Academic Advisor Mock Interview
Practice 35 Academic Advisor interview questions covering student success, retention strategies, and advising philosophies.
Question 21 of 35
What causes you to feel dissatisfied on the job?
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Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Several factors can cause academic advisors to feel dissatisfied with their job. One of the main reasons is the lack of support from their superiors and colleagues. Many advisors feel they are not given the resources and training they need to do their job effectively, leading to frustration and burnout. Additionally, the constant changes in policies and regulations can make it difficult for advisors to keep up and provide accurate guidance to their students. Finally, the high workload and constant pressure to meet performance targets can also contribute to job dissatisfaction among academic advisors. Everyone will have particular triggers that cause dissatisfaction on the job. Talk to the interviewer about any factors that may deflate or discourage you in the workplace, then describe how you overcame this dissatisfaction and turned it into a positive experience.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"I can feel dissatisfaction on the job when I am not feeling heard or when there is not mutual respect among the team members. I work best in more harmonious situations with little drama or gossip. To keep from feeling dissatisfied in the workplace, I always maintain a positive attitude and do not participate in work drama or gossip."
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"I have felt dissatisfied on the job when I feel underpaid and overworked. This has been primarily with my pre-university days. I don't mind working hard, but I don't like feeling as if I'm being taken advantage of, either."
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"As an academic advisor, a few things cause me to feel dissatisfied on the job. One of the most significant factors is when I see a struggling student and feel like there is little I can do to help them. It can be frustrating when I know that a student has potential, but they are having a hard time for one reason or another.
Another thing that can make me feel dissatisfied is when I see students who are not taking advantage of the available resources. I know that college can be overwhelming, but many support systems are in place to help students succeed. When I see students who are not utilizing these resources, it can be frustrating. But, I choose to remain positive as I know I am doing my best as their advisor in steering them in the right direction."
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Anonymous Answer
I feel dissatisfied when I am working on a project, and things are not progressing. For example, if we want a new initiative and the administration does not want to listen. Or they do not think these new policies are needed. It can be very frustrating because, as a department, we are trying to improve processes, but yet administration may not understand the importance of these changes.
Marcie's Feedback
This is a legitimate reason why you might feel dissatisfied or frustrated while at work. Don't forget to also discuss how you handle this frustration and move past it.
Anonymous Answer
I find myself dissatisfied when I or the college can't help a student, which is rare, or if the program I am working with does not have this as its goal. That is not the case here at LBCC. I love the work I do. And then I love working as a team, even if the teammates don't interact constantly, knowing that we are all doing great work and pulling for the same goal really supports me. I tune in to as many college webinars, presentations, or events as I can because it is fun, motivating, informative, and gives me energy. I have found this job to be a great blend of working individually and in a team and that is the ideal environment for me. And the creation of the care team and the coordinated care approach through AVISO supports this team approach for me.
I do like to work as a team to achieve a greater purpose and that is why I have chosen the jobs I have. Usually I can source plenty of great folks to work with, including the students, and that is very satisfying to me.
Marcie's Feedback
So you feel dissatisfied when you can't help a student or when you don't work in a team-based environment? Be careful not to imply that you're not capable of working independently. Consider rephrasing your answer like below:
There are two reasons why I might feel dissatisfied at work. The biggest reason is if I'm unable to help a student. This is because this is my passion! I am always striving to help the students, and it's rare that I'm not able to, but when it does happen, it's a huge letdown. If this were to happen a lot, I would be very dissatisfied, and I would do everything in my power to change my methods and learn from the failures so that this stopped happening. Second, if I'm left working by myself constantly, I am less content than working in a team-based environment. I love to be surrounded by the students and a group of like-minded colleagues who, like me, are doing everything they can to assist the students. This is my ideal work environment.
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