Top resident assistant sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to Write a Resident Assistant Resume Experience Section
Resident assistant resume experience: checklist
- Use either chronological or reverse-chronological format when listing your previous jobs;
- Mention only relevant positions that add value to your resume;
- Briefly state the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them;
- Highlight the results from your efforts (for bonus points, add numbers, percentage rates, etc.);
- Forget about buzzwords! Use power verbs instead.
Use the examples below to build your own experience section!
- Leading a team of 5, as a Senior Resident Assistant;
- Planning schedules, coordinating weekly tasks, developing and leading trainings and workshops;
- Solving issues, related to university policies and other conflicts that arise in the residence halls.
- Provided professional and personal advice to entire residence hall of 150+ undergraduate students and enforced policy
- Conducted programs on diversity, substance abuse, personal development, safety and academic performance
- Executed tasks including room inspections, service maintenance requests, incident reports and conflict mediations
- Organized, planned, and scheduled student programming that promoted culture, education and the resolution of student conflicts.
- Served as a positive role model through demonstrating positive attitude, fair approach, and cultural sensitivity related to a diverse student body.
- Cultivated relationships with campus community members from several backgrounds. Supported the intersectionality of a diverse student body and created programs that celebrated our cultural differences.
- Learned the importance of being on the right side of potential change by becoming the one who can enforce changes that would benefit the student body.
- Assessed facilities thoroughly for a weekly reporting and suggestions
- Consulted residents with issues and liaised them with relevant parties
- Administered third-party access procedures to improve security
- Strategically planned courses and projects for students
- Taught Business solutions, ideas, and structure to high school students
- Lead open discussions to world ideas in business
- Trained entrepreneurial business mind and competencies
- Oversaw development of 10+ business startup ideas
- Responsible for 22 students 6 days a week
- Created daily group exercises, gatherings, and events
- Held over 25 programs for residents in one year on education, fiscal policy, environmental duty, and mental health awareness
- Ranked and Nominated number 1 RA of the semester the first semester qualified
- Represented UW Housing at a conference and awarded the "Top 3 Program" Award, out of 30 programs by 10 UW schools
- Conducted a successful campaign of 4 people and nominated Chair for Association of Resident Assistants (ARA)
- Influenced over 300 residents in 6 semesters
- Facilitated staff Meetings
- Conceptualized and lead over 70 programs in 2 years to promote diversity and social well-being of 350+ students; managed all aspects of the program, including budgeting, fund allocation and marketing campaigns
- Established a safe and positive living environment for 44-50 assigned residents each year, complying with University policies and guidelines
- One of the few Resident Assistants selected in sophomore year for demonstrated leadership ability and team-building skills
- Assisted in evacuation of 1100 students during Hurricane Matthew
- Responds to and assists in emergency/crisis procedures
- Supervises 31 students
- Plans and hosts programs and small community builders to further encourage students to get involved in the community
- Conducts health and safety inspections regularly
- Completes all paperwork in a timely manner
- Executively handled emergency situations and inspired residents to apply for the (RA) Resident Assistant position.
- Provided mentorship and inspired young students to be active in the community, by hosting thought provocative socials.
- Vigilant about PTSD, trauma from sexual violence, overall mental well-being of residents and connected them to appropriate resources.
- Provided of a safe life and study environment at a floor of 35 residents;
- Hosted social and wellness programs for the residents;
- Performed administrative tasks including room condition reports, maintenance requests, incident reports, etc;
- Enforced dormitory policies and university regulations;
- Organized of annual diversity training workshops, aimed at teaching the upcoming first-year class inter-cultural competence
- Assisted in coordinating and running Property activities such as Orientation Program, information sessions and open days to support growth and development of the property.
- Provide Mental Health, First Aid support to residents in Building.
- Enhanced the student experience through the provision of peer support and general administrative and operational duties to develop a supportive and safe community conductive to study.
- Supervise a floor of 60 undergraduate students
- Facilitate roommate conflicts with solid communication and listening skills
- Create, plan, and implement interactive/informational programs for up to 280 residents
- Work cooperatively with staff members on programs to ensure that educational opportunities are available to foster personal growth and to meet quality standards
- Apply sound decision-making skills in responding to crisis situations
- Planned and advertised bi-monthly events for 900 students
- Implemented most attended hall event all year
- Gained multi-cultural and interpersonal skills through working with many diverse students
- Assessed facilities thoroughly for weekly reporting and suggestions
- Handled tenants' complaints and liaised them with management
- Administered third-party access procedures to improve security
- Counseled tenants regarding academic, personal, and other issues
- Interpreted, explained, and enforced university and residential life policies
- Created a floor community conducive to academic success and healthy living
- Conducted academic conferences with each resident each semester and supported residents academically throughout the year
- Develop an inclusive community among 35 residents, maximizing positive resident interactions
- Work with Co-Resident Assistants to execute creative programs, fostering student development politically, socially, and culturally
- Conduct rounds throughout the building in order to assure security and enforcement of University policies
- Mediated and provided conflict resolution in a professional and timely manner
- Serve as a role model for responsible behavior, personal integrity, and maturity, both on-campus and off-campus
- Planned and executed community building events for residents
- Created and updated monthly bulletin boards
- Enforced university polices and counselled 48 residents
- Developed and facilitated programs on diversity, personal development, academic performance,
- Served as a mentor and advisor for 35 first year students and provided paraprofessional advise and academic support
- Mediated and provided conflict resolution in a professional and timely manner.
