There are significant differences between academic and industry hiring practices in science, with industry hirers reporting being more optimistic about candidate quality than their academic counterparts, according to Nature's 2024 hiring survey, which received responses from 1,134 hiring managers across 77 countries. The survey highlighted common mistakes by job seekers, and revealed that networking remains a crucial recruitment channel, and soft skills, communication, and team fit are increasingly important factors in hiring decisions.

If you're afraid to speak up for yourself at work, there could be some internal beliefs about your worthiness and competence holding you back, executive coach Joel Garfinkle writes. Some common fears include being judged or feeling unimportant, and Garfinkle offers strategies such as valuing your perspective, being assertive and contributing to workplace discussions.

Many workers are prioritizing work-life balance over traditional career advancement, with only 38% of US employees interested in becoming managers, according to a Visier survey. To progress without becoming a manager, experts recommend upskilling, seeking new projects, joining courses and working for companies with flat structures. "This could aid the retention of employees who may otherwise look for development opportunities elsewhere," writes Paul Holcroft, managing director at Croner.

Conflicts among team members may be inevitable, but Karin Hurt and David Dye offer eight strategies to quell discord, including staying calm, finding and understanding the root of the dispute, following up with team members afterward and teaching them techniques to handle future disagreements. "The highest-performing teams don't shy away from conflict. They embrace it and understand that every disagreement is an opportunity to build relationships and improve results," they write.

A Qualtrics report found 34% of employees say the application and interview process for a job fell below their expectations, while 28% say the process of leaving a job failed to meet expectations. "Potential and past employees are often overlooked when it comes to a company's reputation, and organizations take on unnecessary risk by neglecting to address these bookend experiences," says Benjamin Granger, chief workplace psychologist at Qualtrics.

A survey of 2,000 "road warriors" who travel a great deal for work found that 93% travel more this year than the year before, which they attribute to high labor demand. About 35% of the respondents said business travel contributed to career growth and 45% said it has broadened their perspective.

Although unlimited paid time off attracts new employees, few abuse the benefit, a new study by retirement plan provider Empower finds. While employers worry employees will abuse the benefit, Empower finds that, on average, workers take 16 days off instead of the typical 14.

Four in 10 US adults make career decisions based on debt, with 10% staying in jobs they dislike because of financial obligations, according to a survey by the American Staffing Association. Employers can help by offering financial counseling through employee assistance programs and by participating in student loan repayment programs.

Hempcrete, a mold-resistant and eco-friendly sustainable building material, is gaining attention in South Carolina as a potential solution for affordable housing. "It's not just a bunch of crazy hippies trying to do something with hemp, but that was the perception for a while," said Tim Callahan, founder of Alembic Studio and Callahan Designs in Asheville, N.C., who is a consultant on the project.