If the time has come for you to find a new job in the self-storage industry, where do you begin? There are many websites for anyone looking to find a position such as CareerBuilder, craigslist, Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter and WorkingCouples. There are also trade magazines and placement services.

But finding available positions is the easy part; being prepared for what comes next is harder. The following advice will help you build a résumé and cover letter that gets noticed, assemble your references, and nail the interview. Now, go land your self-storage dream job!

Résumé

For many, the first step in the job search—creating a résumé—is the hardest; and writing one that gets noticed can be challenging. You only have 15 to 20 seconds to make a good first impression with this document, so it needs to count.

Your résumé should be brief, readable and easy to understand. No one wants to read a book about your life. If you don't grab someone's attention quickly, chances are you’re not going to be called for an interview, no matter how experienced you are.

When designing your résumé, keep it simple. Put your name, address, phone number and e-mail at the top. There are many websites that offer free templates and advice on how to design a professional, eye-catching résumé. A quick tip: Never use a fancy font or one that’s too small and hard to read!

There are two styles you can use to create your résumé: chronological or functional. The first is the most common. It lists your job titles and employers organized by dates of employment, beginning with the current or most recent position. The dates are usually listed on the left side of the page.

A functional-style résumé is used when a person has either an abundance of similar work experience or a lack of it. It can better the chance of a candidate whose experience may look weaker on a chronological résumé. It can be useful for those during a career change.

The biggest mistake most self-storage managers make is writing a résumé that’s too wordy. If you’re applying for another management position, you don't have to explain your job duties. We all know what they are. Don’t include items such as renting and cleaning units, showing space, making bank deposits, and so forth. On the other hand, if you’ve had duties that were more comprehensive than those of a typical facility manager, include those details. For example, you might have trained new employees, designed the company’s policy and procedures manual, or served as the marketing director for all locations.

A prospective employer is mostly interested in length of employment at each facility you managed, the number of units you managed, which management software you’re proficient in, and increases in occupancy and income during the time of your employment. Use bullet points under each position to make it easy to read within that 15- to 20-second overview.

Once you’ve written your résumé, use spell-check, and then read it slowly, looking at each word. Be careful about spelling, grammar and word choice. There’s a difference between there and their, and manager and manger. Both are spelled correctly but with very different meanings. Spell-check may not pick up on these or point out that they’re used incorrectly. That’s why it’s vital to proofread—more than once. You might even ask someone else to check it. A second set of eyes certainly won't hurt.

As an extra precaution, e-mail the finished document to yourself. Does it look professional? Are the margins set correctly? Is the font too small or big? Finally, print a copy. How does it look? Do you need to make any changes? If so, this is the time.

Cover Letter

Include a cover letter with your résumé. This is your letter of introduction to a prospective employer, outlining information about you that’s not reflected in the résumé. Include your contact information at the top, just in case the two pieces get separated.

When writing your letter, it’s important to know your audience and use the vocabulary and language of the self-storage industry. Describe your experiences from an accomplishment point-of-view. Incorporate strong active words such as: achieved, expedited, managed, ability, capacity, leader, actively, substantially and effectively. All the information should be positive. Again, use spell-check and proofread.

Include a sentence or two to explain the reason you’re looking for a change in employment. Be honest and truthful, especially if you were at a position for a short time—say, less than six months. Were you a start-up manager? Was it a new facility that didn’t open on time so you had to leave? If you left due to a “clash in personalities,” say you left due to personal reasons. Finally, include information about your certifications, training or professional accolades.

References

It’s wise to include a separate sheet of references from direct supervisors. Don’t use former tenants who’ll say how great their experience was when storing with you. Your references should be people who can attest to what kind of employee you were. Family, friends and other storage managers don’t count.

Ask your references in advance if you can list them and let them know someone may be calling. Make sure your list contains current contact information for each person.

If you can get a letter of reference from each employer, do so! Bear in mind, some companies might be hesitant to provide one. Certain larger companies won’t verify anything more than dates of employment and position.

