Never before has a career in multifamily communities been more desirable, sustainable, and rewarding. Perhaps that’s because stereotypes of the past related to property management careers focused on just that: property.
Today, however, images of overbearing landlords and rent collectors have simply fallen to the wayside. A property management career now emphasizes the importance of building vibrant, multifamily communities where culture, teamwork, and a dedication to serving others is paramount.
Read on to learn more about what defines a modern career in multifamily communities, the types of positions that are available, preferred skills, and whether it’s the right fit for you.
Want more than a job? You can achieve a real career that’s both financially and personally rewarding — one that makes you want to get up each morning to do it all over again.
Achieving a career that encourages and supports personal, professional, and financial growth in a thriving industry is possible when working in a reputable multifamily community. You can make a difference in your own life and in the lives of others, all while doing something you love.
Multifamily community careers have shown steady growth in recent years and are expected to remain highly favorable. The industry continues to show a sustainable, upward trend as the demand for housing grows and population increases across the country.
"It’s an amazing feeling to work for a company that I can trust and rely on to always have my best interests in mind, along with my residents’!”
Carly
Community Manager
A Leasing Associate is responsible for building relationships with prospective and current residents to help them identify their needs and find a home within the multifamily community you represent. You will provide tours, discuss pricing and amenities, prepare leasing agreements, and have leasing goals that you’ll be expected to achieve. You’ll also get to use your creativity to assist with marketing and resident events.
A Leasing Associate needs to be a people person who is comfortable engaging in the sales process and is dedicated to customer service. This requires excellent communication and problem-solving skills and a positive, self-starter attitude. Leasing Associates provide the first impression for prospects and residents, and they need to adapt and remain flexible to meet customers’ needs in order to be successful, going above and beyond whenever needed.
Making a resident’s experience as pleasurable and seamless as possible requires knowledge of the leasing process, managing various documentation and agreements, and maintaining accurate records. Some states require leasing professionals to be licensed or to hold a certification while others do not. Continental Properties has a thriving Learning & Development program that provides funds for continued education throughout your career and on-the-job mentoring to help you excel.
Becoming a Leasing Associate opens the door to many possibilities within the multifamily industry. Proving yourself as a motivated and hard-working Leasing Associate demonstrates your eagerness to expand your career path and opens opportunities to grow quickly.
Community Managers - sometimes referred to as a Property Manager - are business leaders, responsible for the profitability and success of their community, and they deliver exceptional living experiences for all residents while creating a positive and productive work environment for the team.
To become a residential Community Manager three or more years of relevant experience is typically desired; just as important is the ability to lead, develop, and manage a team. A Community Manager will perform various business functions such as developing budgets, managing income and expenses, and using management software. You will also need to demonstrate your leadership skills by developing new ways to market your multifamily apartments and getting out of the office to promote leasing opportunities within the community. Excellent communication skills and a dedication to serving the needs of residents and team members is a must, which may require non-traditional hours.
To guide a team and effectively communicate with residents, it’s important to display leadership and interpersonal skills in addition to managing business functions and finances. A Certified Property Manager (CPM) certification can help further your career and is required in some states. Continental Properties has a thriving Learning & Development program that provides funds for continued education throughout your career to help you excel in the industry.
Being a Community Manager creates opportunities to advance within the company and become an Area Manager or Regional Director. Whether you’re someone who prefers to stay close to home or you enjoy the prospect of moving to a new community, team members are encouraged to find their best fit within the organization and to explore other positions as they become available locally, corporately, or in other regions.
A Community Maintenance Technician, sometimes referred to as apartment maintenance or property maintenance, is someone who likes working with his or her hands and can easily troubleshoot. When a service need arises, a Maintenance Technician needs to respond to residents quickly and professionally and, most importantly, address issues to ensure the facility operates properly and remains safe. Some duties may include preparing an apartment for incoming tenants and performing various repairs and general maintenance of the interior and exterior of the property.
