John Howard
Bartlett
Summary
Results-oriented Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist with extensive experience in full-cycle recruiting and candidate engagement. Skilled in data-driven recruitment strategies that enhance pipeline quality and mentor teams to achieve hiring goals. Focused on process improvement and cross-functional collaboration to boost organizational performance and talent acquisition effectiveness.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
Empire Today
Northlake
07.2019 - Current
- Lead full-cycle recruitment for sales roles across multiple national markets, consistently meeting or exceeding monthly hiring and interview targets
- Develop and execute targeted sourcing strategies, increasing candidate pipeline quality and improving time-to-fill across regions
- Conduct high-volume interviews, assessing candidate fit and driving successful hiring outcomes that strengthen sales team performance
- Partner with field leadership to align hiring strategies with business needs, maximizing recruitment outcomes
- Identified and implemented process improvements to enhance candidate experience and increase operational effectiveness
- Collaborated with leadership to develop and deliver training on sourcing and interviewing best practices, supporting team skill development
- Mentor and coach new team members, accelerating onboarding and improving overall team performance
- Support hiring and development of recruiting staff, contributing to team growth and capability building
- Utilized Oracle Taleo (ATS) to manage pipelines and streamline onboarding, enhancing tracking efficiency
Senior Admissions Representative
DeVry University
Naperville
08.2010 - 07.2019
- Recruited and advised prospective students through a consultative admissions process, aligning academic programs with career goals and driving enrollment growth
- Managed a high-volume pipeline of prospective students, utilizing consistent follow-up to maximize conversion rates
- Conducted in-depth interviews to assess readiness and barriers, developing personalized plans that increased student start rates and retention
- Delivered high-touch customer service throughout admissions and enrollment process, fostering positive and supportive student experiences
- Counseled students on program selection and career pathways, contributing to long-term student success outcomes
- Led regional training initiatives on recruitment strategies, interviewing techniques, and compliance, improving team effectiveness
- Partnered with leadership to develop training content and implement best practices across admissions teams
- Coached and mentored new team members, strengthening performance and accelerating onboarding
- Identified process improvements that enhanced efficiency in student account management and admissions workflows
Fitness Coach
Capital Fitness
Lombard
05.2008 - 08.2010
- Designed and implemented customized fitness programs, helping clients improve strength, endurance, and overall health
- Delivered one-on-one coaching and motivation, enhancing client retention and facilitating consistent progress toward fitness goals
- Monitored client progress and adjusted programs, ensuring sustained results and achievement of fitness goals
- Provided nutrition guidance and lifestyle coaching, supporting measurable outcomes such as weight loss and performance improvement
- Built strong client relationships through accountability and personalized support, boosting client satisfaction and fostering repeat business
Education
Bachelor of Science - Physical Education
Evangel University
01-2008
Skills
- Talent Acquisition Strategy
- Full-Cycle Recruiting
- Interviewing & Selection
- Pipeline Management
- Candidate experience
- Data-Driven Recruitment
- Process Improvement
- Training & Development
- Relationship Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Coaching & Mentoring
Certification
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
Timeline
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
Empire Today
07.2019 - Current
Senior Admissions Representative
DeVry University
08.2010 - 07.2019
Fitness Coach
Capital Fitness
05.2008 - 08.2010
Bachelor of Science - Physical Education
Evangel University