Always give an employer proper notice before leaving, as this is one of the questions most companies are going to ask when they call your references. They’ll also ask if you’re eligible for re-hire, so make sure you leave on good terms. Never burn any bridges on your way out the door!

Interviews

Once you’ve submitted your résumé, be prepared for a phone interview. This is probably the most import part of the process. It can often be even more important than a face-to-face interview. Just as with the résumé, you never get a second chance to make that first impression. If you come off as disinterested, distracted or unprofessional over the phone, you’ll never get to the next step.

On the phone, be ready, focused and professional at all times. If you’re at home, limit distractions. Go to a quiet room, and take a notepad with you. If you like what you’re hearing about the job or company, tell the interviewer you’re interested in taking the next step.

Once you’ve secured a personal interview, dress professionally and show up early. Bring a copy of your résumé, cover letter, letters of reference, certificates, etc. Leave the tank tops, shorts and flip flops at home! Men, you don't have to show up in a three-piece suit, but a new polo shirt or button-down dress shirt and dress pants is a must. Ladies, a nice dress, skirt, or blouse and slacks is the way to go. Be freshly showered and groomed. Go easy on the perfume or aftershave.

Before the interview, turn off your cell phone. This shows you’re ready to focus on this meeting. Nothing else matters at that moment and the interviewer deserves your full attention.

During the interview, explain your achievements and objective in seeking a change of employment. This is the time to go into detail. Express what a great manager you are and what a super asset you would be to the organization. If it’s a position you’re interested in, say so.

Also, be prepared to explain why you left your most recent job. Don’t dwell on a negative reason or badmouth your last employer. Instead, be positive. If you resigned due to a personality conflict, just say it was better that you left and found a position more suited to you.

Keep in mind that an interview is a two-way street. Be prepared to ask questions. Here are some to consider:

• Why are you seeking a new manager?
• What are the facility’s hours of operation?
• What are site’s occupancy and delinquency levels?
• What software program do you use?
• What security measures are in place?
• What’s the housing arrangement, if any?
• What are the base wages?
• Is there a bonus program, or holiday and vacation pay?
• Does the company provide any medical benefits?

Remember to put your best foot forward. Be positive and courteous. Understand you might not always get the position, even if you thought the interview process went well. Don’t get discouraged. Keep trying, and when the job that’s right for you comes along, you’ll get hired!

Pamela Alton is the owner of Mini-Management Services, a company that has been placing self-storage managers in positions all over the United States since 1991. She also offers staff training, operational consulting, and facility audits and inspections. For more information, call 321.890.2245; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.mini-management.com. 

The Inside Self-Storage (ISS) Store, an e-commerce website providing research and education products for industry professionals, is now offering all 45 of the education sessions recorded during this year’s ISS World Expo in Las Vegas as on-demand video. The presentations cover topics related to self-storage building, finance, investing, management, marketing, ownership, technology and more.

Priced at $20, the videos are available for purchase at iss-store.com. Customers are able to view their on-demand immediately from an embedded player inside their account. The recordings are viewable anywhere, on any device with an Internet connection.

The seminars held during the 2018 ISS World Expo, the industry’s largest conference and tradeshow, featured self-storage experts presenting in six education tracks. The on-demand recordings include video of each speaker as well as his PowerPoint presentation, embedded for user convenience.

Sessions are also available in DVD format, individually as well as bundled by track and in larger discount packages.

Conceived as a central hub that allows self-storage owners, operators, developers and investors to obtain cutting-edge information and resources, the ISS Store is owned and operated by ISS, a dynamic services provider that has served the self-storage industry for more than 27 years. The brand includes ISS magazine, the ISS Expo and Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.

Storage Business Owners Alliance LLC (SBOA), a buying group for the U.S. self-storage industry, has partnered with property-management technology firm Motili to provide a maintenance platform to its members that will offer electrical, equipment, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) and plumbing services.

