Residential Advisors
Residence Hall Director, Residence Life Director, Resident Assistant, Resident Director
What they do:
Coordinate activities in resident facilities in secondary school and college dormitories, group homes, or similar establishments. Order supplies and determine need for maintenance, repairs, and furnishings. May maintain household records and assign rooms. May assist residents with problem solving or refer them to counseling resources.
On the job, you would:
- Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.
- Observe students to detect and report unusual behavior.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate residence hall staff, including resident assistants, participants in work-study programs, and other student workers.
Knowledge
Business
- customer service
- management
Safety and Government
- public safety and security
- law and government
Education and Training
- teaching and course design
Arts and Humanities
- English language
Skills
Basic Skills
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Social
- understanding people's reactions
- changing what is done based on other people's actions
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Abilities
Verbal
- communicate by speaking
- listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
- notice when problems happen
- use rules to solve problems
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Concern for Others
- Self Control
- Cooperation
- Integrity
- Leadership
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Electronic mail software
- Email software
- Microsoft Outlook
Word processing software
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Word
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
Education
Education: (rated 3 of 5)
some college or
bachelor's degree
usually needed
bachelor's degree
usually needed
Job Outlook
Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Explore More
- Child, Family, & School Social Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Social & Community Service Managers
- Social & Human Service Assistants
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about residential advisors.