Building Your Career Blueprint

Career Blueprint Co

Most graduates earn a degree. Far fewer graduate with a career strategy. Building Your Career Blueprint is a weekly show about closing that gap. Hosted by Chris Dotson and Tom Borg, co-founders of Career Blueprint Co., each episode breaks down what's really happening in the job market, what employers actually want, and the mindset, skills, and habits that get you hired and keep you advancing. Practical, direct, and built for students, recent graduates, and the parents and educators who support them. New episodes every week. Take the free career readiness assessment at careerblueprintco.com.

Episodes

  1. 14 Oct

    Where Will You Thrive? Finding the Right Career Fit

    Getting hired is only half the equation. The other question is: Where will you thrive? In Episode 10 of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg explore how students can figure out whether an organization is actually the right fit for them. They break career fit into five dimensions: values, work style and environment, motivation, development, and people and leadership. You'll learn how to create your own Fit Profile, identify career deal breakers, research organizations, use your network to uncover the reality of working somewhere, recognize hiring red flags, and ask better questions during interviews. Because the goal isn't simply to find a good company. It's to find a good company for you. Career Blueprint Co. helps students prepare for the move from campus to career through practical, employer-connected programs delivered with universities and employers. Learn more at careerblueprintco.com

  2. 24 Sept

    Your Strengths Are Your Career Superpower

    What are you naturally good at, and can you explain it clearly to someone who might hire you? In Episode 9, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg explore how self-awareness can help students and recent graduates understand what they naturally bring to the table and communicate that value with confidence. They discuss: * Why your strongest abilities may feel ordinary to you * How CliftonStrengths and TriMetrix EQ can provide language and perspective around your strengths * How energy, feedback, and past experiences can reveal patterns you may not recognize * How behavioral styles and motivations affect the way you work * Why specific evidence is more powerful than vague claims like “I’m a hard worker” * The Strength + Evidence + Value framework for communicating what you bring to an employer * How to manage weaknesses and blind spots without letting them define your career The conversation also includes real examples of how understanding different strengths, motivations, and communication styles can improve relationships and collaboration at work. You’ll leave with a practical way to start discovering your strengths today: pay attention to what energizes you, ask others what they count on you for, look back at moments you felt proud, and turn those patterns into a strength statement you can confidently say out loud. Because knowing your strengths is only the beginning. The real value comes from knowing how to use them and communicate them. Strength + Evidence + Value.

  3. 15 Sept

    The Payoff: Making the Most of Your Job Offer

    You got the offer. But is it the right opportunity for you? After the excitement of receiving a job offer comes a decision that can shape the beginning of your career. In Episode 8 of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg explore what new graduates should think about before accepting an opportunity. The conversation looks beyond the salary number and into the things that can have a lasting impact on your career: the people you will learn from, opportunities to grow, benefits, flexibility, professional development, and whether the role gives you a strong place to start. They also get into the part many new graduates are nervous about: negotiating the offer. And there is a message for parents too. How can you help your graduate prepare without taking the conversation away from them? If you are preparing for your first job, or helping someone who is, this episode is for you. 🎧 The Payoff: Making the Most of Your Job Offer 📅 Join our upcoming webinar: Why College Graduates Get Passed Over (And What To Do About It) Register for the webinar: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/why-college-graduates-get-passed-over-and-what-to-do-about-it-tickets-1998746524660 🎯 Take the FREE Career Readiness Assessment: Find out where you stand and identify areas for growth. Take the Career Readiness Assessment: https://form.jotform.com/261732272366054 🚀 Ready to build your Career Blueprint? Explore the program and apply for an upcoming cohort. Apply to the Career Blueprint Program: https://form.jotform.com/261732458938065 🌐 Learn more: www.careerblueprintco.com

  4. 2 Sept

    How to Handle Job Rejection, Ghosting & the Waiting

    Rejection is one of the hardest parts of the job search, especially when you've invested time preparing, interviewing, and following up. In Episode 7 of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg talk honestly about rejection, ghosting, waiting, and how to keep moving forward when an opportunity doesn't work out. They also discuss resilience, learning from setbacks, staying focused on what you can control, and how parents can support students and recent graduates through the ups and downs of launching a career. Because one rejection doesn't define your career. What you do next matters. 🎧 Listen to Episode 7 of Building Your Career Blueprint. 🌐 Learn more at www.careerblueprintco.com 🎯 Want to know where you stand? Take the Career Readiness Assessment: https://form.jotform.com/261732272366054 📅 Join our upcoming webinar Why College Graduates Get Passed Over and What to Do About It https://www.eventbrite.com/e/why-college-graduates-get-passed-over-and-what-to-do-about-it-tickets-1998746524660

    How to Handle Job Rejection, Ghosting & the Waiting

  5. 26 Aug

    You Got the Interview. Now What? How to Stand Out at Every Stage

    You got the interview. Now what? Getting the opportunity is exciting. But knowing how to communicate, adapt, and show up with confidence when the pressure is on is a different skill. In Episode 6 of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg break down what college students and recent graduates need to know to navigate job interviews across different formats and stages, and why practice can make the difference between hoping you're ready and actually being ready. Your first real interview shouldn't be your first real practice. 🎯 Take the FREE Career Readiness Assessment: Take the Career Readiness Assessment 🎥 Join the upcoming CBC webinar: Why College Graduates Get Passed Over and What to Do About It Register for the webinar 🌐 Learn more: Career Blueprint Co. Your career. By design.

