Uni students speed date with employers 

A speed dating event with a difference got underway in Auckland on Monday night but it wasn't romance on the mind of participants.

The speed dates were actually quick fire interviews between Auckland University IT students and potential employers.

"I guess it's fun, it's new, it's not the old staid way," says one student Helen Lacey.

A few first date nerves, but students had a game plan.

"I'm going to tell them a bit about myself, why they should pick me over the other graduates...pretty nervous right now," says Shani Edri.

With quick fire rounds students and employers had only two minutes to get to know each other. 

"It's not a lot of time but I always reckon in a few minutes you can pick up quite a bit," says Gustav Tijen of Solnet Solutions.

Speed dating originated in the US in the late 1990's. It has taken off in New Zealand and now universities are using the method to matchmake their students and potential employers.

Companies, from Deloitte to Toll New Zealand, turned out to the event, on the hunt for top it graduates.

Once the speed dating is done, both students and employers fill out a date card, those that match up will be emailed each others contact details.

"There were certainly a couple there that I could see a lot of potential with, those are the kind of candidates we are looking for," says Tijen.