Quiz: The Joy Of Work

I think back of the companies I work at. I’m eager to take the joy from my past work experiences for my future career.

1. How many Blockbuster Video WOW awards did I win?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3

2. How many free rentals did employees earn a week?
a. 1
b. 5
c. 10

3. What was a rare experience my Blockbuster Video store had very few retail stores in general experienced?
a. Fewer customer complaints like three a week.
b. Pro-employee; in other words, management cared for their workers and solved problems fast.
c. Lower turnover rate.

4. The first few weeks at Grubb & Ellis, my first job after graduating college, I experienced quite a few company changes. What were they?
a. Grubb & Ellis acquired a competitor.
b. The manager in charge of my office was ousted weeks before I started.
c. My office began planning to move to a bigger location.
d. Four brokers and staff went to another competitor.
e. I felt alone because I didn’t have a mentor to guide me.
f. All of the above.

5. True or false? Did I work for that same competitor that took the four brokers and staff?
a. True
b. False

6. At Colliers International, what was my first joy on my first day?
a. Shorter commute.
b. I purchased a new car for the new job.
c. Better working hours.

7. How many staff person of the year awards did I win?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3

8. Similar to question 4, which of the following did I experience at Colliers during my first few weeks? (Choose two.)
a. Colliers acquired a competitor.
b. There were administrative staff and office management shake-up weeks before I started.
c. My office began planning to move to a bigger location.
d. I felt alone because I didn’t have a mentor to guide me.

9. I self-taught two skills that helped me work at Colliers. What were they? (Choose two.)
a. Access
b. Excel
c. Powerpoint
d. HTML

10. What skill did I learn working at Colliers?
a. Photoshop
b. Illustrator
c. SQL
d. Crystal Reports

11. What was a positive I failed to grasp at Colliers?
a. Almost all of the staff and brokers supported me.
b. Management was concerned with my career being stalled and actually wanted to talk to me.
c. I should have taken more pizza on pizza Friday’s to take home.

12. What was the lesson I learned in 2002?
a. Learn how to play poker because you co-workers play it.
b. If you don’t ask, you’re not going to get it.
c. Have nothing, do nothing, get nothing, be nothing, and people treat you like nothing.

13. The first few weeks at Cisco, I experienced quite a few new experiences immediately. What were they?
a. The second week I attended the annual worldwide meeting in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
b. I never received formal training. Management wanted me to work blindly and not knowing what I’m doing.
c. I received a new laptop and the networking software was not installed. I needed IT to install them. That took two days.
d. I worked inside my own personal cubicle.
e. All of the above.

14. I was introduced to a new form of communication for the first time. What was it?
a. Texting
b. Instant messaging.
c. Conference calls from my phone.

15. What was one perk at Cisco I failed to take advantage?
a. Reasonable priced food in the cafeteria. I don’t have to bring lunch from home everyday.
b. Telecommuting or working from home.
c. Drive on the carpool lane with a co-worker.

16 The final months at Cisco were shaky. The great recession started when the real estate bubble burst. Which of the following did I experience for the first time, and they’re not going to be the last time?
a. Contractors terminated and layoffs.
b. Politics as departments fight for funding to keep their staff working.
c. Drastic cutbacks including travel.
d. All of the above.

17. What was my number one impression I showed to everyone at Grubb & Ellis, Colliers, and Cisco?
a. I smiled and I was liked immediately among my co-workers.
b. I found the problems and solved them quickly.
c. I was a fast learner.
d. I brought donuts for my first ever meetings.

18. What were the top lessons I learned working at Colliers and Cisco? (Choose two)
a. Never take anything for granted.
b. Talk to your manager for gripes and complains. Get them off your chest.
c. Be social. Talk and get to know others.
d. Show up on time.

19. What skills did I learn after working at Cisco?
a. Accounting
b. C++
c. Cooking

20. What skills am I learning now to help find my next job?
a. Crystal Reports
b. SQL
c. Digital photography

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