What Do Residential Advisors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Provide emergency first aid and summon medical assistance when necessary.
• Make regular rounds to ensure that residents and areas are safe and secure.
• Mediate interpersonal problems between residents.
• Enforce rules and regulations to ensure the smooth and orderly operation of dormitory programs.

We asked Residential Advisors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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60% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 78% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Residential Advisors sort and distribute mail. They observe students to detect and report unusual behavior.

A typical day for a Residential Advisor will also include:

• Oversee departmental budget.
• Enforce rules and regulations to ensure the smooth and orderly operation of dormitory programs.
• Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.
• Supervise the activities of housekeeping personnel.
• Make regular rounds to ensure that residents and areas are safe and secure.

We asked some Residential Advisors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	65% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	93% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	49% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	20% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	33% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Residential Advisors also order supplies for facilities. They may also direct and participate in on- and off-campus recreational activities for residents of institutions, boarding schools, fraternities or sororities, children’s homes, or similar establishments.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Residential Advisors Hold regular meetings with each assigned unit. They might also Oversee departmental budget.

In addition, they Develop program plans for individuals or assist in plan development.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Counsel students in the handling of issues such as family, financial, and educational problems.

To some Residential Advisors, it is also their responsibility to Develop and coordinate educational programs for residents.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Residential Advisor, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes399041.htm