According to research conducted in 2020 by the Community Association Institute (CAI), the community association market is experiencing a crisis. There aren’t enough candidates to fill managers’ positions. 

The great resignation (also known as Big Quit) is also challenging the industry. In the wake of the pandemic, professionals are quitting their jobs more than ever. They demand fair compensation and are unwilling to compromise on their work-life balance. 

The US economy is facing significant issues with high inflation and a recession in sight. As a community association manager navigating this situation and attracting professionals is difficult. In this article, we’ll share five tips to help you hire and retain the best talent for your team. 

1. Have an online presence

To attract top professionals, you need to make your company or association visible in the industry. Without an online presence, it will be difficult for candidates to find and get to know you. 

A website is a great way to promote your workplace, values, and missions. 

It gives candidates an idea of what the day-to-day is like. Most importantly, it is a place where people can find your contact details and reach out to you easily. 

Social media such as Linkedin are also great places to connect with professionals in the community association market. You can keep up with important news and find possible  candidates, and they can find you. 

According to the CAI study, 34% of candidates’ referrals come from job search websites. Posting your job openings on well-known sites is also essential, like Linkedin or Indeed so candidates find out about you. 

Making your company more visible isn’t enough. You also need to make it attractive and stand out from the crowd. Discover how to do so by downloading our free ebook, “How to Start Marketing your Property Management Company.” 

2. Attend industry events (in-person or online)

The community association market is full of events and trade shows where you can meet new people. These gatherings are an excellent opportunity to learn more about the industry, find new vendors, and potentially meet prospective employees. 

Attending industry events will grow your network which is essential to get more credibility and authority in the community association market. 

Community association managers are often busy and overworked. The idea of attending events may seem like adding more to their plate. It doesn’t have to be if you participate in online events like educational webinars.  

Since the pandemic, people are now used to attending online meetings and growing their network virtually.

In Florida, community association managers (CAMs) have to participate in CE Classes to earn credits and renew their licenses every two years. CAMs can now attend these classes virtually and for free. It’s the perfect way to get to know professionals in the industry from the comfort of your home or wherever you may be. You can also decide to host an educational webinar or sponsor it to increase visibility and attract staff. 

3. Ensure a healthy work-life balance and prioritize wellness 

Community association managers are often on the go. They have to meet with board members and do site visits. When working late hours and meeting endless demands is too frequent, it can affect their work-life balance. To retain your staff, you must ensure their personal life is respected. One thing you can do is offer flexible and remote working. This will give your employees more autonomy over their schedule and make them feel that you trust them. Using community association software can help your managers communicate and manage tasks remotely. 

According to the CAI study, the top reason association managers leave companies is a toxic environment. It is followed by unpleasant company culture. A leader needs to assess how their staff feels about the workplace. Encouraging open dialogue and showing empathy during these conversations will help. If your employees aren’t happy, taking responsibility and action is essential. Get everyone on board and see what can be changed and how. 

You need to express care about your employees’ well-being if you want them to stay in the long run. Being a community association manager isn’t always easy. Dealing with clients’ complaints and unrealistic expectations can be difficult. 

In the podcast HOA real talk hosted by Mike Sancho, a community association manager shared the story of being harassed while inspecting the community she manages. She said residents took pictures of her vehicle plates and shared them on social media. These situations can affect the well-being of professionals. Providing training to help your staff process and overcome such events can be helpful. Offering to discuss these problems is also important. 

4. Offer fair wages and competitive benefits

Low pay is one of the main reasons people quit their jobs in the US. So if you want to retain your talents, you should pay fair and competitive wages. 

Compensation is an important factor in staff retention, especially in the current economic situation. Inflation is affecting the buying power of every US household. Paying fair compensation helps your employees navigate all these price increases and shortages. This isn’t an easy task as inflation is impacting labor costs across the industry and the community association market. Wages are increasing, and management companies could face difficulty increasing their staff salaries. 

In this case, you can opt for competitive benefits such as:

• Allowance on paid annual leave
• Flexible and remote work time
•  Health insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Additional bonuses or commissions
• Retirement plan

5. Support career development 

The lack of career advancement is also a factor that association managers pointed out in the CAI survey. As a team leader, you should encourage your staff to participate in training and continuing education. The community association market is in constant change. New laws and practices arise all the time. Attending classes will help your staff grow professionally and do their job better. It will open the door for more opportunities for them and your company. If your budget allows, you can pay for some of these courses and allocate time from their work schedule to focus on learning. Nowadays, you can easily find virtual learning opportunities such as webinar CE classes. 

You can also establish a mentoring program where team members can transfer knowledge to one another.  

Most importantly,  make sure to understand your team’s aspirations and offer them opportunities to grow and take on new responsibilities.

Wrapping up on staff retention in the community association market

Attracting and retaining talents in the community association market is a top priority. The current shortage and economic situation make finding and keeping staff harder. Making your business visible online and attending industry events will help you grow your network. Offering competitive benefits and support for career development will improve employee satisfaction.