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!
Older, Wiser, and Career Dynamic
I have executive coaching clients in their fifth and sixth decade of life who are navigating a career change due to lay-offs, or company mergers beyond their control. Others are career transitioning by choice. My clients expressed worry about ageism as they consider what’s next on their professional journey and seek employment that honors their […]
Hire the Least Likely Candidates and Win with The Underdogs
I am so fortunate to meet and work with incredible thought leaders who are changing the world and Gil Winch, a guest on my Your Working Life podcast is no exception. When Gil learned that he had terminal cancer and a shortened expected lifespan, he decided to take on the challenge of changing the world regarding […]
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 […]
I’m The New Girl At Work!
This week, I begin my new role at the Indiana University Alumni Association as Director of Professional Enrichment. I will spearhead an expanded alumni career enhancement and leadership development program, which recently captured the attention of executive coaching guru, Marshall Goldsmith and Spencer Stuart CEO, Jim Citrin. It’s a bold paradigm shift and a wonderful […]
Three Qualities Every Leader Needs To Succeed On a Team
I first read this great piece by Peter Bregman when it was originally published in the Harvard Business Review. Peter has graciously given me permission to re-post it on my blog. Enjoy his incredible wisdom about leadership qualities and how they are essential on a team. By Peter Bregman “I want your help developing my […]
10 Ways to Overcome Impostor Syndrome
Joyce Roché has been a trailblazer in the corporate world for 25 years, as Avon’s first African American female vice president; COO of Carson Products Company, now part of L’Oreal; former CEO of the national nonprofit Girls Inc.; and a board member on five Fortune 500 companies. She will be a guest on my CBS […]
6 Minefields to Avoid in Your Next Job Interview
Vicky Oliver is a Manhattan-based job interview consultant, and the bestselling author of five career development books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, and 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette Questions. She’ll be joining me on CBS Radio Career Coach Caroline on September 24th. Here is a sneak peak at her wisdom […]
Dare to Compete, Mrs. Clinton!
I recently attended the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) annual convention in Chicago and Hillary Clinton was the opening night keynoter. She addressed an enthusiastic crowd of 10,000+ people and left me ready to engage my competitive spirit. While the former Secretary of State is passionate about many things, her focus is on women […]
