ST. PETERSBURG – University of South Florida Muma College of Business students at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance on the St. Petersburg campus recently had the opportunity to connect and network with some major players in the finance world through a speed networking event at Lynn Pippenger Hall.
This event connected students to companies looking for future employees. This first-ever Muma College of Business speed networking event on the St. Petersburg campus also served as a first-look for companies searching for applicants for summer internships.
Companies such as Raymond James Financial, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, Franklin Templeton, Enterprise, Manning & Napier, PwC, Jabil, and more attended the fast-paced two-hour networking event.
"My goal was to connect with employers in the St. Petersburg area and identify potential opportunities. I was able to make more than 15 connections and connect with them later to ask them about internship opportunities in the business analyst profession." - Abdul Muqeet, USF Muma College of Business student
Maria Diaz from Franklin Templeton said her team’s goal was “to build relationships with students and staff, to showcase our brand, to educate on the hiring process for the current job opportunities we are offering, and to identify students for our internships and early career roles.” The event was a success for Diaz, who said many students have already taken the tips on networking and connected with her on LinkedIn.
Students who attended the event spent five minutes at each company’s table – networking, sharing resumes, and discussing possible business opportunities before rotating to the next company.
Garret Secor, university relations recruiter for Jabil, hoped to network with students interested in summer internships. Now that connections have been made, students will be able to apply for upcoming opportunities with the company, he said.
Students and company representatives gathered after the event to continue networking.