Tag Archives: career advice

What Do Millennials Look For In Their Leasing Consultant Job?

Posted on October 7, 2015 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

It is no secret that millennials, adults between the ages of 18 and 33, are now the top generation in the workforce. It is also common knowledge that their desires are different from previous generations, which can be frustrating for companies looking for top talent.

Cities, like Austin, Texas, are becoming hot-spots for millennials, which leaves one to ask: What are millennials looking for in a leasing consultant job in places like Austin, Texas and elsewhere?

Research companies, such as The Intelligence Group, have dedicated themselves to answering that question.

According to The Intelligence Group, a full 86 million millennials will be in the workplace by 2020—representing a full 40% of the total working population.

That is a staggering statistic. The group also discovered the following:

64% of them say it’s a priority for them to make the world a better place:

Millennials are invested in the “bigger picture”. No longer is a successful career enough to make an employee of their generation feel fulfilled. This is a fantastic opportunity for a management company to shine when hiring for a leasing consultant job.

A job description could include the company’s commitment to finding new and improved ways of providing eco-friendly housing and services that support and enhance lifestyles while embracing “going green.” Additional benefit could be gained by explaining the organization’s goal to find the creative talent needed to make the world a better place.

88% prefer a collaborative work-culture rather than a competitive one:

Leasing Consultant Job

Image Credit: Ikon Images/Corbis

In generations past, the corporate ladder and competitive culture is what motivated employees to work harder. That is no longer true with the new working generation. Millennials want to break down the corporate caste system and feel like every job matters.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average young adult has held an average of 6.2 jobs by age 26. Why not enable them to shift careers within your company? Give all employees access to the training and learning they need to move both vertically and horizontally.

In interviews for leasing positions, be transparent about how personal goals are aligned to the goals of the organization so that even a new leasing consultant understands how their daily labors are aligned to what the company is doing as a whole.

88% want “work-life integration”:

Millennials are not often willing to “take work home” with them, but they want work to reflect the culture and environment of the rest of their lives. A company can achieve this by sponsoring activities for employees to participate in such as movie nights, birthday parties, and guest speakers. Another fantastic way to encourage this culture is to offer paid volunteer time for employees to get involved in their cities while representing their company. All of these things can be used in job postings and interviews to attract potential employees of the millennial generation.

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The Top 7 Things Not to Say in a Job Interview

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Hire Priority

The Top 7 Things Not to Say in a Job Interview

Job interviews are nerve-wracking. Even the most prepared of candidates can find themselves rambling or stuttering once they are face to face with an interviewer.

But no matter how nervous you get, there are many things that you should never say in a job interview. These phrases are automatic red flags to an employer, signals that they should move on to the next candidate as quickly as possible.

Especially in the case of apartment jobs, acing your interview is crucial. Leasing positions require candidates who are outgoing and able to communicate well. If you are committing the following faux pas in your interview, an employer is likely to assume you will make similar mistakes while on the job. Make sure to steer clear of the phrases:

 

  1. “I don’t like my job.”

Bad mouthing an employer or job will make you look unprofessional. If possible, try to maintain a positive attitude and avoid discussing situations where you may sound negative during your interview.

  1. “I can’t think of a weakness.”

Not being able to list a weakness when asked can come across as boastful. No one is perfect; and your employer needs to know how your strengths and weaknesses will fit with their team.

  1. “%$*@!”

Swear words should not be used when applying for a job…no exceptions.

  1. “I don’t have any questions.”

Not having any questions for your interviewer can rub them the wrong way. When an employer asks all of the questions and you have none in response it can look as if you don’t really want the job.

  1. “What position is this for?”

Make sure you have researched the company or property you are interviewing with, as well as the position, before your interview. If you have any uncertainty about which position you are applying for, it will be difficult to convey that you are right for the job.

  1. “Sorry, I am so nervous!”

Most people are nervous when they walk into interview, and your employer knows this. If you are stumbling for the right word or don’t know what to say, don’t use nervousness as an excuse; instead, take a breath and start again with confidence.

  1. “How much time do I get off?”

An employer will probably mention how many vacation and sick days you get, which means that you don’t need to bring it up first. Asking this question during an interview can give the impression that you are already looking for ways to slack.

Apartment jobs are competitive enough as is—don’t give yourself a disadvantage by letting one of these phrases slip during an interview. Not all candidates are aware of how these phrases can rub employers the wrong way; but making sure that you don’t say them will get you one step closer to landing the job.

Looking for an apartment job? Submit your resume for open positions in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

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Does Your Job Search Seem Never-Ending?

Posted on May 1, 2014 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

Never-Ending Job Search? Maybe You’re Making These Mistakes

 

Drawn-out job searches take a heavy toll, both emotionally and financially. The median time it takes to find a job today is 16.3 weeks, which is relatively high compared to a decade ago. What’s more, if you are unemployed for more than 6 months, studies have shown that employers are much less likely to consider your resume.

If your job search feels like it’s never ending, perhaps you are making one of these 3 common mistakes. Here’s what not to do and how to bring your job searching days to an end:

 

Mistake #1: You Don’t Know What You Want

Some applicants approach the job search process by applying to a wide range of jobs all at once, hoping that they will get lucky with one. This idea usually backfires, with the applicant not getting any responses.

If you know exactly what kind of job you want, you can spend your time becoming the perfect candidate for the position. For example, if you decide you want an apartment job, narrow down what part of town, what size property, and what kind of environment you want to work in. Once you know exactly what type of apartment job you want, hone your resume and skills to become what that position requires.

Not sure what industry you want to work in? Check out this handy guide on finding your dream job from Careerealism.

