CareerBuilder.com

Each November, the idea of giving thanks takes center stage in many people's minds. But in the business world, knowing how -- and when -- to give thanks is always valuable, regardless of the season. Properly thanking a colleague, mentor, reference or interviewer shows that you have a certain amount of class and professionalism.

If you've made a thanks-giving faux pas in your career, don't worry. It's not always easy to figure out when to send flowers versus delivering a simple thank-you letter. To help clear up the confusion, Jodi R.R. Smith, president and founder of Mannersmith, an etiquette consulting firm, offers the following guidelines:

By Aaron Crowe for AOL Find a Job

A story of a 40-year-old man recently accused of killing one person and injuring five at his former office can send even the most easy going office into a state of fear.

You never know if the sometimes-odd co-worker is harmless, or mentally ill with too many personal problems to count.

And while you don't want to be bothering the Human Resources Department with baseless complaints, it's better to be safe and a little too sensitive than to let things slide.

If you hear a co-worker discuss odd plans, such as saying goodbye to all of their friends, or make threats about shooting the boss because he or she didn't get a raise, then it's probably a good time to contact Human Resources or your immediate supervisor to let them deal with it.

Why it could help your career

Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

In film and literature, the villains are the most entertaining characters. We root for good to triumph over evil and we're connected to the protagonist, but we're most interested in the bad guy.

Think about classic films and pick out the best characters. In "The Wizard of Oz," I'm glad Dorothy ends up with her family, but the Wicked Witch and her winged simians were the coolest part of the story. In "Psycho," the focus is on creepy Norman Bates. Let's face it, being bad is fun.

AOL Find a Job

We simply don't trust our bosses, according to a survey conducted for Adecco Group North America. This month, Harris Interactive interviewed over 2,000 adults nationwide, half of whom were employed full- or part-time. Here's what the study uncovered:

• 53 percent of workers do not think their boss is honest.


• 25 percent believe their boss is dishonest about their job security.


• 53 percent do not think their boss is fair or patient.

The Creative Group

If you're willing to "go white water rafting," "navigate a maze through a cornfield" or "take an improvisational comedy class" with your co-workers, you might be setting yourself up for career success. Taking part in team-building activities -- even those considered optional -- can provide a boost to your career. The examples above are just some of the responses from a survey by The Creative Group that asked executives to describe the wackiest or most unusual team-building activities they have participated in. Other responses include: