If you have co-workers who consistently change their minds on important decisions, share your observations so that you can better understand their motives, writes Amy Jen Su. Pick your battles instead of voicing concerns every time the issue arises, she writes.

Consider that too many stringent rules can lead to less productivity among good employees who chafe at being micromanaged, Derek Irvine writes. He cites research that suggests "good attendance" award-winners become less productive and punctual. "The leverage they have at their disposal is the withdrawal of some of their effort, leading to poorer firm performance when the precise opposite is desired," he argues.

Make yourself more memorable by being an active listener when meeting new connections, writes Michelle Riklan. Prepare a concise introduction, and demonstrate a positive attitude.

Apprenticeships are rising across the country, with the number of apprentices registered by federal or state officials up by nearly 100,000 since 2011. Sectors such as construction, manufacturing, IT and insurance increasingly are using apprenticeships to develop training programs that include classroom and work-based experience.

Make your interviewer feel like a good host by accepting offers of water or other beverages, says Dave Kerpen, the CEO of a marketing software company. Put yourself in a good mood the day of the interview by performing a random act of kindness and by making a list of things you're grateful for.

Pulling Post-it Notes or sticky tabs as most people do -- from the bottom, free side -- leads the notes to curl. A better method is to peel them off from the sticky, top side, which causes them to lie flat.