Losing your train of thought can be stressful, so breathe deeply and refocus by remembering you're there to have a conversation, not to give a speech, writes Jim Anderson. To prevent such an event, practice your presentation and resist making last-minute changes that may take you off course, he writes.

The pandemic has nearly everyone reevaluating what they want from their career, with growth a priority even if a straightforward promotion isn't available, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni. She offers four questions that can help leaders understand what employees want, such as "What feelings would you like to experience more during your daily work?"

Writing cover letters can be an onerous part of the job search and one that seems unnecessary. But there is a school of thought that cover letters are essential, because they let applicants explain their motivation, address gaps in a resume and show they care.

In response to rules put in place by Chinese regulators, Microsoft is shuttering its localized version of LinkedIn in China and replacing it with a new InJobs app later this year, which won't include options for social sharing. LinkedIn is the last major U.S. social media site not blocked in China.

Initial unemployment claims fell to a seasonally adjusted 293,000 last week, marking the first time they have dipped below 300,000 since the start of pandemic-driven disruption. Continuing unemployment claims reached a pandemic-era low of 2.6 million for the week through Oct. 2.

An estimated 4.3 million people have exited the workforce since the start of the coronavirus crisis and, amid speculation that many may never return, employers are faced with the challenge of having a smaller labor pool to select from and little alternative but to offer higher wages. The mass exit has occurred across most demographic and professional classes, but has been particularly seen in the departure of women and those in lower-paid service sectors.

Most Tinder users probably don't have wedding bells ringing in their ears when the go about swiping left and right, but that might change. A new "Plus One" option launched on the app this week allows users to indicate they are looking for a date to take to a wedding or are willing to be a "plus one" for someone else. Taking a stranger to a wedding ... what could possibly go wrong?