Is it suspicious/uncommon you did not put your advisor's name on your Resume?

[Kiyoshi]

I had an interview with a POI this afternoon and it went really weird.

After some greetings he asked me who my advisors were, and I gave him the names ( I though maybe he wanted to contact them) and then he asked me directly why I didn't put my advisor's name on my resume. I totally blanked out since I didn't know I was supposed to do so. Then I said I'm sorry I didn't know that, maybe I should have done it. He was obviously unsatisfied with my answer (since we are video chatting and I can see him) and said like it is uncommon you don't put your advisor's name, like everyone who is doing the application know it. If you don't do that, people will guess there are stories behind it.

I felt really awkward because the truth is I just don't know. I am doing interview for candidate to our group in our company and I see many people (over half of them) who did not mention their advisor, even those who had a PhD degree on the resume. And I explained that I mentioned my advisors in my RL and masters are course based so there is no assigned advisor and I was only doing RA in the lab. He was still not satisfied, and said like he just want to confirm, the advisors must have been taking much effort and you just omit them in your publication or Resume?

I realized what he implies and I said like are you concerned about I don't appreciate my advisor's effort or I am so selfish that I just throw my advisor away when I have accomplishment? he said, YES. I felt that was offensive, but I explained I don't really have any publication during my Masters so there is no where I can write my advisor's name, and besides, the projects are nothing about accomplishment and sometimes we don't have a fixed advisor for a project in our lab, you just follow the senior PhDs. He seemed satisfied, but he said I should pay attention to it in the future. This topic lasted for 20 minutes.

I felt really uncomfortable since he was just guessing things. I understand advisor is very important for PhD, but I just did a course based Master and I didn't have many interaction with my advisor. I felt kind of arrogance in him, but I was also wondering whether I really did wrong, not adding my advisors' name to every project in my resume. Actually, I have a couple of interviews and emails with other POIs but none of them mentioned this? I was also wondering if an advisor does put much effort, why would he worried the student may omit him? And what the point it is if some previous students really did so, and he used this to question me?

Later this POI told me I was processed to the next step, which is a code test, and then his lab will do a code review to decide whether I can go to the next round...

[yjkim192]

I don't see any problem with you.

Unless you have some accomplishments together with your advisor you don't 'need' to put his/her name on it.

Maybe the prof. had some history about these issues (like one of his students used his idea and not mention his/her name)

[Kiyoshi]

1 minute ago, yjkim192 said:

I don't see any problem with you.

Unless you have some accomplishments together with your advisor you don't 'need' to put his/her name on it.

Maybe the prof. had some history about these issues (like one of his students used his idea and not mention his/her name)

Yes, if I have publications/patent/awards I will definitely add my advisor's name. The whole thing is just I don't have those accomplishments (which is sad...)

Actually his insecurity worries me if he believes every simple stuff must have a story behind it...

He also asked why I didn't apply for my Master's University. I didn't know why he supposed like that since I actually applied for my Master's University...

These stuffs are really confusing.

[yjkim192]

In fact, I think it might not be right to address advisors name for just 'course projects'

Well there are many people and lots of strange people with different thoughts. Good luck on you application

[Kiyoshi]

Just now, yjkim192 said:

In fact, I think it might not be right to address advisors name for just 'course projects'

Well there are many people and lots of strange people with different thoughts. Good luck on you application

I guess you are right. I just need to calm down. Thanks!

[CanadianHopeful]

I'd put an asterisk and a red flag next to that school. A twenty minute conversation about something like that? Unless their program website suggests you put your advisor on your CV, I'm not sure how a first time applicant would know to put that. 

[lessthanepsilon]

I think that sounds really weird for the interviewer to react in such a hostile way.

But also, I think it might be strange that your advisor maybe never looked over your resume and gave you advice on how it should look? A good advisor would point things like that out. 

Personally, I add names of supervisors for all the work I've done because I feel like it gives me more credibility, like I worked with this personal who is a professional in their field.