3. I kind of fell into this job, and while I enjoy what I'm doing, I really have no plan for where I want to go next.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  4. I tend to make quick decisions when faced with a situation rather than taking the time to fully understand the situation and the consequences of my choices.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  5. I am the type of person who sees the glass as half empty rather than half full, so I always see the negatives before the positives.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  6. I worry that I just do not have what it takes to succeed in my job.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  7. I typically view things as black or white, and find people who try to change my opinion annoying.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  8. I do not take criticism well, often taking even helpful comments from co-workers and bosses too personally.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  9. I feel as though I am in competition with all my co-workers, so even though I know I could learn new skills from them, I focus my energies on doing my job my way.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  10. I don't spend much time with my boss because it just seems like the people who do so are simply kissing butt, and I am not that type of person.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  11. I tend to focus more on my failures than my successes, and sometimes wonder about my value to the organization.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  12. I sometimes miss deadlines because I just cannot always focus and be fully engaged and passionate about what I do.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  13. I feel as though all my co-workers are better than me -- that they are more qualified, with better experience or education/training than I have.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  14. I often become bitter about the job I do and the position within the organization because I feel I deserve much more.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  15. I let my personal life (family issues, substance abuse, health concerns) interfere with my job and my relationship with my co-workers and boss.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  16. I often use my work phone and e-mail account for personal business.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  17. I have never really seen the value of having a mentor within the organization.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  18. I feel as though my work should speak for itself, and any kind of self-promotion is really for the people who can't do the work.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  19. I spend a lot of time worrying that people think I am a fraud and not deserving of my job.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

  20. Every time I feel like I am close to a major success, I get an uncomfortable feeling inside and then make a major change in my life.
    Always True
    Sometimes True
    Sometimes False
    Always False
    Not Sure

     

      

 

Be sure to also review these Workplace Resources for Dealing With Your Current Job/Employer.

 

And don't forget to check out our entire collection of Tests and Quizzes for Job-Seekers.

 


 

Questions about some of the terminology used in this quiz? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.

 

QuintCareers.com Founder Dr. Randall Hansen Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.

 


Enhance your career! Take advantage of all of our expert free career development advice, tools, and more in our Career Resources Toolkit for Job-Seekers.

 


 

Quintessential Resumes & Cover Letters

 

Find a New Job