Career Mentor Programs

Career Mentor Programs operate annually from September to April. The final date for student sign-up for 2024/25 is Tuesday, April 15. 

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On this page:

Mentor program benefits

The Career Mentor Program (CMP) and Indigenous Career Mentor Program (ICMP) are informational interviewing programs that assist students with career planning and decision making. The programs provide students the opportunity to connect to professionals in their field of interest.

  • The programs allow students to:

    • Explore occupational options or industries of interest
    • Learn about a field through the first-hand experience of a mentor
    • Formulate realistic career goals
    • Gain confidence in their career decisions or ability to make connections within their industry
    • Develop informational interview skills
    • Form valuable networks in the world of work

    Mentors also benefit from the program. They can:

    • Help a student make beneficial career decisions
    • Share valuable lessons from their own experience
    • Promote their profession or industry
  • Career mentor Angelal stands with an international student outdoors in front of the Buller Biological building.

How to participate as a student

The Career Mentor Program (CMP) & Indigenous Career Mentor Program (ICMP) run Sept - April annually. The programs will begin taking applications for the 2024/25 academic year on Wednesday,  September 4th.

Step 1: Register for the program

Registration remains open throughout the academic year, from September to April. Please select the appropriate registration form link listed to the right or below. 

Note: When completing the CMP registration form, please indicate which specific occupation you'd like to learn more about. 

Step 2: Attend an orientation session

Following completion of your registration form you'll be prompted to register for an orientation session.  This step happens prior to being matched with a mentor.

Step 3: Contact your mentor and prepare for your meeting

When students and mentors are matched, the program coordinator sends the mentor’s contact information to the student. Students must contact their mentor within two weeks to set up a meeting date. Meeting dates are mutually agreed upon and often are set for weeks in advance.

Students also complete research and continue to prepare their questions for their mentor in advance.

Step 4: Students and mentors meet for an informational interview

Students visit the mentors for one-time, one hour informational interviews. Meetings may be virtual or take place at the mentor's workplace, or at another mutually convenient location. Site tours and job shadowing are also options, depending on the occupation and the mentor.  Some students and mentors may choose to meet more than once.

Step 5: Complete a student evaluation form

Students provide feedback on their overall experience. If they want to meet another mentor, they can indicate this on their form. 

ICMP Student feedback form

 CMP Student feedback form

Student Resources

Note: If you're interested in learning about mentoring programs offered by professional and industry associations, visit the pages relevant to you within the UM Occupational Library. 

Becoming a mentor

Consider becoming a mentor. You’ll be part of a large and dedicated team of individuals committed to helping UM students.

The Career Mentor Program (CMP) is designed to help students explore their occupational options. The Indigenous Career Mentor Program (ICMP) connects Indigenous students with Indigenous mentors for career guidance and industry information. In both programs students are connected with professionals in the community for informational interviews. Mentors share information about their occupations or industry and offer practical, timely career advice.

The CMP and ICMP are not intended to be a job placement service, but as a way for students to explore occupations and industries of interest.

The programs are confidential and mentor information is not distributed to other organizations. To avoid mentor fatigue we do not match mentors with students more than twice per term.  We always check with mentors regarding their availability for a given term, and mentors may pause their participation for a period of time, if needed.

Current and prospective mentors can learn more through the Career Mentor Handbook (PDF) and the Indigenous Career Mentor Handbook (PDF). 

Mentor meetings with students 

Once you have agreed to see a student, you will receive their name via email or phone. The student will contact you to arrange a meeting. Meetings can be virtual or in-person at a mutually convenient location such as your workplace, at a coffee shop, at the university (please contact us to book a meeting space on campus).

If students are unable to follow through with the program and meeting, we encourage them to contact you, or we do so ourselves.

Different from other longer-term mentoring programs, our programs are informational interviewing programs. Students and mentors meet for one-time, one-hour meetings. Follow-up or ongoing meetings are not a requirement, but may be an option based on mentor availability and interest.

Student preparation

When students sign up for the program, they are required to attend an orientation. During this session students are guided through the program expectations, informational interviewing tips, a career values assessment and are helped with question development.

Mentor evaluation and feedback

Following your meetings with students, mentors may complete a Mentor Evaluation Form. This form and the feedback mentors provide is confidential and helps us improve the program and create a more efficient process for mentors and students.

 ICMP Mentor feedback form

 CMP Mentor feedback form

Handbooks & Guides

CMP Student Handbook

CMP & ICMP Mentor Handbooks

Mentor profiles

More mentor profiles

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