Not so fast.

Writing the essay is only part of the battle. To deliver a stand-out application, complete with an irresistible essay that gets you noticed and lands you a coveted spot in your top MBA program, you must also master the art of editing.

Once you get your thoughts on paper and have a draft ready, follow these three tips to fine-tune your writing. Follow this advice, and that acceptance letter should be in the mail in no time.

1. Do the sincerity sniff test

Essay writing can often be so tricky because you can get carried away in trying too hard to meet the expectations of the admissions office. You want to be as relevant as possible to ensure they move your application to the “yes” pile.

Your essay should promptly answer and address these common questions:

• What have you achieved so far?
• What do you hope to achieve in the future?
• What specifically would you do with an MBA?

At the same time, your essay should be personal. It’s important to keep your statement from becoming stiff and lifeless.

“Your No. 1 priority is to communicate just how much your entrance into this business school means to you, and what you bring to the table,” said Francesca Di Meglio in an article for Business Week titled How to Write an MBA Admissions Essay. Di Meglio also suggests you ask a friend read the essay and try to guess the initial prompt to make sure you’ve stayed on topic.

2. Bring in a professional

When you’ve reached the final stages of editing and tweaking your essay, you may feel tempted to rush the process. You’re so close to completing a strenuous application process. With the bulk of the essay written, it’s easy to gloss over the process of identifying and addressing any weaknesses.

Friends and family can be hesitant to critique at this stage, especially if they’ve read earlier drafts and are too familiar with the material.

This is a great stage to bring in a professional, objective set of eyes. Instead of agonizing over putting together a clear and concise final essay, seek out the help of an editor who specializes in coaching MBA applicants. Some programs, for example, help MBA hopefuls polish their essays during any stage of the application process.

3. Curb your perfection

No one is perfect. But the truth is, you may perceive your essay as a reason to puff yourself up and prove to the admissions department you’re better than everyone else. That’s not necessarily the right tactic.

“Revealing your humanity — in the form of quirks, weaknesses and flaws — can often help the admissions committee to like you,” says Stacy Blackman in The Economist in Ten Tips for Perfectly Pitched Essays.

This is often easier to do during the editing process. A common weakness you might observe after a first draft or two is that your writing may be too positive. While you want to get your successes and positive qualities across, you have your resume and transcripts to do that for you. If your essay as it stands now seems too stiff — or even reads as a narrative version of a resume — edit with an eye toward revealing some quirks or your minor imperfections.

By paying attention to these tips, you may find you’re more effective at spotting the weaknesses in your essay — and that will make you a strong writer.

In conclusion, before you send off your application, spend quality time looking for opportunities to bring out your own sincerity and humanity in your personal statement. If you’re still struggling to nail your final draft, call in the help of a professional editor.

While it’s always tempting to hurry through the editing process, taking the time to revise and fine-tune your essay will pay off in the long run. Investing time to edit your writing just might be the ticket to the MBA program of your dreams.

This guest post was written by by Patti Conner.

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The post The Secret to Writing an Amazing MBA Application Essay appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, October 16th, at noon EDT, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on HIGHER EDUCATION.

That means if you work in higher education or you want to work in higher education, you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, October 16.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Higher Education? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, September 18th, at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on professionals who work in MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS.

That means if you work in marketing and communications — or you want to work in marketing and communications — you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, September 18th.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Marketing and Communications? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, August 21st, at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on professionals who work in RECRUITING and HR.

That means if you work in recruiting or HR — or you want to work in recruiting or HR — you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, August 21st.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Recruiting or HR? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

Intuit’s Demandforce is hosting a fun online event to hire rock stars for their Account Executive roles. It’s on Thursday, August 5 from 1-3pm PT.

Learn more about the event and register here »

At this online hiring event, you’ll chat directly with Intuit recruiters to learn more about the role, and get the inside scoop on what it’s like to work for Intuit. You’ll be matched in timed chats with Intuit recruiters while they see information about your awesome background. And if they think you could be a fit for the role, you’ll hear from them about next steps.

Here’s what Intuit says about this event:

We are looking for people who want to grow within the Company and become the next top sales executive. Our sales team is energetic, positive, competitive, and excited to be part of one of the fastest growing companies in the Bay Area.

Register now for this exciting event and get your foot in the door! Register here »

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The post Live in San Fran? Here’s How to Launch Your Sales Career appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, July 17th, at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on professionals who work at NONPROFITS and ASSOCIATIONS.

That means if you work for a nonprofit, or you want to work for a nonprofit, you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, July 17th.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) for a Nonprofit? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, June 19th, at noon EDT, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on DIGITAL CAREERS.

That means if you work in digital or you want to work in digital, you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Wednesday, January 15.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Digital? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with Bryaman Construction, Geico, Raytheon Engineering, Intuit, and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with University of Rochester, Ohio State, Villonova, DePaul, Penn State, LaGrange College, Virginia Military Institute, and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections. Don’t you want to be in on this goodness? Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list! If you’re with a university, employer or other group, click here to host your own online networking event. We’ll be in touch right away!

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

The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (June) appeared first on Brazen Life.

Any student or recent college grad will have the chance live chat with a Geico recruiter. Event attendees will also be able to browse open jobs, watch videos and engage in group discussions with other attendees and members of Geico’s team.

Learn more about the event and register here >>

“We help hundreds of companies meet and hire interns and college grads from around the country, without their recruiters ever leaving their desk,” said Ashley Hoffman, Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Brazen Careerist. Brazen’s online platform is powering the Geico online event. “It’s proven to be a really effective way to meet and hire top job candidates, offer them an authentic conversation, and do it all from any location.”

