You don’t have to wade through dozens of generalized networking nights. These seven Seattle startup-specific events will put you on the path to making the right connections: (Click here to tweet this list.)

1. Seattle Tech Meetup

If you’re going for big numbers, your best bet is the monthly Seattle Tech Meetup. The event regularly draws hundreds of people, from aspiring engineers to seasoned marketers. For your $10 ticket, you’ll get some food, some drinks and five presentations from Seattle companies doing cool things with technology.

If you really want to dip your toe in slowly, you can start by following their very lively hashtag (#STMeetup) or watch their livestream of the event before committing to the event in person. (That said, you should probably just go in person! That is the whole point of the “networking” part. …)

Cost: $10 per event

2. Startup Weekend

If you’re looking for a jam-packed experience of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur — the lows, the highs! — Startup Weekend is for you.

Startup Weekends are popping up across the globe, but the structure is always same: All participants pitch their startup ideas and get feedback. Then builders, designers and marketers form teams around the top ideas and “it’s a 54-hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation,” the site says. “The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.”

This can be the perfect place to make strong connections, fast. Fifty-four hours of insanity has a way of really bringing people together!

Cost: $99 to participate, $25 to watch the Demo Day

3. Startup Grind

The Startup Grind has a different focus: Each month they bring in one speaker to share his or her startup story. You get to hear what worked, what didn’t and what that person will do differently next time. Hosted at the utilitarian Dice Cabana downtown, you can count on some noshes, drinks and interesting people.

Cost: From $14 to $23 per event

4. Content Strategy Seattle

If you’re interested in the content/marketing/communication side of startups, Content Strategy is a good choice to meet like-minded people. You can expect food, beverages, an interesting meetup location (like the Makerhaus in Ballard), and wide-ranging topics — “Sexy Content for Boring Industries” was a recent favorite.

While the focus is, obviously, on content strategy, the people you meet there include UX designers, product planners, marketers and beyond.

Note: There’s typically a cap at 35 people (with a wait list), so you’ll have to move fast to guarantee a spot.

Cost: Usually about $10

5. Seattle Entrepreneurs

Founded in 2002, Seattle Entrepreneurs is one of the older groups on this list and that’s not a bad thing at all — over the years, they’ve found their groove. You can count on attention-grabbing content (from how to build your startup team to how to market your next app) and 20 to 50 people at each event.

Fun fact: The revenue that’s generated from ticket prices benefits the Global Music Project.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting people through music and cultural awareness. Kind of cool, right?

Cost: Typically from $12 to $25 per event

6. Seattle AI & UX Meetup

This meetup is billed as having “good company and geeky conversations.” True to their word, you can drink, chat, and network with 60 to 70 information architects, librarians, usability experts, user experience designers and interaction designers at this monthly event.

While not exclusively focused on startups, you’ll meet a large swath of people who work in the Pioneer Square startup world. The format is casual and there is always pizza — two major pluses.

Cost: Usually about $10

7. Seattle Startup Open Coffee

This Open Coffee is great if you’re looking for a more relaxed setting with a smaller crowd — think 8 to 15 people. At this weekly staple at Louisa’s Coffee in the Eastlake neighborhood, you can grab your latte and kick back to chat about new startup ideas, access to funding and startup resources. Warning: It meets at 8:30 a.m., so you’ll need to be an early-ish riser, or just rely on the delicious Louisa’s Coffee brews to keep your eyes open.

Cost: The price of a cup of coffee

Annie Rose Favreau is a Seattle-based digital marketer and startup problem solver. You can find her Twittering away at @A_Favreau.

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The post Want to Work for a Startup in Seattle? Check Out These Networking Events appeared first on Brazen Life.

You’ve heard it before — networking is essential for almost any kind of job hunt — but it’s especially true for startups. Here’s why: when building a team, startup founders rely on their network to separate the signal from the noise:

Every time a promising startup posts a job, tens if not hundreds of applications flow in. Founders don’t have time to go through all of them, so they use their network as a filtering mechanism by starting with people that have come recommended. Candidates who’ve been endorsed by someone the founder knows get the first crack at the opportunity. — Scott Britton

If you’re ready to get hired at a startup, here are six networking tactics that’ll help you get the gig:

1. Make it personal

Networking events can be a great first step to getting inside an industry. But they can also be a huge waste of time, especially in Startup Land, where it’s difficult to tell who’s doing awesome work and who’s a wannabe entrepreneur.

Rather than spending two hours at an event speaking with a parade of random people, focus on connecting with a handful of contacts you know you can learn from. Do some research, pinpoint a few top candidates and reach out for a short informational interview.

Avoid the dine-and-dash syndrome. You’ve worked hard to make great contacts, so don’t drop off the face of the earth after one meeting. Keep up with your network so you aren’t the person who only reaches out when they need something. Every month, grab coffee with a few of your contacts to keep the connection strong.

2. Apply before the job gets posted

If a company you like doesn’t have a job posting, that doesn’t mean you should wait until they do. Shoot ‘em an email. Tell them why you’re a fan of their work and explain how you could fit into their company.

Being confident in knowing you are a great fit for a company and having the ability to pinpoint areas of opportunity you can fill before the company even posted a job is… well, ballsy. But it’s incredibly effective. Reach out to companies you like early, build relationships with the employees and create a connection that will allow you to have a leg up on the competition.  — Breena Fain

3. Think local

While some recruiters won’t admit it, it’s easier to be hired at a startup if you live in the area. That doesn’t mean you have to be in a startup hub like Silicon Valley, New York or Seattle. Places like Boulder, Cambridge and Washington, D.C. are among Entrepreneur’s top 10 cities for tech startups. You can find high-tech startups in every single state.

Plus, the more remote your location, the less competition you’ll face. So start local. And if you want to move to a new city, try to visit often and at least appear like you’re a local.

4. Throw your own party

Highly-targeted events can be beneficial for everyone involved. When Alison Johnston Rue, CEO and cofounder of InstaEDU, realized there weren’t any events specifically for education tech founders, she decided to make her own:

When we were first getting started, I wanted to get to know other edtech entrepreneurs better. I made a list of founders I knew and founders I would be interested in meeting and invited them all to a happy hour at our office. The entire event took about two hours to organize, and it helped me meet and get to know the exact people I wanted to connect with.

5. Be generous

In his book Linchpin, entrepreneur guru Seth Godin wrote an important networking truth: “It’s difficult to be generous when you’re hungry. Yet being generous keeps you from going hungry. Hence the conflict.”

If you’re only focused on what you can get from other people — a job lead, an interview, a connection — rather than what you can give them, you’ll find yourself in hot water. Networking is a two-way street. The more you can improve someone else’s life, the more likely they are to help you.

Stuck on how to be generous and provide value? Here are some ideas:

• Send over an article or video the person would genuinely find interesting.
• Offer to give feedback about a product or website.
• Promote their organization to your personal network.
• Make a relevant introduction.

6. Take action

Founders need people who can take action, make decisions and figure things out on the fly. You’ve got to have initiative, creativity and hustle.

To demonstrate your action bias, tackle independent projects. Whether it’s a blog, an event, a side hustle, an incredible social channel or an artistic venture, get out there and do something.

Interesting projects often generate interesting opportunities and connections. (Click here to Tweet this thought.) Plus, you’ll have something cool to work on while you hunt for your next gig.

What tactic would you add to the list? Tell us in the comments!

Annie Rose Favreau is a Seattle-based content strategist, digital marketer and startup problem solver. You can find her Twittering away at @A_Favreau.

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“There are two kinds of people: those who have what it takes to work for a startup company, and those who don’t.” – startup recruiter Leslie Ayres (@JobSearchGuru)

Working at an early-stage tech company can be risky, exhilarating and exhausting. The growing hip-factor of startup life — plus the distant possibility of joining the Millionaire’s Club — means more job hunters are considering the plunge into startups. But startups really aren’t for everyone.

How do you know if you have what it takes to succeed in Startup Land?

1. You’re awesome at what you do

You can’t be mediocre in a startup. (Click here to Tweet this thought.)

Well, you can, but it’s the sign of a bad startup if leadership doesn’t immediately cut any team member who isn’t pulling their weight.

But you don’t have to be an industry thought leader or have more than 15 years of experience to be awesome at what you do. You do need to commit 100 percent to producing excellent work on every project. You do need to create stuff that actually has value. And the minute you fail — which you will — you do need to instantly correct your mistake and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Being awesome is as much an attitude as a fact.

2. You don’t expect overnight success

We all hear about startups that seem to explode overnight. But the reality is less exciting.

“The truth is that these success stories are often built on the back of years of hard work, struggle and any number of previous failures,” startup veteran Sam Jones says. “Take video game developer and entertainment company Rovio Entertainment, for example. They spent eight years working on other games and were close to bankruptcy before finally hitting it big with Angry Birds, which went on to become the best-selling iOS game ever.”

Bottom line: you’ve got to be ready for the long haul.

3. You aren’t in it for the money

Most early-stage startups don’t have oodles of money to throw around (or any cash at all; some companies start with only equity packages and pizza). Compared to an entry-level job at an established corporation, your salary will be probably be cringe-worthy.

But there are plenty of other reasons to join a startup:

• You’ll absorb new experience like a sponge. Working for a startup is like drinking from a fire hose: an abundance of new information and new projects hits your desk 24/7. Although you won’t have the same lifestyle as your corporate friends, you’ll probably get a heck of a lot more hard experience.
• You have passion for an idea or product. Do you truly believe your startup’s core idea or product could change the world? That’s a compelling reason to commit to a company.
• You’ll learn from everyone around you. Surrounding yourself with smart people is a good career move. Even if the startup ultimately fails, you’ll still be building an awesome network of intelligent, engaged individuals who will probably go on to be involved in other intelligent, engaging projects and can bring you along.

4. You want to work wide, not deep

With a small team comes great responsibility. There are a ton of areas to cover in an early-stage company: Who’s tracking the finances? Who’s crafting the pitch? Who’s running the Twitter account? Who’s cleaning the toilet?

While you’ll probably be hired to fill a certain role, it doesn’t mean your responsibilities end there. You’ve got to adapt a “whatever it takes” motto, not “that’s someone else’s problem.”

If you’re not comfortable wearing many hats (and you know “wearing many hats” can sometimes translate into “doing a lot of scutwork”), startups aren’t for you.

5. You can ride the waves

Startups are often a series of failures, pivots and 180-degree shifts.

“If a bit of chaos mixed into your coffee every morning doesn’t get you excited, then startup life isn’t for you,” says Stewart Masters, co-founder of Clubkviar & Kviarcity. “Things change continually, 60 percent of the time every time (yay Anchorman).”

Since almost every startup has adopted the agile methodology, you have to design, create, launch and iterate at breakneck speed. What you’re working on today may change by tomorrow morning — not a great environment for anyone who’s risk-averse or loves consistency.

As SecondMarket’s Aishwarya Iyer puts it, “It takes a certain type of person to thrive in this environment. You need to have everlasting curiosity, be comfortable with change and have the ability to quickly adapt.”

6. You thrive on strong company culture

Traditional hierarchies and bureaucratic systems often fall by the wayside in the startup world. Intense company culture — both the surface-level elements like Hawaiian Shirt Fridays and deeper aspects like sharing the same motives, values and approach — is a huge part of startup life.

“With a cool startup culture comes fun benefits,” explains Masters. “I wear what I want to work… I’m surrounded by people who are working towards the same goals and who have the same drive and excitement, I play ping pong in my boxer shorts, drinking Mai Tais while pitching investors, I do late night work sessions with team bonding (group hugging and meditation), I work from home when I want to and have a huge cuddly bear next to my desk. Could I ask for anything else?”

Do you have what it takes? Let us know in the comments!

Annie Rose Favreau is a Seattle-based content strategist, freelance writer and startup problem solver. You can find her Twittering away at @A_Favreau.

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The post 6 Ways to Figure Out If Working for a Startup is Right for You appeared first on Brazen Life.

“Generally, the jobs with the highest meaning offer low pay. People who want to make the world a better place are not driven by money. They’re driven by a desire to help people,” says Katie Bardaro, lead analyst at PayScale.com.

But nonprofit doesn’t have to mean no paycheck. (Click here to Tweet this thought.)

While many nonprofits operate on a different salary scale than traditional corporate organizations or flashy tech startups, you can set yourself up for success (at least when it comes to your pay) by aiming for one of these careers:

1. Grant Coordinator

Median nonprofit pay: $51,000 (source: Payscale)

Grant coordinators keep the grant money flowing into nonprofits. You figure out which grants are best-suited for your organization, develop proposals and follow up when necessary to ensure everyone’s in compliance with the grant requirements. In short, you oversee the grant procurement process from A to Z.

2. Software Engineer

Median nonprofit pay: $78,000 (source: Simply Hired)

Software engineers design, develop, test and evaluate software and systems. Whether you’re developing a new app for your organization, updating a donor database system or creating a new tracking system for on-the-ground volunteers, you implement and support the techie side of nonprofits.

3. Foundation Program Officer

Median nonprofit pay: $60,000 (Payscale)

Foundation program officers figure out the who, what and how of giving out grant money. It’s your job to make sure the right grant gets to the right organization. To be a program officer, you’ve got to be an expert in your area — whether that’s public health, education, poverty or beyond.

Program officers usually come to foundations after pursuing careers in academia, public charities or agencies. Foundations hire you because you have deep knowledge and expertise in a particular area. — Susan Fitzpatrick, Vice President of the James McDonnell Foundation

4. Communications Director

Median nonprofit pay: $63,000 (Simply Hired)

Communications directors are responsible for a nonprofit’s public relations and media outreach. You manage PR staff if you have them, create communication strategies and serve as the spokesperson for your organization.

It’s your job to make sure your nonprofit is publicly seen in the best light possible — and that people have actually heard about your work.

5. Museum Curator

Median nonprofit pay: $50,000 (Payscale)

Every museum — whether focused on modern masterpieces or children’s exhibits — depends on the museum curator. You oversee and manage the museum’s collections and displays, ensuring the museum is always stocked with pieces that provoke, engage or induce wonder.

You also do a ton of business work — negotiating purchases, categorizing new collection items or figuring out the logistics of loaning out an exhibit.

6. Director of Development

Median nonprofit pay: $58,000 (Payscale)

In the nonprofit world, “development” is generally shorthand for “fundraising.” As such, the director of development is responsible for bringing in the funds that keep a nonprofit on its feet.

You create fundraising strategies and oversee outreach to major funding sources like grants, corporate investors, individual donors and fundraising events. You mix financial savvy with the friendly art of persuasion.

7. Executive Director

Median nonprofit pay: $61,000 (Payscale)

Landing a gig as the head honcho is generally the best bet for making a big(ger) income. Executive directors are like the CEOs of the nonprofit world. You keep your organization alive by steering the policy, leading your team and creating new strategies to sustain your nonprofit’s mission and vision over the long haul.

The best part of the job?

I meet truly amazing human beings every day. I know that sounds a little Disney princess, but seriously, I work in arts and medicine and typically prima donna jerks don’t wake up and think, “I’m going to go write poetry with ladies at the senior center today.” Far and away, I meet wonderful human beings. — Katy Liljeholm, Executive Director at Well Arts

So maybe it’s not about the paycheck after all.

Would you consider a nonprofit job?

Annie Rose Favreau directs content and community strategy for a tech startup in Seattle. You can find her Twittering away at @A_Favreau.

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The post 7 Top-Paying Nonprofit Jobs That Also Offer Meaningful Work appeared first on Brazen Life.

Startups have a certain mystique. Whether you love or hate the idea of startup life — the long hours, the foosball tables, the high-pressure hacking — it’s tough to understand startup culture until you’re working inside it.

Plus, many startup stereotypes, clichés and maxims floating around aren’t true, or aren’t true for the majority of startups. All the misinformation can lead a job market newbie down the wrong road.

If you’re considering the plunge into Startup Land, stop buying into these myths first:

1. You must be a technical genius

Being tech-savvy is an important part of fitting into startup culture. But you don’t have to be a rock star super coder to succeed. Some of the most important startup roles — marketing, management, sales — don’t depend on a technical core.

But learning at least some basic technical skills will put you in a stronger position. Take an intro computer science course or HTML/CSS coding class from a place like Udacity, Udemy or Codecademy.

2. You have to work 80 hours a week, never sleep and stress constantly

Some startups will demand your life, body and soul. These are the companies that live off the crazy geek machismo that says if you’re not sleeping under your desk, you’re not working hard enough. And for some people, this is bliss.

But a lot of startups aren’t like that.

You do work hard. You do put in unusual hours. (Lovers of 9-to-5 need not apply.) You do bust your ass for all-hands-on-deck fire drills. But you aren’t expected to give 110 percent 24/7 — unless you’re planning on burning out within the year. Some startups have better work-life balance than their traditional counterparts. Take Treehouse, an ed tech company that prides itself on a four-day work week, for example.

Bottom line: You don’t need to believe the “be miserable now so you can enjoy your life later” mantra when you work at a startup. (Click here to Tweet this idea.)

3. Startup life is glamorous

With the endless Ramen-to-millionaire success stories pouring out of Silicon Valley, it’s no surprise many people think startups are a glamorous business. Yes, you’re more likely to find a ping pong table, free lunches and cutting-edge gadgets at a startup.

But when you get down to it, startups are basically small businesses. Isn’t it funny how “small business owner” sounds less cool than “startup CEO,” even though they’re essentially the same?

I often get asked “who’s the most famous person you’ve met?” or “what’s the biggest party you’ve gone to?” But running a startup isn’t about meeting people or going to parties. It’s about selling a product or service to a customer. And that’s hard work. — Wade Foster, CEO of the task automation startup Zapier.

4. Startup jobs are totally chaotic and unstructured

This myth really depends on the size of your startup, which can range from one guy in a garage to hundreds of employees in giant (and oh-so-cool) office space. In a 50-person team, everyone has structured and specialized areas. In a five-person team, little of your work will remain constant from day to day.

But that doesn’t mean your job will be complete chaos — it just means you have more responsibility to craft your own career growth. And this can be a big advantage, especially if you’re new to the workforce.

Startups can provide an amazing opportunity to experience different specialties, from business development to product testing. Once you find an area that clicks, you can steer your work toward that field as the company expands.

5. You have to live in Silicon Valley to work at a startup

Startups aren’t just for Silicon Valley hipsters anymore. Places like New York City, Boulder, Seattle, Cambridge and Washington, D.C. are among Entrepreneur’s top 10 cities for tech startups.

In fact, data shows high-tech startups are in every single state. You’re more likely to find startup gigs in metropolitan areas, but even smaller towns — like Bend, Oregon or Cheyenne, Wyoming — have opportunities.

