Here’s What to Say to Your Resident That’s Interested In Becoming a RA

At many Universities, the “RA” role is a competitive and highly sought-after student job. Because of this passion and drive students have for wanting to become a RA, as a current RA, you might get questions from residents about the role, your experience as a RA, and any advice you may be willing to share. It can be a little tricky to explain a role that has so many different components and responsibilities. Here is a guide, or at least a few tips, on what to say (and also what not to say) to a resident who is interested in becoming a RA.

Share the Responsibilities and Requirements of the Role.

Oftentimes, RAs receive a compensation package that people claim to be “free room and board.” I firmly believe that anyone who has served in a RA role can say that the room and board is NOT free!!! RAs are hardworking individuals who are compensated for their efforts, leadership skills, and required responsibilities. The RA role is appealing to many applicants for the “free” housing. Which, hey, not having to worry about paying rent every month isn’t a bad thing to want, but the key takeaway here is that the provided housing is not free. It’s important to share this with residents who are interested in applying to become RAs. Share the responsibilities, weekly tasks, and requirements of the role with those who are interested in what the job entails.

If you are struggling to think about all of the tasks a RA does, here are a few to spark some thoughts. A caveat I must share is that at every school, the RA role looks a little different, so these are generalized tasks that you may or may not be required to do as a RA:

• Duty. How many nights a week or in a semester are you on duty? What types of situations (without sharing anyone’s personal information) might you respond to on duty? How long are the duty shifts?
• Desk Shift or Office Hours. Are you required to work a desk shift at all throughout the week? Do you have to be in your room with the door open or in a public lounge for a required number of hours?
• Events. How many programs do you host for residents? What about floor meetings? Are you required for the events to have themes or learning outcomes? When do you typically host events? What does planning for an event look like?
• Decorating and Bulletin Boards. How often do you have to make door decs? What about bulletin boards? Are you required to decorate hallways? How often do you have to make fliers?
• Conflict Mediation. Without mentioning other resident names or specific situations, share how you help with or prevent conflict? Do you meet with residents to do roommate agreements? Do you help roommates who are struggling to live together?
• Resident Interactions. Are you required to have intentional interactions? What do those look like? How do you log having conversations with residents? Are you supposed to send emails to your residents with resources, event information, or updates?

Talk About the Realities of Being a RA

When speaking with any resident who is interested in becoming a RA, share the reality of what it is like being a student staff member. It is probably best to be encouraging to anyone who is interested in applying to a new role, but it is also important to share the great and harder aspects of being a RA. Here are some topics you can expand upon, and share realistically what it is like to be a student and a RA:

• Balancing Classes and Certain Majors. Are certain semesters tough for certain majors that make it harder to be a RA? Do you know if a required internship or student teaching means that you cannot be a RA? Are there tutoring services or resources that students can use to help them strive as a student and be a RA?
• Experiences with Involvement and Clubs. Is it hard to be a student, a RA, and be a part of clubs? Are there required RA meetings every week that make it hard to be an active member in some organizations? Are you able to study abroad for a semester and be able to have a RA role when you return?
• Expectations. Is there anything you didn’t expect to happen when you were a RA? This can be good or bad, but again, we do not want to share information about other residents. Maybe you didn’t realize how many lockouts there were going to be? Or that you had to come back early in the summer for a week-long training? Or maybe you didn’t realize how close of connections you would be able to make with your residents.
• Current Experiences. What did the past week of being a RA look like for you? Did you have an event? Did you have any really great interactions with residents? How many hours a week are you typically working?

What to Avoid Talking About:

Now that you know how to talk about and expand upon the responsibilities and realities of being a RA, it’s also important to know what NOT to talk to residents about when they ask about applying to the RA role. It’s important to share your personal experience and advice, because the resident is coming to you specifically to answer their questions and hear your opinion. Focus on your story, and the tips and advice you would have liked to hear before you became a RA. Here are some other things to consider avoiding talking about:

• Application and Interview Outcomes. Although waiting for a response about a job offer can be nerve-wracking, avoid promising residents that they will get the RA role. Avoid saying things like, “I’m sure you’ll at least get an interview!” Or “You’ll for sure get the job, you would be such a great candidate!” Although this can seem encouraging, it is best not to over-promise a job, and to be honest that you cannot guarantee what the outcome of the application process will be.
• Answering Questions You Don’t Know the Answer to. Sometimes, residents can ask really tricky questions, and you may not always know the answer to. This can also apply when they are asking you about the RA role. They could ask questions such as, “Even though I broke a policy, can I still become a RA?” or “I currently have a scholarship, will being a RA impact my financial aid package?” It is best not to answer these questions with confidence or say things like “I’m sure it will all work out or be ok” because everyone’s situation and reality can be different.
• Sharing about others’ experiences. A few times in this blog, I have mentioned it is important not to share specific resident information or stories. It is also important not to share stories about other RAs or people you know who have applied to the RA role. Since the resident is coming to you to ask questions, it’s best to just share about your experiences and personal advice.

These are just a few ideas you can expand on if a resident asks you about applying to be a RA. Oftentimes, the RA role is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that people may not realize before applying to the job, and as a RA, it’s important to share what the role really entails and how it has impacted your college experiences. RAs are great mentors to their residents and are the best people to share the reality of the RA role, and what to expect when applying for the position.