Geico recruiters will be chatting about intern and full-time opportunities across their 13 key locations in the United States, in departments like tech, sales, marketing, underwriting, leadership management, and more.

Join the Geico Online Career Fair >>

Students & recent grads: you can also check out the Chegg Career Center – where you can explore careers, land entry-level jobs, and find a variety of internships.

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

The post Find a Job at Geico’s Online Career Fair appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, May 15th, at noon EDT, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on HIGHER EDUCATION.

That means if you work in higher education or you want to work in higher education, you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, May 15.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Higher Education? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with Apple, TriNet, KPMG, Edward Jones, and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with Penn State, Carnegie Mellon University, Virginia Military Institute, UPenn, University of Iowa, and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

If you’re with a university, employer or other group, click here to host your own online networking event. We’ll be in touch right away!

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

The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (May) appeared first on Brazen Life.

In an interview with the The New York Times, Laszlo Brock, senior VP of people operations for Google, did say that “GPAs are a worthless criteria for hiring,” but he didn’t mean to imply your entire college education is moot. Rather, he meant that your focus in college should be on much more than simply making the grade.

In a follow-up piece, New York Times writer Thomas Friedman shared additional statements from his interview with Brock, which clarify that what really matters to employers is what you get out of your time at college — the skills you learn, the choices you make and the thought processes you demonstrate. As Friedman writes:

“My belief is not that one shouldn’t go to college,” said Bock. It is that among 18- to 22-year-olds — or people returning to school years later — “most don’t put enough thought into why they’re going, and what they want to get out of it.” Of course, we want an informed citizenry, where everyone has a baseline of knowledge from which to build skills. That is a social good. But, he added, don’t just go to college because you think it is the right thing to do and that any bachelor’s degree will suffice. “The first and most important thing is to be explicit and willful in making the decisions about what you want to get out of this investment in your education.” It’s a huge investment of time, effort and money and people should think “incredibly hard about what they’re getting in return.”

To find out how to make the most of your college years, read the full article here. (You can also read the original article, which sparked the debate, here.)

What should college students do to make the most of those college years? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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The post What College Students Should Focus On (And It’s Not GPA) appeared first on Brazen Life.

In France, workers unions in the technology and consultancy sectors signed a legally binding labor agreement requiring workers to unplug from work calls and emails after 6 p.m.

In Germany, the employment ministry cited a desire to prevent employee burn-out when they told managers to stop calling or emailing their staff after-hours except in the case of a true emergency.

And in Sweden, the city of Gothenburg announced a new experiment in six-hour workdays for some of its employees, in the hopes of increasing worker productivity and mental health.

All of this lead to some pretty hot debate over whether other countries should follow suit — and what that could mean for employers and employees alike.

For some great discussions on the topic, check out the National Post (Canada) article here, Human Capital (Australia) article here, and Fast Company’s article here.

What do you think about these workday limits? Should the U.S. adopt similar measures?

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The post Want Better Work-Life Balance? You Might Want to Move to Europe appeared first on Brazen Life.

You may think the string of fancy titles on your resume is all an employer needs to see, but if they’re sharp, like billionaire technology mogul Elon Musk, chances are they won’t be satisfied without digging a little deeper.

In an interview at Business Insider’s Ignition conference, Musk talked about how he determines whether job applicants are truly qualified for the position. Click here to take a look.

If an interviewer asked you to describe a problem you faced in your job and how you solved it, what would your answer be? Share your ideas in the comments!

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The post Thinking of Lying About Your Experience? Here’s How Interviewers Will Find You Out appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, April 17th, at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on professionals who work in MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS.

That means if you work in marketing and communications — or you want to work in marketing and communications — you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, April 17th.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Marketing and Communications? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with GettingHired, LGS, DC Business Leadership Network, National Labor Exchange Military Career Fair, and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with Columbia Alumni Association, UPenn, Lehigh University, Oregon State, University of Kentucky Alumni Association, and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

If you’re with a university, employer or other group, click here to host your own online networking event. We’ll be in touch right away!

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

The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (April) appeared first on Brazen Life.

Titled “The Myth of the Millennial,” it lays out all the facts and figures that show how — contrary to popular misconception — GenY is actually highly engaged, highly competitive and highly driven. It’s chock full of great stats you can quote the next time you hear someone groaning about Millennials.

You can view the full infographic here.

What do you think about the stats in this infographic? Does anything surprise you?

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The post The Truth About Millennials in the Workforce appeared first on Brazen Life.

Or so they say. We’re more interested in what you have to say about GenY, and so is Read Wave, a site that shares “three-minute stories” it hopes will inspire and move you. They’ve launched a contest to gather your thoughts on Generation Y, and the winner receives a cash prize!

Read Wave is calling all bloggers, writers, thinkers, part-time philosophers and aspiring journalists to write an 800-word article on the theme of Generation Y. The article that receives the most “likes” on Facebook will win a cash prize of $200 (or an equivalent value in your local currency if you’re outside the U.S.).

The deadline for submissions is April 14th, so put on your thinking caps, pick up your pens (or keyboards), read more about the contest here, and get to writing.

Best of luck!

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The post Share Your Thoughts on GenY in a New Blogging Contest (and Win $200) appeared first on Brazen Life.

The Daily Muse recently put together a fantastic list of 50 of the best conferences taking place this year. It spans all industries, price points and locations, so chances are good you’ll find a conference that’s right up your alley.

Get ready to mark your calendars and check out the full list here.

Have you attended any of the conferences listed in the past? What was your experience? Are they any conferences not listed you think people should know about?

