Residential Advisors
Coordinate activities in residential facilities in secondary 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.
- Overview
- Tasks
- Skills
Median Annual Wage: $24,340
Education: Bachelor's degree (48%); High school diploma or equivalent (27%); Some college, no degree (12%)
Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)
Related Job Titles: Resident Director; Resident Assistant; Residence Hall Director; Residence Life Director; Residence Director; Hall Coordinator; Residence Life Coordinator; Residential Life Director; Resident Advisor; Unit Coordinator
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Residential Advisors.
- Provide emergency first aid and summon medical assistance when necessary.
- Mediate interpersonal problems between residents.
- Make regular rounds to ensure that residents and areas are safe and secure.
- Observe students to detect and report unusual behavior.
- Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.
- Counsel students in the handling of issues such as family, financial, and educational problems.
- Collaborate with counselors to develop counseling programs that address the needs of individual students.
- Develop and coordinate educational programs for residents.
- Develop program plans for individuals or assist in plan development.
- Provide requested information on students' progress and the development of case plans.
- Hold regular meetings with each assigned unit.
- Supervise students' housekeeping work to ensure that it is done properly.
- Administer, coordinate, or recommend disciplinary and corrective actions.
- Confer with medical personnel to better understand the backgrounds and needs of individual residents.
- Answer telephones, and route calls or deliver messages.
- Determine the need for facility maintenance and repair, and notify appropriate personnel.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Residential Advisors.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Residential Advisors.
