Speed dating, meet speed career coaching

You might not walk away with a date for next Saturday night, but an upcoming event at Harper College could do wonders for your professional life.

In a spinoff of "speed dating," Harper College will offer a "Speed Career Coaching" event to formally launch its new Professional Advancement and Learning Center.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, participants will rotate in five-minute sessions between various experts who will dole out quick resume, cover letter, interviewing, networking and salary negotiation tips.

John Petrik, a community outreach consultant with DeVry University, will head the networking table.

"We'll let job seekers know how critical it is to use the network of people you know to connect with a new position," he said. "In my experience, at least 70 percent of professionals connect through referrals rather than blindly answering ads and posting a resume on monster.com."

Al Perez, vice president of retail banking at Chase, and members of the Harper staff will also offer advice. Career counselor and best-selling author Robin Ryan will speak following the event.

The new Professional Advancement and Learning Center supports adults as they start new professions or seek additional training, an increasingly popular trend in the ailing economy. The center will compliment current fast-track degree programs with career coaching, seminars and workshops.

The free career advice event is limited to 250 people and takes place 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Wojcik Conference Center on Harper's Palatine campus, Algonquin and Roselle roads. Registration is required; non-students welcome. To sign up, go to harpercollege.edu/mysuccess or call (847) 925-6847.