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

The post 50 Hot Conferences to Kick Your Career Into High Gear appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, March 20th, at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on professionals who work in RECRUITING and HR.

That means if you work in recruiting or HR — or you want to work in recruiting or HR — you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, March 20th.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Recruiting or HR? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

Today’s hit shows are smarter, more complex and more intriguing than ever — so it’s not surprising that Undercover Recruiter recently posted this infographic by Semester Online on what your TV fandom could say about your career interests.

Whether your must-see TV is Breaking Bad or The Walking Dead, here’s what you can learn about yourself from it — and some fun tidbits about the shows, too:

While we’re not endorsing a career in meth dealership or zombie killing, you have to admit there are some interesting things to consider.

Check out the post on Undercover Recruiter here.

What does your favorite show say about you?

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

The post What Your Favorite TV Show Can Say About Your Career appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with Apple, Mathworks, Raytheon, DICE, Edward Jones, American Express, and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with Penn State, American University, Ohio State, Boston College, University of Kentucky, George Washington School of Business, and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

If you’re with a university, employer or other group, click here to host your own online networking event. We’ll be in touch right away!

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

The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (March) appeared first on Brazen Life.

CareerBliss recently released their list of the Top 10 Happiest and Unhappiest Cities to Work in 2014, and some of the findings may surprise you. Topping the chart of happiest cities was San Jose, CA, but Sacramento, CA was listed as the eighth unhappiest city. Philadelphia, PA grabbed number eight on the happiest cities list, while Pittsburgh, PA ranked fifth on the unhappiest.

(Also worth noting: Brazen’s own hometown of Washington, D.C. came in as the second happiest city!)

Based on feedback from hundreds of thousands of workers across the country, workplace happiness was analyzed based on factors like company culture, growth opportunities and relationships with one’s colleagues.

Check out the full article here.

Did your city make the cut (either as happiest, or unhappiest)? Do you think your city should be listed? Let us know in the comments!

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The post Are You Working in One of the 10 Happiest Cities in the U.S.? appeared first on Brazen Life.

All you need to do is make sure you meet the desired criteria, register and login on the day and time of the event. You’ll be matched with recruiters in quick chat-based conversations you can do from anywhere — your current job, a cafe, your iPad! This is a no-harm, no-risk way to chat directly with recruiters and learn about some pretty cool opportunities.

Learn more and sign up for the events below!

SALES: TriNet Online Open House for Sales Pros

When: Tuesday, February 25th from 12-3 pm EST

What: Join the leader in changing how HR is delivered. TriNet is hiring for Regional Sales Consultants in the San Francisco and New York City areas. Ideal candidates have three to five  years’ sales experience and are hungry and motivated. This is a great opportunity to get onboarded with an extremely fast-growing, exciting company.

Learn more and register online here >>

CLIENT MANAGERS: American Express Open Online Career Fair

When: Thursday, February 27th from 1-4 pm EST

What: American Express OPEN is the leading payment card issuer for small businesses in the U.S. and supports business owners with products and services to help them run and grow their businesses. They’re hiring for Top Client Acquisition Business Consultants (based in Phoenix, AZ), Regional Client Managers and The Regional Team Directors (positions nationwide).

Learn more and register online here >>

INTERNSHIPS: Software AG Online Career Fair

When: Tuesday, February 25th from 1-3 pm EST

What: Experience working for a global, leading-edge software company. Software AG is hiring for a variety of internships in their just-outside-of-Washington, D.C. office (Reston, VA), including Technical Support Analyst, Sales Enablement Marketing Internship, Social Media Marketing Internship, Partner Marketing Internship and Inside Sales Internship. If you’re looking for an internship in the DC area, sounds like this is one you don’t want to miss.

Learn more and register online here >>

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The post You’re Invited: Online Recruiting Events Next Week for Sales, Client Managers and Interns! appeared first on Brazen Life.

Fortunately, WhoIsHostingThis put together this handy infographic to show you easy ways you can get the most from your LinkedIn profile. From connecting with new people to promoting your profile, it’s an easy guide to LinkedIn 101.

Check it out:

(Click here to tweet this infographic.)

So, what are you waiting for? Go forth and maximize your LinkedIn profile!

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

The post Get the Most Out of LinkedIn with These Easy Tips appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Thursday, February 20th, at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on professionals who work at NONPROFITS and ASSOCIATIONS.

That means if you work for a nonprofit, or you want to work for a nonprofit, you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, February 20th.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) for a Nonprofit? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with American Express, DICE Western, Software AG, Council on International Educational Exchange, MOAA/Corporate Gray and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with University of Nevada, DePaul, University of Iowa Alumni, Villanova, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Oregon University, Virginia Military Institute and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

If you’re with a university, employer or other group, click here to host your own online networking event. We’ll be in touch right away!

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

The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (February) appeared first on Brazen Life.

Fortunately, some of those Very Important People — like Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich — are willing to share with us the secrets they’ve used to make their own high-powered connections.

In a recent post on his blog, Sethi shared some great strategies he himself has used to reach out to the likes of New York Times bestselling authors and entrepreneurial guru Tim Ferriss. His tips include great pointers like:

• Be brief. VIPs are busy and do not want to read your tortured expository essay on your life history, food allergies, and the mole on your back
• Focus on what’s in it for THEM. Benefit-driven, focused on benefit to THEM (“putting the full IWT muscle behind it”)
• Offer a clear CTA (call to action). You wouldn’t believe how many people end their emails to me with “Yeah, so…wow, I wrote more than I thought” DELETE
• Anticipate every objection and counter it before they can consciously voice it. Who’s going to be in this? Oh, here are past people I worked with. I don’t have any ideas. Oh, let’s get on a call and I’ll help you come up with some. Etc.
• Break the rules. I routinely break every rule in this list (but that depends on the recipient and the message).

