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[risa1230]

Hi, I have an interview coming up for an Academic Advisor position and I was wondering what interview questions I should be prepared for. Are there questions that are usually asked? I just want to be as well prepared as possible. Also, what are good questions to ask the search committee? Thanks for your help!

[michigander]

I've been asked a little bit of everything.  Needs are often very specific, and the questions can give good clues to what those needs are.  I've been asked what I know about Michigan teacher certification requirements, how well I know MS-Excel, what type of student I find it hardest to work with, what's different about advising working adults, how I create rapport with students of different social identities from mine, what specific information I want to gather in an initial advising meeting with a student, what my non-work interests are, how I would adjust to working with students in a different discipline from my current position, what I already know about the advising program at the school, how easy it was for me to find information on their web site, and so forth.

[dale1]

Hi Risa,

Congratulations on your interview, this is a great accomplishment and a good step.  Typically you're not interviewed unless you're a qualified candidate and this bodes well. 

Michigander is right about the type of questions, they often vary.  What I suggest is to really work the website and come up with some questions of your own about the work environment, collegiality/cohesiveness of staff (though play this one by ear), etc.  I've been asked about my knowledge of student development, what my advising philosophy is, how I work under deadline pressure, how I keep organized, and so on.  It's as much about your interpersonal skills as about how much you know of the institution. 

[artsearch]

As a former professor who is now going on advisor interviews, I find they are very concerned with the issue of "how well will you play with others?" The other one I get regularly is "how would you deal with the boring, repetitive nature of much of the job?"

On my last finalist interview, I had a very interesting half hour with an Associate Dean who just came out and told me I wasn't anything like the other candidate, nor was I anything like any of the existing advisors in the area--"and how would that make you feel?" He was voicing concern that I might not be happy in the job.

Good luck to you.

[risa1230]

Thanks everyone! Now, I have a better idea about what questions to prepare for. Thanks!

[frazali]

Also go to the NACADA website - the professional organization for advising. Lots of useful resources on there.