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!
The VUCA World-of Work
If you haven’t heard the trending business buzzword: VUCA, it stands for volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. The term originated at the US Army War College in 1980 to describe the global landscape after the Cold War, and quickly found traction in the business world. Our world circumstances have shifted from the 1980’s but the […]
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 […]
Happiness and Workplace Influence
It’s no mystery that happy employees are more productive but unhappy employees can become extremely debilitated and unwilling to follow leaders. This lack of influence leads to a breakdown in organizational morale, positional power and stability within organizations. Crystal Miller wrote a great piece on Blogging4Jobs about how asserting influence is not a passive thing […]
Define Success on Your Own Terms
You alone have the right to define what success means to you. Resist the temptation of letting others persuade you into absorbing their values. Focus on what you want so you can clearly measure what success means to you.
Pass the Turkey, and the Career Advice!
The stress of the holidays can be difficult enough without having to worry about finding a job or reinventing your career. If you dread the inevitability of well-meaning family members asking “How’s your job search going?” – consider tapping the wisdom and expertise of your friends and family and activate your warm network. Turn the […]
The Power of In-Person Communication
In this technology driven age people rarely communicate face-to-face anymore. Emailing, texting, and Tweeting have kept us hidden behind computer screens and handheld devices. It’s time to dust off your professional communication skills and speak to people, especially if you are searching for employment. In-person communication is always the best option so you can utilize […]
What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
The beauty of career reinvention is that you can change direction at any time. You should feel comforted that you have the power to control your career destiny so your “grown up” career can be redesigned multiple times. Research has shown that values: core beliefs and motivation, are the greatest predictors of career satisfaction. It’s […]
How a Coach Can Distinguish You in the Workplace
Having a personal career coach for C-level executives is expected as part of their continuing professional development and it also makes great business sense. Coaches can also be helpful for non-executives in various stages of your career. A coach can help polish your communication skills, develop and implement effective leadership strategies in your workplace, and […]
Navigate a Conference Wisely to Get the Most Out of Your Professional Development Dollars
Seeking out professional development opportunities is essential for the modern day professional. From webinars to continuing education or conferences and workshops – you must stay current and continue to grow in order to remain relevant in a competitive market. Professional development can also be a retreat for your mind, body & career spirit. It’s a […]
A Personal Brand Audit!
Linda Coles’ latest book is called: “Start with Hello” (Wiley) and talks about meeting more people you don’t currently know. It also shows you why your personal brand is important. Recently, Linda wrote a fabulous piece on LinkedIn about how you should perform a personal audit on your professional brand. What is the professional persona […]
My New Team of Introverts
I started a new job last month and had the first meeting with my team over lunch. My team consists of 3 amazingly smart and productive women so I was thrilled with the opportunity to get to know them and discuss our professional futures together. Within 60 seconds of arriving at our table, these women […]
Martha Stewart, Charlotte Beers and CDH
What do Martha Stewart, Charlotte Beers, and I have in common? We’ll each be speaking at the Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women on November 5th in Indianapolis. I hope you can plan to attend! The Indiana Governor’s Conference for Women will feature Martha Stewart,founder of Martha Stewart Living OmniMedia and Emmy Award-winning television show host, entrepreneur and best-selling author. […]
Do You Have The Sunday Night Career Blues?
Are you mopey on Sunday nights because you dread going to work the next day? If you’ve lost the passion for your job and feel like you are in a professional rut, it’s time to take stock and assess what you really want out of your career. When is It Time to Change Jobs? If […]
Top Communication Mistakes and How to Fix Them
It amazes me how many professionals are lazy with their verbal communication. Some are incredibly informal and use slang or colloquialisms while others employ inaccurate grammar. These professional faux pas can be deal breakers in an interview scenario but can also make a bad impression on the job. It’s time to ramp up your communication […]