To read the full post — and view a real-life example email you can follow — click here.

Have you reached out to industry leaders via email? What strategies have you found to be successful?

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The post How to Write Emails Important People Actually Respond To appeared first on Brazen Life.

Whether you love your job or it’s just a paycheck, chances are you’ve felt the pressure of our collective drive to work harder and longer and to put our careers before other parts of your life. But what is it that drives us to be workaholics?

According to a recent article by Dorie Clark on Harvard Business Review, the answer is manifold. Whether it’s fear of the competition, a desire to impress others or a mistaken idea of happiness, our perception of work — and our priorities as a result of that — are often skewed.

As Clark writes:

Even when we know working to excess isn’t good for us, it’s hard to cut back. Most of us aren’t as extreme as the investment bank intern who died in London after allegedly working 72 hours straight to impress his bosses. But according to Christensen, we may not be that different, either: it’s a matter of degree, and timing. Overwork may not kill us tomorrow, but —  if left unaddressed — it may kill our most important relationships in 10 or 20 years.

To read the full article, click here.

Are you (or someone you know) a workaholic? Why do you think we work ourselves so hard?

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The post What Drives Us to Be Workaholics (Even If We Hate Our Jobs) appeared first on Brazen Life.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of jobs selected involve stress of a truly acute nature, including “unpredictable conditions, immediate dangers and high-stakes situations.” Enlisted military personnel ranked number one, with first responders like firefighters and police officers also making the list.

But not all of the most stressful jobs involve a risk to personal safety. Other jobs that got high marks for stress include PR executive and corporate executive — positions fraught with tight deadlines, lots of responsibility and high public visibility.

To see the full full list, click here.

Do any of these rankings surprise you? Are there any jobs you think should have made the list, but didn’t?

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The post The 10 Most Stressful Jobs of 2014: Did Yours Make the List? appeared first on Brazen Life.

Whether you’ve been reading Brazen for a while or just joined us recently (hello!), you know we’re all about motivating you to move in the right direction, whatever step of the career journey you’re on. We’re also all about giving you the tools to do so, because what good is motivation if you don’t know how to put it into practice?

Which is why we’ve put together this handy little reference for some of the most common career dilemmas faced by Millennials today. Whatever’s holding you back, we’ve got you covered! (Click here to tweet this guide.)

“I’m sick of being unemployed!”

Why Your Run-of-the-Mill Job-Search Strategy is Getting You Nowhere

How to Turn the Dreaded “How’s the Job Search Going?” Question Into Opportunity

Why Working Several Part-Time Jobs to Make Ends Meet is Not the End of the World

Why the Informational Interview Should Be Your Favorite Job-Hunting Tactic

Practical Ways to Use Unemployment to Your Advantage

“What if I bomb this interview?”

The Best Answers to the Worst Interview Questions

Tough Questions You Should Be Prepared to Answer During a Job Interview

6 Questions to Ask During Your Interview That Will Make an Employer Want to Hire You

How to Prepare for (and Close) Your Next Interview

4 Tactics to Make the Most of Your Interview (Even If You Don’t Get the Job)

“I have no idea what I want…”

How to Decide on a Career (Even If You Don’t Know What You Want)

3 Steps to Finding a Job You Truly Love

6 Tips for Incorporating Multiple Interests Into One Career

Careers That Work Best If You Have Multiple Passions

5 Things You Should Look for in Your First Job (Because It’s Not All About Salary!)

“I think it’s time to make a change.”

What to Do When You Realize You Chose the Wrong Career

The 3 Worst Mistakes to Make When Changing Careers

10 Steps for Changing Careers Without Losing Your Mind

How to Change Careers Even If You Think It’s Too Late

7 Careers You Can Switch To Without Earning Another Degree

“I feel stuck in a rut.”

Why Being Selfish is the Best Way to Get Ahead in Your Career

5 Ways to Show Your Boss You’re Ready for That Promotion

Think Twice About That Promotion

10 Terrible Ways to Ask for a Raise

Want More Career Responsibility? Here’s How to Get It

“I’m ready to take this job and shove it.”

Should You Quit Your Job? 5 Solid Reasons to Pack It Up

Stay or Go? 6 Questions to Consider Before Changing Jobs

How to Look for a New Job When You’re Already Employed

How to Keep Your Head in the Game When Your Heart’s Left the Building

Don’t Quit Your Job Just Because You Want To

“I’m so freakin’ stressed!”

10 Ways to Simplify Your Life and Be Happier at Work

9 Ways to Conquer Your Chaotic Workday

The Control Freak’s Guide to Getting Work Done

Tips for Leaving Work at Work (and Staying Sane)

The Young Professional’s Guide to Surviving a Terrible Week

“I want to do my own thing.”

The Wannabe Entrepreneur’s Quiz: 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Quitting Your Day Job

10 Things to Know Before Quitting Your Job and Embracing a New Lifestyle

Want to Follow Your Dream? Don’t Quit Your Day Job

5 Big, Brave Choices to Lead You to Successful Self-Employment

How to Convince Your Boss to Let You Go Virtual

For more great advice for all steps of your career, check out our Best of Brazen page.

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The post Top Solutions to Common Career Dilemmas appeared first on Brazen Life.

Which is why we’re loving a recent roundup on U.S. News & World Report that gathers together 25 great articles on everything from boosting your savings to getting better products for less.

Check out the full roundup here, then let us know…

What financial resolutions have you made for 2014? And how do you plan on achieving them?

