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!
Gratitude at Work Spurs Empathy and Compassion
As 2021 draws to a close, the stresses of the pandemic journey continue. Ambiguity lingers and many are navigating hybrid work scenarios, or lamenting having to commute again after a year+ of working from home. The Great Resignation is happening before our eyes and the urgent demand for labor is impacting all industries causing palpable […]
Executive Presence Isn’t Just for Executives
Executive presence used to harken images of expensively attired corporate employees who walked the walk and talked the talk to inspire confidence and yield influence for success in lavish offices and board rooms. In COVID times, the world has destigmatized remote work and the hybrid work model will be the new norm for much of […]
A Portfolio Can Be Your Secret Weapon
Fine artists have been using portfolios for decades to showcase examples of their work. This multi dimensional tool is gaining popularity in the job market for other professions as well. By assembling an archive of your work, you can show employers why you will be a value-add to their organization. Similar to the resume, the […]
What it Takes to Succeed
I just read an article by David Cutler who wrote a book called The Savvy Musician. He outlined various competencies for success in musical careers that are applicable in all professional work arenas. An Entrepreneurial Mindset. The ability to problem solve, create opportunities, think outside the box, market remarkably, and manage your own projects. Leadership […]
Round One – Video Interview
I have seen a steady increase in employers that are relying on video conference interviews to screen first-round job candidates. This can be a great way to make a powerful first impression and beats the dreaded phone interview where it’s hard to make a personal connection due to the lack of eye contact. While less […]
The WAGE Project
Kudos to several of my blog readers who shared this amazing resource! The WAGE Project http://www.wageproject.org (WAGE stands for Women Are Getting Even) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end the gender wage gap by teaching women across America how to negotiate. It is a great program that is typically targeted to Women’s […]
Build Your Personal Board of Directors
It’s no secret that a mentor can be a terrific resource as you navigate your personal career path. Some organizations assign mentors and other relationships develop naturally when like minded people hit it off. If you are your own boss, or don’t have a company to connect you with a mentor, you can and should […]
Write it Down!
Having dreams and goals for the future is a wonderful way to focus on what you want in your life and career. A wise mentor once told me it’s not enough to just think about your goals – you must write them down. Putting your wishes on paper helps you articulate things more clearly and […]
You Can Tell A Lot By A Person’s Shoes
From the time I was a young girl I can remember my father polishing his shoes every night so they would be shiny and clean for his next work day. My father worked in the New York City corporate jungle of starched shirts and tailored suits. He always looked liked a consummate professional and taught […]
Jane Austen Would Have Been a Fabulous Blogger
Jane Austen, the English novelist who wrote romantic fiction was known for her biting social commentary in the 1800s. I believe she would have been an avid blogger if she was alive today and I imagine she would have thousands of connections in her LinkedIn profile. As much as I adore Jane Austen’s work, whenever […]
Engage All Learning Styles When You Present
One of my great professional joys is communication coaching. I find it incredibly rewarding when I have a breakthrough with a client or student who gains empowering self confidence when they feel positively about how they deliver a presentation or succeed in an interview. Public speaking can be terrifying for many. In addition to learning […]
Have You Ever Read 150 Resumes in an Hour?
It’s resume season as newly minted graduates dive into the job market and experienced professionals look for opportunities to better meet their career goals. I urge you to put on your recruiter hat as you develop your resume and think about the people who will be reading this important part of your professional tool kit. […]
Glass Ceiling or Sticky Floor?
I had the great pleasure of attending a webinar by Carolyn Wiethoff, professor at the IU Kelley School of Business and an expert on organizational behavior. She gave some startling statistics about how women still earn between 60-80% of what men are earning in the same positions across different career fields. Her research attributes this […]
Playing Nice in Your Career Sandbox
I have learned that there is nothing stronger than the power of women in community and that women can be inspirational resources in the professional arena. But I also know the reality of being a woman in the professional world and how we often struggle with owning a strong, confident persona while maintaining our authenticity […]
