Understanding the expectations of a role is the most important factor for initial success, according to nearly two-thirds of respondents to a recent poll by Monster. Meet early with your new boss to set goals and ask about mentoring opportunities, Vicki Salemi writes.

Doug Radi, president and CEO of Good Karma Foods, says that he and his team try to take a moment to breathe after a mistake before rationally considering what's next. "No sacred cows, no barriers, let's just take a very appropriate, rational view of it in a relaxed, non-emotional state," he says.

People who provide expertise on web forums like Quora, Reddit and Wikipedia gain opportunities simply by showing their expertise and willingness to participate, Shana Lebowitz writes.

The competitive labor market is giving employees more bargaining power with employers in matters such as telecommuting and vacation time. The key is to develop a culture where "people won't leave because they love working for the company," said consultant Richard Clark.

The key to using positive body language during an interview is to look natural and confident, says Andy Mangum, a speech communications instructor. Make eye contact with your interviewer, maintain good posture and don't forget to smile.

A startup called Daqri has developed a chip that could make 3D printing faster through the use of holograms. There are certain limitations to the technology -- the current version can only be used to create shallow forms, for example -- but the technique allows objects such as paperclips to be created in seconds rather than minutes.