Business and Economics Career Mentoring

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

Business and Economics career mentoring, which matches students and industry experts, is an annual mentoring that runs from July to November.

Why do I need career mentoring?

Your mentor can offer insight into your chosen field and can help you critique career paths, network effectively and make your applications stand out.

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

By being involved in career mentoring, you will have the opportunity to:

  • better understand personal 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.

Mentoring structure and matching process

Business and Economics Career Mentoring 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 features of career mentoring 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, such as completion the Preparing for Mentoring LMS module

Please note: Selection of students to participate in the Career Mentoring 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 career mentoring if you are a current FBE student and are:

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

Applications

Applications for the 2026 Business and Economics Career Mentoring are 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.

2026 Key dates

  • Monday 13 April: Applications open to third-year BCom, BCom(Hons) and MBS students
  • Friday 22 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 13 July: Application outcomes and partnerships announced
  • Wednesday 22 July: Mentee Preparation Workshop
  • July - November: Regular (at least monthly) meetings with mentor
  • November: Program concludes

Melbourne Plus Recognition

From 2026, Career Mentoring is now an eligible activity for Melbourne Plus; the University’s cocurricular recognition program that helps you build employability skills and earn verified digital credentials. By participating in career mentoring and submitting a short reflection, you can earn the Global Citizenship Melbourne Plus digital credential, if you have not previously obtained a Global Citizenship Melbourne Plus credentials through other eligible activities.

Learn more about Melbourne Plus recognition for career mentoring here.

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:

  • Melbourne Plus is the University of Melbourne’s co-curricular recognition program that helps you build valuable skills, meaningful experiences, and receive verified digital credentials you can share on your resume or LinkedIn. Mentees who participate in Education career mentoring, meet eligibility requirements and submit their Melbourne Plus reflection will earn the Global Citizenship digital credential. This capability recognises students who engage with diverse perspectives and develop an understanding of global issues.

  • Once you complete the mentoring program, if you have met eligibility requirements for the digital credential you will be enrolled in a Melbourne Plus LMS Community where you can complete a reflection on your development and receive the Global Citizenship digital credential.

Contact us

If you have any questions about Business and Economics Career Mentoring, contact us at fbe-cmp@unimelb.edu.au.