How to Become an Apartment Leasing Consultant
Perhaps the apartment industry is a career you’ve had your eye on for a while; or perhaps it is a job you have recently considered but don’t know how to obtain. Either way, breaking into the apartment leasing industry may seem daunting; however, there are several practical steps that you can take to ensure success in the job market.
Take Classes
The first of these steps is to build up your knowledge of the industry and credentials by taking classes. Investigate opportunities to enroll in an Intro to Leasing class through your local Apartment Association, or programs to get certified through a local community college. This will give you a foundational knowledge of the industry and the credentials you need to proceed. Even further down the road-once employed or still seeking employment-continue to seek learning or training opportunities to stay up to date.
Prep Your Resume
After taking a class or receiving a certification, the next step is to prepare your resume to get noticed by a hiring authority. Make sure to highlight skills, such as customer service and sales experience, which cross over as assets in apartment leasing. Even if previous work experience may not directly correlate to consulting, get creative in drawing parallels between acquired skills and skills pertinent to the job. Also include specific ways in which you benefited previous employers, citing percentages to draw attention.
Visit Potential Employers
Finally, visit the apartment community you are interested in working for to inquire if they are hiring. Even if they aren’t hiring, take advantage of any related opportunities-for example, inquire if any of their sister properties are hiring. Another tip for visiting a possible employer is to have a quick sales-pitch of yourself planned, which you can then present to the manager. You can also find jobs online and then go to those properties to apply in person. If you don’t know where to start-begin by looking in your own community, asking friends who know people that work or live at apartment communities.
So whether you are just beginning your job search, or looking for new ways to get your foot in the door, these steps can navigate you through the process of becoming an apartment leasing consultant. Jobs in this field are expected to grow in the coming years, and the dynamic nature of the industry make leasing consultant jobs sought after; however, practical steps such as these will provide an opening into a leasing consultant career.
James Lenhardt is CEO/Executive Recruiter of Hire Priority, a privately held staffing and recruiting company that specializes in the placement of apartment industry, healthcare and administrative professionals. Hire Priority provides local and national searches from offices in Houston and Austin.