On 6th November librarians supporting the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences spent the day running a stand at the annual PAVE (HLS Employability) Conference which took place in the Venue@DMU.
Our stand was located in the busy main Conference Hall, alongside employers and placement providers. We displayed a range of professional journals representing different HLS career pathways and had leaflets for students to take away highlighting the programme of workshops and assignment drop-ins provided by CLaSS, librarians and the Maths Learning Centre. We also showcased the LLS Employability, the Careers and Placements Guide http://libguides.library.dmu.ac.uk/employabilitycareersandplacements and all the many other resources available from the Library to help students develop in their chosen careers. In addition, one of the librarians, Joanna Dare, gave a short talk entitled “We’re not just for assignments! How the Library can enhance your employability” as part of the Conference workshop programme.
We have attended PAVE for the past few years and have seen the Conference grow from strength to strength. This year was the busiest yet and the atmosphere was buzzing. At the LLS stand alone, we talked to nearly 80 students, more than double the number seen in previous years. We have found the Conference to be a valuable opportunity to engage with students outside the walls of the Library. By talking to students and hearing about your career aspirations, we are better able to understand their needs, support your learning and provide resources that will help you develop both at DMU and beyond.