If you don't have a master's degree, it'll be a little bit of a struggle to find an RD position. There are lots out there that's don't require one, but there's LOTS of candidates who have one so you'll be competing with them. Your best bet is smaller schools. I'd recommend keeping an eye on higheredjobs.com and studentaffairs.com/jobs
You can also try to attend either NASPA or ACPA placement conferences, which is where most people go to find res life jobs. There's also Southern Placement Exchange (SPE) or Oshkosh Placement Exchange (OPE), depending on the region you're interested in. Those two are generally cheaper, and more regionally focused.
Make sure your resume is polished and in the style res life likes (just ask someone in the department you're currently in to look it over). Remember, this is a tough, 24-hr a day job, so you've got to love it or you'll be miserable! Good luck!
That really depends. At my both schools I've been to (undergrad and grad), I've had a myriad of professional supervisors with different degrees: CSP mostly, but there were also some with Master's in Religious Studies, Public Admin, Criminal Justice, Journalism, Elementary Ed, etc. If you have experience and motivation and can show that on your resume and in your interview you might be able to land yourself a job. Good luck!
Having a master's degree in another field can help you. Just as long as you know how to sell it. For example, you could say that you're interested in working with a building that has a sports learning community (or something). A master's degree of any kind will get you past that initial hurdle, then you really just have to show that you're qualified.
I hated getting this kind of response when I was a new professional.
DO NOT worry about being underqualified. DON'T. Yes, you may have to work with a smaller school as a bachelor's level pro, but there are PLENTY of jobs that are Bachelor's Prefered. When my school gets applicants who have masters in reslife, they have to go out of their way to tell them, This is not a master's level job. Why are you interested?The fact of the matter is you're just going o want to do your research. SOME schools will prefer Master's level. I don't know what that means for your particular degree, but generally these positions are for people who develop their own budgets and oversee multiple buildings/staffs and are essentially directors of reslife on a smaller scale. Bachelor's level positions may oversee one to three buildings(ish) and while they keep track of their own budgets, all of the initial budget organizing, etc, is centralized in their reslife department and coordinated by their director and his/her assistants. Do not let the previous comment
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In your experience do most reslife jobs afford you the opportunity to take classes for free on campus?
In my undergrad institutes (I was a transfer student), the RDs could take a class or two for free.
Is this more an exception than a rule?
I see a lot of benefits of working as an RD for a couple years, but I would definitely want to keep my improving myself towards my eventual career goals. Classes would be a great way to do that.
Most institutions do allow employees to take classes for free after a certain period of time. You should definately ask that question in your on campus interview.
Also some schools only allow you to take classes that benefit your work in some way. So make sure the department clarifies what is considered acceptable courses if that is the case.
At my institution, I can take grad level courses at 10 percent of the tuition cost. That just depends on the institution you are working for. However, as a grad student at indiana University of Pennsylvania, just about all of the students are awarded graduate assistantships, which means you go to school for free while gaining practical experience.
I chose residence life because I fell in love with it as a student. I thought it was one of the most hands-on and direct ways to have an impact on students. I'm a pretty firm believer that students living on campus get more out of their college experience than those who commute. They do better academically and socially, I believe.
My department has a director, a coordinator, an RD, a graduate RD, and an undergraduate RD, then 21 RAs. (I'm the RD)
Applying here was pretty typical to applying for other jobsof this kind. First, a resume and application submission. Then an in-person/on-campus interview.
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You can also try to attend either NASPA or ACPA placement conferences, which is where most people go to find res life jobs. There's also Southern Placement Exchange (SPE) or Oshkosh Placement Exchange (OPE), depending on the region you're interested in. Those two are generally cheaper, and more regionally focused.
Make sure your resume is polished and in the style res life likes (just ask someone in the department you're currently in to look it over). Remember, this is a tough, 24-hr a day job, so you've got to love it or you'll be miserable! Good luck!
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I just obtained my masters degree in Sport Management (went straight from undergrad). I was an RA for two years in undergrad.
I was thinking of applying for RD positions...but by masters degree do you mean something a little more relevant to the actual position?
I only ask because I don't want to waste my time applying if I'm not qualified.
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DO NOT worry about being underqualified. DON'T. Yes, you may have to work with a smaller school as a bachelor's level pro, but there are PLENTY of jobs that are Bachelor's Prefered. When my school gets applicants who have masters in reslife, they have to go out of their way to tell them, This is not a master's level job. Why are you interested?The fact of the matter is you're just going o want to do your research. SOME schools will prefer Master's level. I don't know what that means for your particular degree, but generally these positions are for people who develop their own budgets and oversee multiple buildings/staffs and are essentially directors of reslife on a smaller scale. Bachelor's level positions may oversee one to three buildings(ish) and while they keep track of their own budgets, all of the initial budget organizing, etc, is centralized in their reslife department and coordinated by their director and his/her assistants. Do not let the previous comment ( ... )
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In your experience do most reslife jobs afford you the opportunity to take classes for free on campus?
In my undergrad institutes (I was a transfer student), the RDs could take a class or two for free.
Is this more an exception than a rule?
I see a lot of benefits of working as an RD for a couple years, but I would definitely want to keep my improving myself towards my eventual career goals. Classes would be a great way to do that.
Any input?
Reply
Also some schools only allow you to take classes that benefit your work in some way. So make sure the department clarifies what is considered acceptable courses if that is the case.
Reply
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My department has a director, a coordinator, an RD, a graduate RD, and an undergraduate RD, then 21 RAs. (I'm the RD)
Applying here was pretty typical to applying for other jobsof this kind. First, a resume and application submission. Then an in-person/on-campus interview.
Reply
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