Minding Our Business
A monthly article written by Dean Becton
Quiet Hiring
A few months ago, I wrote a column on the "quiet quitting" phenomenon, so it seems appropriate to write about a somewhat related workplace buzzword…quiet hiring. While quiet hiring isn't necessarily a direct response to quiet quitting, they seem to be related. Whereas quiet quitting relates to employees doing the bare minimum in their jobs, quiet hiring involves employers gaining more talent and bandwidth without hiring more people. In an ever tightening labor market, organizations are looking for creative ways to find the talent they need and quiet hiring is one of the responses that is gaining momentum. Additionally, many employers are nervous about expanding their current workforce or even replacing those who leave with a potential recession frequently being discussed. These are probably a few of the reasons why Gartner predicts quiet hiring to be the top workplace trend for 2023.
So, what is quiet hiring? It's an HR tactic used to promote internal talent mobility and allows an organization to acquire new skills and capabilities without adding new full-time employees. In other words, quiet hiring is when employers give current employees more responsibility, sometimes outside their domain, without any actual hiring taking place.
Quiet hiring provides employers with a number of benefits in that it provides efficiency and flexibility that normal recruitment and hiring practices cannot match. It also provides companies with a better understanding of the capabilities of their current workforce, identifying employees who are key to retain and making them more prepared to meet future challenges. Quiet hiring doesn't just benefit employers, but also benefits employees. While quiet hiring may result in pay raises or bonuses for taking on new responsibilities, employees develop a better skillset even if that isn't part of the deal. This makes employees more valuable not only to their current employer but others, so it can be used to negotiate a future promotion or a new job. It can also provide employees with a new network to use for future assignments or promotions.
The key to successful quiet hiring is to avoid using it too extensively. If employees view it as a long-term situation without any benefits for them, employees will view it as unfair or unethical. As a result, clear communication is essential so that the details and expectations around the new role are realistic and known by both parties. Furthermore, employers must equip and prepare employees for new responsibilities to avoid unnecessary stress and performance problems. Finally, employers must be mindful that sourcing talent from within can present diversity challenges if the organization has little diversity to begin with. All in all, quiet hiring can be a win-win for everyone if done properly. I'd be interested to hear what your thoughts about it are.
Business Students Travel to Atlanta to Participate in National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship
Three Southern Miss Business students participated in the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship and Conference (NCSSC) in Atlanta, GA, this month. The national sports sales conference, hosted by Baylor University and the Atlanta Hawks, presents an opportunity for students to highlight their skills while competing against peers from around the nation.
- John Michael Travers; MBA; Bush, LA
- Holden Hewes; Sport Management; Gulfport, MS
- Ryan Theriot; Sport Management; Vicksburg, MS
The championship included two competition divisions in Sales: Tickets and Corporate Partnerships. Additionally, a Speed Selling Competition occured with all three students participating. Hewes and Theriot participated in the Tickets Division championship round with Hewes placing in the Top 32!
Travers placed in the Sweet 16 in the Corporate Partnerships division, upsetting a top-seeded competitor in the first round. To prepare for the trip, these students worked with Dr. Chris Croft, assistant professor of sport management, and Mr. Kevin Buckley, professor of practice in marketing. Training sessions included utilizing the Scianna Hall Professional Sales Lab in order to conduct post-analysis of their recorded practice sessions.
Additionally, alumna Courtney Campbell, BSE Global Director of Group Sales, was a featured Women in Sports panel speaker. This is the second year in a row for Southern Miss to compete in this sales competition.
Experience Business Casually, Gulf Park Campus
The School of Leadership and Business Career Services held Experience Business Casually, a popular Hattiesburg event, on the Gulf Park campus this month for the second year in a row. It was once again a success, hosting approximately 100 students from across campus. In addition to USM Gulf Park students, dual-enrolled students from Pass Christian High School and Gulfport High School were invited to capitalize on the networking opportunity. 31 volunteer business professionals from 24 different organizations coached students in fifteen different topics such as interviewing strategies, the 60-second elevator pitch, the art of small talk, personal brand, and others.
Thank you to our sponsors, Southern Farm Bureau and RPM Pizza.
Southern Miss Business Student Selected for Lilly Sales Internship
Madison Calkins has been selected for the prestigious Lilly Sales Internship program to begin this summer. The internship is a 10-week program designed to give students real world experience in pharmaceutical sales. The internship consists of sales training at Lilly Corporate Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN, and field-based training in an assigned territory.
Calkins, a junior from Daphne, AL, is pursuing a BSBA in marketing with a minor in social media content and strategy. She is also studying to obtain a professional selling certificate.
I am so honored to have been chosen as a Lilly intern, and I cannot wait to learn the ins and outs of their company alongside other interns from across the country. The opportunity to work with such a respectable company is incredibly exciting, and I look forward to representing Southern Miss Business this summer. — Madison Calkins
School of Marketing Confidential
The School of Marketing hosted their annual Marketing Confidential this month. Four expert panelists were invited to provide valuable insight on how they are adapting to the ever-changing age of technology in their careers and industries. Thank you to our panelists:
- Greg Smith, Senior VP for Preferred Travel Group
- Tyler Cochran, Senior Account Executive of Ticket Sales and Development for Southern Miss
- Payton Wilson, Data Analyst for Hattiesburg Clinic
- Haley Miles, Account Manager for Marvel Marketers
Annual Economic Outlook Forum
The 2023 Economic Outlook Forum was hosted on the Hattiesburg campus this February. Presentations were given by Dr. Chris Smith, visiting assistant professor of economic development here at Southern Miss, Dr. Gary Wagner, Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Mr. Thanh Roettele, managing director of Mortgage Finance at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
As always, we would like to thank The First Bank for their continued support of this annual event.
