Bosses and Coworkers

Showing 135 articles

Career Development

This is How to Beat the Stereotypes About Gen Z Workers

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Gen Z workers are stepping into the job market with new expectations, priorities, and a fresh approach to work. But despite your strengths, you may face significant skepticism from older colleagues. According to Monster’s Work Watch Report, only 11% of workers preferred Gen Z employees as colleagues—the lowest percentage of any generation. This ...

Career Development

How to Identify and Deal with Workplace Bullying

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Do you ever find yourself dreading the workday before it even begins? It’s not always the big, obvious moments that weigh on you. Sometimes, it’s the subtle, persistent things—being left out of meetings, having your ideas brushed aside, or feeling like you’re constantly undermined. This is what workplace bullying can look like, and its effects are ...

Career Development

How to Deal with a Toxic Boss and Reclaim Your Happiness at Work

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Have you ever walked into the office, coffee in hand, ready to start your day, only to hear your boss yelling at employees in a storm of demands and criticism? They can turn what should be a place of growth and fulfillment into a daily grind of stress and frustration. So, knowing how to deal with a toxic boss is crucial for your mental well-being a...

Career Development

How To Navigate Cliques at Work

By Kimberly Marshall

Workplace cliques — those tight-knit groups that seem to do everything together — can pop up in any office environment. Though some cliques at work can be harmless or even beneficial, others might foster an "us vs. them" mentality that makes you feel like you're living a real-life dramatization of Mean Girls. If a cliquey "in" group is making it...

Career Development

How to Take and Give Constructive Criticism

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Constructive criticism is essential for personal and professional growth. However, we understand that offering or accepting criticism can be challenging. It requires sensitivity, tact, and the right approach to ensure it leads to improvement rather than frustration. That’s why we're here to help you navigate the process with tips and strategies to ...

Career Development

How To Deal with Lazy Coworkers and Improve Your Work Environment

By Kimberly Marshall

Lazy co-workers are, in a word, aggravating. Part of being a team player is pitching in and helping a colleague meet a crazy deadline or taking on part of their workload when they need an extra hand. But that's supposed to be an occasional favor — not a full-time job. If you're constantly doing someone else's work, it can be difficult to fulfill...

Career Development

Your Guide to Talking Politics at Work

By Monster Staff

Are you navigating a politically charged environment or simply seeking to maintain harmony around the water cooler? In this guide, we explore the complexities of talking politics at work, offering practical advice on when to engage and when to stay silent. You’ll also learn about your rights as an employee and how to discuss politics at work dur...

Career Development

How to Deal with Difficult Coworkers

By Kathleen Walder and Marlot Heerink-Martin

Do you have a colleague who constantly interrupts? Or someone who never finishes their tasks on time? Difficult coworkers can create a stressful environment. Working with irritating colleagues while remaining positive and productive isn't always easy. Keep reading to learn how to deal with difficult coworkers and make your work life more positive. ...

Career Development

Here’s What You Need to Know About Building Relationships at Work

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

If you work at least 40 hours a week, you likely spend more time with your colleagues than your friends and family, so focusing on building relationships at work is worthwhile. In fact, a Gallup survey found that people with close work friends are more successful. According to the survey, people with close pals at work have stronger customer and/or...

Career Development

Your Guide to Office Romance – How to Keep it Professional

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

An office romance can often feel like balancing on a tightrope – thrilling yet filled with uncertainties. Where coffee breaks can spark more than just caffeine highs and team projects often lead to personal connections, it's not uncommon for Cupid's arrow to find its mark between cubicles. Imagine you're in the middle of a typical workday, surro...

Career Development

5 Signs You’re Being Taken Advantage of at Work

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Nothing makes a job miserable faster than a bad boss - particularly someone who has no qualms about overworking their staff. Sure, sometimes you’ll be asked to go above and beyond your duties, and you’ll have to comply because that’s just part of being a team player. But feeling unappreciated or like you’re constantly being taken advantage of at wo...

Career Development

What Are Your Pronouns? Respecting Gender Identities at Work

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

When it comes to using personal pronouns, you might not give them a second thought. Especially if you’re someone who identifies as a cisgender male or female, meaning your gender identity corresponds with the sex that you were identified with having at birth. But as we know, every individual’s gender identity is personal, and it may not always conf...

Career Development

Conflict Resolution in The Workplace: Everything You Need to Master it

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Conflict resolution in the workplace is an art that’s important to learn sooner rather than later. The nature of being human means we’re bound to deal frequently with misunderstandings, frictions, and conflicts. And, since many of us spend large parts of our lives at work, these things happen there as well. It’s not as bad as it sounds, though. ...

Career Development

How to Write a Thank You Note to Your Boss

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Everybody needs a little appreciation every now and then, and that certainly includes your boss too. Writing a thank you note to your boss can be a great way to express your gratitude with professionalism, while strengthening your professional relationship. But how do you do that? How long should your note be? How can you be thankful, friendly, ...

Career Development

15 Work from Home Gifts Your Remote Colleagues Will Love

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Are you looking for a Secret Santa gift? Is your work bestie’s birthday approaching, or do you just want to show appreciation to that remote coworker that makes your life so much easier? In this article, we’ve gathered a few ideas for work from home gifts that will surprise and delight your coworkers. How Much Should I Spend on a Gift for a Coll...

Career Development

The Dos and Don’ts of Christmas Office Party Etiquette

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

While most of us love a good celebration, the thought of going to a Christmas office party can make you sick with dread. Or perhaps you’re over the moon because you've been anticipating it all year and can't wait to dress up in your newly purchased holiday outfit. Maybe you're excited and nervous all at the same time. Whatever you’re feeling, it...

Career Development

20 Fun & Festive Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Coworkers

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

When it’s Secret Santa time at your office, are you excited or apprehensive? If you’re a natural-born shopper, you may have a bag full of Secret Santa gift ideas for coworkers. If not, let’s take a look at some ideas and guidelines for your office Secret Santa party that will keep you on Santa’s good list. Getting Ready for Secret Santa Your ...

