Oh, hey! Welcome to the community.
A kick in the behind
I was at a BBQ last night, and one of the other guests was my RA in my sophomore year. I mentioned that the direction that my career has taken is all thanks to him. I did not think I would ever get hired as an RA, so why even bother with the application if I’m not going to get hired? In hindsight, it was flawed and uninformed thinking. I was the President of my building’s Residence Hall Association, I was connected with everyone on my floor and most people in my building, and I had a great relationship with the RA. I had the skills that were necessary, yet my insecurities almost stopped me from pursuing the opportunity.
My RA was driving me to Safeway to buy supplies for an upcoming program. I can distinctly remember him saying, “Have you thought about applying to be a Residence Advisor?” No way, I thought and then blurted it out loud. He told me all of the reasons that he thought I should apply. It was the confidence boost I needed to put in the application.
Considerations when recruiting staff
Since that time, I’ve spent more than 12 years in Residence Life positions. His timely and thoughtful encouragement changed my life and where I am today. As you start to think about staff hiring, give the following ideas consideration:
- Pump the tires: It’s always a good time to encourage a friend, a resident, or even your boss. Take the time to genuinely compliment others on their efforts, accomplishments, and day-to-day successes.
- Tell someone when you think they’re great: We all need a little push from time to time. Think about who in your residence area would be a good fit for your positions, and let them know. Encouragement is a powerful thing.
- Don’t promise anything: Avoid phrases like, “You’re a shoe-in!” and, “What are you worried about? You’ll get this for sure!” No one can guarantee the outcome of a hiring practice until it is complete. Avoid disappointment by focusing on the skills and the person rather than the result. That way, if it’s not the right fit, your efforts are not lost. Boost their confidence, and give them the drive to apply for opportunities so they can transfer your praise and appreciation to other aspects of their lives, too.
- Scores aren’t everything: While interview scores inform your decisions, think about the big picture. A personal reference from a Residence Manager or Hall Director who has worked and observed that individual for the past 4-6 months–a reference you trust– may be worth more weight, even when the score doesn’t match up.
Pay it forward
When I shared my gratitude for my past RA at the BBQ, he was dumbfounded and went beet red. He remembered the conversation but had never considered that it springboarded my career. In turn, he shared stories about three people who had positively impacted his life and how last year he’d reached out to share the impact they’d had. The conversation blew up from there, many guests sharing the cornerstones of their adult life and talking about the people who had influenced them. It was a beautiful reminder of the impact you can have when you least expect it.
I encourage you to reach out to those that have positively impacted you and share your gratitude. It may just be the encouragement someone needs to reach for the next opportunity or take the next step.
Thanks for being part of our community. We’re glad you’re here.