6. Startup jobs are risky

Technically, this myth is true; by nature, startups are risky — about 75 percent of them fail. Even if your startup doesn’t flop, the constant pivots typical in startups often require big changes to your team.

But while startups won’t give you job security, they can provide career security. They set you up to be versatile, flexible and ready for whatever comes next.

Forget job security and invest in developing career security. Do this by solving hard problems on the bleeding edge. Develop relationships with people you can learn from who themselves have large and active networks of relationships. No better place to do this than at good startups. After a few years, you’ll be able to work wherever you want and will have higher compensation than you imagined you could because the pace of career progress is much faster at startups. — serial entrepreneur Simeon Simeonov

What startup myth would you add to the list?

Annie Rose Favreau directs content and community strategy for a tech startup in Seattle. You can find her Twittering away at @A_Favreau.

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The post 6 Common Myths About Working at a Startup appeared first on Brazen Life.

Talk to any group of 25-year-olds for more than 10 minutes, and this topic is bound to crop up. The idea of pursuing a passion is shorthand for loving your job, being a successful person and doing amazing work. It’s about having it all.

A lot of the time, it’s also completely ridiculous.

Whether for practical constraints (rent!) or more intangible reasons, finding your passion — let alone pursuing it — is an elusive goal. And yet everyone is expected to do it.

The thinking goes: if you have the courage to discover your true calling, you’ll be happy. If you’re not brave enough, you’ll wind up as an empty shell with a commute-work-die life. Talk about pressure.

Before pulling your hair out, taking yet another eHarmony-like personality quiz or crying into your pillow because Pinterest told you “Without Passion, Life is Nothing,” check out these five passion pointers:

1. You can create a passion

Computer scientist Cal Newport is fast becoming the face of the Anti-Passion Brigade—he doesn’t buy the “follow your passion” mantra. Instead, he believes passion can be created.

There is no special passion waiting for you to discover. Passion is something that is cultivated. Research shows that the traits that lead people to love their work are general, and can be found in many different career paths. They include things like autonomy, a sense of impact and mastery, creativity, and respect and recognition for your abilities.

Newport’s basic premise: Focus on a career area that generally interests you and offers value to the world. The deeper you dive into it and the better you are at it, the more interesting it’ll become — and the more passionate you’ll be.

2. Stop thinking!

Here’s a dirty little secret: No matter how hard you try, you can’t determine what your passions are by thinking about it. You have to take action.

Sign up for a class, try your hand at something new, volunteer for an assignment that’s out of your comfort zone — do anything that lets you dip your toe in the water. Through actual, hands-on engagement, you’ll be able to figure out what activities and situations light you up.

3. Following your passion might ruin it

As Alison Green of Ask a Manager says:

Turning what you love into a career can ruin what you loved about it. You might love to bake, and your friends might regularly swoon over your cakes and tell you to open a bakeshop. But getting up at the crack of dawn every day, baking 100 cakes daily, and dealing with difficult customers and the stress and finances of running your own business might have nothing to do with what you love about baking—and might sap the joy right out of it.

Before committing yourself to a passion plan, determine if the daily work realities really appeal.

4. Passion is a lifestyle issue

Finding your passion is all tied up in figuring out what kind of life you want. What lifestyle are you striving for? What part of the country do you want to live in? How much money do you need to make?

Take this pointed observation from Brazen co-founder Penelope Trunk:

I am a writer, but I love sex more than I love writing. And I am not getting paid for sex. But I don’t sit up at night thinking, should I do writing or sex? Because career decisions are not decisions about “what do I love most?” Career decisions are about “what kind of life do I want to set up for myself?”

Instead of starting with a passion, try starting with a lifestyle you want to pursue. (Click to Tweet!) From there, work backwards to figure out what career options could help you realize your lifestyle goals. This doesn’t mean you have to ignore what you’re passionate about — just put it in context!

5. Your passions (can) change

Life changes, and sometimes passions shift, too. As YouTern’s Mark Babbit writes:

Very few of us are fortunate enough to turn any of our passions into lifelong vocation. In fact, very few of us pursue ANY of our passions for a lifetime including hobbies, careers — even relationships. So, knowing this is the case for 99% of us, why is passion such a driver in our professional lives? Could it be that we’ve been sucked into “passion” while failing to realize that even our deepest passions have a limited shelf life?

If you’re not feeling the buzz anymore, don’t be ashamed to go back to the drawing board.

What’s your favorite piece of advice about the passion puzzle?

Annie Rose Favreau directs content and community strategy for a tech startup in Seattle. You can find her Twittering away at @A_Favreau.

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The post 5 Things You Absolutely Must Know About Finding a Career You Love appeared first on Brazen Life.

To help you navigate the healthcare landscape, the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is launching a new website: StartupInsurance.com.

What is StartupInsurance.com?

StartupInsurance.com is a place where entrepreneurs can get quotes and apply for health insurance plans that have been selected just for them. “From start to finish, we want this to be a curated experience from a trusted source,” says Scott Gerber, Founder of the YEC.

In addition to StartupInsurance, the YEC is also launching FreelancerHealthcare.com and SMBinsurance.com to help freelancers and small business owners. Each website offers similar plans, but includes small nuances — for example, FreelancerHealthcare.com doesn’t offer group insurance.

You don’t have to be a member of the YEC to benefit.

Wait, is this the same as ObamaCare’s new health insurance exchange?

Nope. Under the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, nearly all Americans must have health insurance by 2014. To achieve this, the ObamaCare Health Insurance Exchange is launching in October. On your state’s health insurance exchange website, you’ll be able to compare the costs and benefits of different plans side by side to help you pick the best plan for you — it’s kind of like Kayak.com for health insurance. (More info about healthcare exchanges here.)

In contrast, StartupInsurance is a private alternative to buying through the state exchanges.

What does StartupInsurance give me that a state exchange won’t?

First off, the insurance plans you can find on StartupInsurance won’t be available through state exchanges. Rest assured, StartupInsurance’s full medical plans will still be totally compliant with the Affordable Care Act — that’s important so you don’t wind up paying any tax penalties for not being properly insured!

More specifically, Gerber stresses that the health insurance plans have been selected with entrepreneurs in mind, so you won’t have to sift through dozens of options that don’t meet your needs.

“In speaking to thousands of entrepreneurs, freelancers and small business owners over the years, we have learned what is important to them, what’s working for them — and, most importantly, what isn’t,” says Gerber. “This direct feedback has guided our thinking in creating StartupInsurance, a destination created by the very people it’s serving.”

Gerber also notes StartupInsurance is focusing on providing high levels of customer service. “You’ll always be able to reach a real person if you have a question,” he says.

It should be noted that ObamaCare’s Health Insurance Exchange is concentrating on customer service, too. Fabien Levy, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, reports: “Consumers will have a variety of sources available to help them shop for coverage in the Health Insurance Exchange, including navigators, community health centers, agents and brokers, a 24-hour-a-day call center and a live online chat with a customer service representative on HealthCare.gov.”

So, what’s the bottom line?

If you’re self-employed, freelancing or running a small business — and you’d rather get a tooth pulled than research your health insurance options — StartupInsurance could be your ticket to a stress-free shopping experience.

To learn more, freelancers can check out www.StartupInsurance.com. If your organization is interested in exploring options, contact info@theyec.org for more information.

Annie Rose Favreau directs content and community strategy for a tech startup in Seattle. You can find her Twittering away at @A_Favreau.

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The post A New Way for Entrepreneurs and the Self-Employed to Find Health Insurance appeared first on Brazen Life.

The right education can help focus your entrepreneurial passion and build up the skills—including social skills!— needed to work at or run a badass enterprise. Check out these top 10 majors for college-bound entrepreneurs:

1. Computer science

Studying the realm of computer programming and Web development puts you at the heart of any tech startup: building stuff. Given their central role, it’s no surprise that software engineers and Web developers are in seriously high demand.

Just make sure to hone your non-technical skills, too. Especially in a small startup, you need to be a jack of all trades rather than a specialist who can’t handle wide-ranging projects.

2. Communication

Creative writing, journalism or communications are all about getting your message across. And this is a vital startup skill, whether you’re pitching a business proposal, drafting a blog post or persuading investors to get on board.

Depending on your area of expertise, a working knowledge of HTML, CSS and basic computer science can come in handy. This tech knowledge can put you miles ahead of the crowd—and help the engineering team take you seriously!

3. Marketing

Public relations or marketing majors bring essential talents to the startup table. Without marketing, no one will know about the cool new product your team invented. With this major under your belt, you can help your company figure out what services to offer, who your target customer is and how to get the word out.

4. Finance

Finance basics are vital to startup survival. As a recent Forbes article puts it:

For an entrepreneur, the truth is that accounting and finance are tools to accomplish three key tasks:

(1) To make predictions about the future;

(2) To help you make more effective commitments of time, energy and money to attract customers and deliver goods and services at a larger and more efficient scale; and

(3) To measure and reassess your progress, so you can reward and encourage profitable behaviors, report progress to third parties, and change directions when necessary.

 Pretty important stuff.

5. Psychology

The growing field of User Experience (UX) is a perfect place for psychology majors. Your understanding the human brain and research background make you an ideal candidate to design and run user tests.

Your goal? Develop killer products.

6. Graphic design

Graphic design is an insanely competitive field. But if you develop your skills for a startup world (i.e., learning HTML/CSS, UX basics, how to talk to an engineer), you can differentiate yourself.

All startups are looking for design unicorns. You don’t need to be one of those mythical creatures, but the closer you can align your skills, the better.

7. ROTC

Okay, we know ROTC isn’t a major! But military background—whether via ROTC during school or a stint in the military—can be amazing prep for the startup trenches.

Why? Because military training teaches you how to execute (a.k.a. get sh*t done), work well in highly pressurized situations and be a true team player—awesome traits for the startup world.

8. Economics

In a world of big data, economists and statisticians rule. Enough said.

9. Business

Okay, this one comes with a caveat. If you do some Googling, you’ll find many current entrepreneurs and startup leaders don’t want to hire undergrad business majors.

“The cold hard truth is that kids who major in business are generally considered to be kind of dumb,” writes Gawker’s Hamilton Nolan. That being said, majoring in business or entrepreneurship can give you a good set of accounting, marketing, finance and leadership skills. Just proceed with caution.

10. Anything you’re actually passionate about

Spanish majors. Film majors. Environmental studies majors. You can find future startup entrepreneurs lurking in almost any academic field.

Will you have to work harder to develop practical business skills? Yes. Will you have a harder time selling yourself to potential startup employers? Maybe. But here’s the deal: if you have an intense interest in what you’re studying, it will foster commitment, passion, drive and mastery—keys to startup success.

One more thing: No matter what you major in, do not pass go and do not collect $200 unless you have at least one internship. The biggest success factor for an entrepreneur is experience—experimenting 24/7 and learning from mistakes.

So don’t think your diploma means your education is over. Life at a startup is about constant exploration, innovation, iteration and failure. The ride is just beginning.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 10 Best College Majors for Entrepreneurs appeared first on Brazen Life.

But finding a career you actually like doesn’t have to be rocket science. You’re basically looking for a job that fits your interests, skills and needs. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

Ask yourself these 10 questions to figure out if a career is really right for you:

1. Does this career let me follow my passion?

This is a trick question; you don’t have to follow a passion to have a great career. But you shouldn’t hate your job, either. So a better question to ask is, “Does this career path interest me on a general gut level?” (For more on decoding the passion puzzle, check out Cal Newport’s latest book).

2. Am I choosing this career to please somebody else?

If the answer is “yes” or even “maybe,” it’s time to reexamine your priorities. Friends and family can offer great advice, but it’s hard to find happiness when your life is dictated by somebody else’s expectations. You deserve to find a career that fits who you are.

3. What’s my style?

A career that’s a good match will suite your work style inside and out. Are you a self-starter who thrives on high-intensity hustle, or are you more of a procrastinator who does well in a structured work environment?

Be honest with yourself and choose a career that coordinates with your work style and strengths.

4. Do I like people?

On average, you’ll spend one-third of your life with your coworkers. If a job is a bad social fit (example: an extreme introvert in a customer service position), unhappiness is almost guaranteed.

5. Can I be successful in this career?

If you’re willing to put in the hours, you can learn just about any skill. However, finding a career that plays to your natural talents can make life much more pleasant.

If you’re a creative type, you’ll have better luck in a job that utilizes your outside-the-box thinking than a gig that’s all cut-and-dry numbers. Sounds obvious, but it’s surprising how many people don’t consider this.

Also, think about your own definition of success. What really motivates you? Money? Helping others? Work-life balance? Figure out what drives you and then pick a career that will help you reach success on your own terms.

6. Is there a good chance I’ll make as much money as I want/need?

Money shouldn’t be the main deciding factor for a career choice, but it shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Give yourself a reality check to see if your salary expectations can be met within your career field—the social worker who plans to make $100K a year will be sorely disappointed.

It’s also a good idea to take a long-term view. Rather than focusing on starting salary, use a site like Payscale.com to figure out the average income of mid-career professionals. This gives you a more holistic picture of the money situation.

7. Can I afford to get the training I need?

Many careers require formal training, whether in the form of a degree, a certificate or a license. But before you shell out money for college or grad school, make sure the career path you’re interested in will pay off (see question #6).

8. Does this career have a shelf life?

If at all possible, aim for a field that’s hiring. A dwindling industry (like publishing or post office work) can increase competition and make it harder to find a job with long-term possibilities. Check out the US Bureau of Labor employment projections—or better yet, industry chatter—to get a general sense of whether a career field is going places.

9. Do I have an escape plan?

If your industry took a nosedive next week, you’d want to have skills that translate to a new career. These usually come in the form of soft skills like a talent for communication or leadership. Adaptability—and the good sense to pick a career that lets you develop in diverse areas—is the key to continual success.

10. Am I ready to fight for it?

In today’s job climate, you won’t find many (or any) fields that aren’t competitive. Even entry-level gigs can be tough to land. So you’ve got to be willing to go to bat for your career. If you’re not ready to fight for it, you probably don’t want the job.

What questions would you add to the list?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 10 Enlightening Questions to Pick a Career You’ll Truly Enjoy appeared first on Brazen Life.

So, how can you hack the system? Find careers with short training time or jobs you can prepare for while holding down a day job. Check out these seven quick-change careers:

1. Web Developer

Web developers design and create websites.

What you need: You don’t need a formal degree in computer science to nab a gig in this industry. If you’re interested in sticking your toes in the coding waters, there are free massive open online courses, like Udacity’s Intro to Computer Science, and online classes (Codecademy.com is a favorite) you can try.

If you’re ready to commit 100 percent, consider an intensive boot camp, like those offered by Code Fellows, which include a money-back guarantee if you don’t land a $60k job offer.

Average salary: $76,000

2. Patient Advocate

Patient advocates help medical patients navigate the healthcare system.

What you need: Right now, there aren’t any national standards to become a patient advocate. There are increasing numbers of certificate programs, but in-the-trenches knowledge of hospitals and insurance companies can also get you started. If you have a background in business, healthcare, social work or have even navigated the healthcare industry for a loved one, you’re on the right track.

Average salary: $35,000

3. Social Media Manager

Social media managers engage customers and raise brand awareness by creating active social media profiles on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

What you need: Since social media is an emerging field, even the experts have only been doing it for a few years. There are a couple of great books on social media marketing that can help you learn the basics—check out The Zen of Social Media Marketing. Consider taking a few classes or a short certificate course in marketing to brush up your communication skills. And, of course, stay up to date on new trends and technology.

Average salary: Varies widely

4. Massage Therapist

Massage therapists manipulate muscles to help clients get rid of aches and pains.

What you need: Massage therapists usually complete a program that requires around 500 hours of study and experience. However, requirements vary by state, so check out your local standards before committing to a class. Preparing for this career can be a good side project while holding down a day job.

Interested? Check out this list of massage programs near you.

Average salary: $35,000

5. Energy Consultant

Energy consultants (also known as energy auditors) inspect buildings and homes to help save energy by finding areas of inefficiency.

What you need: For this job, engineering or construction know-how is helpful, but certainly not essential. You should get certified, which usually involves a six-week training course.

Average salary: $65,000

6. Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant or Dental Assistants

Whether you’re dispensing prescriptions in a pharmacy, performing clinical tasks in a hospital or processing an X-ray in a dentist’s office, these three jobs keep the healthcare system running smoothly.

What you need: The education requirements for these three careers vary from state to state, and range from on-the-job training to certificates. For example, dental assistants are usually required to take a one-year certificate program. If you’re interested in healthcare, these can be great positions to get your foot in the door—without breaking the bank on student loans.

Average salary: $28,000 – $34,000 (depending on specialty)

7. Technical Writer

Technical writers take complicated information and put it into easy-to-understand language for instructions, user manuals and more.

What you need: Technical writers come from all kinds of backgrounds. You usually need a bachelor’s degree, but it can be in almost any area. More importantly, you need to be knowledgeable about the field you write about—whether it’s Web development, engineering or healthcare.

Jump into tech writing by taking on related tasks at your current job or brushing up writing skills with some college courses. Also check out I’d Rather Be Writing, a great blog dedicated to tech writers and new trends.

Average salary: $63,000

Are you looking for a quick-change career? Tell us your plans in the comments.

All salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 7 Careers You Can Switch To Without Earning Another Degree appeared first on Brazen Life.

And it’s not about wielding a megaphone—you understand the subtle science of persuasion, how to build a powerful argument and what buttons to push to communicate your idea. Plus, you’re flexible enough to adapt your lingo to any environment, audience or situation.

With this marketable skill, you can stand out in almost any field. In fact, clear communication was listed as the number one must-have job skill in a recent Wall Street Journal article.

Yet there are some jobs in particular where stellar communication skills can truly skyrocket your career. Check out these top gigs for savvy communications:

1. Social Media Manager

With your knowledge of the latest trends and technology, you’re at the forefront of marketing and outreach. Anyone can run a basic Twitter feed, but you distinguish yourself by deftly communicating your brand’s unique vision, style and voice. You know your audience inside and out, and that lets you build real connections—even if it is through a computer screen.

Average Salary: $57,000

2. Nurse

Clear communications between healthcare teams is crucial—especially in pressure valve situations like the ER. But when you’re a nurse, connecting with patients is just as important. Whether you’re persuading a patient to forego steak dinners in favor of heart health, explaining a recovery plan or keeping a kid calm in a scary situation, the ability to choose your words well is key.

Average Salary: $65,000

3. Software Developer

Whether it’s fair or not, techies are notorious for being bad communicators. Yet as a software engineer—the creative mind behind computer programs—you’re way ahead if you can communicate well with your team. And if you’re gifted at translating tech lingo into language anybody could understand, you’ll really stand out in this industry.