Career Development

How to Navigate the Benefits and Politics of Having Work Friends

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Most of us spend at least eight hours a day at work. That could be more waking time than we have with our family and friends. So, it’s no surprise that a third of adults have met at least one of their closest friends at work. Work friends can be vital allies to push through stressful days as much as to share anything from achievements, memes, or co...

Career Development

What to Do When All You'd Like to Say Is "That Is Not My Job"

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Are you finding yourself more and more often in situations in which you are asked to perform tasks outside of your job description? Before resorting to an abrupt “that is not my job” response, there are factors to consider and more subtle and diplomatic approaches you can take. These will help you achieve what you want without necessarily sacrifici...

Career Development

Strategies for Dealing With a Boss That Doesn't Like You

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Do you suspect you're dealing with a boss that doesn't like you? Look, as an entry-level new hire, it’s common to have to do some busy work. Data entry. Organizing files. Work where you’re not sure why your boss has assigned it. Most everyone does some busy work, no matter how high up in the office hierarchy they are. You deal with it with your hea...

Career Development

How to Deal With Competitive Work Colleagues

By Isabel Thottam, Monster contributor

There’s nothing like the thrill of competing with your work nemesis to bring out your best performance. Without someone to chase and outperform, would you be as motivated? A little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right? But when a rivalry goes too far, you need to know how to deal with competitive work colleagues. An international poll c...

Career Development

A Guide to Gender Transition at Work

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

How do you self-identify? About 1% of the adult U.S. population identifies as transgender, meaning the sex they were assigned at birth, based on outward anatomy, doesn’t match their inner selves. That includes author Dana Pizzuti, M.D., whose book Transitioning at Work: A Guidebook offers an honest look at what it's like being transgender in the wo...

Career Development

How to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: You have a large project in front of you and the project brief is so detailed that it probably took longer than the work itself. Having done this sort of project before, you know exactly what needs to get done. But before you can tick off the first step in your workflow, your boss is already being asked for a statu...

Career Development

How to Win at Office Politics Without Selling Your Soul

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

You’ve probably heard it said that in order to succeed in some careers, you have to “play the game.” In other words, you have to learn to deal with office politics. While that may be true to an extent, it doesn’t mean you have to put aside your morals and ethics and play dirty in order to climb the corporate ladder. Instead, it’s more about unde...

Career Development

How to Deal With Envy

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

All of us feel it at some point: Envy. Though it 's a natural human emotion, it can escalate and even derail your career if it seeps into your job. Understanding how to deal with envy isn't exactly easy, but it's necessary. In some instances, you might be the object of someone 's envy—maybe you nabbed a big promotion. In other cases, you might b...

Career Development

How to Ask for Help Without Annoying Your Coworkers

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster contributor

Imagine this: You're working on a big project for your boss when suddenly you realize you're never going to meet the deadline of getting the report to her before the meeting the next day. You should ask for help, but how can you ask your colleagues without seeming like you're incompetent or trying to dump your work on them? Too often employees don'...

Career Development

How to Impress a Workaholic Boss

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

Having a workaholic boss is a drag. Your boss is at the office before you arrive every morning. And he/she is still there when you leave every night. Adding to that stomach-sinking sensation is the fact that your Monday morning inbox is full of emails your boss sent the team over the weekend. Instead of being inspired by your boss's ubiquitous pres...

Career Development

Tips for Building Trust in the Workplace

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Building trust in the workplace is at the core of every professional relationship. Trustworthiness is absolutely necessary in order to establish not only your reputation, but also a strong network of people who will help you throughout your career. It goes without saying: No one person is responsible for the success of a company; it's a team effort...

Career Development

How to Deal with Gaslighting at Work

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Did you ever feel like you were losing your mind at work because someone insisted that a conversation took place with you that you have no recollection of? Is it possible you really did say that you would finish up a project even though you knew you had to get out by 5 p.m. to make it to your kid's soccer game? Chances are, you experienced gaslight...

Career Development

Discrimination in the Workplace

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Discrimination in the workplace happens across America, with serious implications for workplace culture, recruiting, and overall employee health and productivity. According to survey respondents in the 2020 Monster State of the Candidate survey, nearly one in four people have reported feeling discriminated against in the workplace. Other related...

Career Development

10 questions you should never ask colleagues

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Building authentic relationships with your co-workers and networking contacts requires a certain degree of candor, but it also requires some self-censorship at times. Specifically, knowing what questions are not OK to ask a colleague is crucial. Nothing can put off a colleague like inappropriate ice breaker questions or invasive, personal queries c...

Career Development

How to apologize to someone at work

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Summoning the words “I’m sorry” when you’ve made mistake isn’t easy, especially when apologizing to a co-worker. “Vulnerability is always difficult,” says Stamford, Connecticut-based executive coach Anne Marie Segal. “We don’t like to admit we made a mistake.” But learning how to apologize to someone you work with is an important part of office lif...

Career Development

25 Mentor Gifts That Say Thank You

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

If you’re fortunate to have a mentor, you know their impact on your life and career. It might be a professor while you’re in school, someone in a higher position than you at work, or someone in your industry who’s taken you under their wing. You know how much they mean to you, but do they? Many mentors say that seeing their mentee succeed is the...

Career Development

How to convince someone that your idea was their idea

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

If you’ve bought a car lately, you may have been pleasantly surprised by the salesperson’s laid-back manner and low-pressure approach. That’s because auto dealers, formerly synonymous with pushiness, have learned how to convince someone to sign on the dotted line without pressuring them. The old way of selling things just doesn’t work anymore. Peop...

Career Development

What Is Workplace Collaboration?

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

No man is an island, so says the famous sermon by poet John Donne, who believed humans thrive when they’re part of a community. This piece of Donne’s writing is over 400 years old, but its message of collaboration is plenty relevant, especially in today’s workplaces. Not only is collaboration a skill to hone and flaunt as an employee, but also as a...

