Career Blueprint

About Career Blueprint

AI isn’t replacing every job, it’s reshaping the work inside them. For students and early-career professionals, that makes career decisions more complex than ever. On All That Said, Carey O’Connor and Brittney Dorr cut through the headlines with data-driven conversations about the future of work. Carey is a workforce expert, former Fortune 500 executive, and current professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Brittney is the bridge between expert advice and the questions people are asking. Together, they make sense of the changing job market and help you confidently navigate your career.

Publisher

Carey O'Connor

Category

technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Oct 2025

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   The Quarter-Life Crisis Is a Real Thing (And You’re Not Behind)

   There is a specific kind of panic that can hit in your 20s: everyone else seems to have it figured out, and you feel behind. In this episode, Carrie and Brittany unpack the quarter-life crisis as a transition problem - moving from the highly structured world of school into adult life, where the path, feedback, rewards, and timeline suddenly stop being obvious. The episode cites a 2017 LinkedIn study and a 2025 Cambridge study as evidence that this feeling is common, then turns the anxiety into something practical. Instead of chasing a fake universal timeline, the conversation reframes your current job as an experiment and gives you a structure for learning your own skills, interests, and values. The point is not to have a forever plan. It is to collect enough honest data about yourself to make the next decision with confidence. What you'll take away: Why the move from school to work can trigger a quarter-life crisis: the structure, constant feedback, and clear next steps disappear Why comparing your career, relationships, money, or milestones to other people creates a timeline that was never real in the first place How to treat your current job as an experiment instead of proof that you picked your forever career How to identify your skills, interests, and values by reflecting on what gives you energy, what drains you, and what matters most right now Why building your own structure can reduce the feeling of drifting - and give you a practical path forward even when your values change A quarter-life crisis does not have to end with a dramatic reinvention. It can be the moment you stop following somebody else's timeline and start gathering data for your own. Follow All That Said with Carey O’Connor on Social Media: Facebook:   / all-that-said-with-carey-oconnor-615796177...   (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljSGJrVk5TUFZXX2ZUX3NXVXdlbjZ6NXxBTl9pYzRlSGhRQXBvMDA5WXpodUVvLUYtbTRWVUFjN0xEQmRvZjNMUXFoOThyM1lGeTNWSjJZVTdTa0ZKamwyTGoxMGtBT2x4ZXpfLUwyeEg1dWM3OGFjMGhFUlNmUjYtRXZR&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fp%2FAll-That-Said-with-Carey-OConnor-61579617763469%2F&v=YJHppYbBiGo) Instagram:   / allthatsaidwithcareyoconnor   (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRmVOQ0N2eWkxUndyQTRvUm5jbXl1NnxBTl9pYzRjckw0dXpJbGYxcU1ZNTFIcElsOXNIWVNKdnpEMGNBaHZIQmlXdFUxbkJQVzFnVXlhOXdvOHlRejJ1eWJQTTE1UnlVajBlUkFfdmVGUjRoeHBScEhqZV9UZWFFUmli&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fallthatsaidwithcareyoconnor%2F&v=YJHppYbBiGo)

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Ask for a Raise (Even in a Weird Economy)

   Asking for a raise can feel personal, but the approval process is not. In this episode, Carrie and Brittany break down what actually happens behind the scenes when compensation changes: manager budgets, HR salary bands, market data, job titles, timing, and the case you have to make for the value you bring. It is built for anyone who knows they are ready for more money but is not sure how to ask without handing a manager an easy no. You will hear why cost-of-living arguments rarely move the decision, how to research the right market range, when a title change can strengthen your case, how to use AI to pressure-test your job title, and what to do if the answer is still no. The through-line: know your value, make the business case, and treat the conversation as a negotiation grounded in evidence - not your bills. What you'll take away: Why 'my cost of living went up' is a weak raise argument - and what a real business case sounds like instead How timing, company finances, expanded responsibilities, and HR budgets affect whether a raise is likely to get approved Why the right job title matters to compensation, and how to compare your actual duties with roles on Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn How to research a realistic salary range using market compensation data, including geography, industry, company size, and job title How to prepare for a no: ask for the reason, build a roadmap with your manager, check the outside market, and revisit once the underlying circumstances have changed The goal is not to walk in with the boldest number. It is to make it easy for your manager and HR to see why paying you more is a rational business decision. Follow All That Said with Carey O’Connor on Social Media: Facebook: [Link (https://www.facebook.com/p/All-That-Said-with-Carey-OConnor-61579617763469/ )] Instagram: [Link (https://www.instagram.com/allthatsaidwithcareyoconnor/ )]

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   What Employers Actually Want in 2026 (It’s Not Your Degree)

   You have the degree. You have the GPA. So why aren’t employers calling you back? Because the hiring market has changed, and what got you in the door five years ago is no longer enough. In 2026, employers are prioritizing demonstrated skills over diplomas, and most job seekers have no idea how to position themselves for this shift. Carey O’Connor breaks down the rise of skills-based hiring and what it actually means for your job search. Around 44% of jobs in the U.S. still require a college degree, and in fields like healthcare and finance, that number is much higher. So the degree still matters. But employers have moved past using it as the primary signal for who gets hired. They want to know you can do the job on day one. They want proof you’ve solved real problems. And AI is turbocharging this shift by flooding employers with more applications than ever, forcing them to filter for substance over credentials. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: Why the college degree became 'table stakes' and what employers replaced it with as their primary screening tool The five skills every employer screens for in 2026 — communication, problem solving, initiative, adaptability, and digital literacy How to translate any job (barista, camp counselor, babysitter) into skills language on a resume using real examples Why asking questions at work signals intelligence, not ignorance — and how to reframe your fear of speaking up How to use AI to help phrase your resume skills without overstating or losing authenticity This is the practical playbook for standing out when the rules have been rewritten. If you’re sending out applications and hearing nothing back... the problem might not be your qualifications. It might be how you’re presenting them. Don’t risk being invisible in a crowded applicant pool. Learn what employers are actually looking for and how to show them you have it. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings