Residential Advisors
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
Coordinate activities in resident facilities in secondary school 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.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $21K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $26K
Median Salary: $31K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $39K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $49K
Demand
Core Tasks
Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.
Observe students to detect and report unusual behavior.
Provide emergency first aid and summon medical assistance when necessary.
Supervise, train, and evaluate residence hall staff, including resident assistants, participants in work-study programs, and other student workers.
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.
Determine the need for facility maintenance and repair, and notify appropriate personnel.
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.
Oversee departmental budget.
Provide requested information on students' progress and the development of case plans.
Administer, coordinate, or recommend disciplinary and corrective actions.
Answer telephones, and route calls or deliver messages.
Confer with medical personnel to better understand the backgrounds and needs of individual residents.
Counsel students in the handling of issues such as family, financial, and educational problems.
Accompany and supervise students during meals.
Hold regular meetings with each assigned unit.
Process contract cancellations for students who are unable to follow residence hall policies and procedures.
Supervise students' housekeeping work to ensure that it is done properly.
Compile information such as residents' daily activities and the quantities of supplies used to prepare required reports.
Supervise the activities of housekeeping personnel.
Assign rooms to students.
Provide transportation or escort for expeditions, such as shopping trips or visits to doctors or dentists.
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.
Chaperone group-sponsored trips and social functions.
Order supplies for facilities.
Sort and distribute mail.
Inventory, pack, and remove items left behind by former residents.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
89%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management
85%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Public Safety and Security
81%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Education and Training
80%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language
79%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Sociology and Anthropology
75%
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Clerical
71%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Personnel and Human Resources
70%
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Therapy and Counseling
69%
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Psychology
64%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Top 10 Skills
Social Perceptiveness
80%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening
78%
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.
Coordination
75%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring
75%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
75%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
73%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Negotiation
73%
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Service Orientation
73%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management
73%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Persuasion
68%
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
80%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity
75%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
73%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Deductive Reasoning
68%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written Comprehension
68%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning
63%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision
63%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Expression
63%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Top 10 Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
95%
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
89%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
87%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
84%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
83%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Getting Information
82%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
81%
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
80%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Documenting/Recording Information
79%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
78%
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Detailed Work Activities
Communicate with management or other staff to resolve problems.
Monitor patron activities to identify problems or potential problems.
Evaluate employee performance.
Train service staff.
Supervise service workers.
Administer first aid.
Monitor environment to ensure safety.
Mediate disputes.
Enforce rules or regulations.
Inspect facilities.
Develop plans for programs or services.
Develop educational or training programs.
Teach daily living skills or behaviors.
Inform individuals or organizations of status or findings.
Collect information about clients.
Enforce rules or policies governing student behavior.
Perform administrative or clerical tasks.
Provide counsel, comfort, or encouragement to individuals or families.
Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.
Maintain client information or service records.
Accompany individuals or groups to activities.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Manage budgets for personal services operations.
Prepare administrative documents.
Assign resources or facilities to patrons or employees.
Provide escort or transportation.
Organize recreational activities or events.
Deliver items.
Store items.
Package materials or products.
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Deal With External Customers
How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Frequency of Conflict Situations
How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Education
Interests
Social
96%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
77%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
67%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Artistic
39%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Realistic
34%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
19%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Top 10 Work Styles
Concern for Others
93%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Adaptability/Flexibility
92%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Self Control
90%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Cooperation
89%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
89%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
89%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
89%
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Stress Tolerance
89%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attention to Detail
88%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Social Orientation
87%
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Work Values
Relationships
91%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Support
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Achievement
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
55%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
