The holiday season can be a time for career missteps, such as overindulging at office parties, not taking time off, being too casual with clients, posting inappropriately on social media and failing to plan for the new year, writes executive coach Elizabeth Pearson. "A few careless decisions during this time can carry long-term consequences for your professional trajectory," Pearson writes. "There's a saying, 'It's hard to get a promotion at the holiday party, but it's easy to get fired.'"

Employees often react negatively to change due to negativity bias and other factors, but leaders can help ease transitions by following five steps, writes Dave Coffaro. The steps include recognizing change as a continuous process, unifying the team around a clear vision, declaring progress and setbacks, and repeating these actions to overcome resistance.

Ranpak CEO Omar Asali is cautious about hiring candidates who are overly self-promotional, viewing it as a red flag that they might prioritize personal gain over the organization. Asali prefers candidates who demonstrate sincerity and vulnerability, using a unique interview prompt to assess their true character by asking them to describe themselves in ten words.

Employees have expressed concerns over the shift from per paycheck to annual 401(k) matching, citing potential loss of matching contributions if they leave before year-end. This change can also delay the benefits of compound interest and create employee distrust due to lack of communication from employers.

The Department of Labor has proposed phasing out the 14(c) certificate program, which allows employers to pay disabled workers less than minimum wage. The average hourly wage for workers under this program is $3.50, with half earning less. Disability employment advocate Ashlea Lantz says instead Competitive Integrated Employment is a better model, where individuals with disabilities work alongside non-disabled peers, earning fair wages and contributing to their community.

You might choose to delete your LinkedIn account to reduce your online footprint or to switch to another platform. Before deleting, download important data such as messages and contacts and then follow these step-by-step instructions.

Nearly half of US employees plan to leave vacation time unused by year-end, citing expenses, self-imposed pressure and heavy workloads as top reasons. according to an Eagle Hill Consulting survey. WorkForce Software's Sandra Moran, who notes unused paid time off can signal a lack of communication from employers, suggests leaders send reminders each quarter about using vacation time and share data showing how failing to take time off can cause lower productivity and higher turnover.

The Tom Petty Trail in Gainesville, Fla., allows fans to explore the city's musical history through various locations significant to the musician. Initiated by retired journalism professor Shawn Murphy, the trail covers a wide array of sites relevant to Petty's early days and modern murals and tributes. Murphy, who began this project after recovering from cancer, continually updates it with new findings.

Last week I gave a presentation as part of Future Tech Day, a daylong workshop for the company's software developers and engineers. My talk was about how to get a team on board with change -- particularly if it involves changing worflows and old mindsets (see today's top story). Change management is a big part of my job, but in my talk I equate it to parenting where you need to the right motivators for different personalities. If you can figure out how to get your seventh grader to start cleaning their room, you can lead change management. -- Janet Connor Kahler, editor of Your Career