A note a staff member gave me before my interview
For this weeks snippet I’m sharing an RA interview. Another writer interviewed one of their characters last week and I really liked it! The process for the RA position is pretty intense. There’s a long, detailed application, 2-3 personal interviews, then group interviews where candidates do a series of tasks with other candidates. Organizing RA interviews and hiring can take an entire semester. It’s a big deal.
I’ve invited Carly (my character from The Hall Speaks #fallsemester) to sit with us and answer a few questions. These are real questions asked on interviews and I got them here. Hopefully it gives you a little insight into the RA job and my character. Carly wasn’t a girl I liked right away. She’s not mean but she isn’t concerned with trying to be nice. Eventually she grew on me.
The math: It’s May 7 so she will answer that many questions. 🙂
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Carly Arnold (sophomore at VBU, RA candidate)
So, Carly, thanks for meeting with me. I know you just finished interviewing with Landon for the actual RA position. I’m going to ask you some of the same question he did but feel free to be candid. Nothing you share will get in the way of you getting the job.
1) Well, how are you?
“I’m fine…can’t wait to get out of these clothes, though. A little tight in all the wrong places if you know what I mean.” She’s wearing a lavender button down shirt and a navy skirt.
2) Ok, I won’t keep you long then. So, why do you want to be a RA?
“Hm..I didn’t come to school thinking about the RA job—not at all. My parents believe in working hard and all that, and want me to work through college. I can’t do retail or fast food stuff. No way. Being an RA seems pretty harmless. I get my own room, tell freshmen what to do, and get campus-credit. It’s really cool, when you think about it.”
She looks down at her lap for a moment, then back at me.
“Beside, it’ll be the first thing I do without my boyfriend. We’ve been together for, like– ever. So I want everyone to see that I’m more than Patrick’s girlfriend. And the money I save my parents on room and board, they promised to give it to me after graduation. Not a bad deal.”
Pride gleams in her smile as she crosses her legs, leaning back in the chair.
3) Not a bad deal at all. And what are some of your strengths?
“I don’t really have a problem confronting people, especially if I’m right. I can keep residents in line. I’m a planner, good with numbers too. I’m an accountant major so I could maximize our RA programming funds.”
4) And what about weaknesses? What would you say those are?
“Weaknesses, Ha! I have plenty of those…like chocolate, margaritas, bakeries. In general when it comes to food I don’t discriminate. But I’ve been dating slim fast for the last 6 years so no one has to worry about me eating all the food at RA programs. But I guess my social weakness is forgetting that people have feelings. I can tend to just focus on my own,” she explains smiling with her eyes.
5) Why should we hire you?
“Because I have moves you’ve never seen.” She laughs and so do I. “I saw the original red-head, Julia Roberts, say that in a movie once. Sorry—just wanted to see how that sounded. Why should you hire me? Well…I’m pretty awesome. But other than that, I’m reliable and really organized…I don’t stress out. School is fairly easy for me so I can handle those RA responsibilities just fine. And I’m pretty normal. Alana’s cute if you’re into that Disney princess kind of look, but I caught her cleaning in the bathroom. I mean, who cleans public bathrooms unless it’s their job? I’m nineteen with no major meltdowns on my record, so that should put me in the top ten on the candidate list.”
6) Carly, tell me what you would do in this situation: You notice that one of your residents doesn’t seem to want to return home for Christmas. When you approach her, she tells you she’s nervous about going home because her step-father molested her in the past. What would you do?
She sighs.“These questions… this makes me sad. I hate that people go through stuff like this—period. What I’d want to tell her is that while her step-dad is riding his broomstick to hell, that she can stay with me for break. My family is crazy-generous to everyone except me. Of course, I gave Landon the more censored, good-RA answer, but honestly I couldn’t let her go home.”
7) Do you think Landon will hire you?
“Gosh, I sure hope so. He said I needed this job. Which I’m not exactly sure what he meant by that because my parents have money. But he sounded pretty darn sure that I needed to be an RA on his staff. Yep–totally got that vibe from him.”
Well, maybe he thinks being an RA can help you as a person.
Her brows shift, moving closer together. She looks kind of offended.
I learned so much in the role and grew as a person because of it. Possibly he wants the same thing for you. Best of luck to you, Carly! I’m sure you’ll get the job. Thanks for letting me interview you. It’s nice getting the uncensored, unscripted version.
“Yeah, no problem. See ya around!” She walks off towards a guy in a suit.
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Always, thanks for reading! If you’d like to take part in WIPpet just go here. Be sure to check out other WIPpets, I’ll be doing my rounds later today. And thank you K. L. Schwengel for hosting! Happy reading all! Stay beautiful. 🙂