Karen Schneider

I am a contributor to TheMuse, Career Contessa, Fairygodboss, Elite Daily, and Thought Catalog, and have been featured in Business Insider and Harvard Business Review for my career advice. I am obsessed with learning, life, and career/self-improvement. Come say hi to me on Twitter & follow me on Instagram @karen_lenore

How To Land Your Dream Job, Even If You Don’t Have The Skills Or Experience

By Karen Schneider

Dream job: For many of us, it sounds like a faraway wish or fantasy. The term is broad and means different things to different people. There is one thing, however, that can be agreed: It's really fucking hard to get it. After all, nowadays, you…

Why You Don't Have To Go Out To Have The Perfect New Year's Eve

By Karen Schneider

New Year's Eve is a time for celebration. It's a chance to look back with gratitude and acknowledge all the progress you've made during the year or, at the very least, a time to assess your blunders and mistakes to help you to plan better for the…

I Settled Down In My 20s, And I'm Regretting It In My 30s

By Karen Schneider

In the movie "13 Going on 30," Jennifer Garner's character, Jenna, desperately wishes to grow up and work for her favorite magazine, Poise, and to be "thirty, flirty and thriving." This verbiage is an excerpt taken from between the fictional…

Why Putting Up Barriers In Love Is Holding You Back From Finding The Right Person

By Karen Schneider

I hate to be that stereotypical person who says they're afraid of love because the last person (or three) burned them, but hey, I am. Commitment is a scary word. It requires opening up to another person, baring your soul and asking them not to judge…

4 Things You Need To Know About Yourself Before You Can Be In A Relationship

By Karen Schneider

Growing up, I watched romantic comedies, idolizing the characters and soaking up the sappy love stories' happy endings. Movies like "Sixteen Candles," "Pretty in Pink" and "Dirty Dancing" showed me that anything was possible if you just had the love…

How To Respond To An Ex Reaching Out After Months Of Silence

By Karen Schneider

It's almost the weekend and you're getting ready to head out and meet the girls for dinner and a few cocktails. As you're finishing up your makeup and double-checking your tresses, you hear a text come through on your phone. Shuffling to grab your…

I'm A Single Mom, And These Are The 5 Things I Need From A New Partner

By Karen Schneider

Does true love exist? Yes. Ask any parent. Becoming a parent is one of the most amazing events that will ever happen in your life. Life as you know it changes once you hold that tiny bundle of joy in your arms. Gazing back into those beautiful eyes…

My Life Fell Into Place After I Quit My Job With No Backup Plan

By Karen Schneider

A few months back, I was working in a job I had grown to hate. The environment there was toxic and employees were treated really badly. It made me sink into a funk, so I decided to change my situation. I knew I was the only person responsible for my…

Why Anyone Who's Experienced Infidelity Will Feel Empowered By 'Lemonade'

By Karen Schneider

So, in case you haven't heard or don't reside on planet Earth, Beyoncé broke the Internet with the recent release of her visual album, Lemonade. After dropping an ominous teaser trailer that gave away nothing, but hinted at much more, millions of…

6 Things You Ignore About A Relationship When You're Trying To Make It Work

By Karen Schneider

I hung up the phone after a recent and frustrating conversation with my ex-husband, and I stared blankly at the wall. “Wow,” I thought to myself in awe. “That guy was once what I thought my checklist was." How could I have ever been so wrong, so…

This Is Why Sexual Assault Victims Are Still Afraid To Speak Up In 2016

By Karen Schneider

Sexual assault is a serious issue that has been around for ages, but until recent years, it remained a topic that wasn't often discussed openly. Victims of sexual assault were afraid, and some were even ashamed, thinking they were somehow to…

Why Turning 35 Isn't The Milestone Everyone Makes It Out To Be

By Karen Schneider

I can't tell which one looks more frightening: the actual number 35, or spelling it out. Thirty five. Thirty five. Thirty five. No matter the font selection or caps arrangement, the words seem pretty aggressive to me, and I really don't appreciate…

5 Things You Hate To Admit You Have In Common With Your Ex's New Bae

By Karen Schneider

"It's not you, it's me" is the legendary ending to so many relationships. So, you decide to break up with your boyfriend. It may have been mutual, it may have been your doing and it may even have been his (as if he could do better). No breakup is…

12 Ways To Make Sure You're Becoming A #GirlBoss, Not A Mean Girl

By Karen Schneider

From birth, we are ever-changing and evolving into the people we will become. People, situations and experiences help mold us and shape our personalities. Growing up is certainly not easy. Females, especially, encounter a number of obstacles during…

The Timeline Of Dating A Co-Worker: Why Success Is Rare At The Office

By Karen Schneider

I sighed and closed my eyes as Lana Del Rey's sultry voice made love to the lyrics of her song, "American." It was the summer of 2013, and I was newly obsessed with her music. As the tracks changed and "Burning Desire" slid into my background noise,…

8 Things I've Learned About Heartbreak After Getting Divorced In My 20s

By Karen Schneider

In December 2009, after years of strife and months of struggling to adjust to the shock of my separation, my divorce was finalized. With a heavy heart, I tried to move on and accept that I was now a divorced, single mother at the mere age of…

Why Every Woman Needs A Supportive Pisces Friend In Her Squad

By Karen Schneider

A friendship with a Pisces is one of the deepest connections you can hope to have. Pisces are the most gentle and loving sign of all the zodiac, and they will offer their whole hearts to those they care for. Symbolized by two fish swimming in…

Why I Chose To Ignore My Ex-Husband’s Prescription Pill Addiction

By Karen Schneider

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and it’s important to remember alcohol is not the only substance that can make you an impaired driver. The statistics on the rising epidemic of prescription pill abuse are startling. According…

From Britney To Taylor: The Fluidity Of Being A Pop Star In 2015

By Karen Schneider

In 1999, Britney Spears burst onto the music scene with her wildly successful hit, “Baby One More Time.” The former Mickey Mouse Club star strolled into the spotlight, shyly introducing herself as one of us: An innocent girl, learning lessons in…

What You Can Do Over The Holidays To Help End The Homeless Epidemic

By Karen Schneider

With Thanksgiving and the holidays right around the corner, many of us are looking forward to quality time spent with family and friends, delicious food and exchanging gifts as we celebrate and show our love for each other. Christmas lists are being…