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!
Forest Bathing is Good for Your Life and Career
I was driving to work one morning when I heard a fascinating NPR story about forest bathing and how a retreat to nature can boost immunity and mood. If you have not heard about the trendy concept of forest bathing, the study of the practice dates back to the late 1990’s when a test was […]
How The Future Works
The pandemic turned the traditional nine-to-five workday on its head out of necessity. The 2-year (and counting) global case study in remote/hybrid work has irrevocably changed how many people want to work moving forward. With the Worker’s Market driving change, savvy organizations are rethinking the way we work long-term in the new digital-first workplace. My […]
Why Top Talent Leaves
In this career era, employees are not loyal to organizations because organizations are not loyal to employees. But many companies struggle with retaining top talent long enough to see their return on investment for new hires. Mike Myatt wrote a great piece in Forbes illustrating just why top talent tends to move on. You’ve heard […]
New Year = New Career!
The pressure for a New Year’s resolution is palpable this month, and the media is bombarding us with ads for weight loss and smoking cessation. But what about New Year career advice? A record number of Americans are still unemployed and many others are dissatisfied with their current work. Now is a great time to […]
All I Want for Christmas Is a New Career
The stress of the holidays can be difficult enough without having to worry about finding a job or reinventing your career. This season consider tapping into the wisdom and expertise of your friends and family. Turn the holiday conversation into a professional development coaching session and ask your circle of trust to help out by […]
How Not To Make a Fool of Yourself at the Office Holiday Party
It’s been a great year, you’ve worked really hard, and your company has brought back the holiday party to reward the team for a job well done. Before you pop the champagne be mindful that your behavior at the holiday bash will impact your professional reputation come Monday morning and beyond. Here are some tips […]
Show Your Colleagues You Appreciate Them This Holiday Season
Tis the season to give thanks so why not extend your gratitude to your professional network, as well as your friends and family? This is a wonderful time of year to nurture your professional peeps and show them how much you appreciate having them in your world-of-work. Navigating the social norms and workplace protocol for […]
How to Avoid Being Laid Off
Unemployment is moving slowly in the right direction but many companies are still downsizing to make financial ends meet. A savvy professional needs to showcase their value-add and strategize early to avoid a right sizing job loss. Here are some action steps to help prevent the dreaded job elimination email. Become Indispensable – You must […]
Marketing Overqualified to Your Advantage
If you are lucky enough to land a job interview in this difficult market, make sure you are in control of your message. This is especially important for seasoned candidates who often hear that they are overqualified for a position. With a generation of experienced individuals that were laid off during the recession, organizations are […]
Renaissance of the Gratitude Journal
In 1995 Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book Simple Abundance: A Day Book of Comfort and Joy was on the bestseller list and Oprah was talking about how impactful a gratitude journal could be in the way we view the world. My dear friend and colleague, Nichole reminded me of the importance of a gratitude journal when […]
How to Get a Bigger Raise in 2013
Raises have been minimal, or non-existent from 2010 to 2012 according to a compensation-planning survey from Mercer, a New York human resources consulting firm. Most organizations have not even covered the 2012 cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3.6 % as reported by the Social Security Administration and responded with paltry raises in the 2.7% […]
Does Your Career Zig or Zag?
The generations of professionals who work their entire career in a single organization are becoming extinct. These days it’s not that people have changed their professional values but that organizations don’t honor the long-term employee as they did in years past. The grow talent from within philosophy can still be found in some of the […]
Why Your Lunch Break is Essential
I’m the first to admit I have worked through many a lunch hour caching up on email and other tasks on my long to-do list for any given day. Besides the fact that I didn’t give myself a much-needed break during a busy day, I have come to appreciate why putting down the work is […]
Interview Faux Pas
You can’t land your dream job without nailing the interview. This in-person opportunity gives you the chance to showcase your professional value and prove why you would be a great hire. But even the most seasoned careerists can have trouble interviewing. So instead of focusing on what you should do, here are some common interview […]
