Perhaps you have exhausted your resources, investigated your networks, and interviewed a surplus of candidates for your open apartment regional manager position—and have yet to discover talent that will prove invaluable to your company. Rather than saturating the ranks of the unemployed, talented employees are most likely already employed for their sought-after status. So how do you find talent when it is scarce?

 1.)  Expand Your Search.

When you’ve already expended your usual hiring networks without luck, it is time to expand the reach of your search. One means by which this can be accomplished is through social media outlets. Social media pages are an ideal way to communicate what your apartment management company is about as well as advertise job openings. These pages offer an inexpensive means of ‘branding’ your company so that it appeals to your target job candidates and increases your company’s reach.

2.)  Hire Continually Rather than Coincidentally.

This concept is best illustrated with a sports analogy. Imagine you are the manager of a baseball team, and one of your players suddenly quits. Your first instinct is to find the best possible player to fill that spot. However, the superstar you want is probably already signed with another team. As a result, you end up hiring an unemployed player who may have less experience or skill.

The same principle applies to hiring in the apartment industry. If you only look for candidates when a position opens, you limit your options. The best talent is often already employed and not actively searching. Instead of reacting to vacancies, take a proactive approach.

Continually keep an eye out for potential talent, even when you are not hiring. Social networking is one of the most effective ways to do this. Build relationships, engage with professionals in the industry, and maintain those connections. That way, when the right position becomes available, you already know qualified, motivated people who may be interested in joining your team.

3.)  Think Outside the Box.

Talented employees may look great on paper, but what truly sets them apart is their spark. They are passionate about their work, creative in their approach, and driven to succeed. In a competitive market, finding this kind of talent takes more than identifying skilled applicants. As a hiring authority for an apartment management company, you must also learn to recognize potential beyond a resume.

Sometimes, the most valuable employees are not the ones who check every box on a job description. They may lack a certain credential or bullet point, yet they bring genuine enthusiasm and commitment to the company’s mission. On the other hand, a candidate with impressive experience but the wrong attitude can become a costly mistake.

Throughout the hiring process, adopt a mindset that looks beyond surface details. Think outside the box, and evaluate candidates for their drive, values, and passion, not just their technical background. This approach can uncover hidden talent and lead you to the kind of employees who become true assets to your team.

Making these adjustments in your property management company’s hiring process and it’s approach to finding talent can lead to big payoffs—as talented employees can prove invaluable in the innovation, customers, and revenue they bring in.