Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

TOP IDEA: Allison Cheston Are you someone who was a lousy student but has really found yourself through your career? I've been interviewing Gen Y's for my book on helping young adults starting in high school identify their strengths and interests to help plan for college and career. And I've talked to lots of people who were good students. If you were not I'd love to talk with you!

Kenji Crosland I'm 27, and have prematurely gray hair. I just started working at a web startup where it's not unusual for CEOs to be younger than I am. My parents suggested that I should dye my hair to get rid of all the gray and "look more my age." Not for vanity reasons, but for professional reasons. If I dyed my hair I could look at least five years younger if not more, which could be an advantage in a young industry. Do you think it even matters?

Maura V. Pingor Here I was interviewing a candidate for one of my positions, and the candidate starts looking at her blackberry, which she did multiple times. Not sure if she felt entitled because she was an internal candidate, but in my book it's a HUGE no no during any interview. I finally coached her to never take a bb to any interview.. Being late and not being prepared are two other horrible misatkes during an interview. What would you say a candidate should not do during an interview?

Dane Kim joined the groups The Modern Strategist, Video Games Industry, Sales Professionals and Brazen Careerist's Top 50 Gen-Y Companies2 more

Dane Kim I'll start with the obvious observation of problems in finding entry-level positions: it's a catch 22 between the lack of professional, real-world experience of new grads vs. the saturated market of out of work professionals with several years under their belt. Employers no longer have incentives to train long-term team members from the ground up.