 

Mistake #2: You Aren’t Changing Your Strategy

If your job search is dragging on but you aren’t seeing the results you’d like, then it’s time to alter your strategy. Try changing up these tactics:

  • Write a new resume from scratch
  • Deliver your resume in person if you’ve only emailed it
  • Take a training course to learn new skills for your resume
  • If you don’t have a skills section on your resume, add one
  • If you don’t have a good cover letter, write one
  • If you do have a cover letter, give it makeover
  • Follow up with employers by emailing or calling to make sure they’ve received your resume

 

 
Mistake #3: You Aren’t Asking for Help

Networking is one of the most effective ways to find a new job; but you will never find a new job through your network if you don’t ask them. Family, friends, and social media are all good places to start letting people know that you are job searching. If you haven’t already, pick up the phone, send a few emails, or post a status on Facebook asking for some help.

 

The conclusion: Job searching for weeks or months can be a drag, but don’t let it warp your perspective. You will find a job eventually, and it’s okay to take a step back now to re-evaluate your strategy.

Now that you know the mistakes not to make, here’s what to do instead:

1.)   Figure out what you want from your job search

2.)   Change what isn’t working in your job search to reach your goals

3.)   Ask for help from your personal & professional networks

With today’s average job search times being so long, don’t stretch out the process more than it needs to be by making the above mistakes. If you aren’t seeing the results you would like from your job search, now is the time to shift your strategy.

Ask Hire Priority for Help! Submit your resume for a job placement or free resume consultation here and one of our offices in Houston, Austin, or San Antonio will contact you.

 

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3 Ways to Avoid the Resume Black Hole

Posted on April 27, 2014 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

 

3 Ways to Avoid the Resume Black Hole

 

So many resumes end up overlooked by hiring managers, disqualified at first glance. What makes an employer reject a resume after a quick skim? One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is not tailoring their resume to a job posting. Sending out your resume to multiple job openings without altering it is one of the quickest ways for your resume to get sucked into the resume black hole, never to be considered by a hiring manager.

The average recruiter only looks at a resume for 6 seconds. With so little time, here are 3 strategies to make sure your resume isn’t overlooked:

1.)   Have someone proof read your resume.

Grammatical errors or typos are a sure way to turn off an employer. Some apartment listing jobs rake in multitudes of applicants, and the smallest error could put you behind your competition. No matter how many times you look over your resume, another pair of eyes will be the best way to make sure it’s flawless.

apartment job

2.)   Match the job posting with your resume.

Employers in the apartment industry can spot when you’ve given them the same resume that has already been used to apply for other positions. Make sure your resume stands out by including how your job experience and skills uniquely fit the position a property has posted.

How do you do this? One of the best ways is to use the same keywords that a job post has, as sometimes employers use a computer to scan resumes for word matches. This doesn’t mean that you should cut and paste from a job description, but make sure your resume speaks directly to an apartment job’s requirements.

3.)   Follow up with an employer.

While it is good practice to write an email or make a phone call to follow up with an employer after you have applied for a position, you also need to have a strategy for how you do so. A generic email is not going to go over well with an employer; but a heartfelt, original one might. Likewise, in a competitive job market like Austin, where apartment jobs are in high demand, dropping your resume off in person can make you more memorable. Don’t ever be pushy or demanding in these interactions, but to show genuine interest.

It may take just one wrong item on your resume to get it tossed into the black hole of resumes; but using these three techniques will make your chances of getting noticed exponentially higher.

 

*Recruiter statistics from The Recruiter’s Lounge.

 

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Job Hunting 101: Don’t Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket

Posted on April 18, 2014 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

 

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket: Job Hunting for Success

 

Many people are elated when they get a call for an interview—or, even better, when they walk out of an interview confident they’ve nailed it. While these are both causes for celebration (I don’t mean to be a complete downer), you shouldn’t slow your job search just because you think you have a strong lead. Otherwise, you could miss a perfect opportunity and wind up with no job offers at all.

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket! Until you’re officially hired, don’t do these 3 things that will hurt your job hunt:

1. Don’t Assume You’ve Got the Job

“We’ll be in touch.” – Famous last works from many an interviewer. Whether an interviewer says they will ‘be in touch’ or that they want you to start tomorrow—a job offer isn’t final until the paperwork is signed.

Especially in growing industries, such as the healthcare job market in Houston, a job is not a sure thing until it is official. With so many candidates, you never know when someone more talented or qualified could come in and sweep an employer off their feet. (Don’t let this happen to you – see: How to Write a Standout Resume).

2. Don’t Stop Improving

Applying for jobs is like a full time job. How can you spend 40 hours/week applying to jobs? Because you shouldn’t just be applying to jobs. You should also be constantly improving your resume, skills, and LinkedIn profile. Too many candidates get sucked into stagnation as they wait to hear from jobs that never pan out.

Looking for a healthcare job? The healthcare industry is one of the best examples of continually improving yourself. Even if you are out of work, check out opportunities to continue learning new skills in order to stay competitive.

3. Don’t Stop Moving Forward

Whether you’ve applied to 50 jobs or 1, don’t stop expanding your job search. If you’ve applied to 50 jobs and not received an offer, re-vamp your resume to make it stand out more. Or, if you don’t know where to look for jobs, try asking around your social networks for suggestions.

But no matter what: don’t stop moving forward. New jobs surface on the market every day; and if you aren’t continually expanding where you are looking and whom you are talking to, you can miss out on a perfect opportunity.

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket—keep searching and honing your skills as a candidate to stay competitive and receive the best possible job offer.

 

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