Average Salary: $90,000

4. PR Specialist

As a PR specialist, you don’t just spread the good news about your company—you’re excellent at putting out PR fires, too. Your communication skills get a workout as you make announcements, network with media contacts or smooth over public scandals with your talk talent.

Average Salary: $57,000

5. Interpreter

Your basic job is translating a message, but it’s so much more than getting words in the right order. Especially in a healthcare or business setting, you’ve got to be a master of cross-cultural conversations. By conveying subtle social cues and nuances, you ensure your client’s point isn’t lost in the crossfire.

Average Salary: $43,000

6. Makeup Artist

Successful makeup artists bring creative vision and true flexibility to every project. Your career often involves interpreting somebody else’s idea—whether you’re creating a look to complement a fashion designer’s new collection or figuring out how a bride wants to appear on her big day. By listening, clarifying and working with each client, you deliver a final product that’s both creative and beautiful.

Average Salary: $64,000

7. Wedding Planner

Genius organizer…crafty mastermind…brilliant diplomat. These are just a few descriptions of a stand-out wedding planner. Your clear directions, calm head and tactful words guarantee each event runs as smooth as butter—even if you’re dealing with a bridezilla.

Average Salary: $45,000

8. Film Editor

Film editors are all about visual communication. But your way with words comes into play, too, because this job is highly collaborative: you work with sound designers, producers and directors to create the final cut. Your tact and eloquence allows you to navigate other’s priorities and stay true to your own artistic vision.

Average Salary: $45,000

9. Political Organizer

Political organizers juggle many balls in order to build momentum around a movement—whether it’s a cause or a campaign. This job has communication at its core: as you coordinate events, rallies and fundraising galas, you talk with hundreds of people from every walk of life. Your sharp verbal skills bring people together to give money, donate time and spread the word.

Average Salary: Varies widely

10. Sales Manager

Sales—it’s the ultimate communication industry. And sales managers run the show. Whether you’re focused on customer-oriented work, overseeing your brand ambassadors or reporting to higher-ups, you tailor your lingo differently for each audience. If you thrive on high-pressure and fast talking, this gig could be ideal.

Average Salary: $98,000

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 10 Great Gigs for Savvy Communicators appeared first on Brazen Life.

Unfortunately, most outdoor work falls into three main categories: Teeny-Tiny Paycheck (park naturalist, wildlife rehabilitator), Seriously Dangerous (crab fisher, commercial diver) or One-in-a-Million Dream Job (heli-ski guide, vineyard manager).

Lucky for you, there’s another small segment of open-air careers in a much better category: High Demand. These great outdoor gigs are forecast to have thousands of openings by 2020 and they’ll get you out and about.

Say goodbye to Cubicle Nation!

1. Design

Big-picture thinkers can enjoy the fresh air while designing gardens, green spaces and whole city blocks as a landscape architect or urban planner. With growing populations and increasing need for sustainable designs like green roofs and eco-friendly neighborhoods, these two careers are expected to expand 16 percent by 2020.

2. Sports

Just because you (like 99.99 percent of the rest of the world) aren’t an Olympic-level athlete, that doesn’t mean a career on the field is out of reach.

For example, athletic trainers work to prevent injuries during sports practice and help pro athletes heal when they’re in pain—and demand for this career is growing at a rapid 30 percent. Or, if you’re happiest on the pitch, consider creating the perfect playing field as a sports turf manager (job growth is at 20 percent). Gigs like these will keep you close to the game and out of the office.

3. Construction

If you’re handy with a hammer and don’t mind being exposed to the elements, a career in construction will get you outside. Construction managers and heavy equipment operators (who specialize in maneuvering cranes, bulldozers, etc.) bring home the biggest paychecks—and job growth is good at 17 percent and 23 percent, respectively.

4. Law and Order

While there is a lot of paperwork, law and order careers can keep you away from a standard office.

Traditional policing isn’t an in-demand industry (job growth is at 7 percent, well below the national average). However, heightening security demands means jobs for private investigators are opening up across the country at a rate of 21 percent. Depending on the case, you can spend many hours in the field, trailing surveillance targets or doing interviews. It might not be the heart of nature, but it beats hanging out by the water cooler.

5. Science

Science jobs—especially those related to natural sciences—can give you one-on-one contact with Mother Nature.

Wildlife photographers and marine biologists are the classic, romanticized outdoor jobs, but there aren’t many employers clamoring for you to come swim with the dolphins. However, the need for energy exploration, environmental protection and responsible resource management is spurring demand for geoscientists (21 percent job growth) and environmental engineers (22 percent job growth). Neither of these jobs keeps you outdoors 24/7, but you will spend plenty of time in the field.

What’s your outdoor dream job?

All job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post Ditch the Desk: 5 In-Demand Outdoor Jobs appeared first on Brazen Life.

How the heck can I find a job that a) I won’t hate, b) will pay my bills and c) I have a chance of getting hired for?

One good tactic? Search out industries with high numbers of job openings. Here are 10 grad-friendly careers expected to have thousands of open positions by 2020:

1. Registered Nurse

If you want a healthcare career, you’re in luck. Registered nurse may grow the most of all careers by 2020.

Why all the hype? As baby boomers age, they need more healthcare. Plus, people are becoming more interested in preventative medicine—often the domain of RNs.

Job Openings (total between 2010-2020): 711,900

Education Needed: Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $65,000

2. Kindergarten, Elementary School or Middle School Teacher

Shaping young minds is a rewarding business. While teaching positions are opening up nationwide, landing a job in this competitive field depends on context. Job prospects should be best in rural or inner-city schools and in areas with growing populations, such as the south. Specializing in certain subjects—including math, chemistry and languages—can also give you an edge.

Job Openings: 281,500 (Kindergarten/Elementary), 108,300 (Middle School)

Education Needed: Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $52,000

3. Accountant

The recent rocky financial times (not to mention corporate scandals) have increased the demand for accounting ninjas. In this field, work experience is key—most states require on-the-job time before an accountant can even apply to become a Certified Public Accountant. So an internship or entry-level job can be a smart move.

Job Openings: 190,700

Education Needed: Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $62,000

4. Computer Support Specialists

If you’ve ever dealt with the blue screen of death, you know what it’s like to need extra help making your technology behave. That’s where computer support specialists come in. Especially strong job growth is forecast in the healthcare industry, which increasingly relies on computers for everything from compiling patient files to storing x-rays. Self-taught expertise or an associate’s degree can qualify you for this job, but the most competitive applicants earn a bachelor’s degree.

Job Openings: 110,000

Education Needed: Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $46,000

5. Market Research Analyst

Ever wonder how much teens spend on frappucinos? Or how much is too much to pay for a smartphone?

Market research analysts uncover answers for questions like these. Many college majors can prepare you for this career, including communications, statistics, social science, business and computer science. But no matter your background, you need strong statistics and data analysis skills.

Job Openings: 116,600

Education Needed: Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $60,000

6. Computer Software Developer

Without software, your computer, phone and other gadgets would just be boxes of wires and circuit boards. While software developers are in-demand across the board, certain areas are booming in particular: mobile technology, healthcare-related software and information security. Take your pick.

Job Openings: 270,900

Education Needed: Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $90,000

7. Construction Manager

Many baby boomer construction managers are headed into retirement soon—and that means more job openings for workforce newbies. Construction experience can give you a big edge in this field, but the most competitive candidates should also have a bachelor’s degree in construction science or civil engineering.

Job Openings: 86,600

Education Needed: Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $84,000

8. Computer Systems Analyst

Computer systems analysts are all about efficiency: which computer systems make the most sense for any particular organization? A bachelor’s degree in computer science is a good choice to prepare for this field. However, having a liberal arts degree doesn’t rule you out for this career path (hear that, English majors?). It all comes down to your technical expertise.

Job Openings: 120,400

Education Needed: Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $78,000

9. Dental Hygienist

As researchers learn more about how oral health impacts overall health (spoiler alert: flossing can save your life), demand for dental hygienists is on the rise. Plus, more hygienists are needed to manage new technology and diagnostics, like saliva tests that can spot early signs of cancer. And with the average salary clocking in at nearly $70,000, the investment in your associate’s degree can pay off big time.

Job Openings: 68,500

Education Needed: Associate’s Degree

Average Salary: $68,000

10. Management Consultant

Just as athletes turn to a coach when they want to run faster, jump higher or kick harder, companies turn to a management analyst when they need help reaching their goals. Job growth is particularly strong in small consulting companies that have a specialty, like green business. More good news? Management consultants can major in a wide range of topics, including engineering, marketing, economics, accounting and computer science. Get ready to turn companies into lean, mean business machines.

Job Openings: 157,200

Education Needed: Bachelor’s Degree

Average Salary: $78,000

Job opening, education and salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 10 Hot Careers for College Grads appeared first on Brazen Life.

You don’t have to be an actor or artist to flex your creative muscles at work. At its core, creativity is really about solving problems in new ways—and that’s one heck of a marketable skill to have in almost any industry. So no matter your personal style or strengths, there’s probably a creative gig to match.

Check out 10 careers where you can put your imaginative brainpower to work:

1. For the Constant Connector: Marketer

Steve Jobs once said, “Creativity is just connecting things.”

As a marketer, you connect people with products, organizations and brands. You make your money dreaming up unconventional ideas to sell a service, producing catchy campaigns and figuring out hard-hitting ways to get your message across.

Salary range: $81,000 – $151,000

2. For the Tech Whiz: Video Game Designer

As a planet, we spend around 3 billion hours a week playing video games. And video game designers invent the worlds in which we play from top to bottom. In this gig, your imaginative thinking and artistic talents help you develop original concepts, layouts and rules of the game.

Salary range: Varies

3. For the Hands-On Creator: Makeup Artist

As a makeup artist, your tools are powders, paints and brushes, and your canvas is the human face. Whether you’re giving a bride that perfect glow or covering a Cirque Du Soleil performer in neon yellow varnish, your creative work is up close and personal.

Salary range: $18,000 – $102,000

4. For the People Person: Event Planner

Throwing a great party involves creative chemistry—you’ve got to mix the right space, the right cocktails and the right people. If you thrive on collaboration and social connections, coordinating events is a perfect outlet for your particular brand of genius.

Salary range: $27,000 – $77,000

5. For the Mover and Shaker: Community Organizer

Community organizers are all about creative problem-solving. Whether you’re coordinating a neighborhood rally, boosting an education drive or writing up a grant proposal, you figure out new ways to fix big issues that impact your community.

Salary range: Varies

6. For the Acoustically Inclined: Music Producer

This job requires you to tune up your acoustic artistry. As a music producer, you mix industry knowledge with sound production expertise to lay down tracks that appeal to your target market—be it Top 40 or Christian rock.

Salary range: $45,000 – $112,000

7. For the Outdoor Enthusiast: Landscape Architect

Landscape architects bring outdoor spaces to life. Your artistic vision results in well-designed gardens, parks and even more mundane places, like airports or traffic circles. You’re also a creative problem-solver, tackling big projects on small budgets and handling Mother Nature’s hurdles like a pro.

Salary range: $37,000 – $102,000

8. For the Trend Ninja: Social Media Manager

Great social media mavens love the wild pace of changing technology. Your creativity comes into play as you spot trends, embrace new platforms (who even knew what Pinterest was a year ago?) and figure out how each new tool can best serve your company.

Salary range: $23,000 – $86,000

9. For the Mad Scientist: R&D Chef

Mix culinary artistry with cutting-edge science (plus a dash of foodie love), and you’ve got one great career as an R&D chef. Whether you’re conceptualizing a new dish, perfecting a freezing method or trying to reformulate an old classic in a new way, you thrive on experiments, invention and taste testing. Lots of taste testing.

Salary range: $34,000 – $106,000

10. For the True Self-Starter: Freelancer

Hats off to the most tenacious job creator: the freelancer. In order to make ends meet (and fulfill your creative vision, of course), you’ve got to think big, try new angles and generally hustle your butt off. Persistence might not be a sexy concept, but it’s certainly the #1 ingredient in most successful creative endeavors.

Salary range: Varies

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 10 Creative Jobs for Every Personality appeared first on Brazen Life.

With all the uncertainty, stress and fear that come with the territory, you might be tempted to stay in a less-than-stellar job. But here’s the good news: you can take the leap to a better gig without having your head explode.

Here are 10 tips and tricks to make a successful career change and keep your cool:

1. Facts: get some

When it comes to a career move, ignorance isn’t bliss—it’s anxiety.

Perform due diligence research before committing to a change and you’ll reduce your fear of the unknown to a dull roar. Get online. Talk with people in the field. Try a job shadow. You want to start a new career with your eyes open to the industry realities. Research is your friend.

You will encounter roadblocks and unforeseen sinkholes. But a solid backbone of data and information puts you in a better (and calmer!) place to deal with the unexpected.

2. Question fear

Fear isn’t all bad. It can help you hone your ideas, find flaws in your thinking and prepare you for your next step. Try this exercise to transform anxiety into a productive tool:

1. Write down any and all fears you have. For instance, you might be worried that changing careers will be too expensive.
2. Next, turn each fear into a “how” question. For example, “How am I going to pay for my career change?”

This process turns undefined fears into actionable problems that can be broken down into doable chunks.

3. Avoid getting trapped in the passion puzzle

The desire to find your “perfect” career path can be totally paralyzing. But according to Cal Newport, author of Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You, we can all just calm down:

Research shows that the traits that lead people to love their work are general, and can be found in many different career paths. They include things like autonomy, a sense of impact and mastery, creativity, and respect and recognition for your abilities. Once you recognize that these traits have little to do with following a pre-existing passion and can be cultivated in many different fields, you can safely abandon the myth that there’s a single right job waiting for you.

4. Practice persistence (in a smart way)

“Persistence is the number one reason for our success” according to entrepreneur Joe Kraus. Most people wouldn’t disagree, but you don’t want to beat your head against a wall, either.

Reaching for absolutely impossible goals—the ones that no amount of hard work can achieve—will guarantee failure. Develop the savvy to differentiate between a temporary barrier and an immovable wall, and you’ll greatly increase your chances of having a calm career transition.

5. Don’t stick your head in the financial sand

“When you start over in a new career, you need to be in good financial health to help smooth your transition,” says Kerry Hannon, a career change expert. “This allows you to try new things without stressing over the initial salary.”

In other words, don’t ignore the numbers in your bank account! Start by creating a basic budget (try a tool like Mint.com) to get a clear picture of what’s within reach. If you’re going back to school, check out what financial aid offerings and tax breaks might be available to you.

6. Run to the end of the block

Running a 10k doesn’t start with a to-do list that says “#1: Run a 10k.”  It doesn’t even start with “#1: Run one mile.” It starts with “#1: Run to the end of the block.”

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by long-term plans, focus on small projects instead. What are the steps you can take today, tomorrow and the next day to reach your goals? By taking action each day, you can feel more in control and confident.

7. Sweat it out

Working out is usually the last thing you want to do when you’re stressed. But it pays to prioritize a sweat session. Studies have repeatedly proven that upping your heart rate can do miracles for your mood.

No need to become an exercise junkie; even mild exercise (like a 20-minute walk) can boost your endorphin and serotonin levels. This lowers your stress, increases your ability to concentrate and acts as a natural antidepressant. Consider it time well spent.

8. Build relationships

Relationships are at the heart of happiness. “A lot of research shows that higher satisfaction is achieved when there are friendships at work,” Degrees of Transition founder Lea McLeod points out. In fact, many studies have shown that relationships are one of the only external factors that can significantly improve your happiness quotient.

During a career change, your personal support network will become the cheerleaders who keep you going and keep you sane. Your professional network can also become a huge source of energy and advice when the going gets rough.

9. Call a timeout

Career transitions require a lot of hustle. But running yourself into the ground won’t help anyone. Be sure to make time (at least a little bit) to really switch your brain off. Turn your attention to the other aspects of your life—family, fitness, fun—that help you stay happy and healthy.

10. Carve your own yardstick for success

The most traditional measures of success—money, power, fame—are all well and good. But they aren’t the whole picture.

What do you really want? When you picture yourself as a successful person, what do you see? What parts of your life matter most to your version of success?

If you can determine your personal definition of a successful life, you can then design a career change plan that will get you what you really want. It may take longer to get there, but meeting your own standards—rather than somebody else’s—is a formula for lasting satisfaction.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 10 Tips for Changing Careers Without Losing Your Mind appeared first on Brazen Life.

As one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields, the demand for science professionals is blowing up. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce forecasts STEM careers will expand by at least 17 percent, compared with just 10 percent growth for other jobs. Your chances of earning a bigger paycheck are also high—while the average U.S. salary is around $43,000, the average STEM income is closer to $78,000.

However, even if you loved bio class, getting an advanced degree in nuclear chemistry or spending years on a computational physics PhD may not be the best choice. So do high-paying science jobs exist for people with a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree or even a certificate?

We went to find out and discovered this wide range of science-related gems:

1. Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists are problem solvers for Mother Nature. Depending on your specialty (protection, chemistry or health), you might gather field data to help restore polluted wetlands, create recommendations to slow ozone depletion or develop plans to ensure air is safe to breath. To prepare for this eco-friendly career, get your bachelor’s degree in a natural science field like biology or chemistry.

Not interested in a four-year degree? Earn your associate’s in a science-related field to become an environmental field technician.

Job Outlook: 19 – 24 percent (depending on type and specialty)

Average Salary: $41,000 – $62,000 (depending on type and specialty)

2. Sonographer

Sonographers are the scuba divers of the human body. While you don’t literally go inside, you do use ultrasound technology to see the organs hidden deep below the skin’s surface. Your high-tech job helps doctors assess and diagnose diseases and injuries.

Like some other medical jobs, you can break into this field in more than one way. A bachelor’s or associate’s degree in sonography, or—if you’re already a trained health pro like a nurse—a one-year certificate program can prepare you for this career.

Job Outlook: 44 percent

Average Salary: $64,000

3. Veterinary Technician

Whether you’re working to keep pets healthy at a vet practice or helping scientists perform research in a lab, your main goal is to make sure animals are treated carefully and humanely. And when it comes to your education, you’ve got options: there are jobs available for people with either a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in veterinary technology.

Job Outlook: 52 percent

Average Salary: $30,000

4. Geotech

As a society, we rely on oil and gas to fuel our cars, heat our houses and run our appliances. And geotechs (short for geological technicians) are on the front line of efforts to explore and extract new pockets of these natural resources. Some employers will hire people with only a high school diploma, but most prefer aspiring geotechs to have at least an associate’s degree in an area like geology or chemistry.

