Armen Abrahamian

College: College of Arts & Sciences 

Major: Physics 

Graduation Year: 2025

Campus employment: Resident Advisor, Language House

Career Readiness Competencies gained:

• Communication 
• Teamwork
• Career & Self-Development

How did you hear about your campus job?

I heard about the resident advisor (RA) position through a few of the RAs in my building. They told me about their experiences in the role and it influenced me to look into it more and apply. I became an RA in the Spring ’23 semester and have been in the role since. 

What are some of your responsibilities at your campus job?

The main goals of being an RA are to ensure the community’s safety and that residents can access the resources they need to feel supported and comfortable in their living spaces. Several RA responsibilities address these goals. For instance, we have on-call hours, meaning we’re accessible after hours to assist residents, whether they’re locked out of a building, have an issue with their roommate they need to address, etc.  

We also have RA chats with each resident twice a semester where we check in and see how they’re doing. I think that’s a positive thing because it shows our residents that we care about their well-being and gives them access to a supportive member of their residential community. 

Another thing RAs do is help foster communities within residential spaces. We put on programs once a month that bring people together and connect them with their peers and the physical space. 

What made you choose this opportunity on campus? What was it that set it apart from other jobs?

I like how the position is unique. It’s not an hourly position where you’re only working 4-6 p.m. after classes. Instead, you have a constant responsibility to show up for your residents. I really like that part of being an RA because I think being available for your residents has an impact. It establishes trust between us and the residents, and they know they have someone within their residential space who is there for them. 

What are your top three skills developed in this role?

1. Communication — As an RA, I’m constantly developing my communication skills. Communication is vital in this role, especially when you have to navigate tricky situations. I’ve learned that good communication requires an honest and succinct line of thinking, whether I’m talking to a resident, my colleagues or my supervisor. For example, if I’m mediating between two residents, I need to communicate that I hear both sides and clearly state a solution and its benefits. 

2. Teamwork — I’ve also developed my teamwork and collaboration skills in this role. I constantly work with my RA team to ensure that residents’ needs are met. If one of us has a program idea for residents but needs help setting it up, we reach out to one another for support. Seeing that collaboration happen shows our residents that our whole team cares and it makes the community feel more like home. 

3. Career & Self-Development — The RA position has helped me develop several skills that I’ll also need in my career and personal life, including organization and time management. Having good organizational skills is important because there are a lot of deadlines to meet and programs to plan. If things aren’t organized, tasks can fall through the cracks. 

Time management is also important because you have homework, club activities, and other extracurriculars to balance with your RA responsibilities. You need to find a way to manage your time wisely so you fulfill your needs and the needs of your residents. 

What’s your favorite thing about your campus job?

I really like meeting people. One of the reasons I love Cornell is because there are so many diverse people with different backgrounds here. Within the housing and residential spaces, specifically, you have one space where you not only meet new people, but live with them and build community. I’ve had the pleasure of not only meeting new people who I now consider good friends, but also introducing people who then became good friends. 

Which experiences in your campus job do you think will help you in your career after Cornell?

Being an RA has taught me a lot of things I’ll carry after Cornell, but one of the most important things I’ve learned is how to navigate complicated situations within an organizational framework. For instance, if there’s a roommate conflict, I ask myself several questions: How do I connect each roommate to the resources they need? How do I ensure they have access to the Residence Hall Director (RHD) and what conversations need to be had? Knowing how Cornell’s internal structure works and how to best leverage its resources is crucial in these situations. 

Going through the proper channels to navigate those tricky situations is very useful, no matter what your future career is. Complicated matters will likely arise in your job, and it’s important to know how to work through those situations within your organization’s framework so you’re not handling everything on your own. 

How has working on campus shaped your student experience at Cornell and helped you grow as a person?   

My time as an RA has made me confident in my ability to lead. Mediating situations and trying to understand my residents’ perspectives has given me a greater understanding of what people might be going through at any time in their Cornell experience. The resources I have familiarized myself with as an RA have been helpful to me as well.

What advice do you have for other students interested in campus jobs?

If you’re considering being an RA, my advice is to reach out to current RAs and ask how their experience has been. In my experience, it’s been a very unique and rewarding role. The same advice applies to other roles on campus, too. If you’re curious about a specific position, reach out to people in that role to get a sense of what it’s like. 

Looking for a campus job? Cornell Career Services can help! Book an appointment for your job search needs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or drop in at 103 Barnes Hall Monday through Friday, 1 - 4 p.m.