Business Student Named Pressure Round Winner at Bayou Sales Challenge Sales Competition
Southern Miss Business sales students competed in two-day Bayou Sales Challenge at Nicholls State University. Ashley Mitchell, Colby Wynn, Kaela Barnicle, Landon Elkins, and Logan Miller worked hard to represent the college well. Ashley Mitchell was deemed The Pressure Round Winner in her debut competition. Kevin Buckley and Dr. Kristina Harrison helped prepare this team to stand amongst top sales programs across the southeast.
Ph.D. Student Roosevelt Morgan in Top 40 under 40 in Birmingham
Roosevelt Morgan, current Human Capital Development Ph.D. student, has been honored in the Top 40 under 40 in Birmingham, AL. Morgan is an Equal Employment Opportunity Sergeant in the Army National Guard, and is a champion of diversity and DEI efforts. Additionally, he created the Birmingham Society of Human Resource Management's first HR Hero Awards Ceremony to shine light on HR professionals in Birmingham, and has assisted the Second Chance Job Fair to aid with the rehabilitation of previously incarcerated members of society.
New Sport Management Program Rankings
Dr. Stacey Hall Publishes New Textbook
Dr. Stacey A. Hall, executive director of National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) and professor of sport management, recently published a new textbook titled, "Security and Risk Assessment for Facility and Event Managers."
The purpose of this text is to provide foundational security management knowledge to help managers safeguard facilities and events, whether they are mega sport events or local community gatherings. Presenting an overview of security principles and government policies, the text introduces an all-hazard approach to considering the types and severity of threats that could occur as well as the potential consequences, likelihood, and frequency of occurrence. Readers will be walked through a risk assessment framework that will help them plan for threats, develop countermeasures and response strategies, and implement training programs to prepare staff in case of an unfortunate occurrence.
Tremors in a Digital World Panel
Southern Miss Business students and faculty Madison Calkins, Victoria Jones, Landon McFarland, Dr. Katie Howie, and Dr. Kristina Harrison participated in a live aired show on WUSM FM 88.5. titled, "Tremors in a Digital World." This event was executed by the School of Media and Communication as part of their podcast series, "News You Need." While on air, they discussed the impact of AI, Chat GPT, and social media with implications for education, marketing strategy, and overall society.
We are very proud of our students for participating in the panel and providing an insightful discussion about the ever-evolving presence of artificial intelligence in our society — Dr. Katie Howie
Upcoming Spring Events
- Tue, Mar 7: USM Careers on the Coast and Job Fair at Gulf Park
- Tue, Mar 7: Coffee w/ an Entrepreneur in The Hatchery
- Wed, Mar 8: Lunch with the Hatchery
- Tue, Mar 21: Coffee w/ an Entrepreneur in The Hatchery
- Fri, Mar 24: Alumni of the Year Luncheon
- Thur, Mar 30: Inspired Leaders Series, Jan Larsen
- Tue, Apr 4: Coffee w/ an Entrepreneur in The Hatchery
- Wed, Apr 5: Lunch with the Hatchery
- Thur, Apr 6: Professional Sales Lab Open House
- Tue, Apr 18: Coffee w/ an Entrepreneur in The Hatchery
- Fri, Apr 28: Beta Gamma Sigma Induction & Collegewide Awards Day
- Thur, May 11: Graduate School Commencement
- Fri, May 12: Undergraduate Commencement
- Sat, May 13: Gulf Park Commencement
Class Notes
- Holly Burkett (HCD Ph.D. Alumna) wrote the article "Employee Burnout: How Leaders Can Tip the Scale" featured in Forbes magazine. She was invited to present a continuing education session titled, "From Burned Out to Built Up: Tips, Tools, and Strategies for Building Team Resilience" at North Central Technical College in Wisconsin. Additionally, she was spotlighted in the "Empowering Women" series Close Up Radio during an interview with radio host and media personality, Jim Masters.
- James Hill (Sport Management Alumnus) was elevated to Associate Commissioner of Communications and Branding for the Southland Conference.
- Kent Hegenauer (Sport Management Alumnus) started a new position as Chief Financial Officer/Sr. Associate Athletic Director at Wichita State University.
- Dana Lander '22 landed a job as an Associate Territory Manager with EMSI.
- Kate Norris-Scott '07 was selected as the new Vice President of Programs for Virginia Council on Economic Education.
Business Alumni, What's New With You?
Southern Miss Business Alumni, we want to hear from you! Do you have good news to share? Maybe you got a new job, a promotion, or won an award! Please share your good news with us so we can help celebrate you and include your accomplishments in future newsletters. Click the link below to fill out the form.