Words like “phenomenon” and “unique” are easy to use, but it’s a whole lot harder to actually be those things. Yet a long way to go into my recruitment world or career, I am well worthy of both accolades - and many more. But it goes beyond the numbers too. Where so many choose to play it safe, Steve is a gloriously adventurous and unpredictable recruiter who can comfortably straddle business, inspired by an insatiable passion for Information Technology that takes in everything one needs to give in what one does. He’s made rock records, all successful and held together by the common thread of that powerful spirit and that confidence to take risks and explore new directions. Steve is also a recruiter with both a brain and a conscience. His compassionate side is most obvious in the remarkable work of his Ave Charity Foundation, which he started at the age of 20 for the underprivileged kids and downtrodden women. The foundation currently provides education and empowerment to over a thousand house wives, widows and children in Trichy, Southern part of India and is expanding its work to betterment and growth. Steve, award-winning Executive Recruiter and Co-Director of POISE Inc., is a hard-working recruiter who partners with CIO, CFO, CCO, COO, CTO, CEO, SVP, and Director candidates to win top jobs at Fortune-ranked corporations. A credentialed Professional Recruiter, Resume Writer, Career Management Coach, Interview Coach, Social Networking (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) Career Strategist, and Personal Branding Analyst, he serves as a media source to Wall Street Journal FINS, CIO.com, AOLJobs.com, LocalJobNetwork.com, and other outlets. The Story of My Former Life Once upon a time, long ago in a former life, I made my living as a full-time Psychiatrist, part-time Teacher and occasional Party Host. Moving from the Entertainment Business to the Non-Profit World to the Staffing Industry might not seem, at least on the surface, to be a very logical career path. The truth is that they are all more related than you might think. So many of the skills I acquired and lessons I learned in those days were later to become invaluable tools that I continued to use throughout my successive jobs in the business world and the staffing industry. Communications skills, organizational skills, effective time management, prioritization, creative problem solving, networking, sales and marketing acumen – as well as the ability to stay positive, passionate and enthusiastic about my work, and to maintain a sense of humor … these are all things that I learned back then, and still use today. Basic life skills like those are always “transferable.” I just wanna share some of my accumulated knowledge and experience – especially as it relates to staffing, employment and job-seeking – and to help others in the process. - Steve Roper ©