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!
Feeling Stuck in Your Life or Career? Design Your Way to a Better Future

You are not alone of you feel stuck, stalled, or stagnated in your career. I work with many clients who have been in the same role, or with the same organization for multiple years and feel that the spark is no longer there when it comes to their work. They feel drained; lack focus, and […]
The Gender Gap? Women and Men in the Labor Market

This article originally appeared here: The Gender Gap? Women and Men in the Labor Market and was republished here by permission of LiveCareer. Women can climb career ladders and trees with their children. Still, femininity is not defined by motherhood. At the same time, more and more men are engaged in both professional and family […]
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 […]
Do Your Best: Have No Regrets

The greatest satisfaction in my work comes from seeing others thrive in theirs. Whether it’s helping my clients, or you, dear reader, land the job, navigate the work culture, communicate professional skills, or begin the search for something new, I’m thrilled to be of service – helping you do your very best. Doing your best […]
Are You a Multiplier or a Diminisher?

From academia to the non-profit arena, as well as the corporate world-of-work, I have had many clients who complained about bosses who were ineffective leaders. Were their leaders intelligent and talented people? Yes. But, were they able to lead a team, motivate others, and empower success in their colleagues? Not always! I have come to […]
Hop Off the Fence! The Power of Decision

When it comes to making important choices or taking risks, for many of us, it’s easier to make the decision not to make a decision. I’ve certainly been there, done that… I was ten years into my opera career…my dream profession…the career I’d spent half my life training for…when I started feeling that the life of […]
The Changing Landscape of Work

By Goodwill Industries International Vice President of Mission Advancement Jennifer Davis It is on the news, in magazines and books and in workshop sessions at conferences. Everyone from the Federal Reserve to you and your colleagues are paying more attention to the changing landscape of work. Many of these thinkers and doers are responding to fears […]
Goodwill® Can Help You Jumpstart Your Career

Most people know Goodwill as the community place to bring used clothing and wares to be sold in stores and online. What you may not know is that Goodwill can also help boost your career. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that unemployment is the lowest since March 1973, but many are still looking for […]
Navigating Between Work and Family: 5 Tips That Can Help

We hear a lot about “work-life balance” these days, but, if you’re raising kids or caring for an older parent while bringing in a salary, is balance even possible? Dana Brownlee, mother of two young children, and founder of the Atlanta-based corporate training firm, Professionalism Matters, says trying to achieve work-life balance is akin to […]
Video Conferencing Etiquette Tips You Cannot Overlook

Technology is outsmarting itself with every passing second. It makes work easier as well as faster, and one such tool we all are familiar with is video conferencing. It provides an instant connection with the audience. It makes idea exchange an easier process where physical distance would have previously been a barrier. Below are a […]
Emotional Intelligence Part II: 7 Signs of Strong EQ

In the tenth anniversary edition of his bestseller Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (2005), author Daniel Goleman quotes a search firm executive who says, “CEO’s are hired for their intellect and business expertise – and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.” Many of us grew up believing that high IQ […]
Emotional Intelligence Part I: The 5 Competencies

How’s your ‘EQ’? It’s not a question you’re probably asked very often, if at all, but it’s definitely one to consider – especially when it comes to your career. For years, a person’s “Intelligence Quotient” or IQ was thought to determine how successful they’d be on the job and in life, however, over time, researchers […]