Job Outlook: 15 percent

Average Salary: $54,000

5. Nurse

Nurses blend the hard science of medicine with the art of patient care. This job often tops the list of quick-change career ideas because of the variety of education options (including certificates, associate’s and bachelor’s degree paths) and the good benefits. So if you’re the type who thrives on mixing person-to-person interaction with the analytics of health care, this could be a good option for you.

Job Outlook: 22 – 26 percent (depending on type and specialty)

Average Salary: $40,000 – $65,000 (depending on type and specialty)

6. Forensic Science Tech

Forensic science techs are sharp-eyed individuals responsible for collecting or analyzing evidence that can put criminals behind bars. Whether you want to be an on-the-ground CSI or focus on laboratory work, your best bet is to get a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, biology or chemistry.

However, many rural police agencies will hire applicants for CSI work who only have a high school diploma or an associate’s degree. Check with your local agency to learn about specific requirements.

Job Outlook: 19 percent

Average Salary: $52,000

7. Biomedical Engineer

By 2020, demand for biomedical engineers is set to skyrocket 62 percent—making this career the fastest-growing science job in America. To break into this field, you do need a bachelor’s degree in the fairly narrow and tough area of biomedical engineering. However, the payoff can be worth it; average income is $81,000. Not a bad deal for paying attention in bio class, right?

Job Outlook: 62 percent

Average Salary: $81,000

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 7 Cool Science Jobs That Don’t Require a PhD appeared first on Brazen Life.

“As a designer or planner, you have such a big hand in shaping the future,” says Kathryn Madden, an urban planner and one of the lead faculty members at the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s summer Career Discovery program. “Whether you’re an architect designing a window detail or a planner designing a city, you’re always thinking, ‘what do we have now and how can we make it better?’”

Because design and planning play such an essential role in our lives, it’s no surprise employers are looking to hire in these innovative industries. Madden is optimistic about the potential for growth. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” she says.

If you’ve got a creative eye and strategic mind, check out these seven top careers:

1. Urban Planner

Urban planners are big-scale thinkers. Your strategies guide the development of land—whether it’s a sleepy rural neighborhood or a whole cosmopolitan city—over the span of many years. Juggling the realities of the here and now with the possibilities of the distant future, you work to create, revitalize and grow vibrant communities.

Average Salary: $63,000
Job Growth: 16 percent by 2020*

2. Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are the brains behind the visuals and layouts of websites, magazines, logos and more. Job growth for general graphic designers isn’t too bright—in fact, it’s tanking in the areas of print and publishing. However, computer-related jobs are expected to grow a whopping 61 percent by 2020. If you’re ready to develop your programming skills along with your artistry, you can set yourself up for a successful career in Web or tech design.

Average Salary: $43,000
Job Growth: 61 percent for computer-related designers

3. Cartographer

Cartographers interpret big data and geographic information to create precise maps that help people see the world in whole new ways. In this career, you might develop a digital app that helps users navigate their neighborhoods or work for the government to create a visual illustration of the geopolitical climate of South America. Wherever you put your talents to work, your sense of scale and eye for detail are instrumental to this uncommon career.

Average Salary: $55,000
Job Growth: 22 percent

4. Landscape Architect

Landscape architects design outdoor spaces, from private gardens and public parks to urban farms and airport runways. Beyond these more traditional projects, skyrocketing interest in sustainable construction is revving up the demand for environmentally-minded landscape architects. Mix creative flair with a love of the outdoors to find success in this job.

Average Salary: $62,000
Job Growth: 16 percent

5. UX Designer

As a user experience (UX) designer, you’re like the urban planners of the Web world—but instead of developing a brick and mortar city, you develop online spaces. You’re responsible for creating a website users can interact with and navigate with ease. Everybody hates a clunky website, so your particular skills are prized by small tech startups, major corporations and everyone in between.

Average Salary: $90,000
Job Growth: 30 percent

6. Interior Designer

Interior designers combine colors, shapes, textures and sizes to create indoor spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful. Whether you’re planning a home office or an airport terminal, you mix your sense of style with technical design savvy and strong people skills. This is a competitive field, but you can boost your chances of success by specializing in one area, like eco-friendly planning or industrial kitchen design.

Average Salary: $46,000
Job Growth: 19 percent

7. Mobile Designer

Take your design skills to the small screen by specializing in mobile development for apps, ads and websites. With the explosion of the smartphone industry (Angry Birds, iPhones and Androids, oh my!), telecommunications design is one of the fastest growing fields out there. This is a great choice for technically minded designers who are ready to blend style, programming and UX expertise to get the job done.

Average Salary: $90,000
Job Growth: 30 percent

*All salary and job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that connects you to career ideas and training programs. If you’re considering a future in landscape architecture, architecture or urban planning and design, don’t miss Harvard’s Career Discovery program (June 10 – July 19), a hands-on immersion program for high school grads, college students and career changers.  

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The post 7 In-Demand Careers in Design and Planning appeared first on Brazen Life.

No wonder most people break into a cold sweat when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

But deciding on a career can be simplified into three basic problems. Conquer these, and you’ll dramatically up your chances of finding the job that’s right for you.

Problem #1: You Don’t Have Enough Information

There are literally thousands of careers out there—some of which could be at the perfect junction of what you’re good at, what you love and what’s in demand. It’s amazing how many successful people didn’t know their dream job even existed when they were younger.

To combat this problem, try this: devote one hour every day for a week (or heck, a month!) on pure research. Check out career exploration sites, top job lists, your favorite blogs or even a new section of the newspaper. Your mission? Write down any and every job that catches your eye.

This minimal routine will skyrocket your list of career ideas.

Problem #2: You Don’t Know What You Want

There are many great jobs in the world. But there are fewer great jobs that are right for you. Making a good connection between yourself (your values, interests, personality, etc.) and a career can be tough.

For some people, personality tests or heart-to-hearts with a career counselor can jumpstart this stage. But if you’re short on time, money or patience (some of those career tests are worse than the eHarmony intake form), assess career ideas with this practical checklist:

A. Does this career sound interesting?

As author Cal Newport has so eloquently advocated, you don’t have to be passionately head-over-heals for a career in order to thrive. (In fact, following a passion can be a big mistake.) However, a career should genuinely interest you on a gut level. It’s a good sign if you hear about a job and think, “Yeah, tell me more about that!”

B. Does this career involve work that you could be good at?

Many skills can be learned if you commit the time, but pursuing a career that actively goes against your natural tendencies is a giant fail waiting to happen. If you’re an introverted research type, don’t force yourself into a sales job—no matter how cool it sounds. Likewise, big-picture people will not find happiness in a tiny-details job. If the work itself clashes with your personality or skill set, move on.

C. Does this career fulfill your essential needs?

What you need from a career can include everything from basic salary and education requirements to more complicated concerns related to disability, family situation, religious beliefs and beyond.

Once you’ve nailed down what you want from your job, you can match those needs to career options. For example, if a six-figure income tops your priority list, choose a field where you can feasibly make that kind of money (think science, healthcare, technology, business) and avoid lottery industries (like filmmaking and fashion design) where only a lucky few will strike it rich.

D. Does the world need this career?

Practically speaking, you need a job. So before diving down a new career path, see if there’s a reasonably good chance someone will hire you at the end of it. Check out employment projections or industry chatter to gauge if your career is in demand.

Problem #3: You Can’t Make a Decision

You’re 99.99 percent guaranteed to find multiple career choices where you can shine. In this situation, it’s easy to fall into a perpetual motion machine of angst and second-guessing. What if you don’t pick the right career?

But here’s the secret: don’t worry about choosing the best option; choose any (well-researched and practical) option. “Just pick one thing to do,” suggests Brazen founder Penelope Trunk. “And if that doesn’t work, then pick another. Making a choice and trying it is an important career skill.”

So be brave and take action—and you’ll be that much closer to finding a job you love.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten about choosing a career?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and connect with the right education to achieve their goals. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post How to Decide on a Career (Even If You Don’t Know What You Want) appeared first on Brazen Life.

Whether you think the 9-to-5 is arbitrary, counter-productive or just out of touch with your life priorities (not to mention natural circadian rhythm!), you’re in good—and growing—company. And even if you can’t start a flex-time revolution at your current workplace, you can find plenty of jobs that accommodate a less traditional schedule.

Freelance and consulting jobs are obvious contenders based on the inherent work variety, but careers in healthcare, disaster response, media and travel are also prime candidates for outside-the-box scheduling.

If the 9-to-5 agenda just isn’t for you, check out these 15 careers with unconventional hours:

1. Freelance Web Designer

The demand for beautiful and functional Web pages is high. So if you’ve got the chops, you can set your own schedule, pick your own projects and make the World Wide Web a more awesome place to browse—from the comfort of your couch.

Average Salary: $78,000

2. Nurse

Medical care doesn’t stop at 5:00 p.m. As a nurse—as with many medical-related professions—you build your work schedule around flexible shifts. Whether you’re a night owl, early bird or non-traditionalist, you’ve got options.

Average Salary: $66,000

3. Real Estate Agent

Selling homes is a ‘round-the-clock business. Working with your clients’ schedules, you choose the best times to show off properties. Your on-the-job hours may fall on nights or weekends, but you’ll never have a set routine.

Average Salary: $39,000

4. Social Media Consultant

Helping businesses stay up to speed on the latest social media trends keeps you on the move sharing your expertise via project-based work. As a consultant, expect to do your fair share of hustling. The tradeoff? You’ve got the privilege of setting your own hours and working in your pajamas every once in awhile.

Average Salary: $43,000

5. Political Campaign Manager

During election season, campaign managers work 24/7. Since each campaign is its own intense, unique project, campaign careers are a good match for people who like throwing themselves 100 percent into work for concentrated periods of time, then taking an extended (and well-deserved) break.

Average Salary: $53,000

6. Personal Trainer

This career path keeps you on your toes, puts you face-to-face with clients and lets you set your own hours for individual pump-up sessions and group workouts. Yes, you may still hang out by the water cooler. But it’s a totally different atmosphere than a traditional office.

Average Salary: $31,000

7. Air Traffic Controller

Planes take to the skies at all hours, so this job comes with adjustable shift scheduling. The work can be stressful—you’ve got to hone your concentration skills to keep planes flying safely—but if you’re looking for non-traditional hours and a big paycheck, this could be a good fit.

Average Salary: $113,000

8. Graphic Designer

Whether you’re designing a new logo for an indie band or working on a branding package for a major corporation, your projects—and hours—can be all over the place. Industry competition can be tough, but if you survive the squeeze, you can score the flexibility you crave.

Average Salary: $44,000

9. Tax Accountant

As an independently operating accountant, you choose to work when you want, where you want and with whom you want. However, most tax accountants’ years follow a general pattern: long hours during tax season and a lot of down time in the late summer.

Average Salary: $32,000

10. Makeup Artist

Freelance makeup artists can cash in on irregular hours. Whether you’re perfecting a bride’s makeup bright and early on her big day or staying late at a glitzy photo shoot, this career doesn’t abide by traditional time frames.

Average Salary: $53,000

11. Court Reporter

In this versatile role, you create word-for-word transcripts of speeches, legal battles and other noteworthy events. While some court reporters work in an actual court, others use recordings to work from home. In that case, your hours are your own to dictate—as long as you meet your deadlines.

Average Salary: $48,000

12. Dental Hygienist

Flexibility is the name of the game for dental hygienists. Because single dentists often only need a hygienist a few days a week, most hygienists work at multiple locations. That makes it easier to choose your days off or create a custom schedule of evening, weekend or everything-in-between work.

Average Salary: $69,000

13. Sports Coach

Early morning track practice. Afternoon games on the court. Far-and-wide travels to recruit new players. Whether you’re a major league coach or in charge of a high school sports team, this job is sure to extend beyond 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Average Salary: $28,000

14. Travel Guide

Traveling to distant locals will keep you far from a conventional punch clock. To keep your tour members happy, healthy and ready to explore the next monument, you’ve got to be on your game 24 hours a day. The upside? Enjoying blocks of downtime between each expedition.

Average Salary: $30,000

15. Consultant

Consulting is the granddaddy of flexible career fields. In this role, you swoop in, offer your clients savvy advice and help companies succeed in your area of expertise. Your work will take you from office to office, never staying in one spot—or on one specific schedule—for too long.

Average Salary: $70,000

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps career changers and choosers discover strong career choices and find the right education to make it happen. Follow her on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post Hate the 9-to-5? 15 Cool Careers with Unconventional Hours appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve rounded up 15 jobs in high-growth areas that don’t require a PhD—in fact, most of these careers require less than two years of training. Reinvention isn’t the smoothest road, but if 2013 is your year to start fresh, it’s time to get pumped.

Start brainstorming with these quick-change career ideas:

1. Social Media Manager

Getting yelled at for updating your Pinterest board? Not at this job. As a social media manager, you understand how to use social platforms to build brands, expand markets and keep your clients connected to the latest trends. This field is new, so in-the-trenches expertise can make you an authority.

Average Salary: $23,000 – $86,000
Job Outlook: +14 percent

2. Convention Planner

If logistics is your game, planning conventions—from scouting out spaces to wrangling transportation—could be a good fit. Most convention planners have a bachelor’s degree, but most of your job-specific training will take place on the clock. This field is a great choice if you have a background in business or food but need a change of pace.

Average Salary: $27,000 – $77,000
Job Outlook: +44 percent

3. Energy Consultant

Energy consultants, also known as energy auditors, help protect the environment, increase efficiency and combat waste by inspecting buildings and homes for air leakages. This career is part of the rise in green jobs, so while the specific job outlook is currently unknown, it’s a strong bet that this career path will be in high demand for years to come. And while an associate’s degree can help, most energy consultants only need to complete a short certificate program to get going.

Average Salary: $34,000 – $107,000
Job Outlook: N/A

4. Interpreter

In our increasingly globalized world, cross-linguistic communication is more important than ever. The most important requirement to be an interpreter is total language fluency. Having a bachelor’s degree in your language of choice is a good idea, but many companies will provide on-the-job training if your language skills are up to scratch.

Average Salary: $23,000 – $86,000
Job Outlook: +42 percent

5. Yoga Teacher

If you’re looking for a more harmonious job, this career path could provide the right balance. As a yoga teacher, you guide your clients toward proper technique, helping students achieve physical strength and mental calmness. If you already practice yoga, it takes 200 hours of additional training to become a certified teacher.

Average Salary: $17,000 – $63,000
Job Outlook: +24 percent

6. Travel Guide

Looking for more adventure in your life? As a travel or tour guide, you get to share your passion for a city, country or historical monument with fellow travelers. You don’t necessarily need formal training for this job. You do need an entrepreneurial streak, a grasp on local culture and a high level of people skills.

Average Salary: $17,000 – $56,000
Job Outlook: +20 – 28 percent

7. Web Developer

If you’re a computer geek who dabbles in code, diving into website development full-time could be the right way to get a fresh start. Depending on where you want to work, education requirements vary widely. If you already have a tech background, you can start with online courses or a program certificate. Code newbies can begin with a programming course at a local college or through an online coding class.

Average Salary: $43,000 – $120,000
Job Outlook: +22 percent

8. Commercial Driver

As a long-distance truck driver, you’ll have the open road ahead of you and no boss looking over your shoulder. Abide by the laws of the road, get a commercial driver’s license, take a short course and you’re on your way.

Average Salary: $25,000 – $57,000
Job Outlook: +21 percent

9. Personal Trainer

Part motivator, part Energizer Bunny, personal trainers help gym-goers tone up, lose extra flab and actually fulfill their New Year’s resolutions. This hands-on job can be a good fit if you’re looking for work that will keep you active and let you connect with lots of people. Training can take a few months or up to two years based on where you choose to work, so do some research at your local gym to figure out your best option.

Average Salary: $17,000 – $63,000
Job Outlook: +24 percent

10. PR Specialist

PR specialists are all about good press. You’re in charge of creating and promoting a positive image for a company by building strong relationship with the media. If you’ve got a background in media or communications, you can apply your skills and get on-the-job training for a fast-paced career revamp.

Average Salary: $31,000 – $95,000
Job Outlook: +21 percent

11. Licensed Practical Nurse

There’s big demand for medical careers, but if you’re not ready to commit to the 10 years of training required to become a doctor, there are much faster routes into the industry—like becoming an LPN. With just one year of training, you can don your scrubs and start making a difference in your patients’ lives. Plus, this career offers advantages—like good benefits, flexible scheduling and non-traditional hours—that can make starting over a more enticing idea.

Average Salary: $30,000 – $56,000
Job Outlook: +22 percent

12. Mediator

“We can work it out” is the mantra of mediators. In this role, you bring a little more peace to the world by helping clashing parties come to a compromise without going to court. And as the cost of court battles continues to skyrocket, your skills will be in demand by people and companies turning to alternative resolution solutions. Start with a conflict resolution course at your local community college.

Average Salary: $31,000 – $116,000
Job Outlook: +14 percent

13. Crime Scene Tech

Collecting and cataloging criminal evidence is not for people who get queasy at the sight of blood, but this job can be an engaging challenge for the right person. If you’re looking for a job that will use your science and sleuthing skills—and get you out from behind your desk—this could be a good match. Training requirements are all across the board, so check with your local police branch to nail down education details.

Average Salary: $33,000 – $83,000
Job Outlook: +19 percent

14. Nuclear Medicine Tech

This job is way more than just a cool title. As a nuclear medicine tech, you use radioactive substances to help diagnose and treat patients. To break into this industry, you only need an associate’s degree (in nuclear medicine) and a dedication to good patient care.

Average Salary: $49,000 – $92,000
Job Outlook: +19 percent

15. Entrepreneur

What better way to start fresh than by starting something completely new? Founding a company is a long and intense road full of late nights, big risks and exhilarating deal-making. But if you hit the sweet spot where luck, persistence and dedication come together, you could create your very own dream job.

Average Salary: Varies
Job Outlook: N/A

Salary and job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover strong careers and find the education to make it happen. For more career change advice, check out 7 Steps to Prepare for a Successful Switch.

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The post Reinvent Yourself: Top 15 Jobs for Starting Over in 2013 appeared first on Brazen Life.

Last November, we ran “Eat, Pray, Find a Job” featuring a delectable selection of our favorite food-based jobs—from dietitian to flavor chemist. The Brazen community had so many good ideas to add, we’ve put together a second edition. To turn your passion for edible goods into a successful job, read on for some delicious inspiration:

1. Analyze Food as a Food Scientist

Food scientists develop innovative ways to create safe, durable and tasty food. Instead of a kitchen, you’re usually found in a lab or a processing plant, improving packaging methods, experimenting with new preservative techniques or studying food-related illness. In short, you make the world a more healthy, nutritious and flavorful place to live.

