LAKESHA POLLARD
Hughesville,MD
Summary
Dedicated Senior Recruiter with over 10 years of experience eager to create and implement successful strategies to improve organizational efficiency. Adept at utilizing data analysis to provide insights into HR and Recruiting initiatives. Strong communication and interpersonal skills and committed to pursuing best practices related to employee development and retention.
Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. Goal-oriented recruiting professional motivated to achieve demanding targets under tight deadlines. Proficient in developing and overseeing diverse candidate pipelines.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Contract Senior Recruiter
Outerspace
08.2023 - Current
- Worked with hiring managers to determine long-term staffing needs and developed strategies to attract top talent and address any skill gaps
- Contributed to the development and implementation of employer branding initiatives, positioning the company as an appealing workplace for prospective talent
- Partnered with departmental managers to ascertain hiring needs and subsequently provide candidate recommendations. Onboarded 2 Directors and 1 Vice President within 2 months with Outerspace
- Provided exceptional support to candidates throughout the interview process, leading to positive feedback and increased offer acceptance rates
- Managed relationships with external recruitment agencies, ensuring timely and cost-effective fulfillment of open positions
- Fostered positive candidate experiences through transparent communication throughout the recruiting process
- Assisted HR department in planning and implementing tools for Lattice rollout for engagement, career development, performance reviews, and talent landscape
Senior/Contract Recruiter
Koalafi
10.2021 - 08.2023
- Managed end-to-end recruitment cycle for Operations, Sales, Customer Service, Tech, and Recruitment Departments, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and hiring
- Stayed up to date on industry trends and educated hiring managers on best practices
- Implemented STAR method for behavioral-based interviewing, reducing time-to-hire by 20%
- Consistently updated interview plans utilizing ATS (Greenhouse) to align with open roles and candidate activity
- Exceeded monthly hiring goals for niche positions ranging from entry-level to Director; filled over 50 positions in 6 months.
- Supported short-term and long-term initiatives, including DEIB, interview training, onboarding, employee branding, and recruitment events. These efforts were instrumental in increasing diverse hires by 5%
- Nurtured relationships with hiring managers and provided coaching throughout assessment selection, and offer process
- Created effective talent-sourcing strategies to bring diverse and passive candidates into the pipeline quickly for each role
- Managed/mentored Junior Recruiter and Scheduling Coordinator
Senior Recruiter
AtWork Group
02.2021 - 10.2021
- Led full recruitment cycle, from sourcing to onboarding, including talent acquisition, preparation for interviews, and offer negotiation
- Recruited high-profile candidates to fill 5+ positions for government contracts requiring TS/SCI
- Created job postings and wrote job descriptions to attract quality talent
- Sourced vetted candidates for temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire positions
- Collaborated with hiring managers and human resource staff during the offer process to recommend salaries and employee start dates based on business needs
- Increased hiring by 6% in niche areas through networking and recruitment activities
- Played an instrumental role in recruiting diverse talent for clients looking to onboard top talent.
Human Resource Executive
Target
02.2014 - 02.2021
- Implemented best practices in employee relations to boost morale and establish positive employer-employee relationships
- Followed up with employees affected by COVID-19 to monitor their recovery. Communicated benefits available to employees and ensured confidentiality throughout the process
- Managed employee disciplinary action documentation, provided coaching, development, and counseling
- Liaised with over 200 employees and senior leadership to address performance issues and foster resolution of problems
- Provide senior leadership with HR counseling based on employment laws and regulations
- Successfully decreased project gaps by mentoring staff on best practices and protocols, while monitoring performance quality control for corrective action planning
- Spearheaded bi-weekly meetings with nine HR executives via Zoom to discuss trends, develop solutions, establish best practices, and create strategic plans
- Oversaw scheduling and payroll routines, researched trends, and enforced policy changes when necessary
- Facilitated training sessions on talent management, sexual harassment, diversity, EFCA, and HIPPA for department leaders
- Worked with Kronos workforce solution and expansion recommendations to improve productivity.
Corporate Retail Recruiter
Target
10.2012 - 02.2014
- Evaluated candidate resumes, vetted candidates, and presented potential talent to hiring managers
- Consistently managed talent pipeline to fulfill the demand for skilled personnel in various roles
- Selected and organized training for 300 employees to support the opening of a new $60 million store
- Monitored succession planning process and provided feedback on developmental gaps for the leadership team
- Spearheaded feedback sessions for new hires and reported results to senior leaders, resulting in a 13% reduction in turnover rate
- Managed recruitment process for multiple executive job openings for 75 stores that generated $20 to $90 million in revenue annually
- Led bi-weekly meetings with senior leaders to discuss recruitment strategies for hard-to-fill roles
- Effectively utilized recruitment platforms and resources, including social media, ATS, Boolean searches, networking, and referrals, led to a 26% increase in both the offer-to-hire ratio and candidate pipeline.
Human Resources Executive
Target
04.2007 - 10.2012
- Oversaw payroll department and successfully reduced overtime by 10%
- Adjusted staffing and scheduling to maintain operational work centers while accommodating absences and utilizing automated systems
- Guided employees on various benefits such as Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), 401k, medical, educational, and legal benefits
- Discussed implications of evaluations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Represented Target in court proceedings associated with unemployment and worker’s compensation saving Target over $1 million in unemployment wages
- Conducted leadership interviews, determined appropriate compensation, and negotiated offers
- Evaluated exempt and non-exempt employees' performance during their probationary periods (30/60/90 days) and provided recommendations to address learning gaps
- Executed terminations, reassignments, and discipline-related directives.
Education
BBA - Fashion Merchandising
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VASkills
- Contract Negotiations
- Candidate Sourcing
- Employee Retention
- Leadership Experience
- Employee Onboarding
- Networking/ Relationship Building
Hris
- Greenhouse ATS
- Workday ATS
- Gem
- Indeed
- Lattice
Timeline
Contract Senior Recruiter
Outerspace
08.2023 - Current
Senior/Contract Recruiter
Koalafi
10.2021 - 08.2023
Senior Recruiter
AtWork Group
02.2021 - 10.2021
Human Resource Executive
Target
02.2014 - 02.2021
Corporate Retail Recruiter
Target
10.2012 - 02.2014
Human Resources Executive
Target
04.2007 - 10.2012
BBA - Fashion Merchandising
Virginia Commonwealth University
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