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!
Design Your Career Trajectory with Smart Growth
I am a big fan of Whitney’s Johnson’s work and featured her in a new episode of my Your Working Life podcast where she shared wisdom about helping people develop their potential – enabling them to articulate and become the best professional self they want to be. Her new book, Smart Growth: How to Grow […]
Interview Your Prospective Boss Before You Accept a New Role
You’ve heard the adage, people don’t quit their job, they quit their boss. If you are looking for a new career opportunity, don’t miss out on the chance to interview your prospective boss to determine if they are a fit to empower you to do your best work. Your success and satisfaction are aligned with […]
Lessons worth Repeating
I recently came across a wonderful article by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a professor at the Harvard Business School who shared five lessons from 2010 that she believes are worth repeating. These professional development words of wisdom will stand the test of time so consider them as you move forward this year and beyond. 1. Surprises […]
You Have the Power
I spoke at a women’s book club this week and was inspired by the collective wisdom of these engaging and talented professional women. The discussion focused on rejuvenating existing careers since most of the women present were happy with their organizations but saw room for improvement and wanted to make some modifications in their workplace […]
Make a Positive Impression as the Newbie at Work
When you start a new job it’s important to establish a positive first impression with colleagues. The adjustment period will vary depending on the person and the organization but the attitude you exude at the start will set your tone in the office culture for a very long time. Here are some great tips from […]
What’s Your Plan?
I’m spending the week in Manhattan as a visiting guest faculty member at NYU and enjoying every minute of the experience. In addition to meeting with students (grad and undergrad) in a variety of academic disciplines, I have been working with staff and faculty members teaching career development strategies and action plans. The common question […]
Are You Ready?
It’s official, national unemployment rates are starting to drop for the first time in two years. While the single digit unemployment rate is cause for celebration, it also begs the question – are you ready for the job market? If you are a first-time job seeker or a career changer, now is the time to […]
Building Trust at Work Leads to Productivity
As a career development specialist, I have studied personality and how it impacts communication in the professional workplace. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator™ I have helped shape strategies for individuals and organizations who previously hit road blocks when trying to establish trust and open lines of communication. One need not be certified in MBTI to […]
Schedule an Integrity Day
A fellow career coach and friend, Angela Beeching shared a great article about Integrity Day – a targeted day when you collaborate with friends or colleagues to get things done. I’m a big fan of assigning accountability masters in life to give you a gentle nudge, or a firm kick, as need be to help you […]
Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone
We are hard wired to seek comfort in patterns and habits which is why so many people struggle with change. The fear of change can even cause people to cling to an uncomfortable situation because it is one they know best. Most find comfort in a familiarity with location, people, thoughts, and actions but when […]
Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First
In the quest for sanity in life and career, I am amazed and impressed with working Moms (and Dads!) as well as those who take care of elderly parents in addition to their full-time careers. Whether you are an official caregiver or simply trying to nurture the relationships in your life, I challenge you to put […]
Positivity is Infectious But Not Always Easy
I’ve learned a lot from people in my life who have faced extreme adversity and still found the strength to be positive. While I strive to maintain a cup half full mentality, there are taxing times when I need some extra help to stay positive and upbeat. It’s so easy to go to the dark […]
Job Search Fatigue
I was recently featured in a CareerBuilder.com article written by Rachel Farrell discussing job search fatigue. The reality is that job searching is a full-time endeavor and can be frustrating and mentally exhausting, especially when it drags on for an extended period of time. As Rachel indicated in her piece, the economy is rebounding but […]
Work/Life Integration
In an ongoing quest to achieve more satisfaction in my work and life, I have some new words of wisdom to share. I’m a consummate planner and often focus so much on the future that I miss the little moments of each day that are also precious. Here are some tips to help you take […]