Average Salary: $34,000 – $106,000

2. Celebrate Food as a Corporate Caterer

Company Christmas parties. Holiday conventions. End-of-year galas. If a large group is gathered, you amplify the seasonal spirit with appetizing noshies and decadent meals. Between coordinating servers, dreaming up creative menus and ensuring everything is piping hot, you get to sample your wares—just to be sure you’re providing the best possible eating experience.

Average Salary: $23,000 – $71,000

3. Balance Food as a Nutritionist

While nutritionists are often associated with restriction and the dreaded “D” word (diet), a lot of your work is about sharing new flavors and ways of enjoying food. Using your nutritional expertise, you help clients create healthy menus full of delicious and oh-so-good-for-you ingredients.

Average Salary: $33,000 – $75,000

4. Glorify Food as a Food Photographer

Food photographers know how to capture the luscious red of a ripe strawberry, the mouth-watering steam rising off a sizzling steak and the creamy radiance of a spoonful of gelato. From blog images to glossy magazine shoots, you’re in the business of making breakfast, lunch and dinner shine.

Average Salary: $17,000 – $63,000

5. Market Food as a Culinary Strategy Consultant

Standing at the corner of culinary arts and business marketing, you steer chefs, restaurants and food companies in the right direction. Working on projects ranging from recipe development, food trend tracking and product rebranding, your fresh advice helps get food into the hands of hungry consumers.

Average Salary: $17,000 – $63,000

6. Study Food as a Food Anthropologist

Food anthropologists explore how making, eating and thinking about food shapes cultures across history. This wide-ranging field can take you into any number of sub-specialties, as you research the intersection of food, religion, economy, art, migration, agriculture and more. Basically, this is a dream job for intellectually-inclined foodies.

Average Salary: $31,000 – $89,000

7. Invent Food as a Research & Development Chef

Want to get paid to experiment in the kitchen? R&D chefs mix creativity and culinary science to whip up new dishes for restaurants and food companies. And this job comes with sweet perks: while you’ll log a lot of hours in the kitchen, many R&D chefs also take time to travel the world in search of tasty inspiration.

Average Salary: $34,000 – $106,000

What culinary-inspired career would you add to the list?

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 7 Yummy Careers That Revolve Around Food appeared first on Brazen Life.

In these so-called dirty jobs, you’ve got to deal with stuff that would gross most people out—like disease, waste or even death. But without these positions, society would be a whole lot messier. As the saying goes, “It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.”

But here’s the not-so-dirty little secret: these career paths actually come with big benefits.

For starters, you can ditch Desk Job Nation. And avoiding the water cooler may be linked to higher job satisfaction; some studies show that hands-on careers actually make people happier than office jobs.

Best of all, if you’re ready to dig in and get your hands dirty, you can take home a pretty sweet paycheck. Evidence: the jobs below have an average salary of $62,000.

Since one person’s “gross” is another person’s great-paying gig, which of these careers would you pick?

1. Landfill Gas Operator

By collecting and controlling stinking methane gas, you help create electricity and keep landfills from bursting into flames. Your “office” may be made of other people’s waste, but your work turns garbage into gold.

Median Salary: $88,000

2. ER Nurse

If you’ve got a weak stomach, you probably want to give this job a pass. When blood, guts and gruesome injuries come through the emergency room door (and a whole lot of broken ankles, too), it’s your responsibility to keep people alive.

Median Salary: $66,000

3. Crime Scene Investigator

As a CSI, you gather evidence from even the goriest of crime scenes. You can work in the general field or specialize by interest. For example, Forensic Entomologists deal with the literal creepy crawlies—the bugs—found at crime scenes.

Median Salary: $52,000

4. Veterinarian

Sure, you get to work with cute baby animals—some of the time. But you also deal with the nitty-gritty aspects of sick or injured animals. (Think blood, slime, slobber and worse.)

Median Salary: $83,000

5. Plumber

This is the classic dirty job. Scooping out gunk from overflowing toilets and clogged drains can test your tolerance for grossness. The good news is that you probably spend most of your time on cleaner activities, like installing new pipes.

Median Salary: $48,000

6. Medical Lab Technician

In this role, you do get to work in a (hopefully) spotless laboratory, but your daily tasks still have a score high on the gross scale. Basically, you test human matter—like urine, spit, blood and skin—to find clues to what’s making a patient sick.

Median Salary: $37,000

7. Dental Hygienist

Sticking your hands into someone else’s mouth isn’t for everyone. As a dental hygienist, your goal is to help create a clean, healthy mouth, but you may wade through some major plaque and decay before you get there.

Median Salary: $69,000

8. Mortician

It takes a certain disposition to work with dead bodies. Yet if you can get over initial hesitations about preparing the deceased for their last rites, you can find success in this important, meaningful and well-paid job.

Median Salary: $53,000

What icky (but essential) job would you add to the list?

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post Get Your Hands Dirty: Messy, Gross, Great-Paying Jobs appeared first on Brazen Life.

And yet, many jobs seem to require multitasking skills. So what gives?

It could come down to the definition. “Humans don’t really multitask,” says Eyal Ophir, the primary researcher on Stanford’s multitasking study. “We task-switch. We just switch very quickly between tasks, and it feels like we’re multitasking.”

As such, being a master multitasker isn’t about talking on the phone, updating a spreadsheet and listening to music all at the same time—a sure recipe for sloppy work. It’s about being able to efficiently transition from project to project. And that hyper-organized form of time management is a prized asset in many industries.

If you enjoy juggling many balls and switching between multiple projects in the blink of an eye (no hours of deep contemplation for you), check out these top seven career options:

1. Event Planner

Whether you’re coordinating a custom-designed wedding or planning a major industry conference, event planners keep track of a million little details. From the color of the napkins to the size of the clean-up crew, you’ve got your eye on every project.

Average Salary: $27,000 – $77,000
Job Outlook: 44 percent (much faster than average)

2. Chief Listening Officer

As a CLO, you monitor what’s being said about your company by keeping your ear to the digital ground. And because there’s a lot of ground to cover—including social media sites, web forums, blog comments and online reviews—you must be skilled at deftly jumping between platforms. Your fast-paced responses help fix complaints, issues and misinformation.

Average Salary: $31,000 – $95,000
Job Outlook: 21 percent (faster than average)

3. Administrative Assistant

Admin assistants are organizational powerhouses. To keep your company running smoothly, you must efficiently handle the myriad of administrative tasks that come flying across your desk.

Average Salary: $29,000 – $67,000
Job Outlook: 12 percent (about average)

4. Television Producer

TV producers must be comfortable having their hands in a whole lot of pies. Over the course of a single project, you may be involved with a TV show’s initial development, casting, shooting, wrapping and everything in between.

Average Salary: $68,000
Job Outlook: 11 percent (about average)

5. Construction Manager

To keep construction projects on schedule and under budget, you must wear many hats (and not just the big plastic ones). Whether you’re directing teams on the ground, presenting plans at a city council meeting or juggling supply logistics, you’re adept at shifting between roles to get your project done.

Average Salary: $50,000 – $150,000
Job Outlook: 17 percent (about average)

6. Middle School Teacher

Keeping a classroom full of seventh graders engaged with algebra is a multitasking achievement all on its own—and that’s just the beginning for middle school teachers. Seamlessly switching between lessons, parent/teacher meetings and administrative duties means you have a full slate of tasks.

Average Salary: $35,000 – $81,000
Job Outlook: 17 percent (about average)

7. Nurse

Caring for multiple patients, speaking with families and filling out paperwork keeps nurses constantly moving from role to role—caregiver, educator, administrator and team player.

Average Salary: $44,000 – $95,000
Job Outlook: 26 percent (faster than average)

Beyond this bunch, many non-traditional jobs—like freelancers, slashers and startup employees—also rely heavily on multitasking skills.

Do you have a job that’s not on this list that requires a lot of multitasking?

Salary and job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. For more career advice, check out Choosing a Career: 7 Steps for When You Have No Idea What You Want To Do.

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The post 7 In-Demand Jobs for Master Multitaskers appeared first on Brazen Life.

As President Obama and Governor Romney campaign across the country for your vote (you have registered, right?), all eyes are focused on who will win the top job.

But it takes more than just one person to run a successful political campaign. From the head campaign manager to the newest unpaid intern, a legion of people help win the election wars. And if you thrive on outside-the-box, high-pressure work (or if you’re a political wonk), you just might want to join up.

Here are nine of the most prominent career tracks to give you a feel for the who, what and how of the campaign world. The next election seasons starts on November 7th, so get ready!

1. Campaign Manager

As the head honcho of a campaign, you coordinate all the majors players. Your goal is to ensure that every member of the campaign staff is efficiently—and effectively—working toward election day success.

Average Salary: $84,000

2. Campaign Researcher

Political campaigns couldn’t work without a team of researchers. Your role is two-fold. First, you track down evidence, facts and data to support your candidate’s statements. Then, you try to find and expose the skeletons in your competition’s closet (this is known as opposition research).

Average Salary: $72,000

3. Volunteer Coordinator

As a vital member of the field department—the “boots-on-the-ground” section of the organization—your full-time job is to recruit and wrangle volunteers. Your grassroots team helps get out the vote (some campaigns even hire special GOTV organizers in the last weeks before an election), keeps campaign functions running smoothly and supports the election-day events.

Average Salary: $31,000

4. Fundraising Director

Successful fundraising directors bring in big money. Working with the finance chairperson, you nurture relationships with major donors, oversee fundraising events and keep track of who’s giving and how much.

Average Salary: $92,000

5. Press Secretary

If public speaking is your thing, consider the role of press secretary. As the leader for press and publicity relations, you set up interviews with your candidate, write press releases and hold press conferences. You also keep your ear to the ground (or, in this case, to newspapers, TV, radio and Web forums) to track who’s saying what about which candidates.

Average Salary: $63,000

6. Chief Information Officer

When it comes to technology, you’re the campaign’s go-to person. You do everything from running your candidate’s website to organizing information databases (like the voter file, which tracks voter information for specific geographic areas). In smaller campaigns, you even head up social media efforts.

Average Salary: $165,000

7. Campaign Scheduler

Schedulers keep campaigns ticking along. Time is in short supply, so it’s your responsibility to make sure your candidate is using it in the most efficient way possible. Between scheduling events, activities and strategic planning, you’ve got lots of logistics to handle.

Average Salary: $31,000

8. Campaign Accountant

As a campaign accountant or treasurer, you make sure all the money is in the correct (and legal!) spots. Your many tasks include preparing finance compliance reports and providing basic services like tracking cash flow, fundraising totals and budget information.

Average Salary: $73,000

9. Political Consultant

Political consultants are the brains behind the message of a winning campaign. Working at the heart of a campaign’s headquarters, you’re like an advertising executive, focused on selling your candidate’s story. Beyond your traditional media and publicity work, you may also advise your candidate on everything from their platforms and positions to their mannerisms and appearance.

Average Salary: $102,000

Salary and job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Occupational Information Network.

Would you dedicate your career to getting your candidate elected?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 9 Campaign Careers for Job Seekers Who Enjoy Politics appeared first on Brazen Life.

So even if you’re wary of the teacher layoffs that have hit the country, don’t give up on your educational aspirations just yet. The skills that would make you a great elementary, high school or university teacher can help you shine in many high-demand careers beyond the walls of a conventional classroom.

Here are eight unusual (and in-demand!) education careers that will let you flex your teaching muscles:

1. Physical Therapist

As part of helping injured patients regain full physical ability, you’re constantly flexing your teaching skills. You instruct clients on better ways to use their bodies, new exercises to increase strength and the best methods to avoid pain.

Average Salary: $54,000 – $108,000
Job Outlook: Much faster than average (39 percent)

2. Travel Guide

Whether canoeing through the Amazon, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or walking through Roman ruins, travel guides teach their groups about the wonders of the world. To keep your group on the move, entertained and soaking up the local culture, you’ve got to be patient, knowledgeable and good at improvising in a pinch.

Average Salary: $17,000 – $56,000
Job Growth: Faster than average (20-28 percent)

3. Sports Coach

In this job, you don’t just explain the rules of the game; you teach your athletes a way of life that will help them win on game day. From running drills to instructing athletes on strategy, you act as a mentor and guide every step of the way.

Average Salary: $16,000 – $64,000
Job Outlook: Much faster than average (29 percent)

4. Nutritionist

You teach your clients about nutrition, healthy eating habits and new ways of cooking—all to improve their relationship and use of one of life’s best pleasures: food. Especially if you work in a medical setting, you’ve got to learn ways to motivate and inspire—or else your clients may head back to the Big Macs.

Average Salary: $33,000 – $75,000
Job Outlook: Faster than average (20 percent)

5. Historical Consultant

As a historian for hire, you can impart your expertise in many different venues. You might advise during the production of a period film, work with small organizations to uncover historical data or create educational displays for a museum. Whatever the project, you help others understand what it was like back in ye olden days.

Average Salary: $26,000 – $96,000
Job Outlook: Faster than average (18 percent)

6. School Counselor

Counselors are an important part of a school’s education team. However, they aren’t usually found in front of a blackboard teaching a traditional class. Rather, school counselors work one-on-one with students to help them make the best choices for their education, social development and future.

Average Salary: $32,000 – $86,000
Job Outlook: Faster than average (19 percent)

7. Leadership Coach

Being a great leader takes great skill. As an executive coach, it’s your job to help your clients hone the art of leadership. To do this, you observe, listen, encourage and provide objective feedback. You might not have a typical curriculum, but you are teaching a particular skill.

Average Salary: $31,000 – $89,000
Job Outlook: Faster than average (20-28 percent)

8. Special Education Teacher

While special education teachers often work in traditional school systems, your job is as unique as the students you serve. Your teachings skills will be put to the test as you help students with physical, mental or emotional challenges learn, grow and thrive.

Average Salary: $35,000 – $82,000
Job Outlook: Faster than average (17 percent)

Would you add any education-related careers to this list?

Salary and job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Occupational Information Network.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

Get our best career advice delivered to your inbox. Sign up today!

The post Beyond the Blackboard: 8 Unusual (and In-Demand) Teaching Careers appeared first on Brazen Life.

Change is in the office air. A recent Monster.com poll revealed that more than half of U.S. workers want to change jobs.

If you’re one of these would-be career changers, you’ve probably got a good reason for switching paths—needing more satisfaction, less stress, a new challenge, more flexibility…the list goes on. But no matter why you’re changing, chances are you’re looking for a job that gives you something your current career can’t—something a little different.

So to jump start your transition, here are the perks and quirks of seven top jobs for career changers. Would you change it up for one of these careers?

1. For less stress, become a dietitian

As a dietitian, you introduce clients to whole new worlds of flavor. Using your expertise on healthy meals, you guide others toward the best nutritional choices. Not only can this work be personally rewarding; according to a 2012 CareerCast survey, dietitian is one of the top 10 least stressful careers.

Average salary: $33,000 – $75,000
Job growth: 20 percent by 2020 (faster than average)

2. For more variety, become a consultant

Consultants are paid to let people pick their brains. So if you’ve got experience in a specific industry or you’ve mastered a specific skill (like public speaking), a consulting position could be right up your alley. Variety will be the spice of your life as you advise on different projects, with different people, at different companies.

Average salary: $34,000 – $107,000
Job growth: Varies by field

3. For more creativity, become a graphic designer

If you’ve got an artistic flare and an eye for composition, the world of graphic design offers many different areas to explore. You could work on advertising campaigns, print publications, websites, packages and even films. Competition can be fierce, but your creative muscles are sure to get a workout.

Average salary: $26,000 – $77,000
Job growth: 13 percent by 2020 (about average)

4. For more stability, become an accountant

Love the calm of crunching numbers? Want security in the knowledge that your career will pretty much always be in demand? Check out accounting. In this job, you use your math skills, your calculator and your knowledge of financial regulations to help clients keep as much of their money as possible.

Average salary: $39,000 – $107,000
Job growth: 16 percent by 2020 (faster than average)

5. For less routine, become a hair stylist

If you really want to break out of corporate culture, renting your own hair salon chair is a bold option. Once you’re wielding the scissors with style, you can have the freedom and flexibility to set your own hours, interact with a wide variety of clients and get creative with your clipping.

This job is physically demanding and it doesn’t usually come with a huge paycheck, but if you want a career that’s flexible, social and creative, it could be worth it.

Average salary: $16,000 – $42,000
Job growth: 14 percent by 2020 (about average)

6. For more meaning, become a teacher

Whether you’re interested in a traditional teaching role (like elementary school teacher) or a more out-side-the-box option (like yoga instructor), imparting knowledge to students is not easy work. But at the end of the day, your influence can make a huge difference in the lives of those you work with.

Average salary: $35,000 – $83,000
Job growth: Varies by field

7. For more impact, become a nurse

Nursing is an in-demand, well-paying, personally rewarding career track with good benefits and non-traditional hours. No wonder it’s a popular choice for career changers. Plus, there’s a range of different education tracks to train for this career. If you want work where you can really see the results of your labor, nursing could be a great move.

Average salary: $44,000 – $95,000
Job growth: 22-26 percent by 2020 (much faster than average)

Are you thinking about a career change? Why?

Salary and job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. For more career change advice, check out 7 Steps to Prepare for a Successful Switch.

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The post Looking for Something Different? 7 Top Jobs for Career Changers appeared first on Brazen Life.

You’ll probably spend around 90,000 hours at work over your lifetime. That’s a big number. So if you thrive on creativity, you’ll want to consider choosing a career where you can dedicate all those hours to outside-the-box work.

But what if living the life of a starving artist isn’t high on your to do list?

Don’t commit yourself to cubicle nation just yet. Lots of high-salary careers will let pay your bills and flex your creative muscles.

Check out ten great picks:

1. Video Game Designer

Video game designers imagine and plan games from scratch. Your inventive skills, outside-the-box problem solving and artistic talents all come into play as you develop original concepts, layouts and rules for your game.

Average Salary: $80,000

2. Makeup Artist

Your tools are brushes, paints and powders, but your canvass is the human face (and sometimes body)! Whether you’re helping a client look their best or putting cat eyes on a model, this job keeps you on your toes and in a creative frame of mind.

Average Salary: $60,000

3. Graphic Designer

As a graphic designer, you communicate in images. Whether you’re drafting an album cover, helping create an attractive website or ruling the roost of a creative agency as an art director, you employ a deep understanding of aesthetics, style and design.

Average Salary: $52,000

4. Chef

Dreaming up unusual flavor combos, arranging food beautifully on a plate, inventing whole new cooking methods—these are just some of the ways you can bring creativity into the kitchen. This hands-on job will keep you sweating, but once you’ve climbed the ranks, you’ll have free reign to concoct your own delectable dishes.

