Tag Archives: Networking

Networking to Get Hired

Posted on March 9, 2014 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

5 Ways to Network to Get Your Next Job

 Business Communication

Networking can take many shapes and forms—from talking to friends about your job search to sitting down for coffee with an expert in your field. Sometimes the less-traditional forms of networking are the ones that pay off in a competitive market. Supplement your job search process with skillful networking in these 5 ways to get hired:

 1. Prepare

Part of networking comes spontaneously—these are the interactions when you bump into someone at the grocery store or talk to your family about your job search. A lead to a job could come from these interactions, but more than likely you will need more preparation to network your way into an apartment job. Successful networking requires a game plan, consisting of your goals, people you want to network with, and how you plan on doing so.

 2. Make Connections

Networking events or joining apartment industry professional organizations in Houston or Austin are one way to make a connection that could lead to a job. Another way to network is to reach out to people you admire in your field, asking them to share industry insights over coffee with you. When reaching out to industry seniors the best tactic is not to start with ‘will you hire me?’ but ‘will you share your knowledge with me?’ Additionally, you should not always seek to gain from networking, but also give back to connections whenever possible.

 3. Follow Up

Anytime anyone helps you in the job search process you should follow up with a personalized thank you. Following up is a mark of professionalism and will also make those who helped you feel appreciated.

 4. Use Social Media

Social media is increasingly becoming a key component to networking. Whether you are engaging people or properties you would like to work for or asking a simple ‘do you know anyone who’s hiring’ to your network; social media can be a powerful job search tool. The other component to social networking is making sure your profiles are up to date and professional—employers will be looking!

 5. Be Consistent  

A job interview may not come after one networking event or interview. One of the most important parts to networking for an apartment job is to network consistently and constantly. Networking is all about building relationships, which doesn’t happen over night.

 

If you are just starting out your job search or have been searching without luck, do not fear—you already have a network in place that you can use to advance your career. Using your network for success will take preparation and evaluation, and these 5 steps are one way to accomplish this.

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Networking to Find an Apartment Job

Posted on September 9, 2013 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

Networking Made Easy: 5 Steps to Use Your Network to Find an Apartment Job

While most people know that networking is crucial to securing an apartment job, the actual process of doing so can be intimidating. Rather than thinking of networking as a daunting but necessary obstacle, it can be a natural occurrence that makes the most of our social circles.

These 5 steps break down how to use the network you already have in order to find a job:

1.)  Analyze Your Network

Although opportunities for networking are everywhere, in order to successfully find a job you must implement your network in a way that is purposeful. The best way to determine where to begin networking is to list the current connections you have, including family, friends, and other professional contacts. Don’t limit yourself at first—think outside of the box to people you might normally pass up or those that have only lose connections to the apartment industry.

 

2.)  Prepare

The next step to take before you actually begin reaching out to people is to prepare a clear idea of what you hope to gain from your interactions. If you are walking into an informal meeting or a career social, be able to articulate the job you are looking for or what qualifies you. Networking without a set goal to work towards will be a waste of time and opportunity.

 

3.)  Connect Informally

Once you have completed a strategy and prepared to make the most of your network, begin connecting with contacts informally. Call, e-mail, or mention in conversation that you are looking for a job if you have already left your current position. Also, asking contacts outright for a job creates a lot of pressure; initially it is a better idea to ask people for advice and begin a relationship that could lead to a job later on.

 

4.)  Connect Formally

Connecting formally within your network includes many of the more traditionally thought of means of networking. Attending socials with apartment industry professionals, association meetings, or exchanging business cards are all tried and true means of networking. Beyond these in-person encounters you should also be active on LinkedIn, and connect with relevant professionals in the online sphere.

 

5.)  Follow up

At each step along the way you should seek to be especially considerate of those whom you are networking with, as they hold the potential power to give you a job. One way to show your appreciation for those who offer help, advice, or time is to follow up and say thank you. Even after you find a job, continue to invest in and grow your network.

 

No matter how small or large your network, these 5 steps are a way to realize its full potential. If you are just starting out networking, don’t be afraid to think big–as networking can put you in contact with jobs or people that would not otherwise be in reach.

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Are You Looking for a Property Management Job?

Posted on November 28, 2012 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

Are You Looking for a Property Management Job or Waiting for a Property Management Job?

While being in “the right place at the right time” to find a job may have some truth to it, there are also some practical actions you can take to make sure you set yourself in the right place at the right time when looking for a job. Instead of waiting for a job offer when seeking a property management position, you can actively increase your chances of getting the apartment job by improving yourself as a qualified candidate and making sure employers take notice.

No matter what stage you are at within the job process—searching for a position, in the middle of applications, or even working as a property management professional—there are a myriad of means by which you can continually educate yourself to become distinguished within the apartment industry. One of these is to become certified if you haven’t already. The IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) and NAA (National Apartment Association) both offer three types of certification for property management professionals, and will increase your credibility when applying for a position. As an apartment job deals with a variety of fields and situations, trainings and classes in relevant work (finance, maintenance, law) enhance your skill set and set you apart within the apartment industry. Beyond these classes there are also more informal opportunities: for example a free maintenance class at Home Depot, or shadowing a property manager for a day to get a feel for the typical day of an apartment manager.

