Happen To Your Career - Meaningful Work, Career Change, Career Design, & Job Search Passed Over at Work? How Karen Turned Awkward Career Moves Into Her Dream Job
Sep 22, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Karen Senger, a seasoned nonprofit marketing and fundraising expert, reveals how being passed over for a job ended up guiding her to her ideal role as a chief philanthropy officer. She discusses the power of honest self-reflection and how knowing her non-negotiables helped clarify her career path. Karen highlights the significance of smaller career shifts and shares valuable insights on leveraging connections to uncover hidden opportunities. Her journey proves that sometimes the most awkward moments can lead to the best outcomes.
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Awkward Boss Swap Turned Opportunity
- Karen was hired into a new role after someone meant to report to her became her supervisor, which felt awkward.
- That awkward swap later opened the door to the job she now calls her dream role.
Jumping Stops When You Know Your Needs
- Karen realized she kept jumping roles because she didn't deeply know what she wanted in work.
- Doing a focused self-assessment helped her stop drifting and seek roles that truly fit.
Build An Ideal Career Profile
- Do an Ideal Career Profile to list what you need in environment, people, and culture.
- Use that profile to spot roles that actually match your daily happiness drivers.