Sometimes smaller is better.

The second “Just in Time” MBA/MS hiring event, which took place in Orlando in February 2011, was not small in terms of how many companies and government agencies were there to recruit. In fact, recruiters from 27 organizations came to the event to learn more about candidates from the three sponsoring schools: Florida International University (FIU), University of Central Florida (UCF) and University of Florida (UF). And it wasn’t small in terms of how many FIU students took the bus ride up to UCF: a total of 55 from the Chapman Graduate School.

Instead, what made the event smaller—and better—was its narrower focus. The recruiters were all there to talk to students who are getting master’s degrees in business. Hence, the business graduate students were not competing for recruiters’ time with candidates from undergraduate programs or from disciplines other than business. Plus, the recruiters were well aware of the strengths of the three participating universities. Therefore, the 212 students from the three schools could focus on selling themselves, not on first having to sell their program or college.

“Also, at some of the bigger career events, we are competing against candidates from Ivy League colleges and that’s where many recruiters concentrate their attention,” said Rafael E. Ramon, a student in the International MBA, who spoke to four companies about specific positions, explored several internship opportunities and is now following up.

Plans take shape for 2012.

“We got good feedback from the students and the recruiters and have already set a date of February 17, 2012 for the next event, which will take place at UCF again,” said Barry Shiflett, director, Career Management Services (CMS), who attended along with Elsie Florido (MSHRM ’09), associate director, CMS, who coordinated with UCF and UF; and John Nykolaiszyn, CMS associate director. Elise Rodriguez, CMS assistant director, accompanied the students on the bus.