Your mentors and closest confidantes should be people who can teach and inspire you, writes Claudio Fernandez-Araoz, and should come from varied backgrounds within and outside your organization. Show gratitude by reciprocating information or help in any way possible to continue to nurture these vital relationships, adds Fernandez-Araoz.

Compare salary data for your career from free sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, PayScale and Salary.com, to come up with a fair salary range you fall within. "The best thing to do to take the emotion out of [salary negotiation] is arm yourself with data," says Katie Bardaro, VP of data analytics at PayScale.

Launch a networking group for minimal costs using Facebook, LinkedIn or other online social means to grow a following that can bud into a networking group of like-minded individuals. Find a local venue, send out invitations and be sure to charge a fee to cover costs, suggests Debbie Clarke who is co-founder of Blue Stockings Society, a networking event aimed at supporting women in business.

New city and state laws aim to provide shift workers more predictability and stability in their work hours by requiring employers set the schedule at least two weeks in advance, among other stipulations. Six governments have implemented the new law, including New York City, Seattle, and the state of Oregon.

Prepare your social media profiles before seeking out employment by cleaning them up and adding professional-looking photos. Be proactive by seeking out companies you're interested in via Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and engaging the decision-makers with valuable content and insights.

Keep cover letters about three or four paragraphs long with information that doesn't repeat what's already on the resume, and include some keywords from the job description when describing a few of your accomplishments and experience at former jobs. Address the hiring manager by name, and briefly explain how your skills and values will align with the position you're seeking.

International productivity startup Doist is breaking ground on a new vacation policy that eliminates traditional holiday time off and instead mandates each employee take 40 vacation days per year for any day they wish. "The ability to disengage, relax, and recharge is as important as being ambitious, organized and productive," said Doist founder Amir Salihefendic.

A system using a smartphone to identify whether water has traces of lead, created by scientists at the University of Houston, can test for lead levels both below and above EPA standards. The detection device is made by attaching a lens from an inkjet printer to a smartphone camera and can recognize as low as 5 parts of lead per billion in tap water.