Mentorship & networking
Concordia offers several mentorship and networking opportunities to help students facilitate their transitions to their chosen careers:
Mentorship Programs
Concordia Mentor Program
Students interact with Concordia alumni who are already established in the workforce. All mentors, who hail from as far away Hong Kong, London and Dubai, volunteer to provide guidance and dispense advice to students – especially those who are about to graduate – who have decided on a career stream.
One-on-one mentoring
Students are paired with an alumni mentor for short- (to seek advice) or long-term mentoring (one year or more). Mentors can share information about their own experiences, a specific occupation, and field of employment or industry, or offer tips on how to enter the job market and connections in the working world.
"Right now, we have 220 alumni who have made themselves available for mentoring," Rose Wangechi, Alumni Officer in charge of Student Programs.
How to become a mentee
Register on the Advancement and Alumni Relations Mentor website, which provides access to an online database that contains a list of potential mentor profiles. You can also attend workshops to gain more information about the program. More
Co-op Mentorship Program
Students who sign up with the Institute for Co-operative Education can access the Co-op's mentorship program – a valuable resource for students who seek additional support as they transition into industry while still studying.
The institute partners students with companies and organizations for hands-on work terms. Co-op students gain experience in their fields of study while working toward their degrees.
The program matches newer Co-op students with senior Co-op students in the same field. Through the relationship, mentees receive peer support from mentors have already completed one to three Co-op work terms themselves. More
“These student mentors have first-hand information about how a given company conducts its business – for example, what types of questions they ask in an interview,” Leslie Hughes.
Student Success Centres
Student Success Centres are hubs for students to drop in and chat with mentors, who are experienced students studying at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. All mentors are familiar with university resources and regulations, and can share their own strategies for achieving academic success. More
Networking Opportunities
Dinner for Eight: Reserve your seat at the dinner table
Twice a year, Concordia alumni treat small groups of current students to dinner in a restaurant or in their home. At each Dinner for Eight, one alumnus or alumna hosts four to seven students. The casual atmosphere fosters interaction between students and experienced professionals. More
Silver medal for Best Alumni Program from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education's 2010 Prix d'Excellence.
Backpack-to-briefcase series
Backpack-to-Briefcase workshops are aimed at facilitating the transition from academia to the business world. Topics include dressing for success, stress management, presentation skills, and business dining etiquette. More
Job Shadowing
Open to all Concordia third- and fourth-year undergraduate students, as well as recent graduates, the Job Shadowing program allows students to follow professionals around their workplace. Mentors are alumni who may dedicate an afternoon, day, week or longer to showing students their daily responsibilities. More