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The post 25 Ways to Improve Your Finances This Year appeared first on Brazen Life.

Now, not only are we apparently bringing our parents to interviews — we’re actually having them interview for us! Well, some people are.

Check out this story from a recent Harvard Business Review article:

A recruiter at a well-known Fortune 10 company told me this story: She was getting ready for a phone interview with a new college graduate. But when she dialed into the conference number at the scheduled time, instead of the candidate, there was an older woman on the line.

The female caller identified herself as the applicant’s mother and said, “I know you were expecting a call with John (not his real name), but he’s tied up in another interview at the moment. Fortunately, I know him so well that I can do the interview for him. Do you mind?”

The recruiter understandably replied that she did mind and asked John’s mom to have her son call when he was available.

If you suspect this conversation is an anomaly (and a shocking one at that!), think again.

While we can understand other things mentioned in the article — namely, that many Millennials still live at home and turn to their parents for advice with their job hunt — going so far as to have your parent stand in for you on an interview doesn’t exactly present the right message when it comes to your ability to handle your own career.

Sure, your mom might know you well enough to answer questions about you, but do you really want her to? (Click here to Tweet this thought.) One of the goals of an interview is to determine whether you’re a good fit for the position personality-wise and whether you’ll fit into the corporate culture. Your parents may be able to paint a picture of the kind of person you are, but nothing compares to the real thing. And, let’s be honest, praise from your biased mom probably shouldn’t hold much weight in an interviewer’s mind.

We’d like to think this is another example of the media blowing GenY stereotypes out of proportion, but the article’s author claims 50 percent of HR professionals she’s spoken to have experienced this sort of interviewing-by-proxy. We’re curious to hear your thoughts.

You can read the full article here.

Would you ever consider letting a parent interview for you? What do you think of Millennials who do?

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The post Do You Really Want Your Parents Interviewing on Your Behalf? appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you!

On Wednesday, January 15th, at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community, with a focus on DIGITAL CAREERS.

That means if you work in digital or you want to work in digital, you should join us!

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Wednesday, January 15.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of seven-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

Hope you’ll join us!

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

The post Work (or Want to Work) in Digital? Join Us for This Free Networking Event appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with LGS Innovation, Clipper Magazine, Cellular Sales, Deloitte, and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with Columbia Business School, Lehigh, Villanova, UPenn, Eastern Michigan University, Greenville Technical College, University of New Hampshire, and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

If you’re with a university, employer or other group, click here to host your own online networking event. We’ll be in touch right away!

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

The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (January) appeared first on Brazen Life.

Which is why we asked some of today’s top entrepreneurs, thought leaders, speakers and bloggers what they consider the secret to networking success. Their answers were varied, thought-provoking, and great field notes for your next networking event, office party or even coffee run.

So get a pen and get ready to start jotting…

Ash Ambirge, Founder of The Middle Finger Project (@TMFProject)

Make the other person feel important. Ask them questions about themselves, and then actually LISTEN.

Corbett Barr, Creator of The Sparkline (@corbettbarr)

Always offer to help people in very specific ways using your best talents and be quick to approach people, before your little voice inside gives you a million reasons not to.

Jenny Blake, Founder of Life After College (@jenny_blake)

Build an online presence, whether it’s a blog, Tumblr or About.me page. You can even use Visualize.me to spruce up your LinkedIn profile. So much of networking these days happens online, and even when you do meet someone in person, it’s a great way for them to follow up and learn more about you. One of my favorite business cards that I got at a conference said just one line: “ThatWomanIMet.com.” It was brilliant! Totally sparked my curiosity. Then I went to the Web address and realized it was my good friend Monique Johnson.

Catherine Caine, Boss Lady of Cash & Joy (@CatherineCaine)

Often networking works out in a weird friend-of-a-cousin-of-your-dog-walker way, so feel free to cultivate people without a clear idea of the path to the money. Genuine interest and connection beat strategy any day. (Both is best, of course. But if you have to choose, go with connection.)

Arvind Devalia, Coach, Author, Speaker and Blogger at Make It Happen (@ArvindDevalia)

If you are meeting someone face-to-face, always look for ways of helping the person you are talking to. Give them your 100 percent focus and attention, and listen to what they are saying. Then look for ways of helping them with your ideas, some resources or connecting them with someone who could help them.

When networking online, the “secret” is the same — look for ways of contributing and helping others.

It may or may not come back to you directly, but the world will still be a better place through your contribution.

Scott Gerber, Founder of Young Entrepreneur Council (@scottgerber)

Always help others without an agenda. Be a super connector by regularly putting like-minded people in the same room or on the same email. It’s not about “building up favors” or “networking.” Honestly, its about being a good business person and understanding that good karma and word of mouth about your ability to connect others equals good long-term relationships.

Ryan Healy, Co-Founder and COO of Brazen Careerist, Inc. (@rjhealy)

Ask questions. People often don’t know how to network or what to say, and the truth is that everyone just wants to talk about themselves. So ask about their work, their lives and be genuinely interested in their answers. Then don’t forget to follow up with the people who you want to be connected with in the future.

Benny Hsu, Blogger and Appreneur at Get Busy Living (@benny_hsu)

Don’t talk about yourself too much. No one wants to meet someone who loves the sound of their own voice. Ask questions and genuinely listen. You’ll make many more friends by listening than by talking.

Craig Jarrow, Founder of Time Management Ninja (@TMNinja)

The simple secret to networking is to give. This confuses many, because they network to try and get things. Some of the biggest connections I have ever made started because I gave something first. And don’t underestimate that you have something to give, even to those you think are out of your reach.

