Polytechnic University of Setúbal launches alumni mentorship

The initiative matters because graduate employment has become a higher-stakes issue for universities facing pressure to prove that degrees lead to jobs, not just diplomas. For students, the biggest value is often not technical instruction but help with interviews, CVs, workplace adjustment and confidence — issues that can determine whether first job searches turn into offers.

That is the point emphasized by mentors and university leaders at the launch. Vice-rector for employability Carlos Mata said the program depends on commitment to keep the 56 teams active, while Rector Ângela Lemos urged students to use the experience to turn weaknesses into strengths.

One of the mentors, Sérgio Veríssimo, a business owner and longtime participant, said the benefit lies less in hard skills than in behavioral guidance and professional direction. Students echoed that need: Artur Teixeira, a final-year bioinformatics student, said he hopes the program will help him prepare for interviews, improve his résumé and secure internships as he looks toward data science and machine learning jobs.

The broader implication for investors and employers is that labor-market matching remains a live challenge even when job openings exist, especially for early-career workers who need networks and coaching as much as credentials. Programs like this can improve placement outcomes for universities and feed employers a more prepared talent pool, but they also underline how much extra support graduates increasingly need to compete.