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 More Inclusive Kind of Brainstorming
As an extravert and someone who loves to ideate, I’m in my happy place with an opportunity to brainstorm. As a former executive leader in organizations, and now as a speaker, executive coach and talent development consultant I am fully aware that brainstorming is not ideal for everyone. When teams or groups meet to brainstorm, […]
Sorry? Not Sorry!
We all know people who over-apologize. Research tells us that women tend to over-apologize more than men. As comedian Amy Poehler puts it, “It takes years as a woman to unlearn what you have been taught to be sorry for.” Harriet Lerner, Ph.D. wrote about why people over-apologize in a Psychology Today article. “It may […]
Is Your Life Eulogy Worthy, or Resume Worthy?
David Brooks delivered a compelling TED Talk about living for your resume or your eulogy. According to Brooks, “The résumé virtues are the ones you put on your résumé, which are the skills you bring to the marketplace. The eulogy virtues are the ones that get mentioned in the eulogy, which are deeper: who are you, in your […]
Hiring Neurodivergent Talent
I have worked with countless employers seeking ideal candidates to fill critical roles in organizations. Recruiters and hiring managers agree that after the basic criteria of skills and competencies are met, candidates are accepted or eliminated based upon how they fit into the culture of an organization. Savvy workplaces consider potential just as much as […]
Out of Work? Game on!
Lay-offs, downsizing, and right-sizing are terms that leave an emotional wake in the world-of-work. The shifting of talent supply and demand has become ubiquitous in all sectors and whether you have been let go, or left on your own accord, it’ time to consider what’s next. Silver Lining While it’s hard to see the bright […]
Celebrate Women Leaders
In honor of International Women’s month, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the transformational impact of women leaders. Women are paving the way for a style of leadership that is confident, authentic, and highly effective. Catalyst reports that the share of women in senior management is increasing incrementally. We still have a long way […]
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 […]