Career Development

What to do when a co-worker takes credit for your work

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

Office politics are an annoying affair, and taking credit for others' work is a universal bad look. Say you worked hard on the problem, came up with an innovative solution, and now you want to deliver your awesome solution to your team and client. But suddenly, your colleague stands up and starts talking about the plan he devised. Except it’s actua...

Career Development

The do's and don'ts of managing up

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

There’s more to career advancement than just doing your job well. To move up the ranks sooner rather than later, you not only have to be on top of your to-do list, but also the to-do lists of others—namely, your boss. By managing up, you can reinforce your reputation as someone who is a valuable asset to any company. “Managing up means to make y...

Career Development

How to find a boss you want to work for

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

There’s a commonly heard saying that “People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.” And there’s data to back that up, according to Gallup’s Chief Scientist of Workplace Management and Well-Being James K. Harter, Ph.D., at least 75% of the reason people quit is influenced by their manager. So before you say “yes” to that offer that sounds perfect o...

Career Development

Can you spot these signs that your boss is lying?

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Reality check: People lie. That includes bosses. Maybe they lie because they don’t want to disappoint you (“No, you can’t take Monday off”) or don’t have an answer (“I have no idea if anyone is getting raises this year”), but it doesn’t make their lies any less annoying. Now, here’s the good news: You can learn how to tell if someone is lying to...

Career Development

Should gifts for your boss be on your holiday shopping list?

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Tis the season for stressing over this time-honored conundrum: Gifts for your boss. First of all, should you even get your boss a gift? And if so, what kind of gift is considered appropriate? And—more important—what isn’t? In a survey from staffing firm Accountemps, the majority of human resources managers (58%) said it’s perfectly acceptable fo...

Career Development

9 things you're doing that your boss hates

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

A bad boss is one guaranteed way to make you hate your job. There are plenty of tips out there about how to survive the workplace when your boss is a jerk, but did you ever stop to think of the reverse? A bad employee is just as surely going to make your boss’s job miserable—and a miserable boss is likely to make you miserable. It’s a cycle, get it...

Career Development

How to disagree with your boss without losing your job

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

It’s tricky when you have a beef with your boss. How do you disagree with a person who most likely hired you—and has the power to potentially fire you? Say something, and you run the risk of being seen as difficult or even adversarial. Stay silent, and you could seem ambivalent or complacent. “I think we have a lot of fear about bringing up o...

Career Development

How to deal with a difficult boss--and when to call it quits

By Anne Fisher, Monster contributor

What are three words you would use to describe your boss? “Rage-prone,” “two-faced,” “micromanager”—that’s how Mary Abbajay describes an old boss she worked for years ago in her late 20s. Sound familiar? More like absolutely freaking awful. Her book Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss teaches you how to deal ...

Career Development

How to react when a co-worker gets laid off

By Moira Lawler, Monster contributor

Approximately 30 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits due to the new coronavirus upending the workforce. You probably know someone who has been affected, perhaps even a co-worker. It's only natural to feel relief when you dodge the proverbial pink slip bullet, but what exactly is the professional and compassionate thing to do when a c...

Career Development

How Nurses Can Help End Horizontal Hostility

By Cindy Mehallow, Monster Contributing Writer

Nurses are supposed to be compassionate caregivers. So why are so many scarred emotionally from the demoralizing or hostile acts nurses inflict on one another? If you've had enough of the fighting, read on. Veteran nurses explain why such horizontal hostility occurs, revealing the true price it exacts, and share tips for creating a more collegial w...

Career Development

How to handle becoming the boss of your peers

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

A promotion is a great thing—new title, new responsibilities, unlimited power. (Well, maybe not that last one.) But when a career boost moves you to a position in which you’re managing your former peers, things can get tricky. There may be emotional reactions within your team, for instance. You may have to reevaluate work friendships. And tho...

Career Development

Should you invite co-workers to your wedding?

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Planning the big day? Congratulations! Let the fun begin. If you haven’t already, you’ll soon find it can be tricky to balance wedding planning with work (that is, unless you have an actual job as a wedding planner). Seriously, though, creating the guest list alone is sure to cause some stress and heartache. Just ask Britain’s Prince Harry an...

Career Development

Stabbing a voodoo doll of your boss could improve your day

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Has your boss ever made you so mad—like really, really mad—that you just, ughhhhh, wish you could stab them right in their stupid face? But, like, with a pushpin, not a dagger (calm down, this isn’t a Hollywood movie). There may be a simple, albeit unusual, solution that will reduce your work stress and improve your job without having to deal with ...

Career Development

What steps to take after your boss quits

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Rarely do you know it’s coming. And even if you do, the news can leave you on uncertain ground, unsure of your future at the company. We’re talking about that moment when your boss gives their two weeks' notice.. “It’s quite normal to feel unsure about the future and how things may change with a new person coming in to replace your boss,” say...

Career Development

How to talk to your company's leaders as an entry-level worker

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

They’re older, they’re busier, and oftentimes, the fate of the company you’re working for depends on their decision-making. So as an entry-level employee, why would you talk to leadership in the first place? “Because they are likely doing the thing you’re aspiring to do in the future,” says Mary Ryan, associate director of The Hodges Leadership ...

Career Development

10 ways to get your work noticed by senior staff

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

After years in the workforce and developing an unwavering work ethic, you can kick back and wait for your peers, your boss’s boss, and industry superstars to lavish you with their admiration. That’s how employee recognition works, no? Not quite. You need to toot your own horn now and again if you have any hope of getting ahead. We know self-promoti...

Career Development

How to make alone time with your boss less awkward

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Show us someone who’s never felt awkward, and we’ll show you a liar. Awkwardness, like other human qualities, is a part of everyone’s life, often rearing its ugly head in situations where you don’t feel like you can be 100% yourself. Like at work. With your boss. Alone. Silent elevator rides, anyone? “It’s not unusual to feel awkward with your boss...

