GCCA | Graduate Careers Council of Australia

Graduate Careers Australia

ergo - Number 91 June 2003

The University of Melbourne’s Career Mentoring Program Grows

It’s an oft-quoted statistic in careers services; between a half and two-thirds of job vacancies are found through informal contacts, such as friends, family and professional relationships. In recognition of this, careers services are increasingly offering programs that aim to widen students’ access to this important job-seeking network.

Career mentoring is emerging as one effective way to help students connect with industry professionals. Mentoring widens their employment prospects through networking, while also increasing their awareness of their career options, and, hopefully, helping to answer the big question many students face; “What do I want to do with my life?”. Career mentoring can also provide some of the most sought-after attributes that employers look for, but which are frequently overlooked by new graduates – industry awareness, first-hand knowledge of life in the work force, and job-readiness skills.

This year the University of Melbourne has expanded its career mentor programs under the coordination of Career Mentor Connection, a service within Careers & Employment. Programs now exist in four faculties (the Institute of Land and Food Resources, the School of Medicine, Engineering and Economics & Commerce), and a new pilot program is also beginning in the Education faculty.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Alan Gilbert, launched this year’s programs in April, and spoke of the career benefits mentoring can provide to students, as well as the industry connections that flow on to the university. He pointed to many studies that show successful people often had such a relationship early on in their career – one that crystallised their sense of direction and personal motivation.

According to agricultural management consultant and former mentor, Mr Nigel McGuckian, the need for strong links between industry and universities is essential. Mr McGuckian, who has mentored Resource Management student Ms Sarah Dalkin, says students need experience with industry to improve their problem solving skills and understanding of the workplace. “We in industry need graduates with industry knowledge, so the advantages are mutual. My business regularly employs graduates, so it is in my interest to form links with universities and understand their students and curriculum,” he says.

Ms Dalkin reports the benefits of involvement in a mentoring program have been greater than she expected:

“I found it very beneficial in slowly introducing myself to the workforce and to other people in industry. It has given me more understanding of what would be expected upon completion of my degree and has given the last few semesters of my degree more meaning and direction”.

“I think it is crucial that students are aware of the importance of gaining industry experience and establishing professional networks prior to completing their study. The mentor program can act as a way of decreasing the shock of leaving university and beginning work in the real wide world”.

Further information on the University’s Career Mentor Connection service is available at www.services.unimelb.edu.au/cmc , or by contacting Liz Everist on 03 8344 3377.