I serve CEOs every day by writing
career stories for the C-suite.
At CareerTrend, our primary focus is writing career stories for the C-Suite and Board-level executives. Executives hire me for the eloquent, deep processes we undergo. They know that I understand their vocabulary, respect their gravitas, and tailor their message.
It’s not easy to craft a CEO-level resume.
Inarticulateness, extreme brevity and slack language does not pass the executive sniff test.
As such, career storytelling is an art I’ve studied, practiced and honed for 22 years. In addition to my Bachelor of Arts in Writing/Journalism, I’ve since earned multiple certifications, including my prized Master Resume Writer and Executive Resume Master credentials. Prior, I earned the Professional Resume Writer and Employment Interview Professional certifications.
When VPs and C-suite executives hire me, they know they won’t be allowed to outsource their thinking.
Moreover, clearly and meaningfully articulating an executive’s story requires robust engagement on both sides: mine and that of the CEO (or CMO or COO or CFO or CTO, etc.).
I refuse to pour an unfiltered and flimsy data dump into a pretty frame. I will not relent to easy, cheap and fast. The executives who hire me understand the value of intimate, deep and durable collaboration. They know it takes time.
CXOs and Board members also know that …
- Real executive thought-work is rigorous and exhilarating and begets results.
- Nuance is valuable and that no one knows their details better than they do.
- Recalling, synthesizing and stewing on those specifics enhances the flavor of the story.
Chief Executive Officers are entranced by the rhythm of the words describing how they led battle-weary teams to victory.
- They are steeped in the story of how they lifted a sagging culture.
- Or how they primed the pump on a failing product or service, converting disparity into clarity and profits.
- Or how their aptitude and passion for mentoring and development exudes in the stories of underperforming teams that were transformed into powerhouses.
I write for CEOs, and I love what I do.
Here’s what some of my CXO clients have said about their experience in working with me:
Jacqui. You are the best! Thanks.
D.R., CEO / Board Member (D.R. has hired me nearly every year for the past 10 years to refresh his executive story as he’s moved up the executive career ladder.)
I am so excited, and had to share with you … I have been selected for a seat on Turpentine Creek’s Board of Directors!!! If you’ll recall, my initial search that led me to you was my desire to update my resume for submission to Turpentine for their board. And it was a success!
I’ve had the privilege of working with Jacqui over the years to tell my career story. I’ve found her to be incredibly helpful as I’ve reflected on my success and the skills/capabilities that have enabled my success. She is incredibly committed to excellence in the work that she does.
I’ve met with several fortune 100 businesses who’ve complimented my CV, saying it represents the best of what they’ve seen. If you want to create a standout CV/social footprint that highlights you, your capabilities and your success, I’d recommend working with Jacqui. Not only is she very capable, she operates with incredible integrity, good communication skills and delivers a best in class product.
I sent my resume to major brand name companies, such as Under Armour HQ. The response from HR VPs was that they loved the format!!!”
Chris Felix, VP + General Manager, Government Solutions, Sprint
Hello Jacqui:
I wanted to reach out to you to quickly let you know that my resume “did the trick,” and I got a new job. I owe my interview to the resume and techniques for updates you provided me.
I am now a “manager of managers” as a Technology Area Sr. Manager, Enterprise Large Systems Security. And, an SVP at that.
The timing was right. The opportunity was right, and I had my resume ready in under an hour when the job posting went up.
Thanks again!
Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas/Happy New Year.
A partner to the Chief Executive Suite, I want to write for you, too.
Before hiring an executive C-level resume writer,
ask yourself these 4 questions:
1. Do they have 22 years’ experience?
Why This Matters: Compounded experience creates a writer steeped in wisdom and with thousands of experiences to draw upon and inform your story. It also proves out their serious commitment to the craft. Moreover, practice can truly make perfect. Someone who has spent several decades immersed in the ever-changing resume writing industry will bring loads of context and powerful strategies to YOUR story.
2. Do they have a writing degree?
Why This Matters: My Bachelor of Arts degree with a Writing major and Journalism minor informs everything I write. Early, in-depth training on writing strategy and techniques includes the art of distilling complexity into concise impact statements. More importantly, the art of writing factually, yet mellifluously was honed through immersion in literature, poetry and short-story writing courses. So much focused experience and training means I offer an elite command of the English language.
3. Do they have resume writing certifications?
Why This Matters. Board-certified resume writers demonstrate their desire to practice at the top of their profession and deliver high-quality results to their executive clients. Of the four industry-specific credentials I earned, the two that provide the most value to my clients (CMRW and CERM), required I pass a rigorous grammar/writing test as well as present an exceptionally written and strategized resume portfolio which was examined by a credentialing board.
As well, requirements to re-submit a new portfolio every three years demonstrates master-level writers keep up on the latest industry trends.
4. Does the chief executive writer/owner hand you off to another writer or do they perform the writing themselves?
Why This Matters: Recently, a CEO client shared a disappointing experience he had with another executive resume writing service. He described the owner/writer who sold him the resume as being a very persuasive salesperson. However, after the sale was closed, he was shuffled to a lower-level writer, and the resume outcome did not live up to the sales pitch. This was not the first time I’ve heard such a sad story. Thankfully, my consistent, hands-on business model ensures top-quality consistency, from initial sale to resume delivery.
Are they trying to scale a non-scalable business?
Why This Matters: While the idea of scaling a business is popular, especially if you are a Shark Tank fan and think of yourself as the next-big entrepreneur, it is not necessarily the right solution for all businesses.
In fact, the very nature of an executive resume writing business requires innovative thinking, executive gravitas and deep writing experience. It also demands an intimate, singular relationship between the chief executive writer/owner working alongside the client to create a seamless, vigorous and cohesive outcome.
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To get help transforming your CEO story, let’s set up a time to chat, and map out a plan to eloquently translate your value into words.
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Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, CMRW, CERM
President | Chief Resume Master, CareerTrend
jacqui@careertrend.net | www.careertrend.net
903.523.5952
Nicely done Jacqui. It says exactly what you do. Love the testimonials. The full package! Happy New Year.
Thank you so much for your reinforcing comment, Whitney. It’s particularly helpful to have your reflection on the article in that you’ve experienced my career storytelling process in the past!
Warm regards,
Jacqui