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!
Gratitude with Specificity

This weekend I received a beautiful card in the mail from my dear friend Sonal Sheth Zawahri that truly made my day. Admittedly, my love language is “words of affirmation”, so cards, hand-written notes and messages feed my gratitude soul. She also included 2 of her signature Tru You Val-U cards that celebrate talents, characteristics, […]
The Power of Resting Deeply

It’s the height of the summer season and many are taking vacation hoping to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate. The reality is that many people need a vacation after the vacation because they do so much during their time off that rest is not a priority, and they return to work exhausted. I am a firm […]
Create An Action Plan to Achieve Your Career Goals

As a professional speaker, I have honed my craft and grown my business with the tremendous resources of the National Speakers Association. NSA’s current President is Ruby Newell-Legner, CSP. In a recent NSA Speaker Magazine, Ruby outlined suggestions to put goals into actionable steps. Creating goals is essential but unless you also develop a plan […]
There is No Reality, Only Perception with Your Career Brand

As a career development and executive coach, I often work with people that brand products or services for an organization but have no real awareness of their unique professional brand and why it matters. It’s time to take stock of your own brand and use it to achieve your career goals and tell your authentic […]
The Best Gift – A New Career Opportunity!

The stress of navigating work and life can be difficult enough without having to worry about finding a job or reinventing your career. Consider tapping into the wisdom and expertise of your friends and family. Turn a family gathering into a professional development coaching session and ask your circle of trust to help out by […]
Unhappy At Work? Then Make a Change

This post was contributed by Chris Evans. Many thanks for your insight, Chris! I’ve written many times about the enormous amount of people I come across who are unhappy at work. So, today, I thought I would lay out a little plan for anyone who doesn’t enjoy what they do. It’s simple stuff in theory, […]
May the Force Be With You as a Seasoned Woman at Work

The double standard for men and women continues in the workplace. The recent media debate about whether Carrie Fisher is aging well or not in the blockbuster, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” movie, is an example of women facing scrutiny about looks and appearance in the workplace that does not equally apply to men. It’s […]
Perfect Your Hiring Process: Five Tips to Building the Right Team

For start-ups and entrepreneurs especially, the hiring process can be a grueling period in a company’s life. Those first few weeks where you’re trying to look for great talent but are also desperate for a workforce of any level calls for an immediate trimming and systemization of a proper hiring process. Getting people to sign […]
The Best Ways To Impress Bosses And Advance Your Career

This post was contributed by Beth Jones. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and expertise, Beth! Most people would like to earn the highest wages possible from their jobs. However, it’s difficult to get into that higher-rate tax bracket without many qualifications. With that in mind, I thought you could benefit from some advice about […]
Top Talent’s 2016 Career Question: Should I Stay, or Should I Go?

The world of work is changing fast with unemployment on the decline and the Talent Wars in full swing. The major skills gap is still a reality and the buyer’s market is highly competitive for qualified candidates. The Millennial Generation talent pool will comprise 50% of the workforce in 2020 but their values don’t focus […]
How to Get a Raise in 2016

The US Labor market is picking up speed and your promote-ability could follow suit. While asking for a raise may be something you look forward to as much as a root canal, being well prepared will help reduce your anxiety and up your chances of getting a promotion. Remember, you’ll never get it of you […]
Career Inspiration: 4 Books To Help You Chart Your Course in 2016

It’s a brand new year, and with it comes a fresh start and new or renewed goals. If 2016 is the year you’re looking to reinvigorate your career, whether that means making a change or growing where you are – here are four books that can help: This Is Not The Career I Ordered. I […]
Give Yourself A Gift This Season: 5 Tips For Self-Care During the Holidays

At this time of year, chances are, you’re doing things for everyone but yourself – tracking down those special gloves for your aunt… snapping the family picture so you have a prayer of getting cards out before New Year’s… online shopping for all the kids in your life. You’re cooking…baking… stuffing… wrapping…while, at the same […]
The Benefits of Becoming a Pharmacy Technician

With the New Year approaching, I am featuring blogs about career opportunities that are on the grow. As the population ages, careers in allied health are more in demand than ever. A career as a pharmacy technician is one of the many options available to you. Not only is it an interesting field to explore, […]