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!
A Career Letter to The Class of 2023
Dear Class of 2023: As you head into the career world you have an opportunity to design your own career destiny and I encourage you to tap the power you have within you. You earned your credentials with a tremendous amount of time, effort, and more than likely a big financial investment that may also […]
Everboarding is the Key to Talent Retention
The Association of Talent Development (ATD) reports that the amount of information new hires learn in the first few days and weeks can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, many organizations consider onboarding a one-and-done process with tutorial videos and copious digital resources to comb through on your own. It’s a victory if you can find the bathroom […]
Don’t Be a Vacation Loser
It’s vacation season and the time of year to step away from work to recharge and refresh. Sadly, many people don’t take all the vacation days they earn. Others who take vacation end up working during their time off which defeats the purpose entirely. According to a Glassdoor survey, only 25% of employees with paid time […]
Assess Your Career VIPS: Getting to Know YOU
For many of us, asking the question ‘What do I want to be when I grow up’ doesn’t stop at age 22, or even at 42. While I have coaching clients right out of college who feel at sea because they’re unsure of their career direction, I also have clients who are looking to transition […]
Making the Most of Your Time
Many people ask me how I juggled a full-time job with a private career coaching practice and still managed to get a book published. I’d be remiss if I said it was easy, but I did learn some excellent strategies that are applicable to anyone struggling to get time on their side. Here are some […]
A Gossip-Free Workplace
Recently, a coaching client in middle management was expressing frustration about the noticeable increase of gossip in her office, and it brought to mind a New York Times article from a few years back that made quite an impression. No Gossip Policy In a NYT Preoccupations column, guest contributor, Shayla McKnight shared her experience working […]
The Search Is On: 5 Tips To Improve Your Google Factor
Have you Googled yourself lately? It’s something I regularly ask my coaching clients and I pose the question to you…when was the last time you searched for yourself online? Your Name/ Your Brand While an impressive resume and interview skills are important to landing a new job, your Google factor is key as well. I’ve […]
Going Creative: Finding Your Best Career Fit
If you yearn for work that allows you to be more creative, you’re not alone. CreativeLive, an online education network, recently commissioned a study regarding creativity at work, and a sizeable percentage of those surveyed said they wanted more of it. According to CreativeLive’s inaugural Creative Jobs Report: Nearly 40% of U.S. adults have a […]
Just Say ‘Thank you!’ Receiving Compliments With Poise
Historically, women have been taught to be modest, and not boastful. The problem is, lots of women take the modesty road too far – to the point of devaluing themselves and their talents. While I’m not advocating becoming an out and out braggart, it is important to stand tall in your strengths and accomplishments and […]
Develop Your Charisma and Your Career
Last Fall, I had the opportunity to hear Charlotte Beers speak. The legendary retired Advertising CEO and former Under Secretary of State had us all in the palm of her hand at the Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women. We were riveted from the moment Ms. Beers took the stage. She was the personification of charisma. […]
Knowing When to Say NO!
The hand goes up in the air and we can’t believe our ears as we hear ourselves, once again, saying “Sure, I’ll do it” – even though every fiber of our being is imploring us to “Just say no!” The ability to graciously decline, when it’s in our best interest, is key to maintaining a […]
Break Out of Your Comfort Zone: 5 Action Steps To Make A Change
Change can be so challenging, especially when it comes to career. We are creatures of habit – hard-wired to seek comfort in the perceived safety of routine and what’s already known. Whether it’s clinging to people, places, things, or the way we think and the actions we take, resisting change can cause stagnation and even […]
Self-Care Is Self-Aware
When the subject of self-care comes up, it’s common to hear the airline safety analogy about putting the oxygen mask on yourself first come up in the same conversation – and with good reason. Many women today are being pulled in a multitude of directions – taking care of family, managing the household, and possibly […]
Are You a Workaholic? Balancing Work and Home
To say that my life has been hectic over the past several years is an understatement – I’ve always thrived in a fast-paced environment where I’m moving at break-neck speed. However, when I started feeling chronically overwhelmed, and friends and family started using my name in the same sentence as the ‘W’ word – workaholic […]
