One thing we know for sure is that no Residence Life job is forever, unless you made it all the way to the top that is. If you’re at the top and reading this article right now, hello and welcome. I’m happy to have you here.
For the rest of us, this article’s intended audience is entry and mid-level professionals, but the content applies well beyond position title and even beyond Residence Life itself. You may be a bright-eyed newly graduated student who is beginning their Master’s program in Student Affairs this Fall, a seasoned Resident Director on your second lateral move preparing to begin at a new institution, or everything in between. Chances are that you may have moved to a new job or institution without fully knowing what to expect from such a big change, but trusting the process of your professional journey.
Our niche career paths as Residence Life professionals allow us to make truly courageous moves in our careers. From relocating across the U.S. to living on a college campus as an adult, there really isn’t a rulebook for where to begin when preparing for this holistic employment journey. Human Resources and your Hiring Manager will onboard you to the new job, but you have to onboard yourself to your new life. As someone who moved across the United States for her first Resident Director role, then later returned to her alma mater as a mid-level manager having navigated various roles, I feel like I may have a few tips and tricks to share with you.
Learn Your Environment Before It Learns You
If you are moving to a new city, whether near or far, it’s highly important to gauge the environment in which you will be working and living in. While you likely researched your university during the application process, it’s important to get familiar with your campus and the qualities that make it unique. Is this a commuter or a residential campus? A private or a public institution? A large sports school? A research university? Every campus type comes with its own culture, expectations, and factors that will affect your role in some way.
Additionally, if you are moving to a new city, are you driving or flying? Shipping your car? Does this city need a car or is public transportation accessible for your lifestyle? Additionally, identify the locations that are salient to you and ensure you have access to these in your new city. This can include restaurants, grocery stores, barber shops, places of worship, etc. When I moved across the country, imagine the sorrow I felt not being able to find my favorite hot sauce at any of the Latin grocery stores. As silly as that sounds, sometimes the hardest part of starting a new role isn’t the job itself, it’s realizing you have to rebuild familiarity and comfort in a place that hasn’t started feeling like home yet and finding your place. Moreover, when your home is where you work, it’s critical to be mindful about how your environment will shape your overall lifestyle. In our roles, we spend so much time helping students navigate their own transitions, that we sometimes forget to take our own advice. Think about the support and resources you provide to students and then give that same care and consideration to yourself during your own transition.
Don’t Tune Out During HR Day
Typically within the first few days of your new job, you’ll be on-boarded by your Human Resources department to learn the logistics of what it means to be a staff member at your university. They will review items such as tax exemptions, tuition benefits, health insurance, unions and other unique factors of your university. Although these items are not the most exciting topics in the world, they do play an overall role in your personal success and wellness.
Additionally, during HR day you may have the opportunity to learn about Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), where you can join a network of faculty and staff who have similar identities, interests, or experiences as you and can help find connections through the university. If your university doesn’t have official ERG’s, connect with your supervisor to gauge if these communities exist on-campus for professional staff.
Bonus tip: If the university offers tours, I highly encourage attending a campus tour. You’ll get a sneak peek of your new campus, learn campus traditions, and connect beyond your department. You may also learn some coffee and dining options, and you will want to explore the nonresidential life areas, I promise!
Observe Before You Perform
The first days of a new job may consist of all day trainings, meetings with your supervisor, and the desire to show folks that they made the right decision hiring you. It’s normal to want others to know you were hired because you are capable and bring valuable skills and experiences that helped you earn this opportunity. So much so, that you may even feel tempted to begin a few phrases with, “At my previous institution…” These stories will have their time and place in your new role, but be mindful of deciding when ideas are truly worth bringing forward. If your past experiences bring up ideas or comparisons, write them down and give yourself time to reflect on the time and place to bring them up.
During the first few weeks in your new role, one of the most valuable things you can do is slowing down and actively listening. Observe the details, review materials, and process for understanding before jumping into completing tasks.. Listen to how colleagues engage with one another in the moments before a meeting starts. Is the office dress code business, casual, or somewhere in between? Are there traditions or norms the department follows? Maybe there’s casual Fridays, end of the semester gatherings, or perhaps on Wednesdays they wear pink. Every workplace is different and has unwritten norms and practices that shape how people work together, and these norms may be something you will learn through your own time and observations. Learning its culture and unwritten rules can help you build relationships with your peers and find your place within the organization along with making it easier to work efficiently.
Be Known Beyond Your Title
The most successful mentors I have aren’t only known for their roles or accomplishments. They’re valued colleagues, engaged members of their communities, and genuine humans who treat others with respect. So much of the advice in this article comes from lessons they’ve shared with me over the years, and the theme that consistently stands out to me is that people matter.
Take the time to connect with the people who keep your office running, these can include the administrative professionals, custodial and maintenance staff, and folks working behind the scenes. Learn their names, say “good morning,” and if that’s not your style, find a point of connection. Is it sports, family, hometowns, favorite foods? The little moments of seeing the person behind the role is so important for relationship building. Human to human connection goes such a long way, and when challenges arise (and shocker, they will), it will be in your favor to have a foundation of trust and respect with the individuals you spend the work day with.
Moreover, in this digital age of emails, G-Chat/Slack messages, and calendar invites, face-to-face time is a bit of a lost art. Have a question? Walk down the hall instead of sending another message. Looking to expand your on-campus network? Attend campus events, introduce yourself to colleagues in other offices, and be engaged and visible as a community member.
Bonus tip: If you’re transitioning to your new role directly from being a student, this job is an opportunity to step into your professional identity. This doesn’t mean changing who you are, it means recognizing that you are now viewed as a colleague, not just a student. How you represent yourself and show up in your community contributes to your professional reputation and will go a long way in your success.
Get Good at the Boring Stuff
In Res Life, it’s easy to focus on the visible (and fun) parts of the job, like programming, staff development, and community building. But behind every successful Res Life professional is a strong administrative foundation, and the skills of being really good at the not so fun stuff. Responding to emails, meeting deadlines, managing budgets, reconciling expenses, and closing out conduct cases may not be the most glamorous tasks, but in the long run these tasks reflect your department and your own ability to successfully manage tasks and priorities.
Everyone has their own system for managing time and administrative tasks. Whether it’s a paper planner, sticky notes, a task spreadsheet, or a color-coded calendar, find what works for you. I recommend setting aside intentional time at the start of each week to review your priorities, organize your tasks, and prepare for meetings ahead of time. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready! Your ability to connect with students may get you noticed, but your ability to manage the administrative side of the job is what builds professional credibility.
You’re Not Here to Replicate Your Last Job
Lastly, try to resist the urge to compare your new institution to your previous one. There’s a good chance you chose this field because your own college experience had a meaningful impact on your life, and you became an educator to continue the legacy of care and service. Regardless if you’re transitioning from a professional role or from being a student, it’s important to recognize that each institution has its own culture and challenges. Your role is not to replicate what you have seen, but to support the students in front of you, and continue to grow as a professional. You got this, and congratulations on this new professional opportunity!
