Career Mentoring Program

Your mentor, an experienced industry professional, can provide personalised guidance and support to help you navigate your career with confidence.

This program, which matches students and industry experts, is an annual program and will run from July to November.

Why join the program?

Your mentor can offer insight into your chosen field and help with matters like finding the right career path, networking effectively and making your applications stand out.

Previous mentors include partners of accounting firms, directors of management consultancies, bankers and senior public servants.

By being involved in this program, you will have the opportunity to:

  • better understand career preferences,
  • identify and develop your career strategy,
  • learn about different professions and industries,
  • increase your networking circle,
  • develop your communication, presentation and networking skills, and
  • improve your CV and your interviewing technique.

Program structure and matching process

The FBE Career Mentoring Program runs in Semester 2 each year.

When matching mentors and mentees, we look at your preferred career and interest areas of both individuals and match accordingly. Key program features include:

  • 5-month commitment running from July to November.
  • Mentoring pairs are expected to meet at least 3 times over the course of the program.
  • The frequency, length and format of meetings are discussed at the first mentoring meeting
  • Your meeting schedule and mentoring goals are outlined in a mentoring agreement which all participants should sign.
  • Resources and training including a Mentee Preparation Workshop are provided to support you throughout the program.

When matching you with a mentor we’ll take into consideration:

  • Whether your preferences match with available mentors
  • Your motivations for participating in the program
  • Your level of commitment to the program

Please note: Selection of students to participate in the Career Mentoring Program is at the discretion of the Faculty of Business and Economics. The Faculty has the right to, at its sole discretion, terminate or revoke the invitation to participate.

A mentoring partnership cannot always be guaranteed.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for the FBE Career Mentoring Program if you are a current FBE student and are:

  • in your final/honours year of undergraduate study, or
  • are enrolled in postgraduate studies.

Applications

Applications for the 2025 program have closed.

Understand more about career mentoring by completing this short online module. You are required to achieve 80% in the module quiz to progress to the next stage.

2025 Key dates

  • Monday 17 March: Applications open to third-year BCom, BCom(Hons) and MBS students
  • Thursday 3 April: Career Mentoring Information Session
  • Friday 9 May: Applications close at 5pm
    Note: Places are limited. If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close applications earlier than the advertised date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
  • Week commencing 14 July: Application outcomes and partnerships announced
  • Week commencing 21 July: Mentee Preparation Workshop
  • July - November: Regular (at least monthly) meetings with mentor
  • November: Program concludes

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You will not be able to choose your mentor.

    Volunteer mentors participating in the program come from diverse backgrounds. We match students and mentors based on preferences, including industry, study area, gender or other criteria indicated. If your preferences don’t match available volunteers, or if you didn’t submit a detailed application, you may not be matched with a mentor. In this instance, we’ll discuss other available options with you.

    If you have any questions prior to the matching process, please contact the Program Officer directly via fbe-cmp@unimelb.edu.au.

  • Yes, it is possible. However, the mentoring relationship aims to expand your knowledge of career options and the working world. You can still learn a lot from a mentor in another field of work, so we ask you to keep an open mind. While you can specify preferences in your application, highly specific criteria may limit your chance of being matched.

  • This program runs annually so please wait until you meet the eligibility criteria before applying. In the meantime, you can join the university’s online networking platform, Ask Alumni, to connect with alumni for career support and guidance.

  • Your academic year status is based on your total passed credits. Each year of study is equivalent to 100 passed credits. For example, to be considered a second-year student, you must have accumulated at least 100 total passed credits; for a third-year status, you need at least 200 total passed credits.

  • Once matched, it’s expected that you initiate at least 3 meetings with your mentor during the semester. Meetings may be 30 minutes or longer, depending on individual preferences and needs. Meetings should be scheduled at a time that suits both parties and you should work around your mentor’s schedule. You can email your mentor to discuss the frequency of your meetings, and this can be negotiated at your first meeting.

    Between meeting with your mentor, you’ll want to reflect on discussions and put learnings and advice into action.

  • The format of the meetings (in person/online or a combination of both) should be discussed in the initial communication. Should you choose to meet via an online platform, we recommend using software such as Teams or Zoom. Recommended meeting places for in-person meetings could include on-campus, your mentor’s place of work (during business hours) a public library, or a quiet café.

  • The success of a mentoring partnership is dependent on your commitment to engage with your mentor. Results from previous programs show that the more often mentees meet with their mentor, the higher their satisfaction with the program. You’ll develop valuable skills, experiences and knowledge by participating; the more you put in, the more you’ll get out!

    You need to commit to:

    • Be available in Semester 2 to meet with a mentor.
    • Take responsibility for initiating and maintaining the mentoring connection throughout the program, ensuring you meet at least three times.
    • Communicate regularly and promptly with your mentor.
    • Prepare for meetings by considering topics of discussion and questions beforehand.
    • Honour your meeting commitments and be punctual.
    • Keep shared information confidential.

    Make use of the support resources available including:

Contact us

If you have any questions about the FBE Career Mentoring Program, contact us at fbe-cmp@unimelb.edu.au.