Career Development

6 clever ways to get your co-workers to like you

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

In a recent Monster poll, 25% of people said that the most stressful part of their job is navigating relationships with their co-workers. Having a work bestie or a corporate frenemy can have a huge impact on your happiness—and how you do your job. In fact, one Gallup poll found that close work friendships boost employee satisfaction by 50%, and ...

Career Development

How to get the kind of feedback you need from your boss

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Sometimes, the truth hurts. But when it comes to your performance at work, honest feedback—knowing exactly where you’re nailing it, and where you’re falling short—is the only way to move ahead. In fact, recent Gallup research shows that employees who receive regular feedback from their managers perform better for their teams and companies. Whil...

Career Development

But I wasn't finished! How to get co-workers to stop interrupting you

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

You’re talking to your boss and you’re ready for your mic-drop moment. You start to explain your winning idea when your co-worker interrupts the conversation, and takes your metaphorical mic from your hands. Now you know how Taylor Swift must have felt at the 2009 MTV Awards when Kanye West stole her thunder mid-speech. In the heat of a meeting,...

Career Development

Millennials, you might want to watch the $%!# you say at work

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Eff all of those preconceived notions your parents had about swearing at work! With jeans and hoodies replacing suits and ties and beer kegs sometimes being installed in break rooms, the tenor of office etiquette is changing. And with it, the language that’s acceptable is also shifting. In other words, sailors aren’t the only ones who are gettin...

Career Development

Yes, your boss really could be a psychopath

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Research may have just confirmed what you’ve long suspected—that your boss is, in fact, crazy. Cool, now you're googling " How to deal with a psychopath boss," which is not exactly a great use of your time, but oh well. The Telegraph reported 21% of corporate executives had clinically significant levels of psychopathic traits, or a severe form ...

Career Development

What to do when your boss plays favorites

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

Favoritism in the workplace is not only demoralizing, it can also stymie your career. You know how it is: You see your co-worker hanging out in your boss’ office almost every day. They laugh, make inside jokes and seem more like longtime buddies than employer and employee. Anytime you try to join the camaraderie, they don’t exactly embrace your con...

Career Development

How to get an email response from your chronically inundated colleagues

By Catherine Conlan, Monster contributor

In 2015, the number of emails sent and received totaled somewhere north of 205 billion—per day. The odds of getting anybody’s attention in that communication whirlwind are, well, challenging. But there are a few ways of improving the likelihood that someone will hit “reply.” Email productivity company Boomerang recently released a study that ana...

Career Development

Why working for a super-tough boss can actually be good for you

By Sydney Finkelstein

She was an out-and-out terror. Her staff members quivered each time she walked by. Who would she target next with her fury? No one knew. But there she was, sitting atop one of the world’s most powerful media empires. And among those who won entrance into her inner circle, she inspired unparalleled if begrudging loyalty. I’m describing Miranda Pr...

Career Development

Do this before you friend your boss on Facebook

By Daniel Bortz

Friending your boss on Facebook can be a risky move. Let’s face it: We all have a skeleton or two in our virtual closet, and you’re basically giving your manager a front row seat. But studies show that adding your boss to your friends list can actually work in your favor—if you do it the right way, of course. One-third of workers who are connect...

Career Development

How to deal when your boss tries to be your bestie

By Catherine Conlan, Monster contributor

It’s natural to find friendship and camaraderie among the people you work with—after all, you spend more time with them than your own family. But sometimes boundaries get crossed. Like when your boss tries to be your best bud, downloading intimate details of his home life or his awkward conversations with his own boss. *Gulp.* You’re stuck liste...

Career Development

5 steps nurses should take when dealing with difficult doctors

By Stephanie Stephens

The ultimate goal in a health care setting is to provide safe and effective patient care—to remember your promise to “first, do no harm.” But when a doctor on your team acts like a jerk, that can have a negative impact on you and your work—whether you like it or not. This is all too common, says disruptive behavior expert Alan Rosenstein, M.D., ...

Career Development

5 types of co-workers you absolutely need in your inner circle

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

For a thriving career, you need a great support system. That’s why you need to pick your office posse carefully. “No matter where you work, you’re in a relationship business,” says Brad Karsh, CEO of Chicago-based professional development firm JB Training Solutions. However, if you’re like most millennials, technology may very well be inhibitin...

Career Development

When it's OK to tell your boss you're looking for a new job

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

A full-force job search requires time, effort and a considerable amount of maneuvering when you currently work full time. You may have to take a sick day, or a phone call during lunch. You may even have to get crafty to account for your sudden absenteeism at your current job. Then, there’s the interview suit situation: Next you’re finding yourse...

Career Development

How to get positive feedback from a boss who doesn't give it

By Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert

If you’ve been working hard, raise your hand! And what if you’ve been working hard and barely getting any recognition? Keep those hands raised. Though you’re not able to see it, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, quite the opposite; you’ve got a lot of company. In a recent Monster poll, 45% of respondents globally said they never feel appre...

Career Development

10 Ways Admins Can Make the Boss Look Good

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

What is the measure of an administrative professional? Some would say it’s all about helping your manager do his job well, AKA making your boss look good. With that in mind, we asked professionals who have been on both sides of the relationship what admins can do to help their bosses shine as brightly as possible. Here are their top 10 tips. ...

Career Development

How to Handle Big Personalities at Work

By David Eisenberg

American poet Max Ehrmann imparted the following wisdom on the world in 1927: “Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.” For those of you that work alongside someone who could be described as “loud,” “aggressive” or a “vexation to the spirit,” you might take Ehrmann’s poetry as a sign that it’s time to quit your gi...

Career Development

6 People You Shouldn't Get Close To At Work

By Monster Contributor

These characters will bring you down as you’re trying to do your job. By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer It’s important to build good relationships at work, but there are a lot of characters you should watch out for. Here are six people you should avoid. The Gossip A little chit-chat is fine, but watch out when people start sp...

