This Is Not The Career I Ordered™ Blog
Savvy Professional Career Wisdom by Caroline Dowd-Higgins
This is Not the Career I Ordered is read by thousands of careerists around the globe. With savvy tools, inspiration, and resources, this timeless book empowers you to enjoy your career, and love your life!
Enjoy Your Career. Love Your Life. ™
For decades, I took great pride in being known as a workhorse. I was praised for burning the candle at both ends and didn’t take all my well-earned paid time off. I didn’t recognize the fact that I sacrificed my personal life for my career because I loved my all-consuming work. In the heart of […]
Sorry? Not Sorry!
We all know people who over-apologize. Individuals who take responsibility for everything – even things they didn’t do. Research tells us that women tend to over-apologize more than men. As comedian and writer Amy Poehler puts it, “It takes years as a woman to unlearn what you have been taught to be sorry for.” Harriet […]
Work-Health Balance: 7 Guideposts To Help Take Care of Yours
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We talk a lot about work-life balance these days, but what about work-health balance? When we refer to our work, we often say we’re giving it our “all” or giving “one hundred and fifty percent.” These are admirable sentiments in theory, but what percentage of the pie of life are you reserving for yourself – […]
Organizations are Serious About The “No Jerks” Policy When Hiring
Over the last 15 years as a career & professional development consultant, I have worked with countless employers seeking ideal candidates to fill critical roles in their organizations. Regardless of the career field, recruiters and hiring managers agree that after the basic criteria of skills and experiences are met, candidates are accepted or eliminated based […]
Why We Need To Fail In Order To Move Forward
This post was originally published on PPC Hero by Matt Umbro. I am delighted to showcase guest blogger, Matt Umbro, a Senior Account Manager in charge of Community at Hanapin Marketing. He specializes in ecommerce PPC and client relations, while overseeing content production for PPC Hero. Matt also runs the popular #PPCChat Twitter hashtag. Follow […]
Best/Worst Careers: 2016 Job Rankings
CareerCast.com’s 2016 Jobs Rated Report was recently published for the 28th consecutive year, and it’s fascinating to peruse the findings. The popular job search website gathered data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of the US Department of Labor, to rank jobs based on four core criteria: work environment (physical and emotional requirements); […]
The Good Ol’ Summer Time: Making The Most of It!
With the Fourth of July behind us, it seems like the days of summer are speeding by faster than ever, so here’s to making the most of them! Whether it’s enjoying a full-fledged getaway, a stay-cation, or turning weekends into mini-vacations or retreats, I hope you’ll have the opportunity to re-fresh and re-charge this summer. […]
Does a Higher Salary Require More Than 40 Hours a Week?
The Birth of the American 40-Hour Week The Monday through Friday workweek was first introduced in 1926 when Henry Ford began shutting down his automotive factories on Saturday and Sunday to allow his labor force to rest. But it was not until 1940, when a provision of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act mandating a […]
How Will You Engage With the Up and Coming Generation Z?
I’m so pleased to share this guest blog post from my IUAA colleague, Erin Bruce. She is a career coach and advocate for working moms who is also raising a Gen Z son so this new generation is especially close to her heart. They’re here! Generation Z, the iGeneration, Post-Millennials, Centennials, or Zees, are just a few of the names […]
The Art of Accepting a Compliment
Historically, women have been taught to be modest and not boastful. While there is nothing worse than an arrogant bragger, I am on a personal mission to help others embrace their humble confidence and own their strengths and accomplishments. In reality, there is nobody else in the professional world advocating on your behalf but you. […]
5 Reasons to Consider a Career Change
Many people eventually realize that they’re stuck in a job that just isn’t right for them. Whether it’s because they’re not getting promoted, or they just aren’t getting paid enough to keep the lights on, at some point these people realize that something has to give. That usually serves as good indication that it’s time […]
Create a Gig Economy Culture In an Organization to Attract and Retain Millennial Talent
During a recent Uber ride in Chicago my forty-something aged driver enthusiastically shared why he loves his contract work career. He creates his own hours, has total flexibility, and can control how he earns money based on how much he works. The “Gig Economy” represents those who make their living in a non-traditional way. They […]
3 Advantages of Hiring a Bilingual Candidate
I’m pleased to share this guest blog from Vanessa Fardi, Team Leader US/CA/LATAM at NEUVOO. Having bilingual employees in the workforce can only bring benefits to the company. Studies have shown that bilingual people are good at multitasking and have excellent communication skills. Any company looking to expand or to have global reach should consider […]
A 2 Minute Attitude Adjustment
Admittedly, there are times when the stress at work makes you want to tear your hair out or at least close your door and scream in the privacy of your own work space. So, when life gets complicated at work and you need an attitude adjustment or a breather to re-create a positive frame of […]
