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!
Showcase Your Indispensability for Job Security and Growth
The Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) world-of-work has made us question job security. Gone are the days when company loyalty made you feel protected during difficult times. All sectors from corporate to non-profit, and higher-education have deployed downsizing, reductions in force, and lay-offs to navigate tumultuous times. Being indispensable in the competitive world requires […]
A Grown-Up Snow Day: How Will You Spend it?
Much of the country is being pelted with winter weather as I watch the beautiful snow accumulate outside from my warm and cozy perch at home. I’m in the mood for the stillness and peace that comes with a winter snowy day. ☃️ Before digital e-learning days, kids would wish for snow days to enjoy […]
Keep, Stop, Start Your Way to Clarity, Purpose, and Wellness in 2024
It’s March and we are well into the first quarter of the new calendar year. Perhaps you are sticking with your New Year’s resolution or intention – or not. Maybe you are focusing on a word or phrase that resonates deeply to reinforce your chosen behaviors and mindset. As a career and executive coach, I […]
What are You Waiting For? Just Do it!
As a career development and executive coach, I work with many individuals who are focused on making changes to their lives and careers to better align their values and strengths. But for some, their best plans often get stalled in analysis paralysis, which results in stagnation and a hard stop to forward momentum. Perfection is […]
The Best Valentine’s Day Gift is to Love Yourself
It’s the time of year for cards with red hearts, chocolates, and flowers as Valentine’s Day is celebrated in February. It causes anxiety for some who are seeking affection, and bliss for others who are celebrating their love with someone special. This Valentine’s Day I encourage you to see it through a different lens. Celebrate […]
Perform Your Due Diligence Before Accepting a New Role
It’s the first quarter of a new calendar year and the marketplace is robust with job opportunities. Several of my clients are deep into the interview process and contemplating new roles. It’s essential for the candidates to be empowered in the process. It’s your interview too and you must perform your due diligence to determine […]
Interviewology with Anna Papalia
Recently, I’ve heard several prospective clients share that they have made it to the final round of the interview process but did not land the role – coming in as a strong runner up. What candidates rarely consider is that 90% of hiring managers aren’t trained on how to interview, so they fall prey to […]
Ambition is Not a Dirty Word
The career landscape provides you with a myriad of choices about where to work and how to advance your career. Be proactive about how to become a promotable player and confidently consider the leaders with whom you want to work — or not. During a mock interview with my client Collette, I asked her if […]
Should I Stay, or Should I Go?
The world-of-work is changing fast with unemployment at a record low and the Talent Wars in full swing. The Worker’s Market and the post-pandemic journey have given you the opportunity to reconsider your values and assess whether your current workplace is a best fit. As a career and executive leadership coach, I hear on a […]
The Inside Scoop About Psychological Safety at Work
The term psychological safety is all the rage in workplace research and publications. I’d like to de-mystify this term and break it down so it’s easily understandable and implementable in all work environments. By Definition Katie Taylor wrote a great piece in Atlassian that defines psychological safety as follows: Psychologically safe work environments allow team […]
2024: Let’s Do This!
As we begin a new year, the time is ripe to start fresh and consider what you need and want to be happy, healthy, and gratified in your life and career. The pressure to pick a new year’s resolution can be stressful. Instead of a singular resolution that is likely to wane in a few […]
Take the Challenge to Be Fully Present During The Holidays
There are a plethora of celebrations from Thanksgiving through the new year that represent a myriad of cultural, religious, pagan, and ethnic holidays. With the hustle and bustle of this festive time of year in full swing, the stress and overwhelm are palpable. If you are fortunate enough to get some down time over the […]
Leverage The Final Work Weeks of 2023
The countdown is on until 2023 is in the rear-view mirror of your career. While many organizations slow down during the final days of December, consider how you can use this time to leverage your influence and set your career stage for the 2024. Make Connections Beyond Your Team Capitalize on the holiday party or […]
End 2023 Strong at Work
With days left before the beginning of a new year and the holiday season in full swing – it’s an opportune time to finish out the calendar year with intentionality at work. The economic predictions about inflation, a potential recession, and company lay-offs are conflicting at best, so take advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate […]
