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

A. While experience in construction and some form of career and technical education or higher education provides a firm foundation, many people start apartment industry maintenance careers with a high school diploma and little or no 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.

Q. Do apartment industry maintenance 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 certification can I earn in the apartment industry?

A. Through NAAEI, maintenance professionals can become a Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT). Some of the areas covered in CAMT designation training includes:

• Overview of Apartment Community Maintenance and Fair Housing
• Personal and Property Safety
• Customer Service and Satisfaction
• Basic Electrical Repairs and Replacements
• Basic Plumbing Repairs and Preventive Maintenance
• Basic Appliance Repairs and Preventive Maintenance
• Basic HVAC Repairs and Preventive Maintenance

If you go on to earn a CAMT II designation, areas of focus include:

• Advanced Electrical Maintenance
• Advanced Appliance Maintenance
• Advanced Plumbing Maintenance
• Advanced HVAC Maintenance

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

A. Plenty. If you work hard and enhance your skill set, you can move up from entry-level positions to managing people in a relatively short amount of time. You can also advance to larger properties and eventually oversee many properties, depending on your dedication and willingness to learn. The apartment industry provides unlimited possibilities for those with a strong desire to succeed. In fact, many of today’s apartment executives began their career in apartment maintenance.