John Thomas Email & Phone Number

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Nb & Pei

• Increased enrolment by 113% in the 2021 fiscal year• Connected students with employers through networking events, professional mentorship and student committees• Strengthened employer relationships and facilitated communication of market trends through routine updatesAt the CPA Atlantic School of Business, a not-for-profit career college, I accompany individuals in furthering their careers through educational initiatives. I initiated the CPA Connections–Career Marketplace event to bring together students and employers to satisfy employment needs in the Atlantic region. I facilitated the creation of CPA committees at several post-secondary institutions and supported them with financial and marketing resources, in addition to assisting them at internal case competitions and community events. I also contributed to the development of the highly popular Insider Series and Lunch with a CPA series delivered online.

Moncton Canada

• Organized campus tours and recruitment-themed events such as the welcome week, open house and peer mentoring• Participated in recruitment caravans to inform secondary students in Atlantic Canada of the benefits of bilingualism and continuing their studies in FrenchIn this role, I informed secondary students in Atlantic Canada of the employment and personal benefits of being bilingual and encouraged them to continue their French-language studies. I empowered youth through campus activities such as French for the Future’s local forum and the regional public speaking competition.

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

• Updated CVs, facilitated workshops (interview skills, pitch, social media use) and revamped our work-search model• Provided career advising for 40 active clients from varying backgrounds, conducted psychometric & aptitude testingAs a Career Counsellor/Employment Coach, I worked with clients on resume and cover letter building, developed and facilitated numerous workshops on their job search strategy (Pitch, Hidden Job Market, Social Media Use in the Job Search, and Interview Skills), further to assisting them in strengthening their business correspondence, offer decisions and negotiation techniques. I also revamped the work-search model used by the organization and conducted psychometric and aptitude testing to orient clients with their career objectives and market trends, not to mention enhancing their marketability and competitiveness.

St. John'S, Nl

• Provided detailed program, application, and registration information to Canadian and international students, referred students to campus and community services• Organized recruitment tours & developed marketing and communications content

Quebec, Canada

• Organized AQISEP promotional tours of high schools and post-secondary institutions; liaised with government offices• Managed stakeholder files for marketing and recruitment, developed promotional marketing content• Initiated the Projet Nordique which provided indigenous students and students in isolated regions with $80,000 in travel bursaries to enable participationIn addition to my marketing, communications and recruitment responsibilities, my work in this position was also related to diversity and inclusion of Canada’s indigenous cultures. Canada is the second largest country in the world which makes the cost to travel from isolated regions to participate in government programs, such as Explore, very difficult for many indigenous Canadians. In 2012, I appealed to the Québec government to provide additional funding (CAD $80,000) for indigenous youth in isolated regions to enable participation in the Explore program. The resulting Projet nordique provided 20 travel bursaries for these youth and ultimately their representation in a program that had very low participation prior to this amendment.

Quebec, Canada

• Developed and delivered language-learning activities for various levels of English proficiency• Organized an after school activity club and a trip to New York for students to practice their English• Built confidence among students through feedback and positive reinforcement• Led conversation classes for young adultsWhile working as a language assistant with francophones ages 16–22, I designed creative language-learning activities for basic and advanced students, all the while fostering an exchange of Canada’s rich regional cultures. This experience has deepened my creativity in program development and taught me how to approach and engage young people from different learning perspectives.

Saguenay, Quebec, Canada

• Supervised 11 youth volunteers, facilitated the Katimavik Education Program and managed project finances• Prepared and presented workshops on Civic Engagement, Teamwork, Dimensions of a Community, among others• Collaborated with 16 community work partners, 18 host families and various media Katimavik is a national youth volunteer service organization that collaborates with numerous community organizations to foster understanding, environmental sustainability, respect and reconciliation with indigenous peoples, and the representation of Canada’s diverse cultures. Similar to the Canada World Youth model, Katimavik’s experiential volunteerism uses strong working relationships with community partners to identify areas of need within the community. As Project Leader, I guided youth participants in identifying the specific needs of the region of Saguenay, QC through facilitated workshops on asset-based community development, civic engagement, and community needs assessment. This resulted in preparing additional integration support and resources for Government Assisted Refugees. Through experiential volunteerism, the participants were provided with professional development and language-learning opportunities to develop into engaged, caring citizens that contribute to their community.

St John’S, Newfoundland And Labrador, Canada

• Supported approx. 100 immigrant and refugee clients in their transition into the Canadian school system and culture, oriented students and parents to the Canadian school system• Coordinated 15 volunteers and 18 students in an after-school homework club that helped newcomer students improve their literacy and numeracy skills• Made weekly home visits to help families in their daily needs, to foster open communication and to ensure adequate living conditions at home were being met• Collaborated with teachers and guidance counsellors on student academic performanceAs a Settlement Worker in the Schools with the Association for New Canadians, I supported refugee families while integrating into the Canadian education system and their new lives in Canada. This was done through several means. Firstly, through coordinating an after-school homework club where volunteers were matched with children from Kindergarten to Grade 6 to assist with literacy and numeracy skills. Secondly, by acting as a liaison between the schools and the families to oversee the academic performance and social well-being of the students and families during the critical integration process. I also navigated delicate issues that arose due to cultural difference with patience and empathy. I gave support during instances of bullying and discrimination, and fostered discussions on gender roles, sexuality, religious freedom, and freedom of speech, aspects of Canadian culture that sometimes conflicted with the values of the country of origin.

Quebec, Canada

• Hired employees and organized staff scheduling• Developed excellent customer service skills• Conceived shop window designs

Quebec, Canada

• Developed and delivered language-learning activities for various levels of English proficiency• Built confidence among students through feedback and positive reinforcement• Led conversation classes for young adultsWhile working as a language assistant with francophones ages 16–22, I designed creative language-learning activities for basic and advanced students, all the while fostering an exchange of Canada’s rich regional cultures. This experience has deepened my creativity in program development and taught me how to approach and engage young people from different learning perspectives.

Terra Nova National Park, Signal Hill And Cape Spear National Historic Sites

• Created, implemented and evaluated educational interpretation programs• Performed on stage and led educational activities in English and French

St. John'S, Nl, Canada

• Managed a database of more than 100 employees• Hired summer students and conducted payroll activities

Master’S Degree, Counseling Psychology

Research area: - Employment challenges facing International Students in their transition to work in the Canadian workforce

Indigenous Canada Course

Certificate In Holocaust Studies, Holocaust And Related Studies

Certificate, Français Langue Étrangère

Bachelor’S Degree, Political Science And Government, Business Administration

Explore Program, French Studies