A lot of people have been asking me how they can become Resident Assistant at College Village, and since the RA hiring process is coming up, I thought I’d write a blog about it!

Step 1: Apply

Fill out the RA application. It will be located in College Village’s Main Office.There are 16 – 20 questions that you have to answer about yourself. The answers to these questions are your opportunities to tell College Village who you are and why you’ve got what it takes to do the job. Be honest. Some of these questions may ask you about your weaknesses as well as your strengths. It’s okay to have weaknesses, just include how you plan to improve on them while your an RA. Include your resume and a letter of recommendation (preferably by college staff). Applications are due on November 16th.

Step 2: Go to the Interviews

Once you apply, you will receive an e-mail letting you know of your group, and solo interview dates. For the group interview, come confident. Open up, have fun, and be prepared to speak your mind. It’s really not that bad. For the solo interviews remember what you wrote on your RA application. Be honest, be yourself, be consistent, take a deep breath, and again, be confident. Your being asked questions about you, answering them should not be hard. Let the interviewers see why you have potential.

Step 3: Take a Self Check

Honestly ask yourself why you want to be an RA. Find out if this reason is big enough to keep you in the job when times get hard, and if it is worth the sacrifices. RAs spend a lot of time juggling school, work, and being supportive for residents. They also have to be careful about what they do socially because they represent their team and College Village.

Step 4: Do It 

Being an RA is one of the best, if not the best, ways to grow your leadership while your at College. It’s why I became an RA. It’s challenging, but it’s supposed to be. It’s also very fun. You develop friendships with your teammates, and with residents you come into contact with. Your will interact with people you never thought you could have. Sometimes you are put into situations where hurting people need your help, and that changes you. You learn how to put personal feelings aside, and help people you thought you didn’t like.  You get to make people feel welcome and help them get situated into the college life. There is a lot to gain from and to give to by being an RA.

I was really nervous about applying to be an RA toward end of my first semester. But I was encouraged by friends, particularly RA friends, who saw good qualities in me. Many of the people who approached me about being an RA have leadership qualities that they may or may not see in themselves. Just do it, when you get the job done, you’ll enjoy looking back at some of the things you were able to accomplish on the journey, and be surprised at how much you’ve grown.

Until next time.