Preparing for Your Service
Before you begin serving, you'll want to do some research on the apartment community and the surrounding area. While the purpose and structure of our services are the same, each community is unique, and we want to meet the needs of each community we serve.
Things to discover:
- Are there any major employers near the apartment community? Colleges? Trade schools? Military bases?
- What businesses are nearest the property? Restaurants? Gyms? Bars?
- Which businesses look like they would have something to offer residents in the community? You'll likely be connecting with local vendors for events.
- What amenities does the property offer?
- What is the current resident experience at the property?
Information gathering strategies:
- Go to the property website.
- Drive by the property (it is VITAL that you do not go inside).
- Reference an online map.
- Scan social media/review sites to learn about the current resident experience.
List Your Potential Events
Take what you learned about the apartment community where you'll be interviewing and the surrounding area and create a list of potential events specifically geared for this property.
Keep in mind: your first 1-2 events in any community should be wide-reaching events that create an awareness of who you are and let residents know that you'll be building community for the highest number of residents. What events would draw the most residents in?
Our Idea Blog is your first stop for inspiration!
Six Things to Consider for Planning Events
Here are a few more things to consider (and spark your creativity!):
The Residents
What do you know about your residents? Are there lots of kids? How about pets? How active is the community online? Does your property have a Facebook group? As you listen to residents and get to know them, you'll know what they are interested in and how you can cater to their tastes to create events that make an impact.
The Type of Event
Events come in all shapes and sizes. You'll want to consider a variety of event types to increase the number of residents who participate, while also providing opportunities to deepen relationships. Event types include larger face-to-face gatherings, smaller special-interest groups, grab-and-go, drop-off, and virtual events. Events can be at your community or at an offsite location.
Idea Sharing
Sharing is caring! There are lots of event ideas/details out there from our staff and fellow coordinators that can be found on the Apartment Life blog, Pinterest page, and your own private/regional Facebook page.
The Community
What spaces can you use to host events? The clubhouse and pool are natural spaces to host events that make an impact. What other amenities or community spaces could be a blank canvas for creating connections? Don't forget to keep up with your property and the management company on social media and leverage what they love.
The Calendar
Consider upcoming seasons, holidays, or "themed days" (like National Pizza Day or National Donut Day.) Local events such as marathons, parades, or concerts can provide a spark of inspiration. Don't forget to mix it up, combining large and small events with special activities to provide a variety of opportunities to connect with residents.
The Area
Which businesses could become vendors and sponsor events as a way to advertise? Which local spots would be great for an offsite event? What local organizations could provide services for an event?
Common Language
From our Industry Basics session, you'll remember that we provide significant business value to our multifamily clients.
As we serve our clients, remember that we are fully integrated. To love our neighbors and serve in a secular industry, we get to bring our experiences, talents, personalities, and creativity to the table. We get to focus on building community and bring our professional best.
To connect with management, let's explore some common language. We encourage you to practice sharing the experiences and skills you possess that make you a great fit for serving with Apartment Life and in the community.
In our Industry Basics session, you were introduced to common words in the multifamily industry, such as occupancy, retention, turnover, and online reputation management.
Here are a few more:
Fair Housing: This refers to the practices that comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act and its amendments. The purpose of the Fair Housing Act is to eliminate discrimination and ensure that all people are treated fairly, equally, and consistently in the sale, rental and financing of housing. Creating community where everyone is valued and invited in? That's us!
Apartment Community, not Complex: To anyone on the inside, it's an apartment community. And the people who will be directly responsible for building and enhancing the community should be the first to call it an apartment community. (Complex is like a swear-word to our clients.)
Consider Your Experience
The manager may ask you what kind of experience you have that makes you a great coordinator for his/her community. Consider personal and professional experiences:
- Have you planned a baby shower, wedding shower, or birthday party for a friend?
- Have you helped plan or organize an event for your church or work?
- Have you helped plan or organize a school, club, or work luncheon, meeting or event?
Consider any skills, gifts, and talents that you could use to create events that make an impact. (Baking, connecting with businesses, marketing/social media experience, hand-lettering, etc.)
Prepare Your Questions
Whether you are serving onsite or offsite, you may have questions for your program director before starting your program. Be sure to discuss these before your program begins (offsite) or before your community interview (onsite).
Questions for Your Program Director:
- What is the manager's communication style?
- Has Apartment Life ever served this community?
- Anything you're wondering about the property, the service or the process.
Email or text any questions you have for your program director, and be sure to connect with them at least 48 hours before your program starts to get your questions answered.
If you don't have an interview, jump to the final section, called Your Next Steps.
Questions for your Manager:
The manager may ask you if you have any questions for him/her. Managers may not have time for more than one or two great questions. To prepare for what you could ask, take a look at some thoughtful – and unthinkable – questions for your interview.
Thoughtful Questions
- What are the top three ways we could help you and your residents?
- What is your favorite aspect of your community?
- What programs and services have you provided that have worked? Or, what have you always wanted to offer residents?
- What's the most important thing we should know about your community to serve you well?
Unthinkable Questions
- Can I see an apartment? (If they want to, they will offer.)
- Can I have a unit with more bedrooms, granite, and new carpet, on the first floor? Upgrade requests should be privately shared with your program director.
- What kind of people live here? (This violates Fair Housing laws.)
- Are you pregnant? (Just never.)
Before, During and After Your Interview
Before the Interview:
- Select/borrow business-casual attire to wear to a business interview.
- Expect the interview to last 1-2 hours during business hours.
- Arrange for childcare. Bringing your kids, no matter how well-behaved, is not an option.
- Connect with your program director regarding where/when to meet.
- Do NOT go into the leasing office without your program director. He/she has a business relationship with the manager and will introduce you. This will also give you time to ask any questions you have.
- Bring a pen and notebook or a device for taking notes.
- Pray for your conversation with the property manager.
During the Interview:
- Your program director will help facilitate the interview.
- Display excitement and readiness. Be positive! Avoid negative comments about the property and residents.
- Do not use any spiritual language. Even though the property manager may be a Christian, he or she will want to know that you will abide by the Fair Housing Act, which states that the community cannot promote just one religion.
- If you'll be living onsite, the manager may decide on the spot to show you an apartment or discuss move-in details.
- The manager may not decide to do this, so don't be discouraged. They'll be gracious and follow-up with the program director.
After the Interview:
- Your program director will be the one to contact you. This could take 48 hours, and it’s possible an owner or regional manager may want to meet you.
- As in other job interviews, the manager can interview multiple teams/coordinators. Because of this, the placement interview is not a guarantee that you will serve at this community.
Your Next Steps
Please email your Talent Acquisition Specialist your answers to the following questions and statements.
List what you discovered about that community and the surrounding area.
List three events you believe would be a good fit for this community within the next month. Briefly paint a picture of what residents would experience at each event (theme, decorations, menu, activities, atmosphere).
Event 1: with a taste of what residents would experience in theme, decor, menu, and activities.
Event 2: with a taste of what residents would experience in theme, decor, menu, and activities.
Event 3: with a taste of what residents would experience in theme, decor, menu, and activities.
Practice answering for a regional manager. What event planning experience have you had? What talent and skills would you use to make your events stand out?
Do you have any other questions you'd like to ask the property manager?
Feel free to share any other questions you might have, and we will connect with you before your next steps.