A program built to connect students with industry
Our flagship Melbourne based program is available for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from all disciplines. The Careers & Employability (C&E) Mentoring team will understand our students and ascertain their goals, then match them with industry based Mentors to help gain experience and an introduction to the industry.
Program details
| Duration | 3 meetings over 3 months |
| Start dates | Anytime throughout the year |
| Registrations | March and August |
| Matching process | C&E Mentoring team matches Student Mentees with Mentors |
Who can be a Mentor?
This program is open to Industry Professionals who typically have three or more years of professional workforce experience in a supervisory, management or leadership capacity and who have a willingness to share their expertise and experience.
Mentor guidance
Mentees are expected to drive the relationship as they may have different mentoring needs such as:
- Soft skills needed in industry
- Seeking and finding internship
- Job search skills
- The career path
- Personal and Professional development opportunities
Professional Development opportunities
Benefits for students who are provided with direct industry connection and guidance in the Mentoring partnerships are unparalleled. There are also many benefits and opportunities for Mentors including:
- Providing an avenue to access graduate talent for recruitment purposes.
- Further developing coaching & leadership skills
- Growing professional networks and knowledge via RMIT Professional Development events
Time commitment
The number of agreed Mentoring meetings is flexible, but it is expected a minimum of one hour per month contact time. Mentors and Mentees can agree to meet more frequently or decide to email, or have phone or Skype contact between meetings. If both parties agree, the Partnership may be ended early if all questions are answered.
The Mentoring partnership process
Step 1. Partnership MatchingImmediately after the Mentor / Mentee partnerships are created, Mentors have the opportunity to review the Mentees profile.
Step 2. The ‘Partnership Agreement’ and preparing for the Mentoring
A Partnership Agreement template will be sent to the Mentor and Mentee. This lists a number of topics (examples are listed above) that may be of interest. There are also a wide range of resources in our ‘Mentor Resource Guide’ section to help structure the meetings.
Step 3. Connect with the Mentee
Now it’s time to connect with the Mentee via the Mentoring platform. Here the Mentor and Mentee will arrange the first meeting and clarify any questions related to the partnership.
Contact us
At any stage throughout this process, Mentors can also talk to the RMIT Mentoring team to help maximise the benefits from the mentoring experience – mentoring@rmit.edu.au.
Become a mentor
Program details
FAQs – MENTEES
Here are some answers to questions you may have about the mentoring program.
How do I connect with a Mentor?
Good news! Each Semester new student mentees will be allocated a Mentor and will undertake a 3 month partnership with their assigned Mentor.
How long does the program last?
The number of Mentoring meetings you agree with your Mentor is flexible, but you should expect a minimum contact time of one hour per month. Mentors and Mentees can agree to meet more frequently or decide to email, or have phone or Skype contact between meetings. Mentoring partnerships will typically run for 12 weeks, but may be ended early if all your questions are answered or extended, if both parties agree.
What can I expect a Mentor to provide?
Refer firstly to the Mentor’s profile, which will tell you what level of support this Mentor can provide. The available support could range from career guidance to job shadowing, and in some cases, internships or graduate positions. It is not recommended to ask your Mentor about internships with their organisation if the Mentor profile does not specify “internships” as an area of support. Please do, however, make the most of the valuable advice and guidance you have access to and discuss with your mentor their tips and guidance for securing an internship.
Can I have more than one Mentor?
Yes, but not at the same time. As a current student, you are welcome to connect with another Mentor after a partnership concludes.
What if I am concerned about an aspect of my partnership?
We encourage you to discuss this with your Mentor in the first instance. Identify your areas of concern regarding the partnership. If you are unable to resolve an issue between you and your Mentor, you can seek advice and guidance from the RMIT Mentoring Team – contact details: mentoring@rmit.edu.au Ph: 03 9925 4006. We will provide our full support to resolve the situation in a positive manner for both parties.
I don’t know what I need to learn from my Mentor!
As soon as a Mentor is assigned to you, the template for a Partnership Agreement will be sent to you. It lists many topics that may be of interest to you to discuss with your Mentor. There are also additional resources for you under the ‘Mentee Resource Guide’ section to help you structure your meetings. You can also talk to the RMIT Mentoring team to help maximise the benefits from your mentoring experience – mentoring@rmit.edu.au.
My Mentor and I are not located in the same city – what are our options?
If your Mentor is located outside of Melbourne, you may want to connect with them through “remote mentoring” via email or video conference technology such as SKYPE or Google Hangouts for example.
Do I get academic credit points for my participation in the Mentoring program?
Students voluntarily join the Industry Mentoring program to take advantage of the career advice offered by our experienced Industry Mentors. Students do not receive credit points for participation.
As an international student, can I work in Australia?
Subject to your Visa conditions, you may be able to work in Australia while studying, and immediately after you graduate. Working in Australia is a great opportunity for international students to learn about the Australian workplace, improve their English, further develop skills and start developing a professional network. More information is available here. If you are an International student having issues at work, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is able to give you free help - click here to read how the FWO can assist.