To those peering in from the outside, the apartment industry might appear fairly straightforward with a short list of potential career opportunities. Essentially, your only options are leasing agent or community manager, right?

In an effort to recruit fresh talent and retain high-performing associates, the industry has worked diligently to erase that misnomer. The multifamily industry is actually a diverse field with a wide range of employment options and growth opportunities, ranging from the aforementioned onsite associates, operations, maintenance, IT, marketing and beyond.

As the industry aims to incorporate and retain talent, part of the challenge for apartment operators is to communicate the merits of multifamily to prospective newcomers. Another is to genuinely demonstrate the attributes of the industry and provide a clear path for growth to new associates. Not everyone realizes the multifamily industry is able to provide true careers. Here are a few ways to ensure that you are providing new team members with the tools for success and increasing your chances that they will remain with your organization.

Provide proper training

There is nothing more intimidating to a new associate than being thrown into the fray without clearly defined duties and without much background on how to perform those duties. On the flipside, no one wants to feel too coddled. Strike the balance that will give new team members the resources to succeed and enough knowledge for them to apply what they learn to new ideas or initiatives. Whenever you implement a new software system, take the time to properly train new and longstanding associates with practical information so any transition is smooth and not the source of frustration. But also make sure to teach them how the software thinks, so they can troubleshoot and find solutions on their own, as well.

Don’t pigeonhole your talent

Oftentimes when new associates join the team, they aren’t precisely sure about their desired role. Sometimes they are completely happy with the role they are hired for. In other instances, they enjoy the company but see a better fit for themselves elsewhere in the organization. If a new leasing consultant genuinely wants to learn more about the daily practices of the marketing team or gravitates toward the maintenance team, provide the bandwidth for them to explore the opportunity. And while you’re at it, don’t forget the opportunities in the corporate office: accounting and human resource roles, for instance, might just be the right fit. Many high-performing professionals in the industry have held several roles before finding their niche. Allow the flexibility to make it happen

Encourage a learning environment

Some associates display a natural willingness to learn. If they are not challenged or feel too bottled up in their current role, they might move along. But whether your associates are inherently curious or appear content, always provide the opportunity for knowledge. Whether it’s by fostering interaction between teams, sending associates to industry conferences (or even out-of-industry conferences with some parallels), always offer the ability to expand their current knowledgebase.

The multifamily industry is far from narrow. Career opportunities span various tiers with various facets of each. As an industry, it’s important to communicate and demonstrate the unique nuances of the industry in an effort to attract and retain highly creative and talented individuals.