Business and Economics Career Mentoring
The Career Mentoring Program connects alumni and industry mentors from a diverse range of business areas with students looking for support to identify and achieve their career goals and development.
The program runs from July to November and requires mentor and mentee pairs to meet at least three times during the mentoring period. Pairs are matched according to career interests and experience.
Applications for the 2026 program are now closed.
We welcome talented local and global alumni from a range of business disciplines and industries to share your expertise with our undergraduate and graduate students to support their career development and transition into the workforce.
As a mentor, you must have a minimum of one year professional work experience.
The Career Mentoring Program allows you to enhance your leadership skills and connect with the next generation of leaders and innovators.
Applications for the 2026 program are now closed.
For more information and eligibility, please refer to the Mentor FAQs.
If you have questions about the program, please contact the mentoring team at career-mentors@unimelb.edu.au.
Key dates
- 20 April
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Mentor applications open
- 8 June
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Matching commences
- Week commencing 13 July
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Students and alumni will be notified about the outcome of their application and introduced to their partner via email
- Week commencing 20 July
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Mentor Preparation Workshop
- July - November
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The program runs for 5 months
- End of November
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Program concludes
Frequently asked questions
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- Contribute to the development of the next generation of business and economics professionals
- Inspire the future business community
- Develop your leadership and mentoring skills
- Extend your professional network
- Support your student to identify and achieve their career goals and develop in confidence.
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Bachelor of Commerce and specialist masters students studying in the business fields of Accounting, Econometrics, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources, International Business, Management and Marketing.
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20 April: Mentor applications for the program open.
June: Matching Process.
Week commencing 13 July: Students and alumni will be notified about the outcome of their application and introduced to their partners via email.
Week commencing 20 July: Preparation events will be held for matched mentors and mentees.
July - November: Students are encouraged to organise at least 3 meetings with their mentors. These can take place in person or online.
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Mentors challenge, motivate, inspire and encourage mentees to achieve their goals.
- Help mentees to find their own solutions to problems.
- Challenge mentees' preconceptions and assumptions of themselves and their understanding of professions, career paths and study choices.
- Encourage mentees to build confidence in themselves, their choices and their abilities.
- Are open to sharing their personal experiences and stories.
- Are patient and non-judgemental, providing a safe place to test ideas.
- Are culturally sensitive.
- Practice active listening.
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To join the Career Mentoring Program as a mentor you must:
- Have a minimum of one year of professional work experience.
- Currently working/practicing in the industry.
- Not be currently employed by the University of Melbourne in any role that influences the academic outcomes of students eligible for the program.
- Not be in any position or situation that may be deemed to cause a conflict of interest affecting the results of this program.
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Mentors and students are expected to have at least three meetings over the five-month program between July and November. The exact nature and frequency of these meetings can be determined between the mentor and student and may include informal catch ups over coffee, virtual meetings, workplace or campus based discussions, attending a public lecture or industry event together, and more.
Mentors are also encouraged to attend on-campus program events where possible with their student mentees.
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Upon application, both mentors and mentees are assessed for eligibility to take part and then create well-researched matches based on a range of attributes. Best efforts will be made to fulfil your preferences, but not all preferences can be guaranteed.
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No, we will match you with a student taking into consideration the preferences and interests you have provided on your application form. Best efforts will be made to fulfill your preferences but not all preferences can be guaranteed.
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The focus of the program is careers and career pathways. The role of a mentor is to provide wise counsel, listen and challenge assumptions. Mentees look to their mentors to share stories of their career path, success, challenges and provide key advice.
We expect students to leave the program feeling more knowledgeable about the world of work. Students may set themselves goals such as revising their résumé, gaining interview practice, understanding an industry sector or feeling more confident when speaking with professionals.
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Yes. Places in this program are restricted to those that are eligible to apply, and to those that are compatible with the available students. Unfortunately, not all applications will be successful. We are happy to discuss your suitability for the program with you.
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You are signing up as an individual. If you are interested in signing up as an organisation, please contact our expert team via fbe-industryprograms@unimelb.edu.au.
For further information, please contact the team at careermentors@unimelb.edu.au.
Volunteering as a career mentor offers a unique opportunity to give back, grow professionally and make a lasting difference.
To understand the impact firsthand, explore what previous mentors have said about their experience in the program.
This is my third year as a mentor – that alone confirms how highly I regard the Career Mentoring Program (CMP). It provides opportunities for both mentor and mentee to develop vital skills applicable to the workplace or generally in life. It’s a fantastic program and I’m a keen advocate of the CMP.
Sharing experience with and helping students grow their skills and career was a rewarding experience for me as a mentor. Despite my busy schedule, any meeting with the mentee was fun and refreshing. As the saying goes, "to give is to gain", it was an enjoyable, memorable and satisfying experience for me to see how the mentees enthusiastically learn to overcome their weaknesses and work towards the agreed plan to achieve their goals under my guidance. As an alumnus, I also felt more connected and still be part of the University after years of graduation. I would recommend other alumni to join the program.
It’s always a rewarding experience to mentor for students at UniMelb. It feels closer to the uni specially when I am an alumni as well. The program is well structured with various resources to get started and help along the way for new mentors. There are regular check ins and reminders for smooth progression. It’s a great opportunity!
The [Career Mentoring] Program is a fantastic way to give back to the university that helped shape my career. Connecting with current students and supporting them on their journey has been incredibly rewarding. It’s not only about guiding others, it also gives you the chance to reflect and grow as a person. I highly recommend this program to any alumni who want to make a meaningful impact.
I really enjoyed the mentoring program, it was meaningful, well-structured, and genuinely rewarding. I’d highly encourage other alumni to get involved; it’s a great way to give back and make a positive impact.
Participating in the Career Mentoring Program has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s a rare opportunity to give back to the University community in a way that’s both personal and impactful - helping students translate their academic learning into real-world insight, confidence, and clarity about their professional journey.
What stood out most to me was the genuine curiosity and drive of the mentees, and how engaging with them also offered fresh perspective and reflection on my own career path. I would highly encourage other alumni to take part, because it’s a meaningful way to share your experience, stay connected to the University, and make a tangible difference in the next generation of professionals.
Being a mentor at Melbourne Uni has been a truly rewarding experience. It’s inspiring to support students as they navigate their studies and career aspirations, and I’ve found the exchange of ideas enriching for myself as well. I would encourage other alumni to take part as it’s a meaningful way to give back and stay connected to the university community.
Mentoring at Melbourne University has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It gave me the opportunity to share my professional insights while learning from the fresh perspectives of students. Seeing mentees grow in confidence and clarity about their career paths was truly fulfilling. I would highly encourage other alumni to participate; it’s a great way to give back and make a real impact.
This was a fantastic experience to mentor a student at UniMelb! It was extremely rewarding to offer support and guidance to help my mentee on their personal journey. I would highly recommend other alumni to participate!
A great way to pay it forward, being able to coach and develop highly motivated university students. The questions and concerns that these students have for us, are similar to those I had myself as a student. It was a great opportunity to give them perspective and guidance, and most importantly, help them reduce their anxiety and fears through mentoring - and it was a rewarding experience for myself, seeing their growth and momentum.
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