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!
Boomerang Talent is Ripe for Recruiting

The Worker’s Market is alive and well putting talent in the driver’s seat in this robust job market. While many employers are scrambling to attract and retain top talent, the often-unexpected population of boomerang and alumni talent is ripe for hiring. Boomerang and Alumni Employees Boomerang talent has worked in or applied to work in […]
I’d Rather Be in Charge

This phrase resonates so clearly for many of us and happens to be the title of an iconic book by Charlotte Beers. Former Chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, I’ve seen Charlotte deliver several keynotes over the years to share her wisdom. Wicked smart, full of moxie and extraordinary life experiences, this queen […]
Tap Your Inner PR Agent for Career Success

Even though I count on my amazing Publicist, Stacey J. Miller’s expertise to promote my book, I still consider one of my most important tasks to be self promotion. I am always packing books, business cards, portfolios, and compelling stories about what I do and why it is valuable to potential clients, speakers bureaus, or […]
The Thrill of Career Victory and The Agony of Defeat

National unemployment numbers are the lowest in recent history and jobs are more plentiful but finding the right career fit can still be a challenge. Some are re-entering the job world after a planned hiatus – like taking time off to raise children, caring for elderly parents, or becoming a trailing spouse following a partner’s […]
The Crucial Step of Following Up

I speak to so many people who honestly believe they are networking well by sending an email or leaving a single voicemail. When they don’t get a response, they abandon the contact. The follow-up is the most crucial part of building and maintaining any professional relationship. My first suggestion is to distinguish yourself by calling […]
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 […]