Melbourne Graduate School of Management Graduate Careers Centre

Become a Career Mentor

About the Program

The Career Mentoring Program matches selected students with business professionals in a mentoring partnership. The aim of this program is to assist students (mentees) with their career development, their transition from University into the workforce and to engage business professionals in a mutually beneficial partnership. Mentors assist their mentees in identifying career goals and professional development plans.

Participating students are linked with mentors based on their shared interests and area of specialty.

This program gives you the opportunity to contribute to the community while at the same time, differentiating your career from your colleagues by further developing leadership and coaching skills.

The program is now in its seventh year and has experienced considerable growth and popularity since its inception. In 2009 the Career Mentoring Program will be open to both undergraduate and graduate students from the Faculty of Economics and Commerce.

 

Mentor Business Areas

The Graduate Careers Centre welcomes interest from prospective mentors. We would like to hear from business professionals with experience in any of the following areas:

  • Accounting
  • Banking
  • Business and IT
  • Consulting
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Human Resources and Organisational Development
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Other business areas such as insurance etc.


The Mentor Role

The role of the mentor is to partner with the mentee in the development of their professional understanding and career goals including:

Recognising that our mentors are busy professionals, we strongly encourage mentees to take primary responsibility for organising meetings and initiating communication. The usual commitment from a mentor is five or more face-to-face meetings a year, with regular (usually monthly) contact via phone or email.

 

The Screening and Matching Process

Because of the popularity of the program the student selection process is competitive. Students must progress through a screening process to ensure their suitability for the program. We also ask mentors to register online to ensure we understand your background experience and skills in order for us to match you appropriately with a mentee. Additionally (as per requirements of standard duty of care process) we ask you to provide us with details of two referees. 

When matching mentors and mentees, we look at areas of study, professional experience, and interest areas of both individuals and try to match accordingly.

 

Registering your Interest

The registration/application period for 2009 is now closed, but we welcome and take expressions of interest from future mentors throughout the year.

Register interest as a career mentor for the 2010 program.

 

The Career Mentoring Program Yearly Cycle

Mid/Late April  - The Program Launch Event
The program officially starts in mid/late April with a launch event held at the University when mentors and mentees meet for the first time. It is also a good opportunity for mentors to network with each other.

April to November - Develop Your Mentoring Relationship
The mentoring program then runs throughout the University calendar until November, with mentors and mentees managing their meetings and communication themselves. The Graduate Careers Centre is available for support and advice should it be required. The centre provides guidance to mentees about how to best utilise the connection and will touch base with participants during the year.

Late November – The Program Closing Event
To officially thank our mentors and to mark the end of the yearly mentoring program, mentees and mentors are invited to attend the closing function at the University. Many pairs choose to maintain some form of contact following the official conclusion of the program.

 

 

 

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