Career Development

What to Do When You Spot Your Employer Doing Something Illegal

By Catherine Conlan, Monster contributor

Your boss may very well call the shots at your job, but that doesn't mean every move and decision will be good ones. There are plenty of things your boss can't legally do, even if they seem relatively harmless. If you think someone is breaking the law at work, one option is to simply quit—find a better job where people respect the law. But in ot...

Career Development

When a workplace rivalry becomes war

By Bret Silverberg, Monster Staff Writer

With Monster’s most recent survey on rivalries in the workplace, we asked for respondents to share their specific stories of having a combatant on the job. We envisioned “rivalries” to signify equal competition between two parties, for that next promotion, or to get the better assignments. Many of the stories we got back owed little to healthy o...

Career Development

Best Ways to Handle Gossip in the Workplace

By Jamie Thork, Monster contributor

In any office, there will always be people who speculate about coworkers and their motives, but when it turns into rumor-mongering or outright lies, gossip in the workplace can wreck careers and reputations. Finding out that you share an office (real or virtual) with people who talk behind your back can be devastating. It can also take a hit on tea...

Career Development

4 tips for connecting with co-workers despite your differences

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, so I went out to find ways employees can embrace diversity at a grassroots level by connecting with co-workers who are different from them. That includes those from different backgrounds, religions and generations. It also includes those who have different politics, values and interests. Here are four tips for c...

Career Development

When to tell your boss no

Is there ever an appropriate time to say “no” to your boss? The immediate circumstance that comes to mind is if you’re being asked to do something unethical or illegal — but are there other instances where a “no” is appropriate? What if you simply have too much going on and can’t spare the bandwidth for that new project? What if you’re asked to do...

Career Development

5 Surprising Signs Your Co-workers Think You're a Jerk

By Monster Contributor

By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer Most jerks don’t know they’re being jerky. That’s what makes them so annoying. If you find some of your co-workers displaying any of these five signs, you may need to wake up and come to terms with the fact that you’re driving them nuts. You Never Hear Anything Negative It seems counterintuiti...

Career Development

5 Smart Ways to Outmaneuver Your Colleagues

By Monster Contributor

By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer If you work in a cutthroat environment, it’s good to know how to watch your own back -- and get ahead when you can. Here are five ways to outmaneuver your colleagues in a competitive workplace. Lend a Hand It sounds counterintuitive, says leadership coach Ray White, but helping your co-workers...

Career Development

The 4 most annoying things co-workers do

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster contributor

“Oh great. Tad made his famous gourmet stink-bombs for lunch and he’s eating them at his desk.” “Why does Kristy speak like there’s a megaphone attached to her face? Doesn’t she know how loud she is?” Admit it—you’ve had similar thoughts about an annoying co-worker at some point in your career. Nearly everyone has. The problem with these, mos...

Career Development

What to Do When Your Boss Is Younger Than You

By Monster Contributor

By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer There are always going to be challenges associated with generational differences in the workplace, but some people find dealing with a younger boss to be especially difficult. If you’re older than your boss, here are some things you should keep in mind. Show Some Respect One of the most import...

Career Development

7 Signs You're About to be Fired

By Monster Contributor

By Dominique Rodgers Monster Contributing Writer You’ve heard the rumors in the breakroom. Layoffs are imminent. Or maybe you just didn’t meet your productivity goals last quarter and you’re nervous. Are you the one who’ll be laid off? Did your mistake cost you your job? How can you tell? Here are some signs you’re about to get the boot. ...

Career Development

5 Signs a Co-Worker May Be Out to Get You

By Monster Contributor

By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer Drama at the office can be a symptom of a stressed workforce -- or it could just mean there’s someone toxic on staff. No matter the cause, it’s especially alarming when it becomes clear a co-worker is out to get you. Know the signs in case it happens to you. 1. You find evidence someone has tri...

Career Development

7 Bad Habits That Are Secretly Driving Your Co-Workers Crazy

By Monster Contributor

By Brooke Howell Monster Contributing Writer You may not realize it, but there's a good chance you're doing at least one thing that drives your co-workers nuts. "That's their problem," you may think -- but it's yours too say management experts and advice columnists. "Working in close quarters with other people is always an adjustment. But...

Career Development

10 Things Your Boss Never Wants to Hear

By Monster Contributor

By Brooke Howell Monster Contributing Writer One of the best ways to ensure your day-to-day work life is pleasant and your career remains on an upward trajectory is to get -- and stay -- on your boss' good side. It sounds like a simple thing to do, but you'd be surprised at the number of employees who can't seem to get it right. The problem ...

Career Development

Four Types of Political Players in the Office

By Monster Contributor

By Larry Buhl The campaign trail isn't the only place to find political players -- your office may be loaded with them as well. In a 2012 survey by staffing firm Robert Half International, 56 percent of surveyed employees said they have observed political maneuverings on the job. These activities included gossiping, flattering the boss to gain f...

Career Development

Getting on the Boss's Good Side

By Monster Contributor

By Robert DiGiacomo Keeping your job in good economic times -- and bad -- depends on one variable: whether your boss likes you. "Merit has very little to do with why people are kept," says Stephen Viscusi, author, radio host and professional recruiter. "It has to do with who the boss likes and who gets along with the other employees. I'm not ...

Career Development

Boss Management Field Guide

By Monster Contributor

Bosses come in all flavors. Regardless of what kind of manager you're blessed -- or cursed -- with, your work life will run considerably smoother if you understand and learn to work with your manager's particular style, personality, strengths and weaknesses. Get started with this boss management field guide. How to Deal with a Toxic Boss and ...

Career Development

What Are the Pros and Cons of Discussing Your Salary?

By Robert DiGiacomo, Monster contributor

In today's office culture, many traditional rules no longer apply. It's common, for example, to call your boss by her first name, dress in business casual all the time and work a flexible schedule that could include some hours spent at home. But one convention remains firmly in place in most workplaces: Discussing salary with co-workers is not alwa...