Danielle LaPorte, Author, Business Strategist and Inspirational Speaker (@daniellelaporte)

Show up as yourself. So many people are dying inside because they’re not really showing up. So if you’re You — at the meeting, at the club, on the bus, in love — well, then that would make you automatically exceptional. (Not to mention freer, fulfilled and closer to self-actualization. And sexy. Of course.)

Jonathan Mead, Chief Troublemaker at Paid to Exist (@jonathanmead)

Be insanely interested in helping other people succeed and finding ways you can constantly add value to others’ lives.

J. Money, Founder of Rockstar Finance (@rockstarfinance)

Being nice. And/or funny — that usually helps

No matter how successful or not someone is, at the end of the day, we’re all PEOPLE. And those things that draw us closer to each other are uniformly the same — it just doesn’t appear so when mixed with business or reaching out. I once heard from someone to just always pretend you’re on the dance floor trying to get someone’s attention. What do you do? Make a little joke? Find some small thing you have in common? Be a nice guy? All this applies to connecting off the dance floor, too — only without the spilling of beer and loud music.

Bobby Ocampo, Director of Revolution (@ocampob)

You have to love it. If your friends are also in your work circles, that’s the perfect combination. Be mindful of your time, but it all comes down to hustle… especially when you’re first breaking into the scene.

Joan Otto, Editor of Man Vs. Debt (@manvsdebt)

Give the person you’re talking to your undivided attention. That doesn’t just mean don’t check your phone while you’re chatting. It means look at them, not the floor. It means listening while they’re speaking, not figuring out what you’re going to say next and missing their half of the conversation. People will remember that, and you’ll get a much deeper connection in a much shorter amount of time.

Andrea Owen, Founder of Your Kick-Ass Life Coaching (@andrea_owen)

Do what feels good to you, not what everyone says you should do. If you don’t like in-person networking events, don’t go. If you loathe social media, figure out what you can do that feels good energetically. I just don’t think forced energy will get you anywhere, so again, do what YOU want.

Srinivas Rao, Host/Founder of Blogcast FM (@skooloflife)

Give more than you take. Surround yourself with amazing people. Connect them to each other. Let the chips fall where they may.

Joel Runyon, Founder of Impossible HQ (@joelrunyon)

Find out what other people need help with and figure out ways to help them.

Jody Thompson, Co-Founder of CultureRX and The Results-Only Work Environment (@JodyROWE)

The secret is simple: Give more than you receive. Approach it with the attitude of “How can I help you?” with no thought of getting anything in return. Then watch your network grow. Also, build your network of trusted connections before you need them. Then when you do need them, they’ll be eager to help you.

Carol Tice, Owner of the Make a Living Writing Blog and The Freelance Writers Den Community (@TiceWrites)

It’s fun! Or it should be.

Meeting new, interesting people is really what we’re here on earth for. Growing your professional circle also makes our lives more rich and fulfilling. I know people have big fears about doing it, but really, try to relax and enjoy it! I’ve met fascinating people who’ve become great friends through networking, including on social media.

Keep trying different networking methods and events until you find the place where you enjoy hanging out and you get the sort of work leads you want.

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The post Top Business Leaders and Young Professionals on the Key to Networking Success appeared first on Brazen Life.

Fortunately, blogger Chris Bailey has done the work for you. He recently watched 70 hours’ worth of TED Talks (296 talks total) and distilled the 100 top lessons he learned in a Lifehack post. Grouped into categories like “Productivity” and “Being a Better Human,” his post is a great crib sheet for anyone who wants to gain some TED wisdom without putting in a ton of time. It also links each lesson to the talk(s) it came from so you can dig further if you’re intrigued.

Some of our favorite lessons:

13. The key to becoming more productive and successful may be to fail faster and smarter, especially if you do creative work.

23, 24, 25. Limits are bullshit. Some people choose to not be set back by limits, and at the end of the day, they’re the ones who end up giving TED talks. Like Neil Harbisson, who was born without the ability to see color, so he hacked together a device to hear color. Or Caroline Casey, who didn’t learn until she was 17 that she was legally blind. Or David Blaine, who pushed his body and mind to hold his breath for 17 straight minutes underwater.

35, 36, 37, 38, 39. 40, 41. There isn’t one secret to happiness, but there are a lot of small secrets that will move you in the right direction. Stay in the moment, and be mindful. Spend money on other people, rather than on yourself. Slow down. Take time to appreciate and see the good in what you have. Live a life that’s full of meaning in the short-and long-term. And change how you look at the past, present, and future.

72. It turns out you can use two slices of pizza as a slide clicker, make music with ketchup, and make a piano keyboard with a banana!

You can read the full article here.

What are your favorite TED talks? Share them with us in the comments!

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The post Learn 100 Lessons From 70 Hours of TED Talks in 5 Easy Minutes appeared first on Brazen Life.

But most advice posts and experts who tout sourcing via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn say it’s essential because that’s where the candidates hang out. A recent study by Jobvite, however, offers a far better reason, one that’s actually compelling enough to get you on those networks if you’re not already.

As Mashable reports, job seekers who are recruited via social media are more likely to be hired — and for recruiters, that means a happy boss and more cash in your bank account. What’s more, those hires often stay at the new job longer than candidates found through other channels.

“Jobvite found that companies who used social recruiting enjoyed improved candidate quality and quantity, which is why 94 percent of the businesses surveyed use or plan to begin using social recruiting in 2013,” Mashable writes.

An infographic on Mashable offers more details.

Recruiters: Has your experience proven this to be true? Do your odds of hiring tend to increase when you recruit through social media?

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The post A Far More Compelling Reason for Recruiters to Source Through Social Media appeared first on Brazen Life.

