How La Trobe’s Industry Mentoring Program helped to define Matthew’s professional future

Are you looking to map your career, expand your professional network and gain a competitive edge when applying for jobs?

The La Trobe Career Ready Industry Mentoring Program is currently inviting motivated students to register to engage with an industry based mentor in 2020.

Who can take part?

Open to all current students over the age of 18, and supported by La Trobe University staff, Industry Mentoring is a flexible program over 12 weeks that you and your mentor tailor to your career aspirations and personal development.

What can you gain from the Industry Mentoring Program?

  • Career guidance and advice from an industry professional, including La Trobe alumni
  • Connect with industry and expand your professional network
  • Develop confidence communicating with industry professionals
  • Help map career progression
  • Counts towards the Career Ready Advantage Award

Survey results from student mentees in 2019 revealed that 96.8% of responders were confident with their career direction on completion of the program. 94% indicated that their mentor was well matched to their desired professional development goals.

Learn more about the Industry Mentoring Program, and register today. Upcoming briefing sessions in March require registrations ASAP and no later than Tuesday 3 March. You will receive further information on the briefing sessions upon your application being accepted.


Matthew’s Story

Final year Politics, Philosophy and Economics student, and 2019 Industry Mentoring participant.

“The program was very well structured and planned out, which made the whole process of connecting with my mentor seamless. I felt supported throughout the whole process by my mentor and La Trobe staff.”

Matthew, Industry Mentoring participant

What goals did you and your mentor work towards?

We explored different industry areas and opportunities in depth, including graduate programs and junior roles in Government. We also discussed the soft transferrable skills that improve employability and career success. This has included cultivating and maintaining professional networks, refining networking skills, strengthening my CV, and developing strategies for seeking professional opportunities.

How do you see the mentoring program helping you with your career into the future?

The Industry Mentoring Program has allowed me to develop a better understanding of industry and to develop strategies for securing employment after graduation. My future professional plans will be positively shaped by the discussions I have had with my mentor, and I feel I am in a better position to anticipate and face some of the challenges that may come my way. I also feel more confident in developing my professional network and to collaborate with existing professionals in industry.

Do you recommend the Industry Mentoring Program to other students?

I definitely recommend the Industry Mentoring Program to all students, regardless of study area. It is a unique opportunity and rewarding experience to be able to gain the insights of an accomplished and knowledgeable industry professional. These sorts of insights can only genuinely be discovered when you have this opportunity to develop authentic professional relationships with industry professionals. Without this program, I don’t believe I would have had this sort of industry-connection and insight before finishing my degree.

Matthew spoke on the panel at the Career Ready Awards and Industry Mentoring Night.

Learn more about the Industry Mentoring Program, and register today. Upcoming briefing sessions in March require registrations ASAP and no later than Tuesday 3 March. You will receive further information on the briefing sessions upon your application being accepted.

REGISTER NOW If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Industry Mentoring Coordinator at mentoring@latrobe.edu.au