MightyRecruiterA residential advisor is tasked with coordinating activities in residential facilities, such as group homes, college dormitories and similar establishments. They may be charged with supplying the facility, scheduling maintenance and repairs, or locating and providing furnishings for residents.
It is important to include the most essential required skills and qualities on your residential advisor job description. Interpersonal skills are key, because residential advisors must work closely with those in their facilities to accomplish their tasks. They must also have excellent organizational, monitoring and coordination skills to ensure all tasks are completed on time and to the proper degree.
The knowledge of and ability to perform emergency first aid is also key, as residential advisors may be called upon by their residents for assistance. Consult the residential advisor job description found below to get a more comprehensive look at what to include in your own job posting.
Residential Advisor Job Summary
Are you good with people? Do you have a deep desire to help others by leading by example? Are you organized and able to take charge in difficult situations? We are looking for residential advisors to oversee dorm activities and ensure the facility runs as smoothly as possible. In this position, you will have the ability to build deep, lasting relationships with residents, help them through difficulties that may arise in their personal lives and ensure that their residential needs are met. You will have autonomy in your activities with little supervision and the freedom to engage residents as you see fit. You will work directly under the supervision of residential services management to ensure all goals are met and you residents always remain safe, well-adjusted to dormitory life and engaged.
Job Responsibilities
- Enforce regulations and rules to create a safe, hospitable and inviting atmosphere throughout the dormitory
- Create an enrichment program full of interesting, engaging and rewarding activities for residents to engage in, which will provide them with additional knowledge and experience or fulfil their recreational desires
- Provide residents and their guests with emergency first aid assistance when necessary during medical situations
- Act as mediator between residents when interpersonal problems and disputes arise
- Make rounds several times a day to ensure that all residents are following rules and regulations, and that the facilities are safe and properly maintained
- Provide students with counsel regarding difficult life events and family, educational and financial problems as they arise
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as counselors and psychologists, to develop programs that address the individual needs of students with specific challenges
- Make daily determinations for facility maintenance needs, notify management and engage the services of qualified professionals to take corrective actions and fill those needs
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for conflict resolution
- Ability to attend extensive on-the-job training
- Valid driver’s license
Preferred:
- Experience working with adolescents and young adults
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
Residential Advisor Job Responsibilities
If your organization is looking for a new residential advisor, then you already know how important it is that you write a great residential advisor job description. One important part of that is the process of describing the job’s responsibilities and chief duties. It’s the longest section for a reason, and there are a few tips you should keep in mind as you write and revise to make sure you make the most of the space in this section.
For starters, remember that this part of your job description is where jobseekers get an idea about what the position will require them to accomplish on a day-to-day basis. That means you want to make the most relevant duties the most front-and-center in your list of residential advisor job responsibilities. To keep things from getting overly wordy, write in active voice the entire time. As you do that, make sure you use the most specific terms possible so your residential advisor job description resonates with candidates. Don’t forget to start each bullet with an active verb, too, so the reader can easily visualize him or herself in the situation, performing the task. Here are a few examples of common responsibilities you can adapt for yourself
- Inspect premises and enforce rules or regulations for residents
- Monitor the environment to maintain safety for all residents
- Mediate disputes as needed
- Monitor patron activities to identify possible problems
Residential Advisor Job Specifications
Crafting the job qualifications and skills section of the residential advisor job description requires just as much planning and foresight as the other sections, but since it is generally brief and to-the-point, there is not as much space to expand here. That means individual entries need to be concise and specific and include terms jobseekers recognize readily from their experience with the role or closely related past roles.
Completeness is a major consideration in this section, too. If you don’t have direct experience with the role, talk to a hiring manager or someone who has worked closely with people in this job as you write the list of residential advisor job specifications for your qualifications and skills section.
It is also a good idea to do some hands-on research so you can see a few lists of common skills and qualifications for your residential advisor job description. That way, you can be sure you are not missing anything. Here are a few examples of common skills for this position you can draw inspiration from as you write.
Strong problem sensitivity and diagnosis skills Oral expression and communication skills Knowledge of psychological principles Prior experience in a security or monitoring position
