So You Want To Be An RA [Resident Assistant]

So You Want To Be An RA [Resident Assistant]

Ideas And Tips For Getting Hired This Spring

Opportunities for residence hall leadership are fast approaching. Soon you will see posters, message board announcements and strategically placed applications across campus. Are you considering applying? What do you have to offer and how best do you compete with your fellow students for this paid peer position?

Before applying you need to get the FACTS.

Here are some things to ponder as you decide if this leadership position is for you.

F- Does your future employer recognize your Face? 

+ Have you made an effort to get to know the Resident Director/Resident Counselor of the hall in which you want to serve? 

+ What kind of connections have you made with your future boss? Have you taken the time to get to know them (or their families), have you found an opportunity to thank them for a job well done? 

+ Do you know something that you share in common?

Make the time to get personal with your new potential employer, don’t let the first time you meet, be at the interview. If the position is in the hall that you currently live, have you gotten involved? Those students who have attended the hall events, volunteered for community service and served on the committees have a leg up on the students that have not made the effort to participate in the dorm activities. RD’s want to know that you enjoy hanging out in their hall; that you are willing to invest in the life of the residents.

A - Do you have an Angle?

+ It might sound calculated, but what is your angle? 

+ How do you stand out from the rest of the candidates? 

+ Do you have applicable experience that would increase your chances? 

+ What skills do you have that would be invaluable to the RA staff? 

+ Do you speak a foreign language, are you well traveled, do you play sports, do you excel in academics, play an instrument, are you from the local area? What knowledge or gifts do you have to contribute to a great RA team?

Figure it out and make sure you address those attributes in the interview process.

C - Make it Creative!

There is the potential that the Residential Life office will receive hundreds of applications for the open positions. Even small colleges wade through dozens of applications. 

+ Besides making sure your application is professional and readable, how can you increase your chances that it will get noticed?

Hook up with a graphic design major and have them help you design a letterhead or a logo for your potential hall and add that to your application. When you get to the interview, why not bring a sample of a door tag or goodie bag that you might use to welcome your residents. Come in prepared to share some well thought out plans for some new activities and programs to use on your wing or area of service. Impress them with the creative details.

T- Do you have the Time?

A big red flag for your potential employer on campus will be the scope of your commitments in the coming year. 

+ What does your schedule look like for the next semester? 

+ You are a student first, so academics should be your priority and they understand that, but what is your credit load? 

+ Will your internships or class work require you to be off-campus for extended periods during the day? 

+ What is your availability in the late afternoon or evenings when you might need to be around the halls the most? 

+ What do your extracurricular activities look like?

Intramurals, clubs, choir, volunteering; boyfriends/girlfriends… all of these opportunities have the potential to pull you away from your role as an RA. Be prepared to share your ideas for time-management and how you will make the role of the Resident Assistant a priority. You will be asked this question, be ready for it.

S- Student to Student…

Even though you are most likely interviewing with a campus employee and/or committee, remember that the people you will be serving are your fellow students. Before you answer the essay questions or participate in the role plays, do your homework with your peers. 

+ What do the students in your hall need or want in a Resident Assistant? 

Create a survey of current students and bring the results with you to your interview that is a great way for you to show your interest and stand out in the process. You will also learn what issues need to be addressed as you plan for the following year of service. Those students who take the survey will also be impressed that you want to hear what their needs are and give them some ownership in your events. Serving your fellow students is a great way to learn about leadership and yourself.

So grab your school calendars and mark the deadlines for the leadership positions that you want to apply for. If serving as a Resident Assistant appeals to you, try the above ideas and best of luck!