Sneak peek of the new Brazen Careerist!

I’ve shared with you my excitement about the online GenY community, Brazen Careerist, before. Well, in a few hours, they’ll launch a new site in just about every way: new look, new vision, new reason for you to care – and maybe – for me to move on.

Since I read mostly PR, writing and geek blogs, I dig Brazen because it allows me to follow posts about journeys I don’t usually read about, like paying your dues in the workplace, searching for ultimate purpose, frustration with non-techy boomers, whether or not to get your masters degree, etc.

Even though I’m on the almost-too-old-to-really-be-Gen-Y side of the Brazen Careerist spectrum, I still routinely get a lot out of the site – including meeting new folks (Hi, Nisha!), learning new things, and a steady amount of blog traffic.

The “old” site was billed as a true online community, with contributors “bold enough to explore divisive topics, but sensible enough to admit that they don???t have all the answers.”

The new site is touted as “the career management tool for next-generation professionals.” It’s intended to showcase you – twenty-something newbie – and your vast potential. It understands that lack of experience doesn’t mean not smart or capable. It gets you. It gets what you will be.

I LOVE that new vision, that business niche. I love the fact that Brazen will now be a place where smart and proactive grads will gather to take over the world.

There’s just one problem: I guess that kinda means I’m out.

I turn 30 in three weeks. With eight years of public relations and reputation management experience, I’m no longer your gal if you are targeting our future workforce. I may be young, but I am currently a professional. I love my career and can articulate my desired path. I wear a suit every day and have Manager in my title. Worse, heart excel sheets and regularly lead task forces.

Maybe it’s time for me to find the online community for the “not-quite-running-the-world-but-nearly-there professionals”? Did I just describe Twitter?

Don’t get me wrong: I’m thrilled for Brazen – and Penelope and the Ryans. If you liked the “old” Brazen, you’ll love the new site. I’ll still surf it and (hopefully) contribute.

Their strategic move to target and empower the next gen of pros is spot on; sadly, it’s just no longer the spot I’m in.

You know how it is. We get into our little social (media) circles and find ourselves in a familiar, like minded bubble. There’s nothing wrong with it mind you, it’s just that sometimes you need to read/listen to/talk about something different for a change. Or I do anyway!

Enter Brazen Careerist, the brain child of personal fav Penelope Trunk and co-founders Ryan Healy and Ryan Paugh. It’s supposed to be a career site for “Gen Y thought leaders, forward-thinking organizations and everyone else who realizes that the way we define ourselves in both work and in life needs to change.”

It’s not really a career site for me though. For me, Brazen Careerist is a well-written, intriguing, multi-topic blog syndication resource. Since I joined and subscribed to Brazen Careerist, I’m now feasting my eyes on something other than social media articles, public relations blogs, Google Alerts, news feeds, productivity advice and Twitter tips.

When I troll through the Brazen Careerist site, I read everything from techish Obama commentary to what we can all learn from gamers about failure and how to react when you’ve just witnessed two folks having an affair.

These are posts by folks who aren’t necessarily social media freaks or Twitter obsessed geeks (like me) – and that’s a good thing!

If you are GenY blogger, join Brazen Careerist. You’ll get a great bio page, you’ll read and comment on the thoughts of a lot of smart, passionate and multi-talented folks; you may even find your next gig there.

If your content is relevant, BC will syndicate your blog on their site. Google will love that, FYI!

If you are already Brazen Careerist member. I’d love to hear your take-away. What does BC do for you?