ERIC Number: EJ1227924
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1941-5257
EISSN: N/A
Investigating the Role of the Faculty Advisor in Doctoral Students' Career Trajectories
German, Komi T.; Sweeny, Kate; Robbins, Megan L.
Professional Development in Education, v45 n5 p762-773 2019
During graduate school, students learn to navigate the workplace that many will seek to enter. For those pursuing an academic career, the faculty advisor is invaluable. Although research has revealed associations between advisor satisfaction and specific academic outcomes, the advisor's role in students' career prospects is unknown. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate the advisor's role in PhD students' career trajectories, specifically their goals and outcomes on the job market. Online surveys were used in two studies: Study 1 explored the advisor's role in the career trajectories of students recently on the job market, and Study 2 surveyed PhD students just entering the job market. Study 1 revealed that those who saw their advisor as a mentor and had greater mentoring satisfaction were more likely to accept tenure-track positions and were more satisfied with their job offer. Study 2 revealed that students who talked to their advisor, regardless of mentoring satisfaction, were more likely to apply to and prioritize tenure-track positions. Taken together, our findings suggest that by serving as mentors and talking to students about the job market, advisors may facilitate the successful pursuit of tenure-track positions; however, mentoring satisfaction may depend on career outcomes.
Descriptors: Faculty Advisers, Academic Advising, Doctoral Students, Labor Market, Mentors, Student Satisfaction, College Faculty, Tenure, Job Applicants, Interpersonal Communication, Occupational Information, Career Development, College Graduates, Occupational Aspiration
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: BCS1251672