- Managed administrative tasks including weekly reports, room condition reports, maintenance requests, and incident reports
- Built a close-knit community in a corridor of 35-40 women through.....
- Assisted first year students through their initial transition period from living at home to living on campus
- Attended regular training on and regular staff development in-services
- Secured the safety of a building of 240 students on duty nights on an average of 3 nights per month
PRO TIP
Make sure to relate your experience to your job description, but never lie. That’s not tolerated and will show up in the face-to-face interview later on.
Action verbs for your resident assistant resume
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Resident assistant resume: the skills section!
How to write a strong resident assistant resume skills section?
- Make sure to include all types of skills - soft, hard, technical;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise in the field;
- Check the job description for keywords and make sure to add them to your resume – this will help you pass ATS;
- Leave room for discussion – elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your resume
Top skills for your resident assistant resume
Jira
Smartsheet
Microsoft Office
keyshot
3D print
Asana
Communication
Negotiation
Networking
Tactfulness
Patience
Social Cues
PRO TIP
When picking skills to feature in your resume, make sure they'll be relevant to the position you’re applying to. The point of listing skills is for you to stand out from the competition. Stay away from repetitive, meaningless skills that everyone uses in their resumes. Or else, they’ll backfire and make you look like an average candidate.
Resident assistant resume header: Tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your resident assistant resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
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PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Resident Assistant resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
A career summary for your resident assistant resume
Things to include in your Resident Assistant resume summary:
- Your total years of experience in the industry;
- 2-3 of your most remarkable achievements so far;
- How your experience relates to the position you’re applying for;
- A very brief description of your strengths.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
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Resident assistant resume: The education section
Things to include in your resume's education section:
- Your highest education degree – including course, year of graduation, institution;
- Awards received as part of your education;
- Extracurricular activities that have helped you gain relevant skills;
- Certifications that have helped you master new skills and increase your expertise;
- Entry-level applicants only: relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your resident assistant resume

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PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Choosing the right format for your Resident Assistant resume
In general, there are three basic formats for your resume:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Some things to consider when choosing the right format for your Resident Assistant resume include the stage of your career, whether you have all the right skills required for the job or are looking for an industry change, and what field you’re looking to grow in.
The reverse-chronological resume format is the most common one. It lets you describe your most recent job and then move backward. This makes it great for people who have around or less than 10 years of experience and are looking to highlight only their work-related skills and qualities.
If you’re just starting your career journey and reverse-chronological resumes sound too demanding, go for the functional resume format. It’s ideal for showcasing your strengths, personal qualities, skills, education, and the courses you’ve taken, without putting too much pressure on experience and expertise.
Don’t worry if neither of these sounds suitable for you – the hybrid or combination resume format will surely match your needs. It’s similar to the reverse-chronological, but with a catchy twist. Combination or hybrid resumes are great for showcasing both your experience and work-related skills and your personal qualities. Add a “What my day looks like” section for enhancing the jaw-dropping experience!
Here are some more things worth remembering when it comes to formatting your Resident Assistant resume:
- Choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts sized 10-12p;
- Match the length of your Resident Assistant resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates – use them only when applying for executive positions;
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid formatting issues and potential unauthorized editing.
Tired of getting rejected? Check out this article on how to craft a resume that stands out!
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PRO TIP
Test your draft Resident Assistant resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections suitable for your resident assistant resume
Depending on the position and the industry, you can spice your resume up by adding some more sections. They will help the recruiter get a glimpse of who you are as a person, besides all your job-related skills and qualities.
Here are some examples:
How to add creativity to your resident assistant resume
Gone are the days when creative resumes were frowned upon by recruiters!
What’s more, the right amount of creativity will make recruiters remember you and want to learn more about who you are – both as an individual and as a professional.
There are two ways to build a creative resume - add creative sections or go for a more creative design approach in general. Go for whatever suits you, the position, and the industry most!
What makes a great resident assistant resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.