It is relatively uncommon to meet someone who works professionally in residence life who was not a student leader at some point in their academic career. They may not have been an RA, but they likely found themselves connected to an office within the realm of student support. This is likely when they learned that a career in higher education was a possibility and decided to pursue a graduate degree in education. While this path is very common, it is not the only way to enter the field of residence life. As someone who loves the work I do and the opportunities it has awarded me, I am not unaware that there are multiple myths passed as fact to student leaders considering a career in residence life.
Myth 1: To work in residence life, I must have a Master’s degree in Education.
While some institutions require master’s degrees for entry level positions, that is not the case for all institutions. Some of the best professionals I know do not hold master’s degrees or did not begin to pursue a master’s until after beginning their full time work. If you are unsure about whether residence life is the career you want for life, it is okay to wait to decide if seeking more education is best for you.
Myth 2: It’s best to start in residence life even if I have no interest in the functional area.
Time and time again, people recommend utilizing residence life as a way to get your foot in the door at an institution. While this may have been true at one point, it is an outdated practice. Residence life is an extremely unique functional area and should not be viewed as a mere stepping stone for a role you’d rather have. It is okay to discover other passions while working in residence life but using residence life as an “in” does a disservice to you and the students you serve.
Myth 3: I have to stay at an institution for at least a year or I won’t get hired somewhere else.
This advice is often given to young professionals who are just beginning in their professional careers. Leaving an institution (or any role) in under a year is not an immediate red flag that will prevent you from getting a job somewhere else. As a student leader, you have likely encouraged your residents to walk away from anything that does not serve them or is causing them pain – you can do that too.
Myth 4: Residence life professionals are just “big RAs.”
People say this and don’t mean it as a negative but it can demean the work that is done by professional staff. Each level in a residence life organizational chart is essential to the success of the department and each level comes with more responsibility, higher expectations, and a lot more student support. If you are interested in a career in residence life, it may be beneficial to find a way to quickly describe your role to those around you.
Myth 5: Residence life isn’t a real career
People can struggle to understand what a residence life professional does which can lead to them discounting it as a career. They see the door decorations and the event planning but don’t fully grasp everything that happens behind the scenes. Residence life professionals work tirelessly building community, responding to crisis situations, supervising student leaders, and completing a multitude of tasks that give new meaning to “other duties as assigned.” The work is real and it matters.
An important skill in life is learning discernment when it comes to advice. Well intentioned advice can still be harmful and one person’s experience does not define what your experience will be like. If you are a student leader considering a career in residence life or another functional area, talk to your supervisor about their career path and ask them what they wish they would have known when they were getting started.
