Property Manager Resume Sample & Job Description [20 Tips]

So you’re a property manager. The pay is good, and you get to brag about having one of the 20 happiest jobs in the US. But there’s one problem—competition is catching on. Everyone wants in on property management jobs.

Just stay calm. With our guide, your resume for a property manager job will stand out from the crowd.

In this article, you’ll find:

• An example of a property manager resume that’s better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.

• How to write a property manager resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a property manager resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a property manager to get any job you want.

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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

 Looking for a similar position? Check out these helpful guides:

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• Maintenance Resume
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• Real Estate Agent Resume
• Retail Manager Resume
• Sales Manager Resume
• Supervisor Resume
• Call Center Supervisor Resume
• Production Supervisor Resume
• Warehouse Manager Resume
• Operations Manager Resume
• The Best Resume Examples for All Jobs

 1

What’s the Best Format for a Property Manager Resume?

On average, each job offer attracts 250 resumes. Of those candidates, 4 to 6 will get called for an interview, and only one will get the job.

You’re basically like your tenant looking for the perfect apartment in the biggest cities out there, you have a hell of a lot of competition. And how do you advise your potential clients to seal the deal and get cosy in their dream home?

Well, you tell them that they need the best application out there.

Same applies to you.

You need to pay attention to the smallest details in your property manager job application, including its format.

How do you write the best resume for property management?

Use the reverse-chronological resume. This type of leasing manager resume puts your best assets right in front of your recruiter.

It gives a simple format for showing off the most salient points in a clean, tidy manner. Of all people, you know what mess and clutter say to those around it... run away now!

You don’t want your recruiter to do that.

So use clear, classic fonts, big headings and white space to attract your reader to the focus point of their visit to your property management resume: your skills and experience.

Make sure you save your resume as PDF. A property management specialist resume PDF is like the perfect property, they just look and feel good all the time.

Pro Tip: Check the the job posting to make sure PDFs are OK. Sometimes hiring managers play landlords, they can be a bit picky.

Still not sold on the reverse-chronological format? Check our guide: 3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]

Want to make sure your resume will hook every recruiter and get you that interview? Get our free checklist and learn what makes a job-winning resume: 46 Things You Need To Do Before You Send Your Resume.

Meet Sally. She’s the CEO of Asterix Property Management.

She started as an assistant property manager. She doesn’t have a degree. But she hustled. She worked long hours and put up with the craziness of handling landlords, tenants, service-providers, contracts and administrative duties. Back in the day, she was a rising star.

Today she lives in a house as drool-worthy as the ones in her portfolio. She’s an inspiration to work for.

So how do you get her attention? By showing her your impressive super powers with a resume objective or resume summary.

A resume summary is an overview of your property management experience. Use it if you’ve got your pockets full of commissions or if you’re writing a senior property management resume.

A resume objective works without experience. It highlights your drive and ambition. Use it if you’re writing an assistant resume for property management or any other entry-level property manager resume.

Let’s have a look around.

Senior Commercial Property Manager Resume Sample [Resume Summaries]

Pretty sure Sally won’t be impressed because you didn’t show her why you’d be a good investment.

Look what happens when we “stage” your professional property manager resume summary:

Now that’s a winner. It showcases the experience and the measurable achievements that will make Sally go “I want you on my side!”

Is your experience comparable to the facilities available at a studio - that is, non-existent? Don’t worry too much about all the resumes that are like luxury 5-bedrooms with pools and tennis courts. The resume objective has your back.

How to Write a Resume Objective for an Entry-Level Property Manager

This is pretty much your elevator pitch, telling your reader who you are and why you would be a valuable hire.

Let’s say you’re writing an entry-level residential property manager resume. This is how your resume objective should look:

Pro Tip: Avoid generic resume objectives and summaries. Be a straight shooter and aim for details and performances highlighting your strengths.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Hungry for more advice and examples of a resume summary or resume objective for property management? Check out our guides: “How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See” and “+20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips)”

Apartment-hunting is just like job-hunting. It needs to be a great fit.

Let’s get back to Sally. She has two folders, one says “Interviews” the other says “Shredder."

Basically, either you’re shredded to pieces by her assistant or you’re the lucky winner of a sit down with Sally.

We’re guessing, the latter sounds more attractive and lucrative.

Good. Here is how to make it.

Read Sally’s job description carefully. Highlight all the duties, skills and qualities required. These are your property manager resume keywords.

Insert them into your property manager resume bullet points. This works for industrial, residential, and commercial property management jobs alike.

It should be similar to something like this:

Resume for Property Manager Examples [Experienced]

See what we’re talking about?  

By using concise bullet points that demonstrate your accomplishments and quantify your experience, any recruiter will be obsessed with getting you on their team.

What happens if you don’t have any property management experience?

How to Write an Entry-Level Property Manager Resume

Whether you’re a graduate of the University of Real Estate Management or just the School of Life, you can get into property management.

Don't worry, it doesn’t involve buying your own properties and investing capital you don’t have. Making the right connections would help tremendously though.

Couple that with the best property manager sample resume with no work experience, and you got yourself a job in no time.

Now that’s an applicant who shows a knack for sales and customer service. They might be a beginner property manager, but the recruiter won’t care that much if they show discipline, hard-work, customer service, and a passion for negotiating.

Pro Tip: Do you just want your foot in the door and then start walking (better yet, running)? Try networking with property managers on LinkedIn. Having some industry connections will help you get that first job you’ve been dreaming of.

