Looking for a leasing position in Lubbock, TX

Hello all! I am extremely motivated to get into apartment leasing. I am located in Lubbock, Texas which is a college town. There is tons of student housing around and regular communities as well, but I cannot seem to find any openings for leasing that don't require previous experience. I found 2 assistant manager openings that I've applied for, they're at small communities so I'm assuming its a mixture of leasing/AM duties. But aside from that I haven't been able to find anything that will consider me without experience in the field. I have 4 years experience in administration, customer service, and sales with the same company. I am going to be printing out my resume to take to the properties in my area on Monday. But what else can I do?

Hi Ariel,
This is a HUGE problem in multifamily right now. Companies talk about finding new talent, yet they all require experience. I would contact the Lubbock Apartment Association and see if they have a "Leasing 101" type of courses that might help you get a leg up. Also, just talking with someone there might provide some insight or an inroad at the local level.

In the end, there are some companies who will take a chance on someone without experience. But to entice them, you have to hit on the biggest skill set of a new leasing consultant: Sales. So when you talk with people, don't be afraid of being being a bit "friendly-aggressive". In other words, they want to hire people who aren't afraid to "ask for the close" - those that really push for the sale, but still do it in a super friendly way. That means, you need to figure out how to sell yourself, showing them that you can sell anyone on anything.

To get in the door, drop by with your resume, acknowledge that you don't have industry experience, but that you will blow them away. Convince them that it will not waste their time to give you a 15 minute interview. Then, if you get the interview, I would try something unique: I would personally ask the manager if you could do something different and give them a tour of their own community. Research the community before you do the interview, and then "sell" the manager as if he/she was a prospect. Show them that you have the talent to lease apartments.

All in all, the most important thing is to not be shy or easily pushed away. They want leasing consultants who push for the sale, so these attributes will be admirable, as long as you don't go overboard!

That's my opinion at least. Maybe someone else can chime in with some other strategies that might get Ariel noticed?

Hey Ariel,

Reach out to the Liberty Groups Texas offices. They offer Leasing 101 for free and are great for referrals and getting your foot in the door! Best of luck and just know it takes a while sometimes to find a way in but don't give up!

Enola