See Exhibit A: a bit Stephen Colbert recently did on The Colbert Report in which he discussed a new feature introduced by Slate.com: the “minutes to read” feature. That’s right; as you browse recent articles on the site, Slate now lets you know right next to the title just how long it will take to read each one.

Why?

As Colbert put it, Millennials (which group he includes himself in) are a group that simply doesn’t have time to spare on anything that isn’t personally meaningful:

We want our food fast, our ‘grams Insta, our mobs flash — and we want it all now…Clicking on a story is a huge commitment. First, you’ve gotta aim the cursor, then it takes about two seconds to load, then I gotta scan the thing to see how long it is…As many as eight seconds have passed and I’m that much closer to the cold embrace of death.”

You can view the full segment here (it’s worth it!):

As funny as this segment is, can you relate to it? Are you (or anyone you know) like this?

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The post Does GenY Ask Too Much? Stephen Colbert Doesn’t Think So appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with Verizon in sponsorship with The Wounded Warrior Project, Stonegate Mortgage, National Association of Colleges & Employers, Conference for Women MA and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with University of Nevada in sponsorship with Volkswagen, Penn Graduate School of Education Resume Review, George Washington University, Penn State Alumni Association, and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

Brazen Life is a lifestyle and career blog for ambitious young professionals. Hosted by Brazen Careerist, we offer edgy and fun ideas for navigating the changing world of work. Be Brazen!

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The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (December) appeared first on Brazen Life.

It’s come to light that one of the main reasons for all the technical snafus seems to be a basic lack of communication — the sort many have experienced in offices and organizations nationwide. Software engineers recognized emerging concerns, but didn’t always feel free (or able) to honestly discuss them with the Oval Office.

A recent article on Forbes discusses the similarity between this “communication breakdown” and the situation many of us face at work:

Where have I heard this before? The short answer is—in my discussions with managers and executives from all kinds of organizations that are, to coin a phrase, conversation-challenged. By this I mean that the organizational cultures do not invite people at various levels to share ideas, concerns, and information needed to successfully complete projects. I would say most organizations fall into this trap at one point or another.

And it’s not just a failing of large bureaucracies, although that is undoubtedly a big part of the problem with the Obamacare launch. All you need is a manager or some other leader who, unintentionally or otherwise, is in the unfortunate habit of killing good conversations. These people are “terminators” rather than “continuers” of conversation.

You can read the full article here.

Regardless of where the finger-pointing takes us, the healthcare debacle serves as a cautionary tale of why employees should be encouraged to speak up when they have a good idea or notice something wrong. It’s a lesson that’s applicable to all of us, whether we’re managers, workers or freelancers afraid of raising an issue with our clients. Where communication is “terminated,” success rates also suffer.

Have you ever experienced a “communication breakdown” at work? How do you think these situations can be addressed?

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The post What the Healthcare Debacle Can Teach Us All About Communication appeared first on Brazen Life.

In a post on Forbes, Paul B. Brown shares 23 great pieces of wisdom gleaned from 30 years of researching, interviewing and writing about entrepreneurs. They include:

3. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, there is no such thing as work-life balance. I am not advocating that you spend a disproportionate part of your life working on your company. (I am also not advocating against it.) I am simply reporting that is what the most successful entrepreneurs do. I have never found an exception.

4. The best entrepreneurs don’t come up with great ideas, they solve market needs. You and I can come up with wonderful ideas all day long, but unless they satisfy a large enough need, one that can support a business, they don’t do anyone any good.

5. The one thing all successful entrepreneurs have in common is the desire to make their idea a reality. What entrepreneurs need most of all — above motivation, focus, hope, financing, marketing skills, a brilliant idea, etc. — is the will to bring their idea into existence. Unless you truly want to make something happen, the odds are nothing will. Without that desire, nothing else matters… or occurs. Your life will be filled in other ways.

You can read the full article here.

What other great tips do you have to share with entrepreneurs? Let us know in the comments!

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The post 23 Things Every Entrepreneur Must Know appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with Freddie Mac, American Physical Therapy Association, Dice, Corporate Gray/MOAA, Cellular Sales, Corporate Executive Board and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with Georgetown, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, the University of Alabama Huntsville, and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

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The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (November) appeared first on Brazen Life.

Web designer Robby Leonardi took a staple of the GenY childhood experience and used it to create a resume like no other — a side-scrolling video game reminiscent of Super Mario Brothers.

It includes such features as rising piranha plants that illustrate his proficiency levels in various skills, an air balloon that takes your character past his various awards and achievements (which can then be opened in a separate tab), and fun personal facts like his NBA fandom. (And yes, children of the ‘90s, it does include an underwater level, too.)

We’d describe more, but you really have to play it for yourself to get the full experience.

What do you think of Leonardi’s unique resume design? If you were looking for a Web designer, would you hire him?

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The post Web Designer Levels Up His Resume as an Interactive Video Game appeared first on Brazen Life.

We’ve got an event for you! On Thursday, Nov. 14 at noon EST, we’re hosting a FREE networking event for the Brazen community.

Click here to register.

Our community is full of ambitious young professionals — hustlers, creatives and entrepreneurs who understand the importance of having a job you love. We want to help you meet one another, so you can rely on the support of your peers as you navigate your own career. We’ve organized this networking event online and during your lunch hour, so you can attend whether you work for an employer or have your own business.

Most importantly, this will be FUN! Remember, Brazen Careerist originated as a social network, and we still believe relationships are the foundation of a successful career. As an added bonus, this is an opportunity to try out Brazen’s software, the same awesome platform we use for recruiting events.