To make your property manager resume stand out, enrich it with action words. Get some here: "80 Examples of Resume Action Words for Every Profession"

While a degree isn’t necessarily required to get a job as a property manager, depending on the job’s requirement and the property management firm you want to join, a certification or a degree might tip the scales.

In any case, and if relevant, you want to show your education under the best light possible. This is valid whether you’re an industrial, residential, or commercial property manager.

Display:

• University and Location
• Degree type
• Major
• Awards, honors, and other standouts.

List things about your education that prove you’re the best fit for the job:

Whether you have a university degree or not, you’ll want to add your certifications before your other formal education.

Remember to put your licensure above whatever school you finished. Put your high school on your entry-level property manager resume only if you haven’t finished college.

If you have, make sure you only mention your GPA if it’s above 3.5, anything below should stay off your professional property management resume.

Pro Tip: If you finished a semester or two of college, put it on your property manager resume. You paid for those credits, and you earned it. You can also add a coursework description to showcase relevant knowledge or skills. For property management, basic business or communication classes would shine.

Need more help making the best property manager resume? Use this guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples].

Being in property management may seem simple to those outside of the industry, but it is in fact quite complex.

As a property manager, conflict resolution is your second language. Time management is your first.

Whether speaking to a prospective resident, discussing market trends with an owner, or improving business relationships with a fellow colleague or service provider, you’re a jack-of-all-trades, adaptable and proactive under any circumstances.

So how do you get Sally to understand that you’re the perfect candidate for the job?

Well, it’s quite simple. She doesn’t want someone to have any old skills, she wants someone with the right skills for the property manager job she listed.

The next step? Getting to know Sally’s job description.

Let’s assume it values communication, marketing, and basic skills in finance. Your task is to prove you have those skills using your property manager resume bullet points.

You need to fit the job description, not the other way around. Need more inspiration? Use this property manager skills list.

Then add to it from similar job posts online.

List of Skills to Put on a Property Manager Resume

• Communication
• Time Management Skills
• Problem Solving
• Conflict Resolution
• Planning & Organization
• Leadership Skills
• Taking Criticism
• Negotiation
• Responsiveness
• Confidence
• Customer Service

Keep in mind that you will want to add some details so the hiring manager gets a better idea of what you can do.

Pro Tip: If you list a crucial skill in your skills section, back it up in your experience section. Show how you used that skill to help your former employer.

Want your skills section to be a favorite? Use the licensed property manager resume template up top as your guide. Also, have a look at this article: "+30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips"

Let’s pretend you’re a homeowner. You want to impress your prospective resident. You want them to call your property manager 6 seconds after seeing the first picture of your property.

How do you do that?

You stage your property. You go shopping for flowers, decorations, and stage your home. Never looked this good before, right?

Same applies to you and your property management resume. But instead of heading to Ikea to buy trendy mugs to put on that coffee table you’ve never used, you go shopping for additional sections.

Dress your resume to impress!

Here are some additional property manager resume sections to consider:

• If you received some big accolade or made a huge achievement, consider adding it to the Awards and Accolades section. If you only have one, consider adding it to the Achievements section.
• Add a section for conferences you have attended if the conference focused on skills that matched the property manager job description.
• Consider adding clubs you belong to and hobbies you might have that prove the skills needed for the job.

Here are five property manager certifications to consider if you want to be a property manager:

• National Association of Realtors: Government Issued Real Estate Licenses & REALTOR® Membership
• National Board of Certification: Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA)
• National Association of Residential Property Managers: Residential Management Professional (RMP)
• Institute of Real Estate Management: Certified Property Manager (CPM)
• National Apartment Association: Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)

Depending on your state, and how you’re being remunerated, you may need to get a license.

If your compensation is salary-based, then no need to get licensed. If you’re being paid a commission or on a transactional basis, then a broker's license is required.

This is how your property manager license section should look:

Licenses

2014 - New York Real Estate Licensure by the New York State Department of State

Pro Tip: Lacking some business and marketing skills? Consider taking an online course. From the convenience of your home, and at your own pace, you’ll be your prospective employer’s best asset to market, sell and rent properties. You can also learn everything you need to know about marketing skills from our guide.

Need more suggestions to give some extra bonus points to your property manager resume? Check out this guide: "+20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)"

Yes, you still need a cover letter.

Your resume, LinkedIn profile and online presence are not enough to give you that job you want so badly.

You’re a number-driven individual after all so here is a breaking stat: 45% of recruiters will skip your resume if it doesn’t have a cover letter.

Do not use a cookie cutter approach or a cover letter from a previous job application.

Do some research and find out the name of the person making the hiring decision. Address your letter to them.

When writing your property manager cover letter, pay a visit to the company’s website. Make sure you include details about the company that interests you.

Use your property manager cover letter to explain:

• Unemployment Gaps
• Career Changes
• Awkward Blips on your Resume

Pro Tip: Just like with your clients, make sure you follow up on your cover letters and resume. A little push a week won’t hurt.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

To write a solid a cover letter for your property management resume, see our guide: How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples]

Here's a quick recap of the key strategies for writing a property manager resume:

• Make sure you list your property manager skills, and your certifications, licenses and experience in property management.
• Make sure your resume objective and experience puts you above your peers. It needs to fit with the job description like the perfect sofa to that corner space.
• Add "other" sections to highlight your value and showcase your best wins.

Your property manager resume is more than just a sheet of paper, it’s your sales pitch to recruiters and managers.

Do you have questions on how to write a great resume for a property manager? Not sure how to describe your skills or achievements? Give us a shout in the comments! We love to help!