In 2019, there were over 1.5 million Maintenance Technicians in America, and the projected growth rate over the coming years is 4%. If you’re looking for a career with great pay and stability, a Lewis Maintenance career may be the way to go!
If you’re new to the world of maintenance, you may be wondering what kind of skills you need to bring to a maintenance career. How do you know if you’re the right fit and how do you continue to grow in your position?
At Lewis Apartment Communities, we pride ourselves in providing all the equipment you need to do your work and creating strong training programs for all of our team members. That includes maintenance and groundskeeping!
Before you dive into the application process, let’s take a look at the best ways that you can succeed in a maintenance career in Southern California.
Polish Your Communication Skills
Our Leasing Consultants often act as a go-between when it comes to responding to maintenance requests and scheduling appointments. However, it’s not unlikely that you’ll still interact with residents’ face to face when you address their maintenance concerns.
It’s important to remember that even if you work for property management, you are still entering a resident’s private quarters. Showing respect and kindness will go a long way!
As the expert, you may encounter situations where you understand the issue in a way that the resident doesn’t. It is helpful to explain to them what the issue is and how you can fix it in layman’s terms. This will put their minds at ease and build a relationship of trust that is invaluable in the real estate industry.
Prioritize Workplace Safety
When you’re working in maintenance, your number one goal is to mitigate safety concerns at your Lewis community. That means performing safety checks and testing safety equipment like fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. It also means ensuring that plumbing and appliances are in working condition.
That being said, your own safety is also important. The last thing anyone wants is for a maintenance worker to become injured or exposed to dangerous substances on the job! Maintenance workers should always make sure that they’re using the proper equipment, taking precautions, and calling in specialists for tasks that are outside of their wheelhouse.
Stay Up to Date on Repair Basics
The longer you work in maintenance, the more familiar you’ll become with basic plumbing, wiring, and more. You may find that learning the in’s and out’s of one appliance gives you plenty of insight into other appliances and their required repairs.
However, technology is always changing, which means that there’s also room to learn new skills in a maintenance career! If one of the Lewis communities undergoes a major renovation or change, take the time to familiarize yourself with the plumbing, appliances, and safety equipment. That way you’ll know exactly how to handle any appointments that come your way.
(It is also helpful to stay up to date on California building codes. Knowing the relevant laws and ordinances will make you even more prepared to recognize issues and outdated safety equipment.)
Stay Organized
Organization is an important element of working in maintenance at Lewis Apartment Communities. In fact, staying organized is almost as important as knowing how to perform repairs!
On a daily basis, you will be responsible for keeping your appointments. It’s good to follow a specific system to keep track of where you’re supposed to be and when.
That also means that you will need good time management. In an ideal world, you’ll finish each appointment in time to meet your next one without a hitch. However, there may be times when you’ll need to schedule a follow-up appointment to complete larger tasks.
Organization will also come in handy when you’re dealing with company property and equipment. At times, you may need to take inventory of cleaning and repair supplies and order whatever needs replacing. The more organized you are, the easier it is to perform a quick, smooth inventory.
Finally, you will need to keep records of any repairs or inspections that you’ve completed. This allows the rest of the Lewis team to schedule upcoming inspections and keep track of any recurring issues.
Take Good Care of Yourself
Maintenance is a physical job. You will spend hours on your feet, lift heavy objects, and perform tasks that may involve repetitive motion. For that reason, it’s important to be mindful of your back, stretch accordingly, and use proper lifting techniques!
One way to take care of your body in a physically demanding job is to warm up each day. Start by taking a brisk walk to get your blood pumping. Then, spend ten to fifteen minutes stretching your neck, back, legs, and shoulders.
If necessary, wear an industrial support belt. This will help alleviate some of the strain you may be putting on your lower back while you work.
Start Your Lewis Maintenance Career Today
A career in maintenance provides great pay and ample stability. Basic maintenance skills are invaluable to property management teams and Lewis Apartment Communities is here to help you learn and grow in your maintenance career.
We invest in all our team members, providing in-house training, tools, annual bonus potential, salary reviews and phenomenal benefits. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to follow their dreams, no matter their background or experience level. We also believe that hard work deserves recognition and big rewards.
To get started with us, take a look at our open positions. We’re always creating new opportunities and expanding our team, and we can’t wait for you to join us!
David Draper is the Director of Talent Acquisition for the Lewis Group of Companies. David is proud to be a part of a successful, stable, and winning team dedicated to its projects, its people and its community. Follow David on Twitter @LewisRecruits.