College degrees are no longer prerequisites to achieving C-suite level success, explains the founder of Williamson Fintech Consulting, Sadie Williamson. "Savvy non-academics should make the most of the online resources available to them, creating less risk that employers will discriminate in favor of those clutching their freshly printed degree certificates," she writes.

Asking for a promotion starts early on by showing your boss that you are an effective leader and ends with tying up any loose ends and clarifying what the next steps in the process will be, explains career coach Hallie Crawford. Come equipped to the meeting with measurables to back your case for the promotion, including a salary request based on market research and your performance data, Crawford recommends.

Differences in networking tendencies between men and women may be holding women back from gaining entrance into male-dominated groups, according to a recent study in the journal Human Relations. The research found that a woman's network is generally more social and close-knit, while a man's is "larger and more transactional" in nature.

Ryan Kelley, a former safety driver for Uber's autonomous vehicle unit, says he was fired after complaining to management about restricted bathroom breaks and injuries he sustained while working. Uber says Kelley was fired for not reporting a safety issue, an allegation Kelley initially denied but later admitted happened, write Mark Matousek and Julie Bort.

Begin the cover letter with an interesting hook, such as telling a story that displays your abilities and how that may translate into solving problems at the prospective company. Avoid phrasing like "My name is ..." or similar often-used cover letter starters, suggests WPForms co-founder Jared Atchison.

Accepting a less-than-ideal job can be beneficial, reports Shana Lebowitz, in that it can help catapult you into the role you really want in the future. Lebowitz conducted a small-scale study involving interviewing workers in their self-proclaimed ideal role within a company and found that most appreciated the worst job they ever had because it helped them land their current job in some way.

Certain work habits may age people prematurely, research shows, including sitting all day, slouching and working too many hours. Working more than 50 hours per week, for example, may lead to increased risk of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, sleep deprivation and other ailments, research has shown.

A Danish startup has developed underwear it claims stays fresh after weeks of wear, thanks to its silver chloride formulation, which prevents growth of 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria. Reporters from New York magazine who tested the briefs, however, failed lasting more than 48 hours without a toss into the hamper, with one citing a "less-than-fresh scent" on the second day.