It was a gradual dawning for me, realizing that I want to shift the focus in my career to more directly helping others. I have worked and volunteered with newcomers to Canada in the past, found this incredibly rewarding, and know I want to build on my training and experience as a Career Development Practitioner to work in this sector. I lead with empathy, and with a high level of curiosity to dig beyond the obvious in identifying client transferable skills.

I have training on the most current career assessment and job searching strategies, resume and cover letter writing, interview skills and social media use based on recent employer/recruiter surveys about what they look for when they are hiring. I have developed expertise in proven techniques for using online tools to find a client’s path and land jobs.

I bring to this field extensive experience in interviewing, research, outreach, communications strategy, media relations and event management in sectors such as non-profit, health, multiculturalism, higher education and health.

I recently completed the Simon Fraser University Career Development Practitioner program. As part of this, I worked on a practicum with Immigrant Services Society of BC. I will be continuing my involvement with ISSofBC as a volunteer, initially focused on resume writing with clients.

From 2017-present I have worked on several part-time contracts for Canadian Mental Health Association BC [Vancouver-Fraser]. Currently as Communications and Resources Specialist I research and manage website content for Get Set & Connect – a peer-based program that enhances mental health and well-being in people with lived experience with a mental health and/or addiction concern.

As a volunteer, I’m also part of Vancouver Coastal Health’s Community Engagement Advisory Network (CEAN).  I have been involved in several projects, and have received facilitation training that I used in contributing to nurse education.  Currently I am part of a team that provides plain-language, patient-centred edits for Vancouver Coastal Health publications.

In the past, I was a Settlement Mentor with Immigrant Services Society of BC, and did media relations for a Multicultural Health Fair for AMSSA.

More about my background as Latitude Media, media production list and writing samples.