In my many years of employment, I have come across a lot of different working personalities. Many of the companies I have worked for like to give an applicant a personality test to get an insight into the working relationship they can expect from the candidate. It is all hokum if you ask me. Nobody knows for sure how a person's personality will jive with the current set of employees in any given surroundings.

1. The secretive one.

The hardest employee to work with is the one who will not give an inch when it comes to knowing what he or she does for the company. There are two ways you can interpret this employee, either they are hiding something, or they are insecure and are flying by the seat of their pants hoping never to be found out. When this happens to be both issues, then you might as well pack up and move on.

In many cases, age plays a huge part in this personality. The older the employee, the least likely they are going to accept you, especially when it comes from a younger, maybe less experienced, yet higher educated employee. Which is surprising to me because this older employee is more likely to have experienced more change than the younger one.

So, when it is prudent to get the bosses involved? As soon as possible. Especially if the older, stubborn employee is impeding your progress. There is no need for making nice with this person, he/she is not looking for a new friend. Chances are he/she does not have many and likes it that way. Besides you are not there to make friends either, you are there to do a job and friends are a benefit the company is not required to supply for you to get it done.

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2. The chatty one.

The next employee that is a cautionary tale is the employee that wants to be your friend and likes to gossip about all the other employees in your department. You know the one, he/she is the employee that goes from desk to desk and the conversation always starts out jovial and everyone can hear them talking, and then, slowly the tone lowers to whispers and their eyes scan the others to see if anyone can hear what he or she are saying.

Chances are you have participated in this conversation a time or two and afterward felt unease and wondered if he/she is going to repeat what you said to your boss or the employee you were gossiping about. It happens to us all, we get caught up in a conversation that is not meant to be and before we know it we are standing on the carpet in our boss' office apologizing for it. Don't sweat it, that friendly employee's days are always numbered, if you are a valued employee you will take it as a lessoned learned and get back to doing your job.

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3. The quiet one.

The last type of employee is the quiet one that keeps to his/her self. This employee is a jewel and most managers value this employee more than the rest. He/she has a bevy of knowledge and is dedicated to his/her job and might be a little introverted but that is no reason for you not to ask him/her questions and learn from him/her. Take the time to say hello, ask for his/her help when you need his/her expertise. Chances are he/she is willing to give it all you must do is ask.

If you are working in a close office setting, take my advice and learn to identify these three personalities as quickly as possible. Your job will be less stressful in the long run.