Top Career Experts to Follow on Social Media

Career Expert #6: Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter

Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW), is Founder and Chief Career Strategist for CareerTrend.net. Jacqui writes and designs game-changing career stories — nuanced resumes​, LinkedIn and biography content and interview strategies that help ​propel your job search. Since 1997, Jacqui has collaborated with professionals in career transition, or those individuals who have a desire to ignite their existing careers. One of only a handful of CMRWs in the world, Jacqui holds a BA in Writing and 15-years’ corporate experience. Jacqui hosts her own blog at CareerTrend.net/blog, is a regular blogger for Glassdoor and formerly at US News and has been interviewed and/or featured by major media such as FOXBusiness, the Wall Street Journal, Lifehacker, Yahoo!, Business Insider and more. She is listed on many “Best People to Follow on Twitter” lists for jobseekers. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Like most of our career experts, Jacqui uses social media to post informative articles to assist job seekers, as well as inspirational quotes and photos. Follow her on Twitter to get the most out of your resume, and pick up a little inspiration along the way. What She Posts

My latest! MRT @Glassdoor When job searching, almost everyone has advice. Here are 4 job search tips to ignore! http://t.co/UjJMJDwL1m

— JacPoindexter (@ValueIntoWords) June 30, 2014

Jacqui’s Expert Career Advice

What is the best advice you could give to a job seeker today?

Job search is like working out to rev up or maintain your fitness plan. By creating and acting upon a career fitness strategy, you will not only spur momentum in your search, but you will also start seeing results.

However, If you have let your career fitness get flabby, it will be hard(er) at first to engage in a new and/or unplanned job search.

You may not feel like getting started, and some aspects of the new routine will feel uncomfortable–even a bit painful at times–but once you get traction through a little sweat, you will feel the exhilaration of results. Just ‘get started!’ Oh, and hire a career professional (resume strategist, career coach and such) to help if you get stuck. Find ways to get to the ROI of your efforts more efficiently.

How do you stay updated in the career advising/HR industry?

I am an active member and a certification board member for Career Directors International (CareerDirectors.com). As well, I maintain my own master-level certification through the same organization, submitting a portfolio through a rigorous recertification process every three years. Further, I am a power user on several social networking channels, including Twitter and Facebook, and I also participate in LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and more, rubbing virtual shoulders with colleagues in the careers, HR and recruiting industry.

Over the years, I have traveled to, presented at and been immersed in the educational seminars at career association conferences. Moreover, I enjoy several intimate, small group networking relationships with serious-minded resume strategists who elevate my learnings each and every day. With 17 years as a full-time career strategist, I am immersed in my clients’ career strategies – I probably learn the most from these professionals and executives who supply me with career and job search fodder every single day.