Quarterley

Just count how many of the things listed below that you do on a regular basis. If you are still in school just imagine how you would behave in the workplace and answer the questions. Although, some of this stuff you can do in school too.

--------------

Are you an annoying co-worker?

Take this pop quiz, courtesy of careerbuilder.com, and see how many of these statements apply to you:

1. You make provocative statements to foster dialogue or needle others.

2. You often find yourself delivering a discourse consisting entirely of buzzwords and catch phrases.

3. You make up nicknames for all of your co-workers and refer to them only by these names ("Good job, Chachi!" or "I'm going to have to disagree with you there, T-bone!").

4. Your office is completely decorated with your children's pictures and artwork.

5. You have plastered your cubicle with photos of yourself taken with famous people.

6. It is your trademark to recite rhyming or other cutesy messages as your voice-mail greeting.

7. The questions you ask at meetings are preceded by long monologues of your views and accomplishments.

8. You routinely eat odiferous lunches at your desk.

9. You bring in dishes that you tried to cook but didn't turn out quite right as special treats for your co-workers.

10. People seem tense, even panic-stricken, when they see you coming their way.

11. Others back away from you as you speak.

12. You send flurries of e-mails to the rest of the company telling them what you are doing (e.g., "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom.").

13. You vigorously chew or pop your gum.

14. You wear strong perfume or cologne.

15. You assume co-workers are fascinated by your personal problems and exploits.

16. You interrupt others while they are speaking or are deep in conversation.

17. You are moody and don't care who knows it.

18. You often give others assignments as they're walking out the door for lunch or to catch the train home.

19. You borrow staplers, scissors and tape from others' desks and forget to return them.

20. Your dialogue with others often ends with the other person shouting: "You are so annoying!"

If you counted only one or two, not to worry, you can quickly make changes before you're labelled a pest.

If your actions match three to five of these statements, take heed. You are on your way to becoming the source of many an eye roll.

If you do six or more of these on a regular basis, chances are you are already on the office watch list and have been anointed by your co-workers as annoying. It's time to do a reality check and make some changes.