Motili provides nationwide invoicing, ordering and scheduling for property maintenance and repair as well as equipment replacement. The company has relationships with more than 2,300 distributors and 2,000 skilled contractors, enabling it to offer savings of up to 30 percent, according to a press release. Orders may be placed online or through the Motili mobile app. In addition, asset-tagging technology allows customers to tag and track HVAC assets, unlock strategic data, and take a proactive approach to equipment replacement.

“The Motili platform provides an invaluable resource to our members with a complete solution for property maintenance and equipment replacement,” said Ian Burnstein, president and co-founder of SBOA. “Their innovative technology and unique services offer unmatched convenience. We are thrilled to welcome Motili to the SBOA family of Preferred Vendor Partners.”

“The Preferred Vendor Partnership [designation] is a great accolade, and we are excited to see what the future will bring as we work with the SBOA to mutually benefit the self-storage sector,” added Jeff Wilkins, CEO of Motili.

SBOA members can take advantage of pre-negotiated discounts on goods and services from more than 30 preferred vendors, including SBOA Merchant Services and SBOA Tenant Insurance. The company has more than 7,000 member facilities.

Source:
PRWeb, Storage Business Owners Alliance (SBOA) Names Motili as a Preferred Vendor Partner

Clifton Safe Storage LLC is seeking zoning approval to tear down Ploch’s Garden Center in Clifton, N.J., and build a five-story self-storage facility in its place. The zoning board discussed the proposal for the 1.85-acre property at 1172 Broad St. during its Wednesday meeting. The facility would be managed by self-storage real estate investment trust CubeSmart and branded under its name, according to the source.

The site is at the intersection of Allwood Road, Broad Street, Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Route 3. The plans include razing the single-story garden store and adjoining greenhouse, and then building 175,000 square feet of storage. The applicant is seeking permission to build two stories more than allowed as well as a reduction in parking spaces from 88 to 19, eight of which will be for loading and unloading, the source reported. The proposed number of parking spaces would be sufficient for the facility, according to Stonefield Engineering & Design LLC, the engineering firm on the project.

The developer, Jonathan Vogel, stated the area is in need of more storage, and the garden center is well-suited for the use. “People want a class-A storage that is safe, clean, well-lighted and has 24-hour security,” he said.

A local business owner supports the land owner’s right to sell it, but questioned whether there’s a need for more storage in the area. “Off the top of my head, I can think of five nearby,” said Walter Hryckowian of Clifton Discount Vacuum, which is in the adjoining Broad Street Center strip mall.

Joe and Linda Spirko opened a fruit stand on the property in 1959. Today, it includes a tropical greenhouse, a gardening and gift store, a shrub yard, and annual and perennial plants. The business is currently operated by their son, Michael Spirko.

Another buyer attempted to purchase the site in 2014 and build a QuickChek gas station and convenience store. The plan was denied because the city wouldn’t allow more than one business use on the property. The decision was challenged, but a superior court judge upheld the ruling in 2016. The buyer then backed out of the deal.

The Spirkos sold another business, Strawberry Blossom Home & Garden Center on New Jersey Route 23 in Wayne, N.J., five years ago. It was replaced by a QuickChek store and gas station, the source reported.

Source:
North Jersey, Ploch's Garden Center in Clifton May Be Replaced by Self-Storage Facility

Valley Storage Co., which operates 22 self-storage facilities in six eastern states, has acquired Sure Safe in Denver, N.C., its first in the state. The property at 1697 NC-16 Business will be rebranded as Valley Storage, according to a press release.

The 80,000-square-foot facility comprises more than 460 climate-controlled and drive-up units as well as vehicle-parking spaces. It’s near Lake Norman, the largest man-made body of fresh water in the state.

Valley plans to add new signage and update the facility website to include online reservations and billpay capabilities, the release stated. The site will be managed by Storage Asset Management Inc., a York, Pa., property-management and consulting company.

