Camosun students will have the chance to hear keynote speakers, talk to entrepreneurs, and get resumes and interview skills critiqued at the inaugural Student Employment Festival (SEF) on September 28 at the Lansdowne campus.
Students and alumni can have a conversation with one of 28 professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds as part of what is being called the Living Library. They can hear from Victoria’s top business people at the entrepreneur talk show. And any student with a business idea can apply to compete in the Dragon’s Den for a prize of $500 towards tuition.
The festival, organized by Camosun employment facilitator Irene Wallace, will give students skills and tools that will help them enter the workforce.
“There are a ton of opportunities for students to come and learn about different careers,” she says. It’s about employment readiness and learning about career options.”
The festival will present two keynote speakers: Chris Burdge, president of social media marketing service bWest, who will talk about building an online presence, and Sean Aiken, author of The One-Week Job Project, who discovered his passion by trying a different job every week for a year.
And there will be plenty of opportunities to network. Up to 30 community partners will be in attendance, including Volunteer Victoria and the Chamber of Commerce. Students can also spend 10 minutes with an HR professional to go over their resume or do a mock interview.
“The festival is yet another way of connecting the students to the community,” says Camosun vice-president of strategic development Tom Roemer. “It will give students a relaxed atmosphere to connect with future employers.”
Jenny Stewart, one of the Living Library “books,” wishes she had had the opportunity to talk to someone on a similar career path as her when she was going to university. She loves the idea of the Living Library.
“It’s a really dynamic way to find out about a profession,” she says.
No festival would be complete without fun and games, which is why the SEF will include tarot-card readers, improv, and music. There will also be plenty of opportunities to win prizes and a free barbecue lunch courtesy of the Camosun College Student Society.
For more information or to sign up for an event, go to camosun.ca/sefestival.