Career Development

Why women need a sponsor for career development

By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster contributor

Think you’re all set because you get great career guidance from a mentor? Think again. A Catalyst survey found that women who have mentors are less likely to be promoted than women with sponsors. That’s because sponsors help you identify and take advantage of career opportunities. After reviewing several data sets and interviewing high-potential...

Career Development

Tips for Discussing Salary With Coworkers

By Dawn Papandrea, Monster contributor

Ever wonder if you're being paid fairly, or what other people in your company are earning? It's a natural curiosity, but even as companies strive to be more open and honest, everyone feels differently about discussing salary with coworkers and just how much information they’re comfortable sharing. Remember, there's a difference between corporate tr...

Career Development

Steer Clear: Three Coworkers to Avoid

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline Potter Coworkers are the people who can make a so-so job spectacular. The great ones offer up a helping hand, a sympathetic ear and a strong opinion about last night's American Idol. But there are some folks wandering the same halls who could harm your career rather than help it -- just by getting in the way every day. Below are t...

Career Development

Build a good reputation at work

By Caroline M.L. Potter

Below are several tactics that should complete your game plan for winning favor and establishing a good foundation for your career. Earn respect before a special request Life sometimes gets in the way of everything, including work. On occasion you may need to ask your boss for an extra privilege -- but it's best not to do so straight out of t...

Career Development

Beware of Workplace Frenemies

By Monster Contributor

By Robert DiGiacomo If you've had a job, you know the type: a colleague who's friendly and helpful on the surface -- but who's career poison. These workplace "frenemies" come in many guises, so be alert to the dangers lurking beneath some warm or appealing demeanors. Many frenemies mean no harm, while others are workplace bullies whose power ...

Career Development

Eight ways to manage office politics

By Debra Davenport, Monster contributor

According to author Marilyn Haight of BigBadBoss.com, office politics "is the use of one's individual or assigned power within an employing organization for the purpose of obtaining advantages beyond one's legitimate authority." People engage in workplace politics to reap financial, emotional and even physical rewards. Those who engage the most vig...

Career Development

Do You Have a Work Spouse?

By Monster Contributor

By Mark Swartz Monster.ca Senior Contributing Writer Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. George Bush and Condoleezza Rice. Stacy and Clinton. Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy. Whether in real life or reel life, work spouses are out there. You've seen them, right? Or maybe you're in such a relationship: Two people who spend most of their working hours t...

Career Development

Eight Ways Not to Be the Office Doormat

By Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer

Anyone who’s ever had a job has probably felt disrespected and undervalued at some point. But for the office doormats of the world, disrespect and a lack of appreciation are daily facts of life. More Resources from Monster: Update Your Resume Start a Job Search All Workplace Issues Articles Office doormats don’t have to remain...

Career Development

Seven tips for dealing with office insults

By Megan Malugani, Monster contributor

A coworker constantly taps away on his iPhone while you’re speaking at a meeting. Another has a tendency to interrupt you every two minutes. Then there’s your boss who constantly cancels meetings with you. Sure, these may be all-too-common scenarios in today’s fast-paced office culture. But such minor snubs and acts of thoughtlessness—let’s call...

Career Development

Nine Things You Can Control at Work

By Vivian Scott, Monster contributor

What can you do if a workplace conflict is still raging, despite your every effort to resolve it? While your emotions may be in knots over the situation, the best strategy is to focus on things you can control and let go of everything else. Here are nine areas within your control. 1. Your Plan for the Future Consider what's important and f...

Career Development

Understand Your Boss by Astrology Sign

By Monster Contributor

By Gary Goldschneider Does your boss routinely wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or is he always chipper? Whether he's likeable or moody, low-key or high-strung, you may be able to shed light on his approach to work -- and how you might work with him -- by aligning his astrological sign with his management style. The Aries Boss March 21-...

Career Development

What the Boss's Body Language Says

By Monster Contributor

By Pat Mayfield for Yahoo! HotJobs Most employees pay attention to what the boss says, while the savvy employee also pays attention to how it is being said. Bosses can be good at using -- not just reading -- body language, which may be one of the reasons they got to be boss in the first place. Often the body changes quickly if the boss likes...

Career Development

Getting a New Boss Offers Challenges and Opportunities

By Monster Contributor

By Denene Brox for Yahoo! HotJobs Getting a new boss is something we all face at one time or another in our careers. Whether you are starting a new job or your department is going through staffing changes at your current job, getting a new manager can present new challenges as well as new opportunities for your career. Learning how to naviga...

Career Development

How to Bond with Your Off-Site Boss

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline M.L. Potter Yahoo! HotJobs Bonding with your supervisor isn't always a snap. You may have different ways of working and decidedly different personalities, especially if he wasn't the one who hired you in the first place. What can make the bonding process -- and thus, your job -- even more difficult is if you and your boss work in se...

Career Development

Should You Keep Your Salary a Secret?

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline M.L. Potter Yahoo! HotJobs You share a lot with your coworkers over time. Projects. Lunches. Office space. Cocktails. Family photos. Birthday cake. But, even after many years of working together, should you share the details of your salary and compensation package? No, says compensation expert Dick Dauphinais of Strategic Compens...

Career Development

Seven ways you're making your coworkers hate you

By Charles Purdy, Monster Senior Editor

Doing a great job may earn you your coworkers' respect. But if you want to move ahead at your current employer and in your career, respect isn't enough. You also have to be liked -- or at least not actively disliked. For that reason, most of us do try to be courteous and relatively friendly to everyone at work. (You never know -- today's underli...

Career Development

When an Old Enemy Aims to Be a New Coworker

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline M.L. Potter Yahoo! HotJobs Moving on from a job can be tough when you've forged close bonds with your coworkers. But if you had a contentious relationship with a colleague, you may be glad to leave your old position -- and your nemesis -- in the dust. But what happens when you see this ghost of workplaces past sitting in your cur...