In addition to improving yourself professionally for the position of a property management professional, maximize your networking capacities to find out about opportunities and get your foot in the door. Once you have identified the management companies or properties where you would like to work, find out all you can about them and then see who you might connect with there. Apartment industry professionals can be found on Facebook, Linkedin, and other networking sites.  Search for links to potential employers, or others in the field who could give you advice.  You can even look at the previous jobs of your Linkedin contacts and see if they ever had an apartment job.  Even if you have already applied for property management positions, rather than waiting for a phone call you can continue to actively network in order to increase your chances of getting the job. Investigating all existing connections, and being persistent in forming new ones is a continual process that will give you an advantage as a property management professional.

Rather than passively waiting for a phone call or a job offer, actively improving as a candidate and networking will propel your job search forward. More than luck or being at the ‘right place at the right time,’ these practical steps will demonstrate to potential employers that you are or will be a successful property management professional.

 

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Apartment Industry Job Hunting Tips

Posted on November 5, 2012 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

5 Apartment Industry Job Hunting Tips

From ten units to four hundred, student housing to luxury hi-rise, the multi-family industry offers a wide range of job opportunities. This diversity is both good and bad when job hunting—more variety translates to a better chance of finding a position that’s a good match; but it can also be overwhelming when faced with so many options. These five tips will help you hone in on the job that’s best for you and secure a new position in the apartment industry:

1.) Reach out

Reaching out to the apartment communities you wish to work for can help you get your foot in the door, and even land you a job. One way to do this is by going in person to visit a potential employers management office, allowing them to put a face to your resume and visualize you in what could be your future work environment.

2.) Network

Networking in the apartment industry when you are looking for a job is crucial, and should be a tool used from start to finish of your job search. Start out by making the most of the connections you have, and seek to make new ones. For example, when you pay a visit to a property that you would like to work for they may not have any open positions—but can tell you that their sister property does.

3.) Be knowledgeable about the industry

Being knowledgeable about the apartment industry in your job search means both educating yourself personally through training as well as staying informed of broader industry trends. Apartment industry trends to be aware of include that demand for multi-family housing increases as overall employment growth increases and/or housing prices are high.  Typically, more apartments are built and occupancies increase when either of these factors occurs.

4.) Re-vamp Your Resume

Before you begin your multi-family job search, make sure your resume demonstrates that you are qualified for the apartment jobs you are applying for. Learn what you can about the multi-family company or property you want to work for, and show them on your resume or cover letter that you are familiar with their company, passionate about it, and qualified for a position there.

5.) Be Persistent

The types of multi-family or apartment jobs are numerous, and honing in on the ones that best fit you—quality over quantity—is key. Then keep up with those properties and positions by checking their websites daily and following up with any job opportunities.

In the face of high competition and a multitude of ways to go about finding an apartment job, these five tips will help your job search run smoothly and successfully. From start to finish—these tips will make sure you are the kind of qualified professional that your ideal multi-family employer wants to hire.

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Getting Your Social Media House in Order

Posted on November 5, 2012 by James G. Lenhardt, CPC, CTS

Looking for an Apartment Job? Get Your Social Media House in Order

Because the apartment industry consists of a social media and networking element, your online presence could make the difference between employers moving on to other candidates or giving you a competitive edge. When you are looking for an apartment job, getting your social media house in order is necessary to making a good impression as well as to connecting to others in the apartment industry.

Create an Online Identity

If you don’t already have a presence on Facebook or LinkedIn (or other social media sites) creating profiles will add to potential employer’s impression of you as a qualified candidate. Your online identity should display your best side, and demonstrate a focus that is in line with the type of apartment job you are seeking. To take full advantage social media sites, your online identity should showcase talents that are relevant to the apartment industry and the positions you are applying for.

Research Yourself

This step consists of googling yourself, going through Facebook posts from the last year, scouring your LinkedIn profile, etc. Act as if you were a potential employer researching yourself—and anything that reflects poorly on you professionally should be taken off the Internet. In general, a good rule of thumb is to never put anything on the Internet that you wouldn’t want a future employer to see.

Make Connections

Once you have managed your online identity you can begin to make the most of these social media sites. Friend, follow, connect—each social media site will have a way to network, and when seeking competitive apartment jobs, networking can give you an edge against competitors. If you are unfamiliar with or want to find out more about making the most of the networking functions on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, there are numerous instructional videos on YouTube to offer help.

Getting your social media house in order may be a multi-step process; however, it will pay off as you look for apartment jobs by networking online or potential employers finding your profile. Social media is intertwined with the apartment industry in such a way that an online presence will both help you get noticed by employers as well as find positions. Just as employers may search for you online—keep an eye on them, checking their websites or other discussion forums for job opportunities or advice.

 

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