Average Salary: $47,000

5. Interior Designer

The goal of this job is to create beautiful and functional inside spaces. To bring a room together, you expertly select the perfect colors, shapes and textures. You also use your creativity to tackle challenging design problems. (How do you turn a boxy support beam into a stylish feature?)

Average Salary: $56,000

6. Film Editor

As a film editor, you don’t just passively arrange scenes into chronological order—you’re a visual storytelling master. Working with images, story, music and dialogue, you actively shape a film into a cohesive whole.

Average Salary: $70,000

7. Marketing Manager

Who says business and creativity can’t go together? As a marketing manager, you’re the brains behind getting your company on center stage. Your organization relies on you to deliver innovative solutions and unique ways to market their brand.

Average Salary: $108,000

8. Art Professor

To truly impart the world of art to sleepy freshman, you may need to devise some inventive teaching techniques. The good news is that you get to interact with art—whether it’s music, dance, theater or visual—on a daily basis.

Average Salary: $77,000

9. Sound Engineer

As a sound engineer, your job is to make live performances and studio recordings sound pitch perfect. You blend acoustic aptitude with technical know-how to skillfully record, remix or amplify a delicate balance of sound.

Average Salary: $58,00

10. Creative Director

If you really want to be an artistic head honcho, you can’t do better than aiming for the creative director spot. In this role—which is found in advertising, media, fashion and elsewhere—you oversee all of your company’s creative projects from start to finish.

Average Salary: $103,000

Would you choose a creative career path?

All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

Get our best career advice delivered to your inbox. Sign up today!

The post Top 10 Creative Jobs That Pay The Bills appeared first on Brazen Life.

Faster software, tastier food, cooler robots, greener businesses—science and technology make the world better every day.

And if you’re interested in going after a science or tech career, contributing to a brighter tomorrow is not the only perk: you seriously raise your chances of finding an in-demand, high-paying job.

The other good news is that you’ve got so many career options to choose from. To prove it, here are seven uncommon science and tech careers.

Which one would you choose?

1. Ethical Hacker

Tear apart computer codes for a good cause: by proactively detecting flaws, you help protect your company from hackers bent on stealing information or hijacking your systems. You’re one of the front-line fighters in the battle for cyber security.

Average Salary: $41,000 – $114,00

2. Chief Sustainability Officer

This cross-disciplinary C-suite career requires knowledge of business, leadership, science and the greenest environmental practices. You’re the brains behind every strategy your company uses to become more eco-friendly.

Average Salary: $165,000

3. Food Chemist

Ever dreamed of creating a perfect piece of sugar-free candy? Or the most scrumptious microwave dinner? In this job, you experiment with the chemical makeup of foods to make them tastier, longer lasting or easier to ship.

Average Salary: $34,000 – $106,000

4. UX Designer

Trying to navigate a clunky website can be insanely frustrating. That’s where a user experience (UX) designer can come to the rescue. In your capable hands, websites become more useful, usable and intuitive for every user.

Average Salary: $54,000 – $133,000

5. Science and Technology Policy Analyst

If you’ve got a strong science or tech background—plus an interest in politics—this career could be the right fit. You put your expertise to good use helping shape science and technology-related public policies.

Average Salary: $48,000 – $155,000

6. Storm Tracker

As an atmospheric scientist, you investigate the science of storms. You specialize in gathering data on severe weather occurrences, including hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms and flash floods.

Average Salary: $45,000 – $132,000

7. Robotics Engineer

Imagine getting to design a robot to explore the depths of the ocean, creating a faster mechanical arm to manufacture cars or engineering a tiny part of animatronic dinosaur for an amusement park. As a robotics engineer, you get to work with some of the world’s coolest technology.

Average Salary: $50,000 – $139,000

All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What unusual science or tech career gets your vote?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

Get our best career advice delivered to your inbox. Sign up today!

The post 7 Unusual Career Paths in Science and Technology appeared first on Brazen Life.

With summer in full swing, sitting in a florescent-lit cubicle all day can feel like you’ve been banished to an especially dark corner of Hades. So if you’re feeling the sunshine blues, you might consider ditching Desk Job Nation to head for a career in the great outdoors.

Outdoor jobs offer incredible perks: beautiful natural settings, physical activity and lots of fresh air. But these awesome benefits are often paired with major drawbacks: tough competition, dangerous environments and teeny tiny paychecks.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t combine your passion for the great outdoors with a lucrative career path. Here are 15 jobs that get you out of the office and boost your earnings:

1. Botanist

As a botanist, you study the wide world of plants by collecting specimens from nature, conducting research in greenhouses and examining flora in your lab.

Average salary range: $34,000 – $102,000

2. Park Naturalist

As an expert on the environment, you lead walks, discussions and classes to teach people about the small piece of Mother Nature that’s in your park.

Average salary range: $36,000 – $89,000

3. Environmental Engineer

In this role, you perform outdoor fieldwork and indoor research to develop engineering solutions to ecological problems.

Average salary range: $49,000 – $119,000

4. Turf Manager

Working at the intersection of sports and agriculture, you’re the one out and about getting grass fields ready to go for the big game.

Average salary range: $27,000 – $68,000

5. Geologist

You can enjoy plenty of fieldwork under the big blue sky as you unlock the secrets of the earth by studying its history and physical structure.

Average salary range: $44,000 – $161,000

6. Athletic Trainer

Swap a cubical for a sports field as you help prevent injuries during practice or help pro athletes heal when they’re in pain.

Average salary range: $26,000 – $64,000

7. Arborist

For this in-demand job, you spend your days in the treetops, helping leafy giants by removing limbs that are diseased, dead or knocking down power lines.

Average salary range: $20,000 – $48,000

8. Wildlife Rehabilitator

Stay on your toes and out of a traditional office while caring for injured animals before releasing them back into the wild.

Average salary range: $21,000 – $44,000

9. Construction Manager

Running the day-to-day action on a construction site keeps you exposed to the elements (both good and bad!) from 9 to 5.

Average salary range: $50,000 – $150,000

10. Commercial Diver

Exchange your button-downs and briefcase for a wetsuit and scuba mask to make underwater repairs, perform research or uncover waterlogged evidence.

Average salary range: $32,000 – $90,000

11. Forest Firefighter

Only you can prevent forest fires. No really, it’s true: in this job, you battle fires to keep humans and nature safe from wayward flames. It’s tough, but it’s not a desk job.

Average salary range: $23,000 – $75,000

12. Surveyor

Creating precise records of a land area’s measurements means you’re out under the wide-open sky all day long.

Average salary range: $31,000 – $90,000

13. Archaeologist

To study past cultures, you uncover ancient relics at outdoor archaeological digs or underwater excavation sites.

Average salary range: $31,000 – $89,000

14. Landscape Architect

Enjoy the fresh air as you design the location of pathways, trees and green spaces around buildings.

Average salary range: $37,000 – $102,000

15. Vineyard Manager

Trade in the water cooler for a bottle of wine as you oversee the process of growing grapes and turning it into vino fit for the gods.

Average salary range: $29,000 – $107,000

What’s your top pick for best outdoor job?

All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

Get our best career advice delivered to your inbox. Sign up today!

The post 15 Outdoor Jobs that Let You Avoid the Cube and Enjoy the Summer appeared first on Brazen Life.

But what if you’re not detail-oriented? What if you’re good at seeing the forest (forget those trees!)?

Don’t cower in shame: you’ve got a big-picture career skill that can win over the detail-oriented people any day.

As a big-picture person, it’s not that you ignore details—you’re just drawn to ideas first. You have the ability to synthesize lots of information into one holistic vision. You’ve got a mind for wide-angle, strategic thinking. You’re good at spotting the latest trends.

So celebrate your visionary skills, and check out these prime career choices:

1. Entrepreneur

Big ideas, curiosity and the ability to connect the dots are the DNA of a good entrepreneur. Your forward-thinking ideas not only create new products and innovations; they inspire the people around you to reach higher (and invest in your company!).

Average salary: Highly varied

2. Fashion Stylist

As a fashion stylist, you’ve got a knack for seeing trends and pinpointing the next Big Thing or “It” Bag before it really takes off. What’s more, you specialize in putting together the overall visual design of outfits, closets and fashion shows.

Average salary: $82,000

3. Software Architect

As a Software Architect, your ability to understand and solve software challenges from a high level is what sets you apart. Not only do you design new software; you’re often in charge of the entire project—which means you see it through from thinking up the first idea to putting on the finishing touches.

Average salary: $93,000

4. Campaign Manager

You’re the strategic mind behind successful political campaigns. Like other careers in advertising and marketing, the challenge of this job lies in identifying and tapping into people’s ideas, interests and emotions to get them to buy what you’re selling. And in this case, it’s a politician.

Average salary: $84,000

5. Life Coach

In this career, you empower people to reach their goals—whether that’s writing a book, finding a new job or creating stronger relationships. You help your clients take a big-picture view of their own lives, allowing them to identify patterns and take their lives in a new direction.

Average Salary: $46,000

6. Organizational Development Consultant

You guide organizations through the process of making big-scale shifts like restructurings, mergers or changes in management. It’s your job to see how the system functions as a whole. When you find problem areas, you make adjustments to help them run better, smoother and more efficiently.

Average salary: $99,000

7. Futurist

In this unusual marketing career, you spot shifting trends that provide clues to forecast the future. Even though it sounds like fortune telling, your work has real-world importance: your wide-scale reports help guide business decisions. It just doesn’t get much more big-picture than predicting the future.

Average salary: $72,000

Salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and find the education to make it happen. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

Get our best career advice delivered to your inbox. Sign up today!

The post Think Big: 7 Careers for Big-Picture People appeared first on Brazen Life.

Yet thousands of career choices exist beyond these basics. From jobs at the bleeding edge of change to jobs so ancient you’ve probably forgotten what they do, the careers you don’t know about probably outweigh the ones you do. And in this age of competition, getting further off the beaten trail can be a good way to differentiate yourself from the pack.

We’ve found seven uncommon careers – you know, the ones where you’ve seen the title, but always scratch your head wondering “what do they do?” – with awesome and unusual perks.

1. Chief Listening Officer

You may not have heard of a Chief Listening Officer, but they’ve probably heard from you. One rung higher than a social media manager, CLOs closely monitor social platforms and conversations to keep an eye (and ear!) on what’s being said about their company or brand. Your work enables a fast response to any and all complaints, issues, or misinformation.

Why it’s awesome: This job is extremely new—according to Forbes, the first-ever Chief Listening Officer position was created in 2010. But it’s on the rise. As more organizations rely on social media for market research and customer service, the position of CLO will only become more important.

Average salary: $31,000 – $95,000

2. Food Stylist

Drool-inducing restaurant commercials and sumptuous magazine shots of delectable food don’t come easy: it takes the work of a food stylist to make it all happen. Armed with cooking skills, creative style, and tools ranging from lipstick to lard, you get food ready for its close-up.

Why it’s awesome: This is one of those rare culinary jobs that provides a creative outlet, but doesn’t require you to slave away in a restaurant kitchen.

Average salary: $26,000 – $77,000

3. Global Mobility Consultant

In the globalizing business world, a whole industry has sprung up around relocating workers from one place to another. As a global mobility consultant, you help employees make smooth transitions into their new homes—whether it’s in Bangkok, Berlin, or the next state over.

Why it’s awesome: If you’re the type who enjoys travel and likes learning about other cultures’ systems and traditions, this career could be a perfect fit. But perhaps the best perk is the job outlook: As companies continue to expand across borders, this position is expected to grow by 21 percent (faster than average) over the next few years.

Average salary: $29,000-$93,000

4. Computational Linguist

Computational Linguists help computers and humans communicate with other. More specifically, you create computer programs that can translate, transcribe, and comprehend regular, human language.

Why it’s awesome: This interdisciplinary field is the front line for exciting technological areas like speech recognition and artificial intelligence. In other words, you could help create robots (!). Enough said.

Average salary:  $58,000 – $153,000

5. Greensman

Have you ever noticed Greensman on the film credits role? It’s just one of the many movie jobs with baffling titles (see: Best Boy, Dolly Grip, Libra Technician).

Yet the role is fairly straightforward: You’re in charge of designing and arranging of all plant materials—both real and fake—on a film set. Note: Greensman is an archaic term that can refer to either men or women.

Why it’s awesome: From alien swamplands to a Jane Austen garden, this job lets you use your artistic skills to create whole new worlds. You couldn’t be farther away from a cubicle.

Average salary: $26,000 – $84,000

6. Parabolic Expert

If you dream of a high-flying career, look no further. Parabolic experts train people how to function in zero-g. According to Wired magazine’s profile of parabolic specialist Tim Bailey: “Tim’s job is the closest thing there is to being an astronaut without actually going into space. He spends his days assisting and training people in aircraft flights that simulate a microgravity environment—effectively he’s a flight attendant teaching people how to fly.”

Why it’s awesome: Your office space has no gravity.

Average salary: Unknown

7. Futurist

Futurists are half market researcher and half visionary. In this inter-disciplinary career, you examine the present to detect clues to the future. Your predictions about shifting trends help to guide future business decisions.

Why it’s awesome: You’re always ahead of the curve—and this applies to the job market too. In fact, you might predict the jobs that will be on a list like this a decade from now—like Global System Architects, Urban Agriculturalists, and 3D Food-Printer Engineer. Sounds wild, but according to futurist Thomas Frey: “As a rule of thumb, 60 percent of the jobs 10 years from now haven’t been invented yet.” Pretty crazy, right?

Average salary: $33,000 – $111,000

All salary and job outlook data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which of these jobs sounds most appealing?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and build strong, successful futures. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 7 Jobs You’ve Never Heard Of – And Why They’re Awesome appeared first on Brazen Life.

However, some career choices are particularly well designed to bring about change. And since June is LGBT Pride Month, a time to rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights, here are 10 jobs that allow you to dedicate your professional career to fighting discrimination:

1. EEO Specialist

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, you evaluate companies and organizations to make sure they comply with equal opportunity laws. Your main goal is to make sure every jobseeker receives a fair shot at a position.

Average salary: $61,000

Job Outlook (2010-2020): 15 percent growth (that’s about average)

2. Teacher

Whether leading a college class on the psychology of discrimination or teaching first graders about making friends with everyone, being a teacher gives you a special ability to discourage prejudice and help shape open minds.

Average salary: $52,000

Job Outlook: 17 percent growth (about average)

3. Volunteer Coordinator

In this position, you rally and organize people who want to join the equality movement. Through your work, you enable people to come together and funnel their joint power into action that’s greater than the sum of its individual parts. (And by the way, that’s coordinating volunteers, not volunteering as a coordinator.)

Average salary: $58,000

Job Outlook: 27 percent growth (faster than average)

4. HR Manager

By hiring and training employees with a variety of experiences and backgrounds, you can actively create a work environment that’s strengthened through the diversity of its team members.

Average salary: $99,000

Job Outlook: 13 percent growth (about average)

5. Journalist

Wield your pen to expose discriminatory activities, spread accurate information, or share articles about inspiring individuals or organizations who are fighting the good fight.

Average salary: $36,000

Job Outlook: 6 percent growth (slower than average)

6. Anti-Discrimination Lawyer

Whether you work on small cases to enforce anti-discrimination laws or major lawsuits in front of the Supreme Court on civil liberties, you can put your legal talents to good use in this position.

Average salary: $133,000

Job Outlook: 10 percent growth (about average)

7. Politician

Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Through policymaking or leadership, you can set examples or precedents to encourage equal treatment for each constituent you represent.

Average salary: Highly varied

Job Outlook: Little or no change

8. Non-Profit Development Director

You’re in charge of bringing in the big bucks that your non-profit organization uses to raise awareness, create campaigns and unite people around your cause.

Average salary: $93,000

Job Outlook: 15 percent growth (about average)

9. Political Lobbyist

Use your power of persuasion to influence politicians on behalf of your cause. Your words and actions can help shape laws and policies to strengthen equal rights and protect people against discrimination.

Average salary: $58,000

Job Outlook: 21 percent growth (faster than average)

10. Documentary Filmmaker

As documentaries like Bully and Miss Representation show us, film can be a powerful medium to raise awareness and open minds. Your cinematic work can help shed light or raise funds for your cause of choice.

Average salary: $68,000

Job Outlook: 11 percent growth (about average)

All salary and job outlook data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What other jobs might help you push for equality?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and build strong, successful futures. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post 10 Careers That Let You Fight for Equality appeared first on Brazen Life.

Believe me, I’ve tried, and it’s not a pretty picture. And as much as I’d love to be bright eyed and bushy tailed at the crack of dawn (I could get so much done! I could go to the gym!), it turns out I won’t be changing my natural inclination to sleep late any time soon.

That’s because a strong preference towards working early or working late is genetically predetermined characteristic, like being tall. As Frederick Brown, a professor of psychology at Penn State, puts it: “If you’re a morning-type person, you can’t become an evening type, and vice versa.”

(As it happens, I might not want to be a morning person anyway. Some studies suggest that night owls—people who have their best work time in the evenings—are both smarter and more productive than early risers.)

Whether you’re an early riser or a late-night worker, what are you supposed to do when your most productive hours hit outside the 9-to-5 routine?

One option is to explore career choices that fall outside the scheduling norm.

For example, disaster-response career fields—like healthcare and security—need around-the-clock workers. You can’t schedule an emergency, right?

Similarly, breaking news happens on its own time. Media workers such as camera operators, journalists and photographers often toil late into the night, or start their job in the wee hours of the morning.

The world of travel is another 24/7 industry. Taking on a transportation job like air traffic controller, flight attendant or pilot often guarantees outside-the-box scheduling. And of course, working as a freelancer or consultant provides the flexibility to structure your own workday.

So, all you early birds and night owls: Have you chosen a career that fits your daily rhythm? If not, what tactics do you use to cope with the 9-to-5 schedule?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site that helps people discover careers they’ll love and build strong, successful futures. Join the conversation on Twitter at @InsideJobs!

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The post Career Choices for Early Birds vs. Night Owls appeared first on Brazen Life.

So you’ve got a seriously handy career skill if you love the limelight or the rush of making speeches in front of hundreds or even thousands of people.

Ready to put your public speaking prowess to work? Check out these crowd-pleasing careers.

1. Spokesperson 

You’ll get plenty of time in front of cameras and crowds as a spokesperson or press secretary. Whether you’re working for a politician, an organization or a celebrity, you make sure public announcements are delivered in the most appropriate fashion possible.

Your goal? Maximize positive coverage.

Average salary: $31,000 – $95,000

2. Professor

Enjoy the privilege of public speaking on a daily basis as a college professor.

