February marks the 2011 National Apartment Careers Month highlighting the many career opportunities the apartment industry offers.
Since 2008, the apartment industry has enjoyed more stability in its workforce with reduced employee turnover due to the uncertain economy. As soon as the economy begins to rebound, some anticipate employee turnover will increase to 2007 levels. Now is the time to make a preemptive strike and begin to build that all-important pipeline of well-qualified job candidates.
The apartment industry touches every facet of society, offering a number of niches to specialize in: conventional, student, military, affordable or senior housing.
The NAA Education Institute (NAAEI) asks you to help us celebrate National Apartment Careers Month by making the commitment to share information with students about the robust and recession-resistant careers our industry offers.
Before the end of the school year, consider taking action to spread the word.
• Go to
www.naahq.org and look for the National Apartment Careers Month logo. You will be linked to information and toolkits you can use in your outreach efforts.
• Consider contacting local high schools, technical and community colleges and student groups like DECA or SkillsUSA. E-mail
maureen@naahq.org to receive contact information for your local college and DECA or SkillsUSA chapters. A local technical or community college may be interested in offering NAAEI’s ANSI-accredited Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) or National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) programs. NAAEI staff can follow up with the college and provide them with the information they need.
• What do you have to offer? Your employees as speakers on careers in the apartment industry and your participation in career fairs, job shadow and internship opportunities!
• Check out NAAEI’s
www.ApartmentCareerHQ.org website. Send students and others you encounter in your outreach efforts to this site so they can learn more about apartment careers and explore the jobs posted on the Career Center.
Happy 2011 National Apartment Careers Month—an opportunity to make a preemptive strike on employee turnover.
Maureen Lambe, CAE, is Executive Vice President of NAAEI. She can be reached at 703/797-0601 or
Maureen@naahq.org.