Beyond being able to perform carpentry work, repairing HVAC, electrical, plumbing, appliances, pool repairs, and more, a Maintenance Technician needs to display strong communication and interpersonal skills when dealing with residents and work to build trusting relationships with them. Maintenance Technicians love a challenge and doing something different every day and their schedule may need to remain flexible to respond to residents’ needs.
In addition to obtaining the skills necessary for repairing general interior and exterior repairs, Maintenance Technicians are encouraged to receive their EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and CPO (Certified Pool and Spa Operator) certifications. They will also need to learn to use various software, such as Onesite, Ops Technology, and Compliance Depot. On-the-job mentoring is often provided by a Maintenance Supervisor and Continental Properties has a thriving Learning & Development program that provides funds for continued education throughout your career to help you excel.
Maintenance Technicians have many opportunities to further their careers within the multifamily industry. It’s not uncommon for technicians to work their way up to becoming a Maintenance Supervisor who oversees a team. Maintenance Technicians are also encouraged to explore other positions as they become available locally, or in other regions.
Many other career opportunities are available in the Multifamily Community industry. Community Managers can advance to become Area Managers or Regional Directors; Maintenance Technicians may also be interested in Groundskeeper positions or advance to become a Maintenance Supervisor. Various professional, administrative, and assistant positions are also available to help with the functions necessary to maintain a successful community. Discovering a career you love as part of a multifamily community is ripe with possibilities!
In addition to a vibrant culture, a rewarding work environment and being part of an organization named a “Top Workplace” for ten consecutive years and “Best Places to Work in MultifamilyTM” for five years running, Continental team members can take pride in knowing that they can build their careers from the ground up — sometimes quite literally!
Continental is one of the country’s few management companies that develops, owns, and operates its own communities, making it unique in the multifamily industry. They also have their own dedicated, in-house market research team that explores where the greatest need for housing exists. Luxury apartment communities are then built to support those needs, providing long-term, on-site management and services for residents.
Working in the multifamily industry is extremely rewarding, and individuals who excel and thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment will enjoy their career for years to come. The most successful team members display the following qualities and are eager to develop them further:
Some states require certification for specific positions. Continental Properties will provide necessary training and education to obtain the skills and certifications you may need. No degree is required. However, experience or knowledge about business practices and customer-centric industries is helpful.
Many Continental Properties team members started out as Springs Apartment residents. Having lived in the multifamily community gave them unique perspectives and insights into what’s required to serve the needs of residents. Meet Brad and Jennifer:
“I’m never bored.”
Brad
A one-time Springs resident in Charleston, South Carolina, Brad formed a connection with the on-site maintenance supervisor and asked about job opportunities. Brad always enjoyed working with his hands but didn’t have experience in the multifamily industry. Because of his natural abilities and eagerness to learn, he was hired as a maintenance technician.
The maintenance supervisor mentored him and Continental Properties paid for further training in targeted fields, such as appliance repair, heating and cooling, and other related courses. Brad always dreamed of living in Colorado, so when a new property was being built, he pursued the opportunity. Today, he is a maintenance supervisor in Johnstown, Colorado and enjoys the abundant outdoor life during his free time.
“I own my career and feel empowered.”
Jennifer
Thirteen years ago, Jennifer was a typical resident at a Springs Luxury Apartment community in Tampa, Florida, and she enjoyed interacting with other residents and staff. Her outgoing personality got noticed and she was asked to consider being a part of the Continental Properties team. She didn’t have industry experience, but she worked in various fields that required strong customer service skills and was ambitious.
She joined the team as a Leasing Associate and her drive to succeed helped her quickly advance within the company. She and her family enjoy exploring and trying new things, so when asked to lead teams in other states, Jennifer jumped at the opportunity. She eventually became a property manager and an area manager and, today, is a regional director overseeing properties and team members in several states.
One thing we hear over and over from prospective team members is how unique the Continental hiring process is compared to others in the industry. In the same way we want to provide the very best for our residents, we want to make sure you have the best experience possible during each interaction. As part of our interview process, expect to meet fellow team members as well as company leaders so you can get a better sense of the unique, caring, and unbeatable culture that permeates the Continental organization and Springs Apartment communities.
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