You'd probably think twice about turning up to the office looking messy, untidy and altogether unclean, but are you as conscientous when it comes to your desk?

1. Ahead of the game / Your desk image is where it’s at Page 1 of 2
Your desk image is
where it’s at
To really get to the bottom of what it takes to stay ahead of the
game in today’s ultra-competitive market, Office Angels asked
its very loyal - and reassuringly diverse - clients and candidates
for their valuable, knowledgeable and altogether informed
opinions; and we’re bringing you the results in the form of
some incredibly useful little articles.
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www.office-angels.com/aheadofthegame.
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2. Ahead of the game / Your desk image is where it’s at Page 2 of 2
Your desk personality
You’d probably think twice about turning up to
the office looking messy, untidy, and altogether Work out what message you’re sending to the rest of the
office by pinpointing your very own desk style:
unclean - at least we hope you would - but are
• Organised: A clear and organised desk suggests that
you as conscientious when it comes to your you’re conscientious, prefer to focus on one thing at a time,
desk? and are altogether well organised yourself.
• Motivational: If you’re surrounded by project charts or targets,
you’re probably motivated by achievements and goals.
Your desk is where it’s at
• Personable: If you’ve got photos of family and friends on
Your desk can say as much about you as the way that you your desk, you’re likely to be a people person, motivated by
dress: towers of paperwork, scatterings of pens, post-its and relationships in and out work.
gadgets, and a surface adorned with dirty dishes all scream • Fun: If you’ve got calendars or screen savers showing exotic
‘disorganised’ in the best instance, and ‘couldn’t care less’ in places and tropical beaches, you’re probably focused on
the worst. the fun factor. In work, this could translate into a penchant
for meeting clients over lunch at nice restaurants.
Our own research shows that 26% of employees think it’s
completely unacceptable to have an untidy desk - a view • Trendsetter: If you’ve got an Apple Mac because you
shared by 21% of employers. And while some employers ‘like the way it looks’ (and if so, lucky you), or your desk
may be too preoccupied with their mounting workloads to is adorned with tasteful objects, you’re more likely to be
do anything about untidy workspaces, when they need help motivated by the culture and surroundings of your office.
with an important project - one that calls for a certain level • Meek and mild: An office desk without personal bits and
of organisation - the person with a bomb site for a desk is pieces is usually home to someone a tad introverted.
probably the least likely to be called on. You might even use files and folders as a barrier around
yourself and your work.
Now, we all know that a clean and tidy desk doesn’t • Extrovert: If you’re an extrovert, your desk probably
necessarily equate to productivity, but it undeniably sends a showcases your personality; be that with novelty calendars
message that the person sitting behind it wants to be taken or desk top toys that act as a talking point.
seriously. It gives the impression that you’re on top of your
work and taking things in your stride - bravo. • Flexible: If your desk is impulsively ordered, you’re likely to
be flexible and creative, good at multi tasking, and able to
change between different tasks quickly and easily.
Of course everyone has their own way of organising the
space around them, and it’s incredibly important to feel
comfortable in your own workspace, but whether you’re an
admin assistant or hiring manager it’s worth thinking about
your desk image.
Even if rows of carefully labelled folders leave you running
for the hills, you can still arrange your desk to show how
professional you are by taking dirty dishes to the kitchen,
arranging loose papers into piles, and putting your stationary
into a neat little holder.
Being ordered is the order of the day - the order you choose
is up to you.
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