Career Development

How to Thrive Among Younger Coworkers

By Monster Contributor

By Roberta Chinsky Matuson for Yahoo! HotJobs If you can recall the words to Rod Stewart's 1988 hit "Forever Young," then you are old enough to remember a time when you were one of the younger people in your company. Flash forward 20 years, and younger coworkers may now consider you "elderly." Have you aged or has the workplace gotten younger? ...

Career Development

Dealing with Differences at Work

By Monster Contributor

By Michael Kimmel Courtesy of Just for Men The workplace of the 21st century hardly resembles your father’s workplace. Diversity is the new calling card of corporate America, and men who learn how to navigate this new workplace most effectively today are likely to be the corporate leaders of tomorrow. The dramatic demographic shifts in Ameri...

Career Development

How to Talk Back to Your Boss

By Monster Contributor

By Caroline Levchuck Yahoo! HotJobs Telling your boss what you really think about something can be a slippery slope, depending on your supervisor's disposition (and ego). Disagree with her and you could wind up on the unemployment line. Conversely, being a yes man or woman and blindly supporting all her ideas probably won't do much for your car...

Career Development

10 ways to lose friends and alienate coworkers

By Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs

The people you work with can make a bad day better. They can even make a less-than-thrilling job tolerable. However, if you get on the bad side of your coworkers, they have the ability to make your work life miserable. Read on for some surefire ways to test the boundaries of your on-the-job friendships. Eat Stinky Snacks You may be the mos...

Career Development

How to Deal with an Office Jerk

By Monster Contributor

By Robert M. Detman for Yahoo! HotJobs Office life can have its ups and downs, but having to endure a jerk can make it miserable. Office jerks take on many forms, and thus require creative strategies for dealing with them. Here's how to handle six common types: The Loud Phone-Talker "Obviously the first step is to pull them aside quiet...

Career Development

Is Your Job in Jeopardy?

By Monster Contributor

By Debra Davenport for Yahoo! HotJobs Sometimes even the greatest jobs can run amuck, no matter how much effort and passion we put into them. No one ever wants to be laid off or fired, but the reality is it can happen to the best of us. What's important is to be aware of the warning signs that your employer may be considering letting you go. ...

Career Development

When a Friend Becomes Your Boss (or Vice Versa)

By Monster Contributor

By Margaret Steen for Yahoo! HotJobs With demanding work schedules and long commutes, it's no wonder that many workers make friends with their coworkers. But these friendships can be jolted by workplace changes, including promotions. When you become your friend's manager -- or your friend becomes yours -- it changes not only your working rel...

Career Development

What you can do about a jerk boss

By Bruce Tulgan, Monster contributor

Have you ever had a boss who really was a complete jerk? Maybe you have one right now. Consider the seven most common jerk-boss scenarios and what you can do: Jerk boss scenario 1 The boss lets small problems slide, but then comes down like a ton of bricks when one of those small problems gets out of control and causes real damage and cost. ...

Career Development

Setting Expectations with Your Boss

By Bruce Tulgan, RainmakerThinking Inc.

Based on It’s Okay to Manage Your Boss (Jossey Bass, September 2010) Real power in the workplace rarely comes in the form of being left alone to do whatever you think should be done however you think it should be done. Rather, power comes from having the responsibility to accomplish specific tasks and projects in certain ways at certain times de...

Career Development

Gift Ideas for Coworkers: The Do's and Don'ts of Office Gift-Giving

By Brandon Miller, Monster contributor

For anyone holding down a "grown-up" job, there's an expectation that you are financially able and willing to join in the office-gifting parade. If that means you, a few cautions and a little advice can go a long way. Here are some unique office gift ideas for coworkers along with some general workplace holiday protocol to guide you on your way....

Career Development

Coping with layoff survivor sickness

By Megan Malugani, Monster contributor

Surviving a layoff (or two or three) is a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, you're kissing the ground because you still have a job. On the other, you feel miserable for your co-workers who have been let go. You might be suffering from what author and consultant David Noer calls “layoff survivor sickness,” a toxic blend of anger, survivor guilt, f...

Career Development

What Older Workers and Younger Workers Can Learn from Each Other

By Dan Woog, Monster Contributing Writer

For the first time ever, four distinct generations share the workplace: the Silents (who are in their mid-60s on up), Baby Boomers (mid-40s to mid-60s), X-ers (mid-20s to mid-40s) and Millennials (the newest workers). The work and life experiences of each group are unique, but the divide is clearest between the two oldest generations and the two yo...

Career Development

Innovations for People with Disabilities in the Workplace

By Allan Hoffman, Monster Tech Jobs Expert

Gayle Yarnall doesn't consider herself a gadget freak, but you won't find her at a business meeting without her Voice Mate. Unless you're blind, like Yarnall, you probably don't use a Voice Mate, a voice-operated personal digital assistant that lets users record and retrieve names, addresses and memos with voice commands. “Everybody's using them,” ...

Career Development

Competent Jerks and Lovable Fools

By Heidi LaFleche, Monster Contributing Writer

Do your coworkers like you? Or do they avoid you like day-old conference-room bagels? Does it matter, as long as you're getting the job done? More Resources from Monster: How to Deal with an Office Jerk Update Your Resume Search for Jobs You betcha, says a Harvard Business Review report on "Competent Jerks, Lovable Fools, and the ...

Career Development

Top Five Gifts to Give on Administrative Professionals Day

By David Greenberg, Monster Contributing Writer

Managers, Administrative Professionals Day is the time to show your gratitude to the people who run your office and keep your business's gears oiled. In an effort to save you the embarrassment of dropping off some last-minute flowers in return for the tireless day-to-day effort and meticulous organization your support staff provides, we thought we'...

Career Development

Manage your micromanager

By Beverly West, Monster contributor

Learning how to deal with a micromanager is rough. No matter how organized, proactive, conscientious or effective you are as a worker, there's a chance you'll run into a supervisor who hovers like a bird of prey, waiting for you to fail before swooping in to wipe out what's left of your self-esteem. Keeping a micromanager at bay is seldom easy. ...