However, beware that this might be one of the tougher gigs on the list. Not only do you write and produce most of your own material, you work for a tricky audience: your words must engage even the sleepiest college freshman.

Average salary: $30,000 – $129,000

3. Speech Writer

True, as a speech writer you don’t actually give the speeches yourself. But you must know the subtle science of how to rouse an audience, build a speech that can motivate hundreds, and tack on that perfect finishing line.

Without ever getting near a podium, you’re still the expert on the ultimate version of crowd control.

Average salary: $31,000 – $95,000

4. News Anchor

You deliver the news to hundreds, thousands or even millions of viewers. In this center-stage job, you’re responsible for accurate, appropriate and concise delivery on every broadcast.

Plus, you’re expected to keep your cool—and sometimes even improvise—when reporting on breaking news. No pressure, right?

Average salary: $28,000 – $146,000

5. Politician

From your first campaign speech to your last address on legislation, your job as a politician is full of connecting with crowds. In fact, public speaking is an essential skill in this role: a good speech can make or break a political career.

What’s more, your turns of persuasive phrase can be vital for bringing about the change you want to see in the world.

Average salary: Highly varied

6. Religious Leader

As a pastor, priest, minister or any other religious leader, a major part of your work is to inspire those around you through spoken words. During a service, you give rousing speeches, offer inspirational ideas, and read out religious texts for all to hear.

This means you’ve got a lot of responsibility: People come from miles around to hear you speak and grow their spiritual understanding, so you’ve got to be on your game 24/7.

Average salary: $24,000 – $77,000

7. Motivational Speaker

Motivational speaker takes the cake as the ultimate crowd-pleasing career. Using your voice, energy and charisma, you get up on stage to inspire people to change their lives—whether by finding love, finishing their novel or simply transforming their outlook.

In this role, you are the master of working a group so that each and every person feels like you’re speaking directly to them.

Average salary: $23,000 – $86,000 

All salary data comes from the US Department of Labor.

Are you a crowd pleaser? What public speaking roles would you add to the list?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site that helps people discover a career they’ll love and build strong, successful futures. Join the conversation @InsideJobs!

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The post Actually Enjoy Public Speaking? Top 7 Careers for Crowd Pleasers appeared first on Brazen Life.

Since social media has become such a major part of daily and business life, demand is high for web-wise people with great analytic and communication skills. But what exactly are your career options?

Here’s a snapshot of the seven most common jobs in this evolving industry:

1. Social Media Strategist

You’re in charge of the whole game—planning what strategic moves to make next, deciding on which platforms to grow communities, and giving your stamp of approval to the content your team shares online.

A knack for leadership and communication are key, but it’s your innovative thinking that will set you apart. The rest of the internet is competing for your clients’ eyes—how will you make your company stand out?

Average salary: $23,000 – $86,000

2. Content Curator

Rohit Bahargava, author of Manifesto for the Content Curator, summed up this position best: “Someone whose job it is not to create more content, but to make sense of all the content that others are creating.”

It’s your role to scour the web and bring back viral videos, articles, infographics and images to feed your company’s social platforms. Some products will be created in-house, but no matter where it comes from, you look for content that’s contagious.

Average salary: $23,000 – $86,000

3. Social Media Analyst

If you write a great blog post, and nobody reads it, is it still a great blog post? You track the numbers and establish metrics to determine which social media campaigns are flopping or flying high. Your quantitative brain sees the big picture as you advise your team on their next move—all based on the numbers.

Average salary: $33,000 – $96,000

4. Online Reputation Manager

While not strictly a social media position, online reputation managers work with social streams on a daily basis. It’s your task to make sure undesirable online info about your client is removed or pushed as far down the Google results page as possible.

As such, you focus on filling social platforms with positive reviews, answers, and posts to drown out any negative stuff.

Average salary: $31,000 – $85,000

5. Community Manager

Good content is great, but a strong online community of fans, followers and friends is essential. As your company’s resident social butterfly, you develop campaigns or spaces to grow and nurture these virtual connections.

Average salary: $23,000 – $86,000

6. Social Media Customer Service Rep

Almost 62 percent of consumers have used social media for customer service issues. Which means the role of a customer service rep has gone over to the social side!

You might tweet instructions to a confused client, or help pro-actively resolve an issue someone has posted on Facebook. No matter which platform, it’s your job to keep consumers happy.

Average salary: $20,000 – $49,000

7. Social Media Consultant

Working as an outside consultant, you help organizations get their social media efforts up and running.

While you may offer specific advice or develop strategic actions plans, you also work to get everyone in a company on the same social media page. That can range from convincing out-of-step executives of the need for new media, to simply teaching a team the basic dos and don’ts of tweeting.

Average salary: $23,000 – $86,000 (all salary data from the US Department of Labor)

In this growing industry, what other new and emerging social media jobs should we add to this list?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site designed to help you discover and pursue a career you’ll love. Join the conversation @InsideJobs.

Trying to land a job in social media? Whether you’re just starting out, or aiming high, you can learn some inside secrets from a senior social media recruiter at Ogilvy and Mather and Brazen’s experienced marketing executives in this free one-hour video.

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Pinterest—the web-based pinboard where users share beautiful, inspiring, and drool-inducing pictures—has become the latest darling of the social media world. And it has plenty of uses beyond finding great cocktail recipes and cute snapshots of swimming pigs.

Not only could Pinterest help you land your next job, it can also provide some interesting career inspiration.

We’ve picked out the best aspects of using Pinterest—namely, immersion into a world of stunning visuals, and opportunity to curate and share what you love—to find careers that offer the same kind of experience on a grander scale.

If you like pinning, you’ll love these jobs:

1. Photographer

If you’ve a passion for pictures, create them yourself as a photographer. Whether you want to take darling portraits of kids, or go for the more refined beauty of editorial shots, this is a fitting career for those who thrive on finding that perfect image.

Average salary: $17,000 – $63,000

2. Social Media Manager

As a social media manager, you get to decide what, when, and how your company will share content—like articles, videos, Hey Girl pictures, etc.—with its target audience.

The upshot? You may actually get to spend some (legitimate) work time developing your company’s Pinterest account. Plus, no matter what social platform you work on, you’ll enjoy the curatorial satisfaction of spreading great content across the interwebs.

Average salary: $29,000 – $109,000

3. Wedding Designer

The overall look, style, and feel of a wedding is the wheelhouse of a wedding designer. From creating massive inspiration boards to inventing a custom color palette for a bride-to-be, you work in a world of beauty and splendor—which sounds an awful lot like Pinterest, no?

Average salary: $27,000 – $77,000

4. Visual Merchandiser

As a visual merchandiser, you create real-life Pinterest boards: you choose what fantastic pieces of clothing, art and other merchandise will grace the storefront windows and interior displays of emporiums, both big and small. It’s all about visual choices that will elicit the most re-pins, er, purchases.

Average salary: $17,000 – $43,000

5. Floral Designer

Much of Pinterest is about beauty for beauty’s sake, so surrounding yourself with blossoms and blooms—the symbols of unadulterated, ornamental loveliness—seems like a natural choice.  Your eye for color and texture combinations works well for both bulletin boards and bouquets.

Average salary: $17,000 – $36,000

6. Typographer

You know those inspirational quotes in gorgeous typeface popping up all over? These are the work of typographers—graphic designers and illustrators dedicated to the design and layout of letters. If you’ve got a Bauhaus font obsession, consider this illustrious career path.

Average salary: $22,000 – $57,000

7. Museum Curator

Pin visual masterpieces on a real-world scale as a museum curator. You pick and choose paintings, sculptures and other artwork to grace the walls and rooms of your exhibit. Yet it’s more than just objects of beauty: your goal is to create both an educational and emotional experience for viewers of the collection—a goal any good Pinner would aspire to.

Average salary: $28,000 – $86,000

If you’re a Pinterest lover, let us know what career you think would be perfect for you!

*All salary data is from the Bureau Labor of Statistics.

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a site designed to help you discover and pursue a career you’ll love. Connect with us on Pinterest for more career inspiration!

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Does schmoozing, constant communication and tons of teamwork make you want curl up under your desk?

You may be one of the 25 percent of introverted Americans.

That doesn’t mean you’re shy — just invigorated by solitary (as opposed to social) activities. That makes you a perfect candidate for jobs involving complex problem solving, independent work and deep-concentration creativity.

No job allows you to live in a cave, but we’ve hand-picked the most in-demand careers that will let your inner introvert shine.

1. Translator

Okay, you do have to interact with clients sometimes. But a translator’s workday features hours of quiet solitude as you track down the perfect word or decipher the exact meaning of a technical phrase.

Outlook: With the continuing rise of global ties and a growing multi-lingual population, openings in this career field are expected to increase at a much faster rate than average — a whopping 22 percent by 2018.

Average Salary: $23,000 – $86,000

2. Tax Accountant

With your introvert’s aptitude for problem solving and independent analysis, you help businesses and individuals get their taxes filed easily, efficiently and on time. Although there’s some time spent with clientele, you get to crunch most numbers all on your little lonesome.

Outlook: As more businesses are created each year, the need for expert accountants is going up — to the tune of 22 percent increase in job openings by 2018.

Average Salary: $39,000 – $107,000

3. Landscape Architect

Landscape architects get plenty of opportunities to work independently. To design outdoor areas that are both functional and beautiful, you’re often on your own, drafting models, preparing cost estimates and performing research.

Outlook: With the uptick in the need for sustainable designs — like green roofs and water catchment systems — this career field is expected to see a 20 percent growth rate through 2018.

Average Salary: $37,000 – $102,000

4. Graphic Designer

Working at the intersection of art and technology, you typically fly solo to create the visual products clients demand. Whether employed by a large firm or working freelance, you’re more likely to be found in front of a computer screen or blank page, than face to face with other people.

Outlook: Competition in this field can be fierce. But in this age of visual communication, gifted graphic designers are in demand.

Average Salary: $26,000 – $77,000

5. Private Investigator

If you thought research was confined to academia and science, think again. In the ultimate fact-finding position, private investigators spend their days analyzing information, uncovering clues and surveying people of interest. Your sharp focus and independent streak make this solitary job a good fit.

Outlook: Heightened security needs mean this field is seeing an upswing in demand – 22 percent to be exact.

Average Salary: $26,000 – $75,000

6. Geographer

As a physical geographer, your world revolves around studying the earth. Whether compiling data from satellite imagery or developing a new geographical information system, your self-directed work requires keen concentration, strong analytical skills, and — lucky for you — not too many meetings.

Outlook: The 26 percent hike in employment opportunities for geographers will mainly come from new government projects.

Average Salary: $42,000 – $102,000

7. Computer software engineer

The work of a computer software engineer — and indeed many other careers in computer science — appeals to introverts because you’re usually left in peace to solve complex technical problems. While you’ll need to deal with clients or project managers at times, most of your day is spent with your face to the screen.

Outlook: As computer networks continue to grow, the outlook for this career is expected to be among the highest of all professions, topping out at 32 percent. Not so shabby, right?

Average Salary: $61,000 – $143,000

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

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Yet some people’s passion for romance and relationships goes way beyond candy hearts. For the true romantics of the world, here are five jobs that let you spend your days spreading the love.

1. Romance Writer

Breathtaking encounters, longing looks, and heaving bosoms — as an author of romance novels, these racy conceits make up your daily bread and butter. Whether describing sordid medieval love affairs, rugged cowboy rescue scenes, or encounters with that hot bodyguard, your imaginations transport readers to a world where romance can take shape even in the most unlikely circumstance.

Average salary: $29,000 – $109,000

2. Marriage Counselor

Love might be great but it isn’t always easy. You work with couples — together and individually — to navigate relationship minefields and discover new ways to handle issues that get in the way of future happiness. Not all couples will stay ultimately stay together, but your focus is on rebuilding relationships and mending broken hearts.

Average salary: $24,000 – $72,000

3. Matchmaker

Long valued in many cultures around the world, matchmakers have become extremely popular in the age of Internet dating. For people too busy or shy to socialize through traditional channels, you do the legwork of love by connecting searching singles with future mates. What better way to show your love of love than to arrange a perfect pairing?

Average salary: $16,000 – $35,000

4. Sex Therapist

Sex doesn’t always go hand in hand with love. But chances are, when things aren’t good in the sack, they won’t be great in the relationship department either. Whether handling bedroom hang-ups, questions around sexuality, or physical dysfunctions, you help clients regain their spark.

Average salary: $41,000 – $120,000

5. Lyricist

Music is an age-old tool for wooing members of the opposite sex; there’s just something about a beautiful song that makes knees go weak. As a lyricist, your enchanting words not only induce spine-tingles, but help the less linguistically-inclined express their love through song.

Average salary: $29,000 – $109,000

In honor of Valentine’s Day, tell us truthfully: how romantic is your current career?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

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The post Valentine’s Day Special: Top 5 Careers for Those Who Love… Love appeared first on Brazen Life.

While most of these ski industry careers still fall into the dream job category, if your heart’s set on the slopes, take a look!

1. Ski Patroller

When injuries, accidents, or avalanches occur, you’re the first on the scene. While spending the day rescuing skiers, providing medical care, and enforcing regulations can be stressful — not to mention it won’t make you rich — the rewards can be high.

Not only do you generally get to be an all-around mountain hero, the job comes with free ski passes, promo gear, and the chance to be first on the mountain every morning.

Average salary: $15,000 – $28,000

2. Snowboard Designer

Designing snowboards is one of the most competitive fields of niche art, but it’s also a seriously cool profession. Mixing engineering know-how with a strong dose of creativity and style, you fashion boards that can flex well, handle rails and hold an edge in deep powder. And, of course, you must personally test each and every one of your products on snowy days.

Average salary: $32,000 – $96,000

3. Massage Therapist

Playing in the snow is fun, but it can also lead to aches, pains and tight muscles. As a ski resort’s in-house massage therapist, your job is to ease these minor ailments and help your clients relax after a long day on the drifts.

The perks? Beyond free ski passes, many resorts have a “six inch policy” — if it snows six inches or more, day shifts are staggered so every workers gets to enjoy the powder.

Average salary: $17,000 – $69,000

4. Mountain Resort Designer

When developers want to create a mountain tourism destination, they hire a team — headed up by a resort designer — to envision, plan and build it from scratch. As an alpine-themed mastermind, you offer services ranging from architecture and engineering, to environmental expertise, project management and interior design. In other words: You do it all.

Average salary: $42,000 – $123,000

5. Heli-Ski Guide

Heli-skiing — skiing in areas so remote that a helicopter has to fly you in — ranks fairly high on the Dangerous Sports meter. But the presence of an experienced guide (that’s you!) can minimize the hazards for pleasure seekers and adrenaline junkies alike.

Risky? Yes. Some of the best skiing in the world? Definitely.

Average salary: $17,000 – $54,000

So, would you want any of these winter wonderland careers?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Have an opinion? Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

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The post Beyond Ski Bum: 5 Fulfilling Careers on the Slopes appeared first on Brazen Life.

So if you’re the type who likes helping others help themselves, check out our list of top transformation-inducing careers:

1. Nutritionist

Food can be one of life’s greatest pleasures or most frustrating pains. As a nutritionist, you help people develop an understanding of what constitutes a healthy meal. Whether working with an athlete who needs to improve energy-levels, a working mom who wants to get organic food onto her dining table, or a patient who recently discovered he’s allergic to just about everything, you help clients lead better lives through food.

Average salary: $33,000 – $75,000

2. Personal Image Consultant

Everyone’s heard the phrase, “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” It’s good advice to follow; in fact, as an image consultant, you base your entire business on this idea. You work to revamp your client’s overall look by suggesting new clothing, explaining the best colors to complement their complexion, or pulling their hair and make-up combo out of the ‘80s. You might even focus on behavior — dealing with issues like etiquette, communication styles or outward confidence.

Average salary: $31,000 – $97,000

3. Person Fitness Trainer

A personal fitness trainer helps gym-goers reach their full fitness potential — without getting injured or discouraged. Your individualized workout plans help clients lose ten pounds, run a half marathon or learn how to use the latest fad in fitness equipment. But more than your knowledge of how to perform the perfect pull-up, your ability to motivate is what makes you great at your job.

Average salary: $16,000 – $62,000

4. Financial Advisor

Whatever financial goals your clients may have for the New Year, a personal financial advisor provides information and options. While doling out advice on paying off debt, putting money in savings, finding tax advantages, you keep a close eye on the books to ensure everything adds up to a healthy financial future.

Average salary: $68,000

5. Life Coach

Stop smoking. Write the great American novel. Change careers. Build self-esteem. These are all common New Years resolutions, and a Life Coach — the granddaddy of personal development positions — can help with all of them. You give your clients the tools they need to succeed by setting goals, working through road-blocks, and, ultimately, making them accountable for their achievements and failures. Providing motivation, inspiration, structure and support, you help people effect positive change in their lives.

Average salary: $24,000 – $69,000

We want to know: which professionals have most helped you transform your life?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Have an opinion? Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

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The post Help Others Help Themselves: 5 Transformative Careers appeared first on Brazen Life.

Here’s a list of our favorite holiday careers:

Float Designer

With a combination of artistic vision and engineering skills, these creative carpenters design and build those mesmerizing floats that fill every parade — from Macy’s extravaganza to your hometown’s Main Street festivities — with wonder.

Average salary: $29,000–$66,000

Visual Merchandiser

Thank these imaginative professionals for every glittering, fantastical, department store display. From dressing the manikins to making sure the merchandise is laid out in an easy-to-navigate way, visual merchandisers make a shopper’s experience enjoyable and entertaining.

Average salary: $21,000–$33,000

Event Security

Somebody’s got to keep a cool head when the chestnuts are roasting and the champagne starts flowing. Event security guards keep spirits bright by preventing thefts, fights and accidents at high-profile galas, parties and even Black Friday events.

Average salary: $19,000–$31,000

Christmas Tree Farm Manager

While most people deck their halls (or living rooms, as the case may be) with Christmas trees for less than a month, tree farmers cultivate, clip and care for the conifers year round — all to ensure the best product for their tree-buying customers.

Average salary: $30,000–$55,000

Card Writer

Card writers transform the simple sentiment of “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” into a witty, elegant or heartfelt message. These are the masterminds who help you send out your holiday greetings with style.

Average salary: highly varied

Professional Gift Buyer

Every December, professional gift buyers bring joy to those who’d rather have a root canal than face another year of holiday shopping. These real-life Christmas angels make sure everyone’s office assistant, friend or mother receives that perfect present.

Average salary: $24,000–$51,000

Department Store Santa

These jolly old elves have the belly-jiggling job of entertaining children, posing for pictures and spreading the holiday spirit. Combining baby-sitting skills, toddler translation talents — what does that 2-year-old actually want? — and a high tolerance for beard yanks, department store Santas are a magical part of many Yuletide memories. Merry Christmas!

