Property Management Resume On Desk With Pencil

13 Property Management Resume Writing Tips For 2021

Due to layoffs and furloughs caused by the CoronaVirus pandemic, many property managers are seeking new job opportunities. Due to the high unemployment, the job landscape going into 2021 will be extremely competitive, including the property management industry.

As a result, property managers will need a great resume to standout. A great resume is one that is easy to read, catches the attention of hiring managers, and leads to a job interview. While a strong resume will take time and thought to write, it is worth the effort. A well written resume can lead to a new opportunity and help managers climb higher on the property management career ladder. Here are Property Manager Insider’s top 13 property management resume writing tips for 2021.

1. Highlight Software Skills

Property managers should include a dedicated section for software skills on their resume. Highlight industry and job function specific software skills first. For example, indicate experience with Yardi, Buildium, or AppFolio before indicating experience with generic programs like Microsoft Office or Quickbooks.

2. Include Your LinkedIn Profile Link

Remember, there is a strong chance your resume will be reviewed on a computer or smartphone. Adding a link to your LinkedIn profile can let hiring managers quickly find and review your LinkedIn profile. Many hiring managers will do this as standard practice, so including the link just makes it easier for them. Be sure to fully update your LinkedIn profile and include a professional picture. Click here to read 20 tips for building a great LinkedIn profile.

3. List Key Property Information

A strong property management resume will include important information about the properties from previous roles. This should include size and classification, when applicable. For multi-family properties include the number of units. For other types of commercial properties, such as office, industrial, flex, and retail spaces, include the property square footage and building class. This information can quickly demonstrate to hiring managers that you have the experience necessary to work with properties in their portfolio.

4. Organize Information Using Bullets

Bullet points are strong visual cues that naturally attract the attention of readers. Property managers should use them to effectively organize and highlight important information. Use bullet points to highlight key accomplishments under previous job experiences. This is a great way to highlight accomplishments and standout to hiring managers at property management companies known for being great places to work.

5. Use Concise Language

Property managers need to avoid long, wordy, sentences at all costs. These make it harder for hiring managers to read and understand a resume. This property management resume tip relates directly to the one above. Do not just use bullet points, combine them with concise statements to make your resume easy to read and well organized.

6. Have Other People Proofread

Even with tools like spellcheck and grammarly, it is still easy to make a typo. In a highly competitive job market, this can mean the difference of a hiring manager reaching out to schedule an interview or discarding a resume. Having someone else proofread you resume can help catch small typos and syntax errors, like “proof read” vs. “proofread”, that do not always show up on spellcheck.

7. Incorporate Job Posting Keywords

This property management resume writing tip is all about having your resume found when companies and recruiters search job boards. If multiple job descriptions are using specific keywords, make sure they are included on your resume. An easy example would be switching out “apartment” for “multifamily” or vice versa.

8. Add Property Management Certifications

A property management certification is a surefire way to get any hiring managers attention. This is because they immediately indicate industry specific training and education to hiring managers. Consequently, job seekers should list them after their name at the very top of the resume.

9. Use Numbers and Figures Frequently

Include as many facts, figures, and numbers as possible. These really standout to hiring managers. In fact, they are the best way to quantify accomplishments. One of the best places to include numbers is within bullet points. Consider these three examples:

  • Increased resident retention from 87% to 95% by instituting a new program of resident events
  • Re-negotiated vendor contractors generating an additional $50,000 in net operating income
  • Oversaw a $350,000 renovation – projected completed on time and 2% under budget

These are examples of how the numbers and figures tell the story (and how bullet points make the information standout). Hiring managers can quickly and easily the impact a job candidate had in their past role. When it comes to property management resume writing tips, this is one of the most important.

10. Use More Than One Page

Do not try to squeeze everything onto on page. Bigger, easy to read fonts are preferable to small copy that looks like it was jammed onto the page. This is especially true for veteran property managers, who might have four to five past job experiences to include on their resume. As a general rule, list the last 12 to 15 years of professional experience on a property management resume. This is especially important for competitive senior, regional, and portfolio level positions at the best property management employers.

11. Put the Best Stuff “Above the Fold”

“Above the Fold” refers to the information that appears on the top half of a folder newspaper. Typically this is the most eye catching and important information. Property managers should take this approach with their resume, putting the most important information on the first half, of the first page.

12. Use Reverse Chronological Order

Property managers should list their most recent professional experience first on their resume, then work backwards to their first position. This is the traditional way to format a resume because it is easy for hiring manageres to interpret and understand. In the current competitive job landscape, a hiring manager might simply discard a resume that is not easy to follow.

13. Avoid Excessive Industry Jargon

Property managers should not overload their resume with industry jargon and terminology to standout. An HR manager for a property management company might have very little practical experience managing a property. While industry jargon should be included and used, it should feel natural. As a rule of thumb, make sure the average person can understand your resume.

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