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What Your Desk Says About You




Bored at work? This summer, AOL Jobs will be publishing a career quiz every week to keep you entertained. This quiz was so popular with readers when it originally ran that AOL is republishing it.

For many people, a desk is much more than just a place to sit and do work. It is quite common for workers to spend more time at their desks in their office than sleeping in their bed at home, so it is inevitable that a desktop eventually starts to resemble the person who sits there. However, this tell-tale information could be defining who you are to your clients, coworkers, and your bosses, and not necessarily in a good way. Decide whether or not your desktop needs a makeover with these examples of what your desk decoration may be saying about you.




Desk Description: Filled with Photos

What It Says About You: Being family-oriented is a positive personality trait, but a desk covered with dozens of reminders of what awaits the worker after hours might make the worker appear less dedicated to his job and anxious to get home.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Companies that are very flexible when it comes to family obligations and that offer the option to telecommute at least a day or two each week are ideal for you if you're a family man or woman.




Desk Description: Bare Bones

What It Says About You: People with empty desks often aren't satisfied until a project is complete and off of their desks. Extremely interested in order, workers with bare bones desktops pride themselves on their clarity and efficiency. Unfortunately, without anything personal on the desk it may seem to others that the worker isn't committed to staying long enough to make personalizing their desk worthwhile.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Personality-driven professions like being a pharmaceutical rep or counseling would work well for you because being surrounded by a minimalist desk will enhance your pizzazz and allow the focus to stay on you.




Desk Description: Candyland

What It Says About You: A never-ending dish of candy is always an office favorite, and the provider is seen as welcoming, giving, and appreciative of friendship. Usually a team player, the candy giver can also be thought of as the office chatterbox, which may or may not be a good thing.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Your personality is as fantastic as the candy you conveniently leave out for anyone to grab, so communications is the perfect field for someone like you who would like to share their sweet tooth and their sweet personality with the world.




Desk Description: Potpourri Paradise

What It Says About You: Desktops full of fragrant bowls and sprays are usually created by people who believe themselves to be thoughtful and considerate people by sharing their smells with the office, but this practice usually stems from the opposite personality type. If you're a potpourri queen, you probably have a tendency to not be considerate of your clients and coworkers' opinions and desires, which frequently include a fragrance-free environment.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: If you need to be surrounded by scents, go straight to the source and work for the parent company of your favorite fragrance in any capacity, from sales to marketing. Or, perfume counters at department stores are excellent places to indulge and have career paths for management. Your obsession is sure to be appreciated by your bosses!




Desk Description: Gadgets Galore

What It Says About You: Lots of gadgets express that the individual is curious, up for a challenge, and quick to pick up new tasks and technology. Anything that adds spice to your everyday life is welcomed with open arms. However, if you're constantly playing with your gadgets or inviting coworkers to come play, you and your gadgets may be seen as an office distraction.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Technology-oriented or computer-driven jobs will keep your creative side satisfied.




Desk Description: Covered in Post-It Notes

What It Says About You: Trying to stay organized isn't quite the same as doing it, and an addiction to Post-It Notes represents someone who is a hard worker but could use a couple of classes on time management, organization, and working smart and not hard.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Anything streamlined and with a predictable routine that won't have you reaching for your pad of Post-Its to jot down any caveats, like being a medical technician or a bank teller.




Desk Description: Full of Flowers and Plants

What It Says About You: Being able to keep green things alive under the harsh florescent office lights is a sign of being very nurturing and attentive to detail.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Positions where you're able to take advantage of your comforting capabilities, like as a social services worker or as a daycare professional, will fit your personality well.




Desk Description: Full of Organizational Files and Folders

What It Says About You: Having information accessible in seconds is crucial for the organized worker, who loves control, order, and who also efficiently prioritizes everything until the job is done.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Bookkeeping, auditing, or anything else where you're crunching numbers, compartmentalizing everything, and staying on track of tons of tiny pieces of information is an excellent option for you.




Desk Description: Inspirational and Motivational

What It Says About You: People who surround themselves by lots of positivity are often aspiring to be leaders and tend to be more productive due to their positive attitude.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Look into upper management positions or consider teaching to take full advantage of your healthy outlook on life and ability to encourage others.




Desk Description: Decorated with Accolades and Awards

What It Says About You: Being proud of past achievements is one thing, but a desktop covered with them is a bit much. Lots of personal awards may come across as braggadocios and aloof, even if the awards are related to the field.

Jobs That Gel With Your Style: Some professions are based off of the fact that you must prove yourself worthy to the client, so for places that may encourage you to flaunt your accomplishments consider sales, legal fields, and perhaps the entertainment industry.

Next: What Your Handwriting Says About You >>



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Herbert

I do not care how the Desk looks, as long as the Job is done correctly and on time

August 02 2012 at 5:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aloha G's!

Where's the analysis of the desk that seems to be in the running for an episode of hoarders, with stacks of old emails, notes on notes, at least two coffee cups (and not for holding pencils), and enough knic knacks to wish it was a garage sale? I have seen this desk, and the better part of the process is when the height of the "collection" seems to interestingly enough be bothersome, the topside items are put into a Xerox box and set off to the side, or middle or is that the common area. Yes not all books should be judged by their cover, but as we do spend most of our waking day at work, it would be nice if some rules of standards could be availed and perhaps enforced as stepping over the great wall of paper is annoying.

August 02 2012 at 4:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
politickwoman1

Ridiculous. How an employees desk look says absolutely nothing about their quality of work. I have had employees who had extremely messy desks and have been excellent employees. I have had employees who had extremely well kept desks with everything in place and they also have been quality workers. If I had to judge the quality of a good and effective employee by what their desk looked like, I would probably would have lost a good percentage of my wonderful employees. So stop this nonsense. Write an article that has some substance.

August 02 2012 at 2:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
geyergl

Congratulations Peter ! Can't wait to retire myself !

August 02 2012 at 1:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ldyqtee6

My desk reveals that I'm over worked, under paid and under appreciated.

August 01 2012 at 11:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ldyqtee6

My desk reveals that I'm over worked, under paid

August 01 2012 at 11:24 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
HELLRAISER

Concrete Gargoyle statues on each end, one with deer antlers, spurs, bandanas, model scout ball cap,Taz with his gold chains, sunglasses, sitting on the shoulders of one.
File folders, phone, answering machine(with tarantula on top)
Books. Stapler, Pain reliever(500 count), ashtray, business card holder.
Computer monitor, keyboard.
& me working.

August 01 2012 at 11:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Penny

My desk is candyland but my co-worker I share an office with isn't described above. That desk is covered with food crumbs and sticky stuff. What does that say? lol

August 01 2012 at 9:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
a21heating

Look up the pictures of Einstine's desk then look at Oboma's -- nothing else to say

August 01 2012 at 8:10 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
Peter

My desk isn't listed here ! Why ? I don't have one ! Retired and loving it ! The old desk ? Burned it !

August 01 2012 at 7:48 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply

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