“We are looking forward to being able to expand into the North Carolina market, continuing our high standard of customer service in self-storage,” said Todd Snook, who owns Valley with his wife, Tina.

Based in Hagerstown, Md., Valley opened its first self-storage location in Williamsport, Md., in 1986. It currently owns more than 1 million square feet of storage space in Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

SmartStop Asset Management LLC, a Ladera Ranch, Calif.-based diversified real estate company that manages 116 self-storage facilities in Canada and the United States, has promoted Gerald Valle to senior vice president of self-storage operations. Valle will oversee day-to-day governance of all the firm’s U.S. facilities branded as SmartStop Self Storage, including a team of 240 professionals, according to a press release.

Valle joined SmartStop last year as vice president of operations. "Gerald is one of the best and brightest in the industry, with more than 30 years of experience managing, operating and maximizing revenue of self-storage portfolios for some of the biggest and most successful brands in the space," said H. Michael Schwartz, founder, chairman and CEO. "He joins a robust executive-management team and a devoted group of employees across the nation who are dedicated to maintaining the finest self-storage facilities and customer service to our clients, as well as maximizing efficiencies and profits for our investors."

Prior to joining SmartStop, Valle spent five years as vice president of operations for The William Warren Group, which operates the StorQuest Self Storage brand. His career includes nearly 15 years with self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) Public Storage Inc., where he rose to regional vice president of operations. He also spent a decade with REIT and third-party management firm Extra Space Storage Inc., where he served as divisional vice president of operations and vice president of sales.

SmartStop has approximately $1.5 billion of real estate under management. Its self-storage portfolio comprises about 8.5 million rentable square feet. It’s also the sponsor of Strategic Storage Growth Trust Inc., Strategic Storage Trust II Inc. and Strategic Storage Trust IV Inc., all public non-traded REITs focused on self-storage assets.

Source:
PR Newswire, SmartStop Asset Management Promotes Gerald Valle to Senior Vice President, Self Storage Operations

Self-storage properties are constantly changing hands, and Inside Self-Storage is regularly notified of these market transactions. Many are covered in detail on the ISS website and available for viewing on the “Acquisitions and Buying” topics page. Following are additional acquisitions and sales that weren’t covered.

A-1 Mini Storage in Selma, Ala., was sold to an out-of-state limited liability company (LLC). The portfolio includes three locations within a half-mile radius that operate from the main office at 1112 Singleton Drive. The sites contain 20 buildings comprising 87,321 rentable square feet in 583 units and fours office suites on 5 acres. The transaction was completed by Michael Morrison, an associate broker with Midcoast Properties Inc.

Affordable Self Storage in The Woodlands, Texas, was sold to a Texas-based buyer. The 4.86-acre, seven-building property at 1626 Sawdust Road comprises 90,800 rentable square feet of space in 465 units. The buyer and the local seller were represented in the transaction by Bill Bellomy and Michael Johnson, brokers with Bellomy & Co.

Boulevard 26 Storage in Richland, Texas, was sold to a Philadelphia real estate investment firm. The 2.34-acre property at 7410 Boulevard 26 comprises 33,607 rentable square feet in 305 interior, climate-controlled units and 57 vehicle-parking spaces. It also contains an 8,500-square-foot retail center and two office suites with 720 rentable square feet. The buyer and the seller, an Austin, Texas, private partnership, were represented in the transaction by Danny Cunningham and Brandon Karr, first vice presidents of investments for Marcus & Millichap (M&M).

Cañon City Self Storage in Cañon City, Colo., was sold for $1.75 million. The 4.4-acre property at 3345 E. Highway 50 comprises 30,350 rentable square feet of storage space and 4,800 square feet of vehicle-storage parking. The seller was represented in the transaction by Joan Lucas, owner of Joan Lucas Real Estate Services and a broker affiliate for the Argus Self Storage Sales Network.

