Topic: I am trying to get a job in Apartment Leasing

I have applied to tons of job advertisements in the Apartment Leasing field and have not gotten any responses. I am really trying to get my foot into the door but it is really hard. I have no clue why my resume and cover letter are being ignored. I need advice to the best way of obtaining a position in the Apartment leasing field?!

Thank you

Hi Annie!
I'm sorry you have not gotten feedback on this thread yet - please don't let that discourage you!

I would recommend checking out this earlier post that is similar to yours: www.multifamilyinsiders.com/apartment-id...o-apartment-industry

For my two cents, one thing to really think about is that leasing is a sales job first and foremost. Yes, it is important for leasing consultants to provide outstanding customer service, but a hiring manager is much more likely to focus on the sales skills first. And in that vein, sales requires you to be energetic and aggressive, in that you can't be afraid of making the sale. So while you are trying to get into the industry, the thing you are selling is yourself! So if you are trying to sell something, would you simply send them a piece of paper and hope for the best? Probably not, so what you might want to consider is thinking of ways to showcase your sales skills. I've thought before what I would do if I was back in your situation, and personally, this is probably what I would do:

1) I would research the area to find who were the biggest companies. Those companies have more established training programs, so they are more equipped with onboarding someone new. If they have jobs listed online and you can find out which property is hiring:

2) I would visit that property directly, and hand off a resume personally. I would then tell them I would like to schedule a property tour, but rather than them giving me the tour, I would like to give them the tour. I hope that would immediately set myself apart and showcase my sales skills. For example, if they say they are too busy to tour, I would then ask them when a better time would be to go on a tour - basically, use the same skills they want as a leasing consultant to get myself the job.

3) Above all, I would show enthusiasm for working at their community. People want to hire those who want to work there, not just someone who needs a job. I would stress that I am trainable and willing to do whatever it takes to get that job.


That may not be the best strategy for you, but ultimately, it's all about getting noticed. It's about showing you have a personality that can lease apartments. The multifamily industry is a crazy bunch, so it really gives an opportunity to be creative.


Lastly, if you want to attach your resume and cover letter, I would be happy to review it!

Annie,

Does your resume include any background in sales, customer service or administrative work? If you are bilingual, that's also a huge plus (in any field), so be sure to include that information if you are. Tech-savvy and computer literate is a requirement. Leasing experience, in and of itself, is not a must-have. Over the years, I have hired many leasing agents with zero experience. Make sure your resume is grammatically correct, free of spelling errors and emphasizes your strengths. Your cover letter is your intro. Since you don't have a leasing background, be sure to explain how your other experience is relevant and would translate into our world. (As a side note - if you email your resume and your email provider allows for profile pictures, be sure your profile picture is work-appropriate. I once had a candidate send me her resume and her Google+ picture was, well, NSFW. I'm sure she didn't realize it would come through with her email.) Don't overlook small properties and small companies; they are often a good way to get your foot in the door. If you do take resumes to properties in person, dress appropriately... don't show up first thing Monday morning, and don't show up 10 minutes before close.

There are pros and cons to hiring experienced consultants versus inexperienced ones. It all depends on the company. In my experience, asking someone with no experience at all to come jump in the fire of a short staffed, busy property does no one any justice. Most people need time to acclimate and learn and watch exceptional consultants perform their jobs. Hiring someone and not having time to train that person is just inhumane, as the new hire can become very frustrated and overwhelmed.

Look for a company that has communities in your area and then visit those properties in person. Look around. Is it somewhere you want to live? I always ask prospective leasing consultants if they have lived in an apartment. Surprisingly, many have not. With no experience as a resident, a new hire may not understand the importance of taking a thorough work order with details so a tech can go straight to the job (thinking here of a 2 bath unit and not telling which bathroom has the problem.) Once you drive through, I would call on the phone and see how the person who answers the phone treats you. If you can connect, then bingo - simply stop in mid morning and tell them how impressed you are with the community and you would like to speak to the manager or make an appointment to talk to him/her. One step closer. If you can get a face-to-face, you might be surprised by their reaction. Even if the property isn't needing anyone, that doesn't mean one of the sister properties isn't.

Although it is a sales job, I have never looked at it as just that. It is a CONSULTING job - you are the go-to person there to help facilitate the right home for every person who comes to you for help. Which brings me to my last point. I like people who are helpers. Managers need those who will file, who put together lease files, who follow directions, who are not afraid to notice the trash needs to be emptied, who are organized and can step up and help get files together (copied) for filing evictions. Managers don't need someone who works on the weekend who sits and texts all day, goes to lunch, comes back and doesn't check messages for an hour, who won't follow up with their traffic. If you really want to get your foot in the door, you will, and when you get there, don't be a slacker. Be a helper, keep noticing what else needs to be done and follow up on your leads. I cannot tell you the number of people who miss their interview appointments, the many who do not follow up after an interview or do not bother to fill out the application offered to them. I want someone like you - please, feel free to walk into my office any day, even on a Monday.

tip 1.) find the property that you might be interested in working at first

tip 2.) if its close to home or a reasonable distance you can travel too, shop the property and its staff. most times you can get a feel of people you would be working with.

tip 3.) during your visit, you could ask if the company is hiring. if so don't be shy about asking for a direct contact to HR or person doing the hiring

tip 4.) check out websites like ForRENT.com. Domu.com Apts.com and such. most times those companies that are listed will have company websites listed as a link and you can find HR phone/fax/links to send resume directly too.

tip 5.) Apt associations or real estate associations always have employer links that are hiring. These associations always have trade shows during the summer months, check out their events, many management companies would attend those and hence your odds at finding an employer that might be in the market for hiring.

Good Luck

Hi Annie!

I've seen many resumes for leasing positions over the years and one of the biggest "challenges" that I've seen (both with experienced and inexperienced candidates) is that they often focus too much on the "administrative" side of the job instead of providing examples, sharing information etc about their sales and customer service skills. You should talk about strengths relative to the admin side, but make the majority of the focus of your resume sales/customer service. I won't start dialogue with somebody applying for a sales position whose resume focus is paperwork oriented.

I can share with you that I often PREFER to hire people for leasing positions who have no experience by the right personality. There are no "bad habits" to break and you can teach somebody to lease.... you can't teach personality.

A few more thoughts:

* Create a video resume and offer to send it (after initial contact as I wouldn't click on a link in an
e-mail from somebody I don't know) so that your personality can shine through
* If you want to, feel free to send your resume. I'd be happy to look at it and make some suggestions, and
also, if I know anyone in the area in which you live (I'm in the DC market), and you look like a good
candidate, I'm happy to forward it along (sometimes having that "in" can make a difference)! The fact
that you reached out here, says that you are truly interested in our amazing industry!