Career Development

Your Greatest Workplace Pranks

By Monster Contributor

April Fools’ Day is a holiday that often brings out the (mischievous) kid in all of us -- a time to flex our creative muscles and come up with some fun and silly jokes to play on our coworkers. We asked Monster members to tell us about some of their favorite pranks. While many of the more than 100 stories we received fell along similar lines, these...

Career Development

Technology Helps Hearing-Impaired Workers Succeed

By Matt Krumrie, Monster Contributing Writer

Dmitri Mamrukov is an applications delivery program associate for New York Life Insurance Co. The New Jersey resident is highly skilled and respected by his peers and supervisors. He has a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and is pursuing his master's degree. Mamrukov, who has been deaf since age 1, is one of millions of American workers wh...

Career Development

Build a Great Working Relationship with Your Boss

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

One of the worst things you can do when you start your new job is to make your supervisor look bad for hiring you. After all, your boss is key to your current on-the-job satisfaction and to your future success in the organization -- and perhaps even beyond. If there ever were a relationship for you to invest in, this is it. So here are five ways to...

Career Development

How Well Do You Play the Game?

By Christine F. Della Monaca, Monster Staff Writer

When we asked Monster members, "How well do you play the game at work?" the question provoked a range of responses. Many felt their inability to deal with workplace politics had hurt their careers. Others were baffled by people who got ahead based on looks, knowing the right person or doing the right amount of kissing up -- despite being unqualifie...

Career Development

How Nurses Can Fight Sexual Harassment

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Sexual harassment of nurses can be as simple as a patient's unwanted flirtatious winks or as elaborate as a male hospital physician's systematic assaults on female employees. And nurses are likely to encounter this occupational hazard. In a University of Missouri study, 21 of 29 nurses surveyed said patients had sexually harassed them. A 2001 Nurse...

Career Development

Understand the Inner Life of Workplace Introverts

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

I normally stay out of the Monster articles I write. But this time I can't, because this one's personal. More Resources from Monster: Interview Tips for Introverts Post Your Resume Search for Jobs When my editor asked me to write a piece to help people understand introverts in the workplace, I knew I'd have a lot to say, especiall...

Career Development

How Nurses Can Deal with Verbal Abuse

By Cindy Mehallow, Monster Contributing Writer

While healing patients, healthcare institutions can become hot pots simmering with conflict and heated verbal exchanges, leaving nurses and other healthcare professionals emotionally battered. Employees, hospitals and patients all suffer when verbal violence fills the workplace. But when equipped with conflict-management techniques and training, em...

Career Development

Juggle Your Work for Multiple Bosses

By Anya Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

While the traditional role of an administrative assistant is to support a single boss, many admins today report to multiple executives, departments or entire staffs of small businesses. According to admins who work for more than one boss, some simple strategies can keep you from being pulled in multiple directions at one time. When in Doubt, Let...

Career Development

How to Deal with an Absentee Boss

By Therese Droste, Monster Contributing Writer

Most of us wish our bosses weren't breathing down our necks every day. Yet if you talk to anyone whose boss is constantly on the road, you'll hear complaints of last-minute phone calls from off-site, changing travel locations and dates, and deadline changes from the field to meet clients' demands. Meanwhile, back at headquarters, other managers fee...

Career Development

Tips for working with a disorganized boss

By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster contributor

You’re excited about your new job. The pay is good, the office setting is comfortable, and the commute is easy. But as you start the actual work, you confront an unsettling truth: A disorganized boss is at the helm. He hasn’t mapped out a plan for your first few days or weeks. He doesn’t give you any guidance on the projects you’ll need to tackle....

Career Development

Friends vs. Friendly: Which Is the Best Leadership Strategy?

By Cheri Swales, Monster Contributing Writer

If you've worked with the same company for several years, you've probably built many friendships. Some of your coworkers might be close friends, while others are individuals with whom you might share a weekend story on Monday morning. A friendship at work can become a powerful networking tool or a toxic relationship. What works best when you are in...

Career Development

Don't Put Up with This as an Intern

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

As an intern, you'll be the one who has to make copies, fetch snacks, pick up the boss's dry cleaning or give the company vice president a ride to the airport. Sure, it's demoralizing, but it's an acceptable (if unpleasant) part of the gig. But there are some things that even a "lowly" intern shouldn't endure. You need to know what these situations...

Career Development

How Workers with Disabilities Can Gain Coworker Support

By Dan Woog, Monster Contributing Writer

As director of human resources for the Center for Disability Rights, Mary Willoughby is surrounded by coworkers with disabilities. Yet despite the ease with which she saw her colleagues of all physical abilities interacting, she at first felt uncomfortable. “I had questions like, ‘Do I push someone’s wheelchair or not? How much help should I giv...

Career Development

Overcome a Poor Working Relationship

By Michael Chaffers, Monster Contributing Writer

Effectively negotiating substantive issues like compensation, benefits or promotions often requires creativity and open communication. Neither is likely to occur if the other negotiator barely speaks to you. If you need to negotiate with someone, whether that person is your manager, your teammate or your direct report, how can you do it when you kn...

Career Development

Admin or Your Boss's Errand Runner?

By Therese Droste, Monster Contributing Writer

Her boss's cat hissed and scratched Sally as she maneuvered through a busy intersection. She told herself the cat was just upset from the veterinarian's visit. Besides, Kitty didn't like to ride in cars. "All I have to do is keep the cat calm while I pick up my boss's dry cleaning," she told herself. "Then I can take it home and wait for the pai...

Career Development

Get Along with Your Personality Opposite at Work

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Do you work with someone who drives you crazy -- and seems to do it on purpose? Well, guess what: You're probably driving him crazy too, and he no doubt figures you're being just as deliberate about it. But neither of you is a glutton for taking or inflicting abuse. Instead, you're probably among the millions of people at organizations large and sm...