Hot Shots Storage in Wichita Falls, Texas, was sold to a Dallas-based buyer. The property at 1602 Loop 11 was built in 2009 and comprises 21,950 rentable square feet of space in 198 units. The local seller was represented in the transaction by Chris Storm, vice president for Henry S. Miller. The buyer was represented by Bellomy, Johnson and fellow broker John Arnold.

Keep Self Storage in Houston was sold to a Lakewood, N.J.-based buyer. The property at 16617 Kuykendahl Road comprises 33,934 net rentable square feet of storage space in 332 units. The buyer and the Provo, Utah, seller, were represented in the transaction by Bellomy and Johnson.

Maximum Storage in Lansing, Mich., was sold to an out-of-state LLC. The 5-acre property at 5600 Aurelius Road comprises 69,115 square feet of storage space in 745 units. It also includes outdoor vehicle-parking spaces. The buyer and the seller, a private investor, were represented in the transaction by M&M associates Tom Berlin and Zach Munce.

Storage Express in Columbia, S.C., was sold to a national real estate investment trust. The property at 3400 Broad River Road comprises 46,000 rentable square feet of space in 382 units. The seller was represented in the transaction by Midcoast President Dale C. Eisenman.

A self-storage developer purchased a 3.9-acre site in Brighton, Colo., for $1.27 million. The project will include 95,000 square feet of storage space. Once complete, the facility will be managed by self-storage real estate investment trust CubeSmart. The land acquisition was brokered by Lucas.

Argus is a Denver-based network of real estate brokers who specialize in storage properties. Formed in 1994, the company has 36 broker affiliates covering nearly 40 markets.

Established in 1924 and based in Texas, Henry S. Miller is an independent, full-service commercial real estate firm.

Founded in 1971, M&M is a commercial-property investment firm with more than 1,500 investment professionals in offices throughout Canada and the United States.

Midcoast Properties offers brokerage services to self-storage owners and investors in the Carolinas and Georgia.

Sources:
Commercial Property Executive, Bellomy & Co. Facilitates Texas Storage Sale
PR.com, Argus Broker Affiliate Announces Sale of Colorado Self Storage Facilities
RE Journals, Marcus & Millichap Sells 745-Unit Self-Storage Facility in Lansing

Andover Properties LLC, which operates the Storage King USA self-storage brand, has acquired Security Storage in Spring Hill, Fla. The purchase is the company’s 12th in the state, and the fifth transaction under its newly formed partnership with Angelo, Gordon & Co., a privately held investment adviser dedicated to alternative investing, according to a press release.

The 54-acre property at 3663 Commercial Way comprises 88,000 square feet of storage space in 382 units. Andover plans to renovate the units, perform deferred maintenance, and build a new rental office and 50,000-square-foot climate-controlled building. The renovations will give the property the “presence it deserves given its size and placement on a very busy highway, which has traffic counts in excess of 42,000 vehicles daily,” said company president Brian Cohen.

The partnership will either sell the excess land or develop it by adding flex-space and industrial buildings, Cohen said.

The buyer and the seller, a private investor, were represented in the transaction by Paul Bouldin, Luke Elliott, Brian Fulton and Michael A. Mele, investment specialists for real estate firm Marcus & Millichap.

Founded in 2003 and based in New York City, Andover owns and operates 30 self-storage facilities in nine states, totaling more than 2.1 million rentable square feet of storage space in 16,500 units. The firm focuses on the acquisition, development and management of industrial, retail and self-storage facilities, primarily in the North and Southeast.

Founded in 1971, Marcus & Millichap is a commercial-property investment firm with more than 1,500 investment professionals in offices throughout Canada and the United States.

Every self-storage operator faces the same challenge in a saturated market: finding a way to stand out. All Storage of Texas cleared this hurdle by designing a facility that would not only draw attention but would elevate its facilities to the status of community landmark.

