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Recruiter, Author Van Steenis to Speak at Ferris

Bill Van SteenisBill Van Steenis, president of Prosource Executive Search, will visit Ferris State University on Thursday, Oct. 27 to share his views about the workplace and discuss skills that faculty, staff and students need to be successful.

Van Steenis will host two free sessions that are open to the public in the Interdisciplinary Resource Center, Room 120. The first session, geared toward faculty and staff, begins at 11 a.m. and his book, “In Demand: How to get Hired, Develop a Career and Always be Successful,” will be given to the first 10 people who attend. The second session, geared toward students, begins at 6 p.m. in IRC 120. The first 40 people to arrive will receive one of his books as well.

“We want to believe things in the workplace are fine and dandy, but sometimes it’s not how we think it should be,” said Angela Roman, coordinator of Career Services at Ferris. “He has the real stories. He has seen it happen.”

Roman explained that Van Steenis, an executive recruiter, is very honest, humorous and to the point. She said the first sentence of his book “In Demand” states, “This is not a book about the way things ought to be. It’s about the way things are.” Roman believes that Van Steenis will bring a good message to the campus.

Van Steenis plans to discuss topics that are important for any given workplace, ranging from professionalism, to attitude and passion. He also will reflect on amusing stories from students who may not have been dressed for success.

Melissa Hanson, a Career Services student event planning professional trainee said, “I hope that any student hoping to have a career attends. His discussion really tailors to all majors and will be really cool for students to hear from a recruiter’s side.”

Van Steenis also will discuss interviewing, networking and becoming an asset to a company.  Hanson said that Van Steenis will be reaching out to different audiences, including faculty, staff and students. She is excited to see what kind of impact Van Steenis will have on attendees.

“I hope it opens eyes and makes everyone more aware of what students need to get out of their classes and experiences in college,” Hanson said. “It will help to know what to expect when they hit the real world.”

Through his 25 years of personal coaching, training boot camp seminars and training books and materials, Van Steenis focuses on helping college students and professionals succeed in their careers.