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!
Your Career Advantage

In 2021, I began writing a bi-weekly LinkedIn newsletter which now has over 4,400 global subscribers and growing. This incredible community of professionals has taught me so much and I am committed to sharing tools and resources to help us all navigate a lifelong career journey with meaning and purpose. As an executive coach and […]
This Valentine’s Day – Love Who You Are

It’s the time of year for cards with red hearts, chocolates, and flowers as Valentine’s Day approaches. 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. By all means, celebrate […]
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 […]
Why You Need Mentors and Sponsors for Your Career Development
Mentors and sponsors can be crucial for your career development. Think of them as accountability masters to take you to the new level to set and accomplish goals.
Elevate Your Career
It is no surprise that the current job market is challenging for job seekers and those wanting to advance their careers. Competition is fierce from entry-level to the executive ranks and women are still outnumbered and under-valued in many male dominated professions. Women need to get into the career game and redefine their competitive edge […]
Kawasaki Wisdom on Achieving Likeability
Guy Kawasaki is the author of twelve books including APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur — How to Publish a Book, What the Plus!, and Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Action. He’s the former chief evangelist of Apple and current advisor to Motorola. He shares enchanting stuff on the topics of marketing, enchantment, social […]
8 Ways to “Manage Up” — Without Your Boss Knowing You’re Doing It
Beverly Flaxington is a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA) and career and business adviser and I am looking forward to having her as a guest on my CBS Radio show this summer. Beverly and I have talked about how a bad boss is often the reason behind employee disengagement and ultimately lack of retention in […]
Bring on Your Sparkle Factor
When you play to your strengths and tap your inner passion you reveal your sparkle factor. Spend some time identifying what really makes you tick and bring on your sparkle.
What NOT to Wear for the Job Interview This Summer
I am looking forward to having Vicky Oliver as a guest on my CBS Radio show in September but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share her expert tips about dressing for job interviews in the summer months. Vicky has written five best-selling career development books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette […]
Get Into Your Career Game
Don’t play it so safe that you lose out on new opportunities Get into the game and try something new!
A Professional Photo is an Investment in Your Career
Be honest, does your LinkedIn profile have a photo or are you one of those people who chose not to upload an image? The message you are sending to the professional world is not a good one if you opted out of including a head shot. It’s not a beauty contest but a way for […]
Colleague Drama 101
I’ve spoken a lot lately about being liked vs. respected at work and I encourage you to choose the latter in your work environment since when you are well respected, people tend to also enjoy your company. But sometimes colleagues just don’t get along and personalities clash. I’ve even heard horror stories of unacceptable behavior […]