Average salary: highly varied

So tell us truthfully: Have you ever worked as a Santa or elf?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Have an opinion? Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

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The post Behind-the-Scenes Holiday Careers appeared first on Brazen Life.

So we’ve put together a delectable selection of our favorite food-inspired careers. If you’re passionate about all aspects of edible goods — from their taste and look, to their origins and history — read on.

Showcase Food as a Food Stylist

As a stylist, you make breakfast, lunch and dinner look their best for photo and film shoots. Mixing your cooking skills with creative visual style, you use many tools — from lipstick and lard, to lacquer and lotion — to get a dish ready for its close-up. However, it’s not all about the artistic process: to protect your clients against legal issues, you’ve got to stay up to date on all truth in advertising laws.

Average Salary: $33,000–$58,000

Develop Food as a Flavor Chemist

Imagine being able to taste your job. Flavorists do it every day. These chemists use their deep knowledge of essential oils, flavor aromas, and botanical extracts to recreate and intensify flavors from nature — or create entirely new ones. The goal: give processed foods that oh-so-perfect taste.

Average Salary: $50,000–$92,000

Purchase Food as an Artisan Food Buyer

Without specialty buyers, food lovers wouldn’t be able to pluck that bottle of real Italian olive oil off the shelf, enjoy the tang of Indian turmeric, or add Madagascan vanilla extract to their chocolate chip cookies. Plus, when you’re not dealing with international trade regulations and paperwork, you can take time to sample your wares.

Average Salary: $37,000–$66,000

Explore Food as a Dietician

Most people associate dieticians with the idea of food restrictions. Yet much of a dietician’s work revolves around introducing clients to a whole new world of flavors, from the sweetness of blueberries to the spiciness of wasabi. Using your appreciation for good, healthy meals, you guide others toward better nutritional choices.

Average Salary: $42,000–$63,000

Write about Food as a Restaurant Critic

Of all the tantalizing food writer jobs — cookbook reviewer, food blogger — this one takes the cake. While this is a competitive field (who doesn’t want to get paid to eat?), if you’ve got a subtle palate to match your excellent writing skills, you too could thrive in this dream job.

Average Salary: $25,000–$51,000

Advocate for Food as a Food Activist

Whether working to improve school meals plans, fighting for better access to fresh vegetables in low-income neighborhoods, or striving to promote stronger food industry safety standards, it’s a food activist’s mission to promote sustainable and healthy systems from field to plate.

Average Salary: $26,000–$52,000

Study Food as a Culinary Historian

There’s no single path for this tasty career. You might write about the history of a food product (anyone read Salt?), lecture on the effect of the coffee trade on world politics, or consult on a film set to make sure the civil war soldiers are eating historically accurate grub. Regardless of the arena, you use your unique set of knowledge to highlight the historical aspects of food and its consumption. Bon appetit!

Average Salary: $33,000–$76,000

Salary info from the US Department of Labor

What’s your favorite culinary-inspired career?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Have an opinion? Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

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The post Eat, Pray, Find a Job: 7 Foodie Careers appeared first on Brazen Life.

Well, yes and no. Here are the pros and cons for seven of the best travel jobs that caught our attention:

Flight Attendant

Flying the friendly skies to ensure the safety and comfort of airplane passengers is a classic travel job. Perks are self-evident and awesome: routine trips to far-away locales, plus deep discounts or freebies on vacation flights, hotels and more. But it’s not as glamorous as Pan Am might have you believe. Irregular hours, frustrated passengers, and the small possibility of risk all remind you that you’re essentially providing customer service in a metal tube hurtling through the air.

Average salary: $31,000–$51,000*

Wine Importer

Importing vino requires you to travel around the globe to seek out the best vintages from Argentina, France or South Africa. Plus, you get to drink wine as part of your job. This might sound like the height of luxury, but this gig also demands business hustle; chances are, you’ll spend more time dealing with logistics like international regulations, shipping rates and insurance prices than you will sipping wine in a faraway land.

Average salary: $37,000–$66,000*

English Teacher

Can you speak English? Do you like other people? Then you have the qualifications for this job! Teaching your native tongue to students halfway around the world can be a gratifying way to fund your international wanderings. You can’t make a fortune — or, some might argue, even a living — doing this work, but cultural immersion is pretty much guaranteed.

Average salary: Varies (a Google search turns up payments ranging from room and board, to upwards of $30,000)

Tour Leader

Share the wonders of travel with others as a tour leader. Play your cards right, and your work could land you canoeing through the Amazon, sampling fabulous food in Italy, or sleeping under the stars in Morocco. However, this job isn’t for those who lack patience: It’s your task to deal with the headaches of travel — reservations, translations, transportation — so your tour members don’t have to.

Average salary: $22,000–$40,000*

Cultural Anthropologist

Talk about cultural immersion: these anthropologists take a first-hand look at the development of modern day cultures. You research in the field, and that could take you almost anywhere in the world. While you’re not an Ivory Tower academic, grant writing skills are important; you’ll probably devote more time to tracking down funding sources than you will to working abroad.

Average salary: $39,000–$71,000*

Camera Operator

Whether waiting for hours to capture perfect documentary footage of a baby snow leopard, or running to catch action shots of the latest reality TV adventure figure, cameramen (or women) can take their skills on the road. Best perk? You get to see some of the world’s rarest sites with your own eyes. However, the hours can be arduous and you could find yourself in some rough situations — like stuck in a blizzard at the base of Mount Everest.

Average salary: $29,000–$61,000*

Humanitarian Aid Worker

Travel can be about giving back. Whether working through an NGO, the Red Cross, or one of the many Without Borders organizations (Did you know they even have a Clowns Without Borders?) there’s a position that suits your skills. While these jobs aren’t for the faint of heart — the crisis you’re helping alleviate can involve everything from discomfort to actual danger — journeying to places in need of aid can grant a totally new perspective on wandering the world.

Average salary: $22,000–$36,000*

So, did your dream travel job make the list? What would you add?

*Salary info from the U.S. Department of Labor

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Have an opinion? Join the conversation on Twitter @InsideJobs.

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The post Wanderlust Careers: Top 7 Jobs for Travel Lovers appeared first on Brazen Life.

Yet a natural inclination toward nosiness can be a fantastic asset for certain jobs. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of digging for dirt — or just fascinated by other people’s business — here are six jobs that will keep you snooping to your heart’s content.

Online Reputation Manager

Anyone who’s ever Googled themselves – and let’s be honest, who hasn’t? – will appreciate the work of an Online Reputation Manager.

Whether responding to complaints about a company’s product or scrounging up Facebook photos of a celebrity inhaling something strange, online rep managers strive to create a spotless online image for their clients. And that means you spend lots of time playing online detective to proactively scour, downplay, or explain away any scandal, slander or simple misinformation.

For public relation specialist positions like this one, demand is skyrocketing — with expected growth at 24 percent or higher by 2018.

Average salary: $39,000–$72,000

Gossip Columnist

Tracking down every juicy detail of a celebrity’s life is all part of the daily grind for a gossip columnist.

Combining journalism with a heavy dose of creative speculation, you schmooze with A-listers and confer with “unnamed sources” to bring readers the latest on who’s on bump watch and who’s in rehab.

This could be a dream job for some inquisitive folks, but there’s serious competition and relatively low demand for this job. So if writing about the latest exploits of Branjelina gets you jazzed, prepare yourself for a long professional slog.

Average salary: $25,000–$51,000

Forensic Accountant

Ever curious about company finances? As a forensic accountant, it’s your job to pour over other people’s money business.

While investigating insurance claims, tax evasion, or money laundering, your nose is constantly poked into someone else’s books. Your snooping even supports an honorable cause: acquitting the innocent and catching the criminal.

Increasing need — 22 percent growth through 2018 to be exact — for forensic accountants stems from a greater emphasis on transparency and accountability in financial reporting. (Bernie Madoff, anyone?)

Average salary: $47,000–$80,000

Human Resource Manager

If you really want to know the low-down on all your co-workers, become an HR manager. From how much money Joe in product development makes to the reason he had to leave his previous job, you are privy to almost all confidential office info.

Plus, since it’s your task to listen to employee complaints, you’re always at the breaking edge of any gossip-worthy news.

The drawback? You can’t actually share any of the juicy details when you’re chatting by the water cooler. However, the career prospects should make up for it: job growth is predicted to increase at a rapid rate — 22 percent over the next six years.

Average salary: $39,000–$90,000

Transportation Security Screener

Since the Transportation Security Administration (TSA for short) was created in response to the attacks of 9/11, transportation security agents have been screening passengers, baggage and cargo to protect our friendly skies.

In the name of security, you literally go through people’s dirty laundry, x-raying and opening bags, patting people down and asking questions to identify potential threats. Plus, transportation security screeners often receive extensive training in the fields of security, intelligence and counter-terrorism, which can lead to a whole range of other intelligence-gathering jobs.

Because of heightened security demands, the need for TSA officers is expected to expand at a faster-than-average clip through 2018.

Average salary: $22,000–$40,000

Private Investigator

The granddaddy of all curious careers, Private Investigators actually get paid to spy on other people. Professional bliss awaits the inquisitive worker, as you follow spouses accused of cheating, dig up confidential business memos, track down missing persons and run background checks for your friend in HR.

The field for private detectives and investigators is expected to grow 22 percent by 2018. It’s a toss up whether this spike in demand is due to increased security needs or Cheaters-inspired paranoia. Either way, it’s good for the job market.

Average Salary: $32,000–$58,000

This is just the beginning of the curious careers list. Does your job give you license to snoop? Let us know in the comments!

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there.

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The post License to Snoop: 6 Careers for Curious Types appeared first on Brazen Life.

Thanks to the expanding popularity of all things sustainable, green collar jobs are among the fastest growing sectors in the work place. And that mean’s these five eco jobs are not only good for the globe, but your long-term career survival as well. From where we’re standing, it’s a win-win: save the planet, save your career.

Green Interior Designer

Green interior designers blend style and sustainability. Your niche revolves around environmentally friendly materials—think mango wood, natural fabrics, or recycled glass. If you’re into more than just slapping on a coat of low-VOC paint or fluffing an organic cotton pillow, you might incorporate more heavy-duty energy-efficient design elements like a rainwater harvesting system.

While competition is keen in the world of interior design, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) maintains that job prospects are still good: general employment is expected to grow 19 percent by 2018, and the numbers are even higher in the energy efficient design area.

Average salary: $35,000–$64,000

Disaster Management Specialist

Hurricanes. Earthquakes. Radiation leaks. The world is full of potential crisis and when something goes wrong it’s your job to coordinate a lightening-fast disaster response. Not only are you in charge of developing evacuation strategies and training government employees about crowd control, you’re also behind all the post-disaster cleaning-up efforts (BP oil spill, anyone?). Mother nature, and the citizens under your care, will both thank you.

The BLS reports the emergency management specialist field is expected to grow at a 28.2% clip through next year—one of the highest growth rates of any career field. We’re not sure if this is encouraging in general (are disasters on the rise?), but it’s great news for the job market!

Average salary: $39,000–$71,000

Environmental Lawyer

Environmental lawyers are the courthouse champions of planet earth. From protecting endangered species, to enforcing pollution laws, you litigate about any and all environmental issues. You’re basically Erin Brockovich, plus a law degree.

Over the next few years, the BLS only predicts average job growth for lawyers in general. However, due to rising awareness about eco issues, environmental law is singled out as a hot spot of increasing demand.

Average salary: $72,000–$163,000

Vegan Nutritionist

Did you know that every year, hamburger consumption emits the same amount of greenhouse gas as keeping 19.6 million SUVs on the road? A vegan nutritionist probably would. You are well aware of both the health and environmental reasons for cutting animal products out of your diet and you use your nutritionist training to spread the vegan gospel. Hallelujah for tofu!

While nutrition and dietitian jobs are expected to grow at an average rate, your specialized training in how to lead a vegan lifestyle means you’ll be in high demand for both health-conscious and fad-conscious consumers.

Average salary: $42,000–$65,000

Bicycle Mechanic

Had enough of the corporate world? Don’t become a hippy, become a bike mechanic! As the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation, bicycles are a rare breed of wonderful. So keeping two-wheelers in tip top shape is an essential part of the green vehicle movement.

Plus, you’ll have plenty of job opportunities to hone your craft: bicycle mechanic positions are expected to expand at a faster than average pace.

Average salary: $20,000–$29,000

Now, you tell me: Is “green” just a buzz word, or do eco jobs actually make a difference?

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. Have an opinion? Come talk to me on Twitter @InsideJobs!

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The post Green Collar Careers: 5 Hot Eco Jobs appeared first on Brazen Life.

Whether you want to make it, write about it, sell it or pair it with food, these seven boozy positions let you put well-honed talents to good use in your own little corner of the alcohol industry:

1. Mixologist

No, it’s not just a fancy word for bartender. Mixologists focus less on serving people, and more on the art of crafting high quality (read: expensive) concoctions. Using spirits, infusions, bitters, sodas, and sometimes even eggs, Mixologists update classic recipes and create exotic flavor combos — cardamom and pear martini, anyone?

All this experimentation means you’re kept busy sampling, tweaking, and re-sampling each new drink before it hits the official cocktail list.

Average income: $16,000–$24,000

2. Bar Consultant

Bar consulting is a designer job for the business-minded cocktailophile. Working with up-and-coming water holes or floundering neighborhood establishments, bar consultants provide advice on venue concept, interior design, financing, and, of course, the drink menu.

You must be in tune with what’s up-and-coming in the drinks world, and that translates into a good deal of sipping, swirling, and savoring.

Average income: $38,000–$62,000

3. Craft Distiller

From handcrafted cheeses to homemade soaps, there’s a growing demand for artisanal products — and the hard stuff is no exception. With more than 90 craft distillers in the United States, producing your own vodka, whiskey, or gin hasn’t been easier since the Prohibition era.

After fermenting and distilling small batches of fruits or grains, your taste buds will be put to the test as you sample each liquid to determine if it’s ready for sale. It’s entrepreneurial business meets artisan spirits.

Average income: $17,000–$23,000

4. Wine Writer

Cabernet, Merlot, Riesling, Shiraz, these are a wine writer’s favorite words. With a palate that can detect the nuances of a wine’s “nose,” “body,” and “legs,” wine writers use the power of the pen to elucidate these fine details for novices and vino experts alike.

However, this job isn’t just about being a tastemaker in the wine industry, it’s for the complete wine buff. Expertise in wine history, production, and regions are essential tools of the trade.

Average income: $39,000–$76,000

5. Brand Manager

Whether touting a hard-hitting cowboy whiskey or sophisticated elderflower liquor, you know your alcohol brand’s libation inside and out. The goal? Make your drink a household name.

While coordinating marketing strategies and testing new demographics, take pleasure in the fact that you won’t be stuck sipping only in-house products; an important part of the jobs is keeping a close eye (or should it be taste bud?) on all the competition’s the latest boozy beverages.

Average income: $78,000–$149,000

6. Oenologist

Oenologists (sometimes spelled enologist) are wine scientists — no joke. Working in either R & D, or as the head winemaker, oenologists usually make their professional home at a winery.

In this position, you can have your hands in all areas of the vino process — from choosing the grapes, to marketing the final product — but the best part is surely the tasting. In the name of quality control, it’s your difficult task to savor each batch of wine that comes from your vineyard.

Average income: $29,000–$47,000

7. Beer Sommelier

Professional snobbery isn’t just for wine experts anymore. Like craft spirits, interest in artisan beers is on the rise, and there’s a new, rare job to go along with it: the beer sommelier.

Based on the spicy notes in a locally brewed ale or the creamy quality of an imported stout, you help costumers pair beer and food. With all of your advanced knowledge on the subject, maybe you can finally convince your mom that beer is not just for slackers.

Average income: $16,000–$21,000

Annie Favreau writes for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there.

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The post Intoxicating Jobs: 7 Careers for Cocktail Connoisseurs appeared first on Brazen Life.

Here’s our pick for top seven careers for talkative people:

Simultaneous Interpreter

Whether you’re translating Español, Français, or Afrikaans, simultaneous interpreters are guaranteed to talk. A lot. You won’t speak your own words, but you also won’t have any downtime to reflect on that fact; you’ll be focused on translating between two people having a real-time conversation. In one ear, and out the other — only in a different language.

Average salary: $40,000–$77,000

Salesperson

This is the classic chatterbox job. Whether you’re a high-powered product ambassador pushing the latest brand of whiskey or a footwear salesperson selling low-tops at the local shoe store, your goal is the same: leverage your ability to talk, talk, talk to inspire potential costumers to buy, buy, buy. Another plus? The job outlook. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 27 percent of hiring managers are planning to offer sales positions this year.

Average salary: $35,000–$72,000

Public Relations Rep

Best known for their damage-control work, PR reps craft words and stories to maintain a positive image of their clients. Your vocal chords will get a workout as you make announcements in front of a camera, network at gala events, speak with clients on the phone and smooth over public faux pas with your fast-talking skills.

Average salary: $39,000–$72,000

Emergency Room Nurse

Emergency room nurses can’t lose their voices under pressure. Asking and answering questions, giving directions, and working within teams of medical professionals, you will rely on precise and effective dialogue to help save lives. It’s fast, unpredictable work that requires someone who likes to be in constant communication. And healthcare careers aren’t just appealing because of the gab-factor; The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says nursing is one of the fastest growing jobs in the country.

Average salary: $52,500–$78,000

College Recruiter

Did you love your alma mater? Why not spend 24/7 spreading the word as a college recruiter? Your rousing speeches, informative question-and-answer sessions, and one-on-one discussions with potential students and their parents will convince fresh faces and impressionable young minds into the hallowed halls of academia. You’re basically the salesperson of the Ivory Tower set.

Average salary: $60,800–$116,000

News Anchor

You get to combine all the fun parts of journalism — namely, asking lots of questions and picking the brains of sources, all in the name of tracking down a story — with the added bonus of going on-camera to share your findings with the world (or at least anyone who’s tuning in). There can’t be a moment of dead air time, so it’s your job to fill the airwaves with informative facts and, in a pinch, entertaining small talk.

Average salary: $32,400–$81,200

Political Organizer

Use your gift of gab to rouse the rabble. This job is social to its core: You will talk with hundreds of people as you coordinate petition signings, voter registration, and fundraising campaigns supporting your political endeavor of choice. Your silver tongue motivates citizens to take action, give money, and support the cause.

Average salary: $29,220–$49,600

Annie Favreau writes for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can discover what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there.

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The post Chatterbox Careers: 7 Jobs for Talkative People appeared first on Brazen Life.