  6. 11 Aug

    The Best Question to Ask in a Job Interview

    The questions you ask at the end of an interview can help you understand far more than what is written in the job description. In this clip from Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg share a simple way to ask better questions and create a more meaningful two way conversation with the interviewer. The goal isn't just to impress the interviewer. It's also to understand the role, the team, the challenges, and what success really looks like so you can decide whether the opportunity is right for you. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of Building Your Career Blueprint for more practical interview strategies, preparation tips, and career advice for college students and recent graduates. Career Blueprint Co. Resources 🌐 Website Explore Career Blueprint Co. and learn how we help college students and recent graduates build the skills, confidence, relationships, and strategy to launch their careers. Visit https://www.careerblueprintco.com/ 🎯 Free Career Readiness Assessment Find out if you're actually ready to get hired and receive your results for free. Take here: https://form.jotform.com/261732272366054 🚀 Apply for the Career Blueprint Program Explore the seven session coaching program, including interview preparation, mock interviews, career strategy, professional branding, networking, and individual coaching. Apply here: https://www.careerblueprintco.com/apply 💼 LinkedIn Follow Career Blueprint Co. for career readiness insights, interview tips, career development content, and updates. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-blueprint-co Career Blueprint Co. Your career by design.

  7. 4 Aug

    Networking Without Feeling Awkward: How Real Relationships Create Career Opportunities

    In this episode of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg explore how to build genuine professional relationships that can lead to internships, mentorships, job opportunities, and long-term career growth. Whether you're preparing for a networking event, building your LinkedIn connections, or simply trying to become more confident when meeting new people, this conversation is packed with practical advice you can start using today. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why networking feels uncomfortable for so many people • How to start conversations naturally • The biggest networking mistakes to avoid • Why listening is one of your greatest networking skills • How to build authentic relationships instead of transactional connections • Simple follow-up strategies that help relationships grow over time • Networking tips for introverts and first-time professionals Your career isn't built on one perfect conversation. It's built through meaningful relationships that develop over time. If this episode helped you, be sure to follow Building Your Career Blueprint on Spotify and share it with a friend, classmate, or colleague who's ready to grow their career with confidence. Book a FREE Career Strategy CallGet personalized career guidance and actionable next steps:calendly.com/careerblueprintco-info/30minWebsite:careerblueprintco.com

  8. 28 Jul

    The Proactive Job Search: Why Applying Online Isn't Enough

    Most people search for jobs by submitting application after application online. Unfortunately, that's also one of the least effective ways to get hired. In this episode of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg explain why relationship-driven job searching consistently outperforms the traditional "spray and pray" approach. You'll discover:• Why referrals lead to more interviews and job offers• The five-step proactive job search strategy• How to identify companies that align with your goals and values• The power of informational interviews• Practical ways to build genuine professional relationships that open doors throughout your career If you're preparing to launch your career or looking for a smarter way to approach your job search, this episode provides actionable strategies you can start using today.

  9. 22 Jul

    The Mindset That Gets New Grads Hired: Stumbling Blocks & Stepping Stones

    You updated your resume. You polished your LinkedIn profile. Then you closed the tab without ever clicking "Submit." That moment is what this episode is about. In Episode 2 of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg explore the part of the job search that almost nobody teaches: your mindset. You can have a great resume, customize every application, and still struggle to move forward if fear, self-doubt, or procrastination are holding you back. In this conversation, they introduce the Stumbling Blocks & Stepping Stones framework, a practical way to identify the beliefs that keep you stuck and the strengths that help you move forward with confidence. Because before strategy comes mindset, and before success comes the decision to take the first step. In this episode, you'll learn: • The six stumbling blocks that commonly hold new graduates back. • The six stepping stones that build confidence and momentum. • Why confidence is created through action, not before it. • A simple three question exercise to help you move forward, even if you don't feel ready. The key takeaway: Start before you're ready, and let readiness catch up. If you're a student, recent graduate, or early career professional looking to launch your career with confidence, this episode is for you. Follow Building Your Career Blueprint so you don't miss the next episode, where Chris and Tom dive into the proactive job search and reveal how to access the hidden job market, where many opportunities are filled before they're ever posted. Your career, by design.

  10. 15 Jul

    Why New Grads Aren't Getting Hired: Understanding the Career Launch Gap

    Most students graduate with a degree. Far fewer graduate with a career strategy. In the premiere episode of Building Your Career Blueprint, Chris Dotson and Tom Borg introduce the concept of the Career Launch Gap - the disconnect between what students learn in college and what employers expect when hiring early-career talent. Drawing from decades of experience in leadership development, business consulting, and higher education, Chris and Tom explore why so many graduates struggle to land meaningful work, what employers are really looking for, and why career readiness extends far beyond a resume or GPA. You'll learn: Why employers say many graduates aren't workforce-ready The professional skills that colleges often don't teach How confidence, communication, networking, and self-leadership influence career success Practical steps students, parents, and universities can take to better prepare for today's job market Whether you're a student, recent graduate, parent, educator, or employer, this episode offers practical insights to help launch a meaningful career with confidence and clarity. Take the FREE Career Readiness Assessment here: https://form.jotform.com/261732272366054

  • 10 Episodes

About

Most graduates earn a degree. Far fewer graduate with a career strategy. Building Your Career Blueprint is a weekly show about closing that gap. Hosted by Chris Dotson and Tom Borg, co-founders of Career Blueprint Co., each episode breaks down what's really happening in the job market, what employers actually want, and the mindset, skills, and habits that get you hired and keep you advancing. Practical, direct, and built for students, recent graduates, and the parents and educators who support them. New episodes every week. Take the free career readiness assessment at careerblueprintco.com.

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