Introverts often pass up "informal leadership opportunities" in group settings because of negative expectations of such activities, according to researchers. To overcome this, challenge yourself to share your ideas and have a plan to speak up early on in meetings, says communications coach Kristi Hedges.

Before requesting a flexible schedule, formulate a plan for what your schedule might look like and how you'd get your work done each week. Prepare a list of benefits that would come about for your employer, Isabel Thottam writes.

Work friendships can change drastically when you receive a promotion, Bruce Eckfeldt writes. If your former peers don't respect your new position and duties, it's best to discuss the situation openly and honestly with one-on-one conversations.

Entrants on Working Mother magazine's latest list of the best companies for working moms include Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Deloitte. Top-ranked companies tend to have several attributes in common, including paid parental leave, mentoring programs and scheduling flexibility.

You should walk away from a potential job opportunity of the employer wants you to undergo a screening process that you consider excessive. Avoid doing free work such as sample projects or other tasks, Nick Corcodilos writes.

Washington pumpkin grower Joel Holland won the 44th World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Monday with a record-setting 2,363-pound pumpkin. The win was the seventh for Holland, who won $7 per pound in prize money for the achievement.