Palak (Paula) Thakkar

630-***-****

ad1mjb@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

A dynamic Human Resources professional with experience in recruiting and an events management, with 20+ years of experience in sourcing, recruiting practices, project management, business development & outreach. Including 10+ years of experience in leadership, managing recruiters and recruiting professionals for various businesses.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Strategic Planning for Recruitment & Retention

Event Management & Planning

Project Implementation & Management

Outreach & Business Development

Budgeting & Cost Management

Process Improvements

Highly organized and efficient

Client Service Oriented

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Proficient with

oMS Office, Campus Vue, Taleo, CRM, ATS, Oracle Fusion, Monday, Photoshop

Creative Marketing and Analytical Skills

Enrollment Management

Coaching, training, and mentoring.

WORK EXPERIENCE

JPMorgan Chase

Sr. Recruiter/ Sr. Event Lead 03/2019 - Present

Responsible for staffing the business with quality hires by providing strategic recruitment solutions, events management, and initiative-taking pipelining for future needs.

Manage end-to-end recruiting events process, create, and implement recruiting strategies

Project planning and project management: Manage event calendars and event activities, all event set-up and break-down, all pre-event and post-event communications, tracking of all event attendees and hires.

Provide guidance to hiring managers on recruiting processes, controls, and policies.

Source and pipeline qualified candidates through a wide variety of channels.

Volunteered to conduct interview and resume workshops withing the organizations and external community partners.

Build strong relationships with external community partners, such as local community colleges, churches, Illinois Department of Employment Security, and local libraries to promote current opportunities at Chase.

Implement marketing strategies to promote virtual and in-person events.

Create marketing flyers to promote on social media.

Deliver innovative strategies to promote accountability and awareness around diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Evaluate, interview and present qualified candidates to hiring managers and solicit feedback on candidates to refine recruiting strategy as applicable.

Partner with senior management, HR colleagues, and finance to anticipate upcoming needs and strategize pipelines.

Manage and train the events team on best practices.

Managed a team of eighteen employees for three months in absence of my manager.

Trained, coached, and managed five talent redeployment employees for our project.

Proactively share innovative solutions to add value, anticipate needs, and streamline the process for the client

Provide a positive candidate experience with frequent and timely communication throughout the recruitment process; share manager feedback and appropriately disposition all candidates.

Educate candidates on the career growth potential, benefits, compensation philosophy and many advantages of employment, selling both the firm and the opportunity.

Demonstrate expert level of understanding of recruiting needs by participating in client meetings, being aware of changes within the business, acting as a subject matter expert for areas of recruiting responsibility as well as managing hiring manager/candidate expectations.

Conduct appropriate compensation expectation conversations with both hiring managers and candidates to ensure closure of offers.

Take ownership of the Affirmative Action Plan; understand diversity goals and provide education to hiring managers to ensure and present a diverse candidate slate.

Provide meaningful market data in support of client needs.

Utilize the complete functionality of the applicant tracking system and maintain data integrity and controls.

Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH)

Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University-Schaumburg/Chicago 04/2016 – 11/2018

Campus Director/ Outreach Manager- Clinical Psychology

Oversaw the entire enrollment process for applicants to Graduate programs in local, national, and international markets.

Established and forecasted enrollment plans and class outcomes with the National Clinical Dean and Senior Enrollment Director.

Managed six admissions advisors along with two student workers and three administrative staff. (9 direct reports)

Conducted performance reviews and coached and on best practices.

Conducted one on one or web presentations with prospective local, national, and international students to provide an overview of the Master and Doctorate program in Clinical Psychology.

Assisted prospective students in the application and enrollment process for the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program through an APA supported website, PSYCAS.

Verified that all required documentation is received and handled according to DCEH policies and procedures, prior to files being sent for academic review and/or student beginning classes.

Reviewed and present applicant files to the admissions committee for review.

Proctored monthly/bimonthly Clinical Interview days on campus which includes the coordination of candidate invitations and travel arrangements, support of the faculty during individual and group interviews, selection of student panel speakers and other event related duties.

Coordinated campus tours for prospective students and their families.

Collaborated with the Dean and the Admissions Chair to develop new recruitment strategies to increase student enrollment & retention.

Reviewed and evaluated international transcripts to ensure the minimum admissions requirements are met.

