Very few of us hold jobs that line up directly with our past experiences or what we studied in college. Take TED Resident Jason Shen; he studied biology but later became a product manager at a tech company. In this quick, insightful talk about human potential, Shen shares some new thinking on how job seekers can make themselves more attractive -- and why employers should look for ability over credentials.

Why Art is NOT a Luxury | by Ethan Hawke

Reflecting on his career and his complex relationship with Art and self expression, actor Ethan Hawke did an interview with TED where he examines how important human creativity is when it comes to connecting with one another and getting through the toughest moments of our lives.

The Illuminating Benefits of Video Games

Are video games eroding our minds? These TED Talks suggest the opposite -- that video games can improve our brain function, and even help better the world.

How playing an instrument benefits your brain

When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Educator Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians' brains when they play and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workout.

What would happen if you didn't sleep?

In the United States, it's estimated that 30 percent of adults and 66 percent of adolescents are regularly sleep-deprived. This isn't just a minor inconvenience: staying awake can cause serious bodily harm. Claudia Aguirre shows what happens to your body and brain when you skip sleep.

The benefits of good posture

Has anyone ever told you, "Stand up straight!" or scolded you for slouching at a family dinner? Comments like that might be annoying—but they're not wrong. Your posture is the foundation for every movement your body makes and can determine how well your body adapts to the stresses on it.

Can you solve the bridge riddle?

Taking that internship in a remote mountain lab might not have been the best idea. Pulling that lever with the skull symbol just to see what it did probably wasn't so smart either. But now is not the time for regrets because you need to get away from these mutant zombies...fast. Can you use math to get you and your friends over the bridge before the zombies arrive?

Why some of us don't have one true calling

What do you want to be when you grow up? Well, if you're not sure you want to do just one thing for the rest of your life, you're not alone. In this illuminating talk, writer and artist Emilie Wapnick describes the kind of people she calls "multipotentialites" -- who have a range of interests and jobs over one lifetime. Are you one?

Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume

Given the choice between a job candidate with a perfect resume and one who has fought through difficulty, human resources executive Regina Hartley always gives the "Scrapper" a chance. As someone who grew up with adversity, Hartley knows that those who flourish in the darkest of spaces are empowered with the grit to persist in an ever-changing workplace.

Prof Galloway's Career Advice

As summer winds down, Scott offers some unsolicited career advice.

Three Questions to unlock your authentic career

Ashley Stahl at TEDxBerkeley 2014: "Rethink. Redefine. Recreate." Her talk is titled "3 Questions to Unlock your Authentic Career."

The best career path isn't always a straight line

Conventional wisdom frames the ideal career path as a linear one -- a ladder to be climbed with a single-minded focus to get to the top. Career development consultants Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper invite you to replace this outdated and limiting model with "squiggly" careers: dynamic, open-ended growth paths tailor-made for your individual needs, talents and ambitions.

Why specializing early doesn't always mean career success

A head start doesn't always ... well, help you get ahead. With examples from sports, technology and economics, journalist David Epstein shares how specializing in a particular skill too early in life may undermine your long-term development -- and explains the benefits of a "sampling period" where you try new things and focus on building a range of skills.

2 questions to uncover your passion -- and turn it into a career

Social entrepreneur Noeline Kirabo reflects on her work helping young people in Uganda turn their passions into profitable businesses, and shares the two questions you can ask yourself to begin doing the same.

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