The concept of building professional certificates, licenses and apprenticeships into university degree programs improves access to higher education for many people and is gaining interest by employers, writes John Hanc. Brian Fitzgerald of the Business-Higher Education Forum says, "Increasing the digital skills of current employees is a critical component of many companies' digital strategies, and mini-credentials are integral to that strategy."

People build trust with co-workers and improve workday efficiency with communication that respects others' time, intelligence and feelings, writes Jillian Kramer. Present positive nonverbal cues, such as consistent eye contact, and accept new ideas about how to do your job with an open mind.

Relying on a single person for career advice narrows a person's perspective and may deprive them of important input, writes Karen Caplan, CEO of Frieda's. She recommends developing a "personal board of directors," with each member addressing a different area of desired growth.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to reduce paid parental leave to six months from one year, sparking debate about how much parental leave is the right amount. Some organizations have increased paid leave for birth mothers, including General Mills, which offers 20 weeks, and Walmart, which offers 10 weeks.

Job seekers will enjoy more success with heightened self-awareness about their strengths and weaknesses, writes career coach Rachel Montanez, who also outlines three ways to stay focused. Clarify your career goals and reflect on accomplishments to maintain momentum when the process starts to get discouraging.

It's important to hiring managers of technology firms that a job candidate fully understand their product, have a passion for it and can explain its technology to a layperson. "This is a great opportunity for a candidate to show off their creativity, communication skills and the way their mind works to distill down concepts to their essence," says Toni Fung, brand manager of Asymmetrik.

A study published in Hypertension found that 30 minutes of moderately intense walking, particularly in the morning, was associated with lower blood pressure for people ages 60 to 74 who were overweight or obese. It also found that combining this exercise with frequent, three-minute walking breaks throughout the day was associated with greater reductions in blood pressure for women but not men.

Organizers of the 2024 Olympics in Paris have submitted break dancing, surfing, climbing and skateboarding to the International Olympic Committee to become official sports; IOC must issue its ruling on the matter by December 2020. Previously, the committee rejected squash, chess and billiards to be in the Paris Games.