Work with international students and provide them will all necessary documentation to apply for the student visa.

Reported conversions of inquiry to applicant, applicant to new student, and for local inquiry generation and database marketing in conjunction with the primary College of Clinical Psychology Admissions Head.

On average, exceeded student enrollment goals by 60% every start.

Audit admissions files to ensure all necessary documents are in, such as official transcripts and POGs for registration.

Participated, plan and manage student recruiting and enrollment events such as grad fairs, APA,IPA, MPA conventions, career fairs, open houses, interview days and new student orientations.

Hired and managed a staff of three to five student workers to assist with departmental tasks.

Established a strong working relationship with departmental deans/faculty, directors of continuing education and campus organizations at all feeder schools in the region/market.

Served on the scholarship committee and managed annual scholarship budgets.

Established, built, and maintained personal customer relationships with all families recruited into the academy, resulting in record enrollment and retention levels.

Worked closely with the marketing department on the development and implementation of departmental marketing collateral including brochures, direct mail, email, signage and web pages.

Expertly use database (Campus Vue, STAR Portal, CRM, ImageNow) to enter and track new student applications, all supporting applicant documents, and student status changes, in a timely and compliant manner based on DCEH policies.

Career Education Corporation (CEC) 08/2011 – 01/2016

Le Cordon Bleu- Bleu Ribbon Kitchen Elgin, IL 05/2015 to 01/2016

Program Manager

Managed the entire Blue Ribbon Kitchen culinary Enthusiast Program for all 16 Le Cordon Bleu Campuses.

Designed and created classes for the culinary program at LCB- Bleu Ribbon Kitchen, by conducting Market research and analyze the classes in demand.

Collaborated with the campuses to have the classes approved to ensure they have staff and classroom availability to teach the classes.

Once approved, schedule, and post new classes on the Bleu Ribbon Kitchen Website via NopCommerce.

Worked with BRK ambassadors (Campus Presidents) to maintain the schedule and open additional sections for classes as needed.

Assisted clients with reservations, cancellations, and rescheduling of workshops.

Analyzed and resolved customer service issues as they occurred.

Maintained and updated the Google calendar as new classes get posted, cancelled, or sold out.

Maintained and updated the BRK waitlist to ensure quality customer service.

Generated daily enrollment reports to keep campuses updated on number of enrollments for scheduled workshops.

Reviewed customer surveys and resolve issues immediately.

Created gift certificates for Donation Requests as requested by campuses.

Created and issue discount codes for local marketing events scheduled by campuses.

Market and Advertise classes on Social Media Website as well as third party vendors such as Groupon, Travel Zoo and Rue La La.

Redeemed vouchers on the third-party vendor websites as they are redeemed by customers.

Updated Social Media Websites such as Facebook and Twitter on upcoming classes at BRK.

Collaborated with the BRK marketing team to produce creative ideas to drive more traffic on social media websites.

Generated reports on social media performance.

Managed and update the social media content daily.

Drive conversations by responding to comments on facebook.

Career Education Corporation – Le Cordon Bleu

Elgin, IL 05/2013 to 05/2015

Senior Live Chat Admissions Advisor

Generated inquires by engaging prospective student using the liveperson technology on the Le Cordon Bleu and other career schools website.

Chat with prospective, current and Alumni and Direct them to appropriate departments within the University

Set appointments for interested students and conduct admissions presentations.

Assisted with the entire enrollment process.

Entered all student data in to CampusVue.

Served as a liaison between students and other departments of the University.

Presented information in a factual and ethical manner to prospective students and others regarding school’s programs and tuition

Managed incoming queue calls from Bleu Ribbon Kitchen and assist guests with class selection and registration.

Processed refund requests and reschedule classes for all Bleu Ribbon Kitchen guests

Past Relevant Experience

Career Education Corporation - American Intercontinental University Online

Schaumburg, IL 08/2011 – 5/2013

Lead Admissions Advisor

Apollo Education Group - Institute of Professional Development (IPD) Olivet Nazarene University

Rolling Meadows, IL. 11/2008 - 8/2010

Enrollment Manager

Devry University

Addison, IL 01/03 -4/2008

Senior Admissions Advisor/Mentor

EDUCATION

DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Marketing -2001

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