Pursue worthwhile ideas that have the potential to be impactful in some way, even the ideas that seem obvious, suggests Andrew Forman. It may not seem obvious to everyone, as was the case with Steve Jobs in the beginning, so understand that obviousness is one of the five steps in the creative process, experts at the University of Minnesota point out.

A study by Bridge by Instructure found that 78% of employees think working more hours will lead to a promotion, although a Stanford University study contradicts that by finding longer hours lead to decreased productivity once an employee hits 50 or more hours for the week. The key driver to getting a promotion is focusing on quality of work and not quantity, writes Maurie Backman.

Spending a little time crafting an updated and compelling LinkedIn profile can pay off in terms of getting noticed, writes William Arruda. One area to focus on is letting your personality shine through in your profile content and photo so those who view your profile get a sense of who you are.

More companies, including Starbucks and Walmart, have extended paid family leave to hourly workers this year to draw and retain talent. Eighteen large organizations have followed the lead of Starbucks and Walmart, meaning improved benefits for about 4.8 million people, according to PL+US.

This sales technique is a way to be direct in finding out what the hiring manager is thinking and also displays to him or her your interest in the company, writes Peter Gudmundsson. "Trial close" by asking a question such as "Is there anything else I could tell you about my candidacy to help you ascertain my suitability?"

The November jobs report shows slower job growth in the US, but that shouldn't be cause for concern, writes Matt O'Brien. The economy was bound to stabilize eventually, and numbers are still decent for jobs, wages and unemployment, he writes.

American working parents are increasingly depressed and overworked between employment and parenting duties. A major factor influencing this trend is the lack of federally mandated paid parental leave in the United States, as well as the under-utilization of this benefit for those that do have it, writes Melissa Locker.

Barnes & Noble's list of 20 great holiday gifts includes Mickey Mouse speakers, mittens and several types of socks, along with the book "Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave" by Joanna Gaines. It's one more title than the bookseller put on its 2017 list.