Understanding the Career Management of Female Primary-Role Advisors

In the United States, academic advising is among the highest turnover professions in the university system. Academic advisors, who work at the intersection of academics and student life, bear the brunt of increased pressures and decreased resources. Yet, primary-role advisors often do not experience high salaries or opportunities for advancement. Despite a high turnover in advising, some advisors have intentionally chosen to remain in advising. Framed by the social cognitive model of career self-management, this phenomenological study examined the workplace career management of female primary-role advisors at public institutions in the midwestern region of the United States. Through holistic coding, three primary factors emerged from the data: students, supportive environments, and balance and benefits. We offer implications for practice.