Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Stetson Tries Speed Hiring
Participants have one minute to make a first and lasting impression at event.

By MELISSA GRIGGS
The Daytona Beach News-Journal


DAYTONA BEACH
You've heard of speed dating. How about speed hiring? It's just the latest amped-up craze sweeping the country. And Stetson University is experimenting with the trend for its young alumni, trying to hook them up with other alumni who may be hiring. "What better way to re-enter the U.S.?" asked Luis Paris, a 2001 Stetson graduate who recently returned from several years in Germany. Paris was one of about 40 Stetson grads at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club for a Speed Networking event sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations last week.

Modeled after the popular speed dating events, speed networking seeks to make perfect business -- not love -- matches.

Participants bring business cards and prepare a short "elevator" speech. Sitting face to face, each person has one minute to talk. Then everyone moves to the next seat and the next partner.

"Oh no, this is like speed dating," said Danielle Gutierrez, a 2004 graduate who obviously didn't know what she was getting into.

Hot hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar helped calm a few nerves.

Will Royall, a 2004 Stetson graduate, suggested the event to the alumni office because he found he always ended up talking to people he already knew at alumni events.

Stetson tried out the concept last month with the Altamonte Springs alumni group and plans to repeat the event in Jacksonville, Tampa and Atlanta over the next few months.

Royall, who has a video production/interactive media design firm in Ocoee, also coordinated a speed networking event for the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. He said the chamber has speed networking about once a month now, as well as "super power networking," which is geared toward specific industries.

Speed networking events are cropping up around the country. Companies such as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Chubb Corp. are organizing internal speed networking events to help employees connect.

Industry conferences and professional groups are getting into the act, too.

Royall said the Stetson event wasn't a job fair but was focused on alumni helping each other in business.

"If you prepare what you are going to say, you can be a better listener because you won't be thinking about what to say when it is your turn," he said. "Then, really listen to the other person and think about how you can help them. Givers always gain."

Tara Seguine, human resource and training supervisor at J&P Cycles, said she didn't come to hire people but to meet other alumni.

"Someone may know someone who is interested in motorcycles," she said.

J&P Cycles, a motorcycle parts and accessories distributor, is hiring people for its new retail showroom at Destination Daytona, Seguine said.

Gutierrez, a 2004 graduate, said, "I just want to see what's out there."

Now that's an effectly wreckless practice.