The Questions We Ask: A Content Analysis of Resident Assistant Interview Questions

Every year university housing departments engage in processes to select Resident Assistants (RAs) to be peer leaders in their communities. The purpose of this study is to better understand the job expectations and competencies interview questions address. This study uses qualitative content analysis to chronicle the questions asked of RAs across 12 institutions in the Southwest region of the United States. Overall, 200 questions were coded and placed into three themes: Competencies (97), Personal (58), and Job Expectations (45). The highest frequency coded questions in each theme were: Job Expectation: Community Outreach (17); Competencies: Diversity Awareness (15); and Personal: Personality/About You (33). The study reveals the importance placed on specific competency areas viewed to be important in the RA position. Additionally, the findings show a disconnect in areas seen as important in the position yet infrequently addressed by the questions asked of candidates.