Are you struggling to retain your top leasing agents? Believe it or not, your interview process may be to blame. With so many leasing agent candidates on the job market, it can be difficult to weed out the bad candidates and hire individuals with the most long-term potential. Candidate interviews present the best time to learn not only about candidates’ qualifications, but what they can personally contribute to your property’s operations. As you revisit your interview process, here are three top questions to ask candidates:
What unique strengths would you bring to this job?
Let’s face it – leasing agents are a dime a dozen, so it’s critical to understand what each candidate specifically brings to the table. Asking a candidate about their unique strengths will help you gauge their industry knowledge and expertise. For example, if the candidate says that sales is one of their strengths, have them provide an example of their sales approach with potential tenants. Do they use a certain strategy or technique? Are they informed about best sales practices? Do they value customer service? Leasing agents must capitalize on their skills to attract new tenants and sell property units, making it crucial they apply their strengths in a way that best benefits the company.
What major challenges have you faced in past positions and how did you overcome them?
Learning about how a candidate navigated prior hurdles on the job will give you a strong sense of how they will approach challenges at your company. In property management, often similar problems exist due to the nature of the job. Give the candidate an opportunity to explain how they’ve handled resident complaints or dealt with underperforming teammates. The way in which the candidate overcomes these challenges will be indicative of whether they’ll be a good fit for your workplace and culture.
Why should I hire you?
While this question may sound so simple on the surface, it can provide one of the most telling and powerful answers. Hearing why a candidate decided to pursue a leasing agent position will give you an opportunity to learn about their level of commitment and drive to the property management field. The type of answer they provide can reflect how interested they are in being part of your team and how they plan to contribute their talents to the job itself. Ultimately, you’ll want to pinpoint candidates who demonstrate a willingness to take initiative and work collaboratively with others to achieve common goals, as this will have a direct effect on your bottom line.
In search of top-quality leasing agent candidates? Get in touch today with The Liberty Group!
