The general consensus amongst successful people is that knowledge is power. On Wednesday, November 13 the Lansdowne campus will be hosting a Living Library for students to get knowledge in a variety of fields. No, this Living Library isn’t the inevitable genetically-modified-books-come-alive-and-take-over-the-world apocalypse; rather, it’s an event where professionals from many different disciplines gather to give students the skinny on their fields.
“One of the most valuable strategies you can use to figure out not only where you want to go but how you get there is to talk to people that are in the field,” explains Camosun employment facilitator Irene Wallace, who, along with Camosun’s library staff, is organizing the event.
Students are able to book a spot in a two-person appointment, either with a friend or a stranger, to discuss for 15 minutes any questions they might have about their profession with one of the “living books” professionals.
“So many students wonder how do you get there, who do you need to know, how do you network, how do you shake hands, how do you introduce yourself?” says Wallace. “At the end of the day, number one, you need a proper education, there’s no doubt about it; but, secondly, it’s not just a matter of who you know, but who knows what you know!”
Over 35 guests will receive an official college welcome from new Camosun College board of governors chair Marilyn Pattison and then proceed to meet with 16 sets of students. This will mark the college’s fourth Living Library event; the latest took place at the Interurban campus in February.
“According to my research, we are the only institution in the country that is running their living library on all their guests being brought in for students to talk to about their educational background or their career,” says Wallace. “This particular one is at Lansdowne, so our guests are primarily with arts and science backgrounds. We’ve got criminology, some business, and some health, because of our health programs, whereas the one at Interurban was sport, trades, tech, and business.”
This event marks a big opportunity for students to not only learn about their fields but also to make connections, explains Wallace.
“People are coming to this event who you can follow up with; it’s 15 minutes, so you’re not going to get a lifetime of information, but most of them are coming knowing that the possibility is there that you could ask for their business card and they could be open to you emailing them and setting up an information interview for a later date,” she says. “What better opportunity for students and alumni to meet with top-notch people in a variety of fields to try to get some ideas on how to break into employment and your career?”
Camosun students and alumni can sign up for appointments at camosun.ca/services/library. Students can sign up for as many sessions as they wish, with any of the “living books,” not just those in their own field.