Students' gateway to Campus

FAQs career mentoring and information interviewing - for students

How do I become an Interviewer or Mentee?

  1. Use the Search for a Career Mentor tool to generate a list of experienced professionals matching your requirements
  2. Select the preferred candidate 
  3. Contact them by:
    • completing the on-line form and
    • reading and accepting the Terms of Agreement
  4. An email will be sent to the selected person who will respond within 2 weeks 
  5. When they agree to become your Mentor, you will be provided with your Mentor's contact details
  6. You are then responsible for making the initial contact with your Mentor in order to organise the first meeting

What happens if my request is not accepted?

Within 2 weeks you will be informed by email that the Interviewee/Mentor has accepted or declined your request. If declined you will automatically be reactivated and should resume searching for another Mentor.

If you are unable to make contact with an Interviewee/Mentor after 3 attempts please contact the Career Mentoring Coordinator. Include your contact details so we are able to provide further assistance.

What am I expected to do as the Interviewer/Mentee?

As the Interviewer

You will make the first contact with the Interviewee to arrange a suitable time to conduct the interview. You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner, observing confidentiality and only asking career related questions. You should follow up the interview with a written thank you.

As the Mentee

As a Mentee you are expected to foster the relationship with your Mentor by taking a professional and proactive approach.

This includes:

  • Making initial contact with your Mentor
  • Agreeing on a regular, mutually convenient contact schedule
  • Advising your Mentor if unable to attend scheduled meetings
  • Observing confidentiality and personal/professional boundaries
  • Being receptive to feedback from the Mentor
  • Exploring your strengths and weaknesses and setting relevant goals
  • Fulfilling commitments as agreed or negotiating changes
  • Taking up opportunities for networking and building professional relationships
  • Contacting the Career Mentoring Coordinator if any concerns arise
  • Completing an evaluation form on completion of the program

In what form does contact usually take place? Interview/Mentoring

Informational Interview

Initial contact to arrange a time and method will most likely be by email. The interview could be conducted via a face-to-face meeting or by telephone.

Career Mentoring relationship

Contact can include face-to-face meetings (including work visits or coffee catch-ups), emails, and telephone calls or facilitated work exposure within the industry.

What interview questions should I ask?

Prepare a list of career questions you wish to ask before conducting the interview.

Questions could include:

  • What has been your career path into your current role?
  • Describe your current role
  • What does a typical day look like?
  • What do you like/dislike about your job?
  • Where do you want to go next with your career?
  • What advice would you give someone wanting to gain their first job in this profession?

What are the requirements? (Alumni Interviewee/Mentor)

To be an Interviewee

Interviewees are Alumni who have expressed an interest in sharing their professional experiences with students.

To be a Mentor

Mentors are Alumni with at least three years’ experience in their career field, or area of expertise that are keen to volunteer their time mentoring and sharing their professional experiences with  students.

The Mentor is also required to have:

  • The ability to identify your strengths and weaknesses and to foster your career development     
  • An adequate amount of time to be in contact with you
  • The ability to provide constructive feedback
  • The ability to listen to your opinions and to promote creative discussion
  • Agreed to maintain confidentiality within the mentoring relationship

How often should I have contact with my Mentor?

  • This is by mutual agreement, having regard to your university, work and other commitments and your Mentor's commitments.
  • As a guide it is expected that in order for both of you to get the most out of a mentoring relationship, you should have contact for at least one hour every two weeks.

What if I'm having difficulty contacting my Mentor?

Although your Mentors have volunteered to be involved in this program they are busy professionals. If you have tried contacting your Mentor via phone and email for three-four weeks and have had no response, contact the Career Mentoring Coordinator who will assist in the process.

Can I expect to be offered work experience or a job placement?

No, a Career Information Interview or Career Mentoring relationship is not an application for work experience or a job. Some people do get offered work experience or a job as the result of Career Information Interviewing or Career Mentoring; however, this should not be expected.

What if I encounter problems with a Career Mentoring relationship?

Initially you should communicate, in a professional and sensitive manner any problems you are experiencing within the relationship to your Mentor.

Make Career Mentoring Meaningful document (66 KB) provides valuable advice on managing your Career Mentoring relationship.

Failing this you should contact the Career Mentoring Coordinator for assistance.

How do I terminate an existing Career Mentoring relationship?

If you have achieved all your goals or have other compelling reasons to discontinue the Career Mentoring relationship, you can do so at any time, however you must notify your Mentor and the Career Mentoring Coordinator within 7 days of your intention to do so.

Are students covered by Deakin insurance?

Deakin maintains a range of insurance policies that cover students while they are involved in the service. For more information on the policies, please refer to the insurance website.

How many times can I use the service?

There is no limit on the number of Career Information Interviews or Career Mentoring relationships you can undertake. You can only be in one Career Mentoring relationship at any given time.

Where can I get more information?

There are a number of on-line resources to provide further information and help. You can access these via the helpful links.

You can also contact the Career Mentoring Coordinator directly.

Deakin University acknowledges the traditional land owners of present campus sites.

3rd May 2012