Michael Bates grew up in rural Illinois, the son of a railroad conductor and stay-at-home mom. He has a passion for the arts and got involved in music and theater at an early age, fueling his interest in other peoples’ stories and teaching him the value of connecting with others.

Michael graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield with a degree in communication. Throughout his time at UIS, Michael developed a passion for writing about music and cinema, and worked as a manager at his school’s library. There, he started to develop a taste for recruiting, having interviewed other prospective student workers.

His career as a talent acquisition professional really began about a year after he graduated from school. Working as an administrative assistant in the healthcare industry, he picked up recruiting when a vacancy in his company’s HR office opened up. Michael continuously filled nursing positions and kept his office fully staffed, which instilled in him a real passion for helping candidates find the next step in their career. Looking to expand his horizons, he took a leap into an agency setting where he could source for roles at a much higher volume and work across a variety of industries. This allowed Michael to challenge himself and grow into a leadership role. He’s helped his clients develop strategies for filling difficult roles, and has approached each challenge with an understanding of both candidate and company needs.

Michael currently lives in the Chicagoland area and has stayed in touch with his love of the arts. He does volunteer writing for local film blogs, and attends as many concerts as possible with his partner, an aspiring music photographer.