Q. What kind of education or experience do you need to start a career in apartment leasing?

A. Experience in sales, customer service and familiarity with data entry and office systems like MS Office are useful backgrounds for careers in leasing. However, many people start apartment leasing careers with a high school diploma and little previous experience. The main thing is that job-seekers come with a desire to do a good job and to learn the skills necessary to succeed long-term. An outgoing attitude and an ability to work with people are major pluses for working in leasing.

Q. Does leasing involve sales?

A. It does, but unlike many sales positions you are dealing with people who are specifically in the market for an apartment home. In other words, there is no cold calling and no hard sell. Prospective residents walk in the door and you provide an overview of the property and its features and walk them through the leasing process. In addition to sales incentives, you will also be paid a competitive base salary, so you won’t need to rely solely or predominantly on commission for your income.

Q. Do apartment leasing jobs provide benefits?

A. Most apartment companies provide a wide array of benefits, ranging from health insurance, paid vacations and 401ks for retirement planning to rent assistance for housing and training for certifications. Professional development is a priority for the apartment industry, and benefits are viewed as an important part of that development.

Q. What kind of designation can I earn in the apartment industry?

A. NAAEI offers a leasing certification called the National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) designation. Areas covered by NALP include:

• Keys to Success in Leasing
• Leasing and the Internet
• Leasing Demonstration & Resolving Objections
• Legal Aspects
• Rental Policies and Procedures
• Telephone Presentations
• The Leasing Interview & Qualifying Residents

Q. What kind of career advancement is there for leasing positions?

A. Leasing has provided an entry point for many apartment industry professionals to move on to sales and marketing and management positions. Many of the industry’s most successful executives started out leasing apartments. With a commitment to making the resident happy and a willingness to learn, there are countless advancement opportunities for leasing professionals.