The company’s “cardboard box” façade, also referred to as its “box-office design,” includes a 30- to 40-foot exterior structure that looks like just a cardboard moving box, complete with open flaps and stickers that read “This Side Up,” “Fragile” and “Do Not Stack.” The architectural wonders of this building, which houses the facility-management office, ensure passers-by will stop, point and snap photos, resulting in brand awareness and new tenants. Let’s look at how the design came to fruition and the development challenges involved.

Inspiration

All Storage owns and operates 42 storage facilities in Amarillo and the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas as well as Oklahoma. In 2013, it was converting its McCart Avenue site in Fort Worth. The facility was a legacy building with a low-rise, offset office. Being in the midst of a corporate rebranding, the company took the opportunity to do something creative.

“We wanted to create a new prototype of a store that spoke to the spirit of All Storage,” says CEO Jay Schuminsky. “We wanted to be inviting and friendly, so we thought, ‘Hey let’s put a little box on top of the office.’” What the team actually envisioned was a giant cardboard box that would catch the eye of potential customers, act as a sort of beacon for those in search of self-storage, and remain in the minds of those who might need it later.

Development Challenges

All Storage was intent on replicating a cardboard moving box on a much larger scale, but construction of the initial design involved some logistical and aesthetic challenges. “It was important to get the right shade that would bring a bit of life to the exterior without being a toned-down cardboard color,” says Oziel Vigil, project coordinator for Reliable Commercial Construction, the builder behind the project. This involved building smaller mockups and experimenting with varying dimensions and materials.

“We had to get the perforated look just like cardboard. We didn’t want to do anything that wasn’t spot-on and first-rate, just like our brand and our facilities,” Schuminsky says. “We really over-engineered it, if anything.”

Next, the companies had to adjust the outer flaps to account for wind, which meant reinforcing the design with metal poles. The poles had to be close enough to the base to avoid being visible and detracting from the overall look.

All Storage also faced some zoning challenges. In some markets, it had to obtain municipal approval and submit drawings with specific elevations. However, since remodeling the first facility, the company has incorporated the design into three new developments.

After constructing the first facility of this style in Fort Worth, All Storage decided to trademark its design. This involved applying for a Class 39 trademark that includes the cardboard box along with the open corrugated flaps and label stickers. The process required the company to work closely with a legal team, and it waited about nine months for approval. During this time, it continued with construction.

“You have to build before you get the trademark to show you’re using it,” Schuminsky says. “There’s a period where you can get turned down or you can get pushback from other people; but we waited, and we were very happy to get approval.”

Happy Results

For Schuminsky, the hard work paid off in several ways. When the latest All Storage opened in Plano, Texas, it was met with instant buzz. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that that facility, which has only been open a month, has had our best month out of any All Storage stores in our history,” he says. “That facility has also received the most reviews out of any All Storage store in our history.”

Schuminsky believes the design also influences employees. “There’s an enthusiasm that comes from working at a storage facility that has something that’s so different and fun. It also creates a lot of excitement for customers. When kids come in with their parents during a move, it makes the process more enjoyable. That offsets some of the stress of that life change.”

Looking Ahead

Drawing on its current success, All Storage has plans for six more stores in Aledo, Texas. The company believes the visual appeal will draw prospects who are focused on unique amenities and a customer-centric experience. Combined with the growing population in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, this should result in high occupancy.

“We find that aesthetics and quality are important to our customers,” Schuminsky says. “We try to have the best in class. Many of our units are up to 14 feet high so tenants can store more for the price. We have music in our facilities. We really try to bring a better experience. The box-office design is a good example of that bright, friendly space. It speaks to the All Storage experience as a whole.”

Krista Diamond creates content for All Storage, which owns and operates more than 40 self-storage facilities in Oklahoma and Texas. The properties offer unique features such as an EZ drive-thru, extra-large units, wider drive aisles and online billpay. Krista is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and lives in Las Vegas. When she isn't writing about storage, she’s climbing mountains in the desert.