How It Works

It couldn’t be easier to join this event. Register now, and we’ll send you a link to join us on Thursday, Nov. 14.

During the event, you’ll be paired with multiple participants from around the region, country and world for several rounds of eight-minute, text-based chats. We’ll even save those conversations for you so you can revisit them later. After the event, we encourage you to connect with any interesting people on your favorite social networks; that will help you turn your chat into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

It’s like online speed dating, minus the awkwardness.

If a lot of Brazenites participate, we might even consider doing this on a regular basis. We’re all about helping YOU build your network!

Hope you’ll join us!

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The post Fun Brazen Event: Use Your Lunch Hour to Network Online with Your Peers appeared first on Brazen Life.

Whatever the reason, reinventing yourself is a long and complicated road, and some words of advice from someone who’s been there, done that can certainly help.

Well, what about 49 words of advice?

In an epic post on TechCrunch, writer, author and entrepreneur (and general rabble-rouser) James Altucher shares the lessons he’s learned from 20 years of rebooting and rebranding himself, including such brazen tips as:

PP) What if I get depressed?

Sit in silence for one hour a day. You need to get back to your core.

If you think this sounds stupid then don’t do it. Stay depressed.

QQ) What if I don’t have time to sit in silence?

Then sit in silence for two hours a day. This is not meditation. This is just sitting.

RR) What if I get scared?

Sleep 8-9 hours a day and never gossip. Sleep is the No. 1 key to successful health. It’s not the only key. It’s just No. 1. Some people write to me and say, “I only need four hours of sleep” or “in my country sleeping means laziness.” Well, those people will fail and die young.

What about gossip? The brain biologically wants to have 150 friends. Then when you are with one of your friends you can gossip about any of the other 150. If you don’t have 150 friends then the brain wants to read gossip magazines until it thinks it has 150 friends.

Don’t be as stupid as your brain.

You can read the full article here.

What do you think of Altucher’s advice? Is he spot on, or way out there?

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The post The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Career Transitions appeared first on Brazen Life.

It’s one of the questions most of us dread during an interview: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

After all, when you’re in your 20s, you often don’t know which city you’ll be living in nine months from now, or heck, what you’re doing this weekend. With the career-scape changing so quickly, how could you possibly know where you’ll be FIVE years down the road?

So we’re happy to see that Dice TV has made answering this question just a little bit easier. In this video, Cat Miller explains what the interviewer is looking for in your answer and offers several ideas for how to put your best foot forward.

What do you think? Do you have other ideas for how to best answer this doozy of a question?

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The post How to Answer, “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?” (VIDEO) appeared first on Brazen Life.

And you’re partially right. But, according to a recent article by Ella Miron-Spektor on Harvard Business Review, you’re also partially wrong. While creative types are necessary for innovation, including conformists in your team may be necessary to make sure all those grand new ideas actually get done.

As Miron-Spektor writes:

We found that conformists, of all people, are the key to balancing the creatives. If you have the right proportion of conformists on an innovation team, they can dramatically increase its output of radical innovations – not just ideas, but workable products.

Creative people’s tendency to generate conflict and their dislike of rules may hinder team performance. Conformists, by contrast, diminish conflict, follow the rules, and contribute to their group’s confidence and cohesion.

You can read the full article here.

What’s your reaction to this article? Can you see the case for conformists?

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The post The Key to Successful Innovation Is… Conformists? appeared first on Brazen Life.

Let’s get a drum-roll for your next topic…

Brazen’s Fall Run-Around

The topic: How are you learning a new skill?

New skills can help you land a job you enjoy, give you the chance to snag a promotion at work and provide opportunities to meet new people. Plus, it’s fun!

After publishing a post from author Josh Kaufman on secrets to learning new skills more quickly than you ever thought possible, we wondered how Brazenites are going about skill acquisition.

If you’re learning a new language, how are you doing it? Through a class at a university, or by traveling through another continent?

If you’re teaching yourself to code, what tools are helping you get there? Maybe a Skillshare class or an old-school book?

What skills are you adding to your arsenal, and how are you doing it?

How to participate: Write a post about this topic on your blog, and leave the link to that post below in the comments. (Only one post per participant.)

Deadline: November 15, 2013. That gives you plenty of time to share your story. Then watch for your link in our next Run-Around post in late November.

Ready to get writing? We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

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The post Brazen’s Fall Run-Around: Tell Us How You’re Learning a New Skill appeared first on Brazen Life.

But did you know Brazen also partners with popular employers and universities around the country to put on virtual career fairs and networking events?

Our platform allows talented candidates to connect directly with recruiters, hiring managers and other decision-makers to see if there’s a match with a particular company or organization. Doesn’t that sound more civilized than applying to a standard job listing and never hearing anything back?

Many of our partners ask us to bring the best job candidates to these events, which means YOU have a chance to get recruited. This is your opportunity to take a step up in your industry and transition into your dream job.

Want an invite to our next event? Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted!

Get psyched about these upcoming events

This month, an impressive roster of employers, universities and organizations are hosting events on the Brazen platform. We’re excited to partner with Deloitte, Raytheon, Dice, Gannett Digital, Corporate Executive Board, Women for Hire, American Express and many more impressive employers who are looking to chat one-on-one about open positions — as well as make hires.

On the university side, we’re working with Temple University, Penn State, University of New Hampshire, George Washington Business School, University of Pittsburgh and more to host networking events that help alumni and students make valuable connections.

Don’t you want to be in on this goodness?

Sign up for our newsletter to get on the invite list!

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

The post Get Recruited: Upcoming Brazen Recruiting and Networking Events (October) appeared first on Brazen Life.