Features
Step-by-step frameworks for resumes, interviews, giving/receiving feedback, and goal setting
Real-world stories that make lessons stick (and resonate with Gen Z).
Guidance on navigating salary, benefits, and career transitions with confidence
Approachable, coaching-style writing that feels like having a career mentor on your side.
Chris Dougherty
Chris Dougherty is a communications leader with two decades of experience helping people and organizations tell their stories and stand out. A longtime hiring manager and global team leader, he knows firsthand what separates great candidates from the rest.
The insights, guidance, and anecdotes in Unlock Your Professional Potential draw directly from his extensive experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring talent at every level-with the goal of helping individuals grow professionally.
A frequent collaborator with colleges, student organizations, alumni associations, and workforce development leaders, Chris helps design and deliver programs that build real-world career readiness. By translating his experience into practical, confidence-building guidance, this book offers a full-spectrum approach to professional development that's both relatable and actionable.
Chris is also committed to giving back, with a portion of the book's proceeds supporting an adult scholarship program established in his father's honor.
Gives both students and career counselors the tools to navigate every step of the journey, from the first resume to long-term career success.
For Career Services, Education & Workforce Development Professionals
✓ Plug-and-play resource – Each section can be integrated into career courses, workshops, or career coaching sessions
✓ Training for staff – Helps new career coaches quickly gain proven strategies to coach effectively.
✓ Confidence-building toolkit – Clear examples for every section of resumes, LinkedIn messages, interview answers, and networking outreach.
For Students
✓ Resilience strategies for tough realities: performance reviews, PIPs, layoffs, and navigating career setbacks.
✓ Networking made simple with sample messages, coffee chat strategies, and follow-up tips.
✓ Onboarding & workplace success: first impressions, workplace etiquette, and building credibility.
✓ Resumes & LinkedIn that get noticed in today’s hiring process.
✓ Practical interview prep with examples of what works & what doesn’t.
Reviews
ReviewsFrom HR, Career Services & WorkforceDevelopment Leaders
“In my 20+ years of experience across HR, management & higher education, I have rarely come across a book that so clearly captures the steps to professional success in the workplace.”
Reginald N. Nichols,
M.Ed., SHRM-CP Founder & HR Advisor of CEL HR Consulting
“It’s exactly the kind of resource I wish every student could access before applying for jobs and entering the workforce.”
Laura Shackelford,
M.Ed. Career Services Expert & Talent Development Leader
“I couldn’t recommend a better resource for young professionals as well as schools, employers, and workforce boards committed to building career readiness programs that support the next generation of workers.”
Bianca Cervantes, Workforce Development Leader
“Quite frankly, every student should receive a copy of this book with their diploma as they walk across the graduation stage.
Reginald N. Nichols,
M.Ed., SHRM-CP Founder & HR Advisor of CEL HR Consulting
“Not only prepares students for today’s job market but also empowers them with the resilience and workplace skills they’ll need long after graduation.”
Laura Shackelford,
M.Ed. Career Services Expert & Talent Development Leader
“This book delivers a full-spectrum approach to professional development while maintaining a casual and approachable writing style and format that could hold any attention span.”
Bianca Cervantes,
Workforce Development Leader
A Career Coach in Your Backpack
Engaging, empowering, and built for real-world application, Unlock Your Professional Potential is an essential guide for anyone ready to move forward in their career with purpose and impact
Portion of proceeds help fund a scholarship program supporting working adults returning to school to complete their degrees and advance their careers.
Two-volumes that seamlessly blend actionable strategies with relatable real-world examples to help you navigate every stage of their professional journey
Not ready for full-book? Individual volumes available as digital PDF
