What characteristics do you seek in a manager or other employee? Do you want someone who is organized, personable, approachable, teachable? Tell us how experience has guided you in the hiring process.

i have just opened a new facility and my best feature right now is a person that just shows up for work. anyone that can just help me find someone in the new orleans,la. area that can run a storage facility email me at karaokegal@cox.net

I know when we were looking for a relief manager (after loosing the one that was here for 2 years) we were all about personality. The office is already organized, therefore they just needed to be able to follow procedures that are already in place. And unless a person has worked in the storage business before, they are not going to know the software. As long as they had some computer savvy about them. We generally rent to an older clientelle as we are a predominately retired community, so being able to be very sociable with prospective tenants was a major quality. Most of our tenants are "talkers". (My husband and I have figured out which ones are going to come in to pay and leave and which ones are going to come in and chat a while.) We hired a young girl the 1st try who was very outgoing and friendly and caught on very quickly, unfortunately, it did not work out. We have since hired a retired gentleman who has gradually learned all the office functions and who is very personable with tenants and customers. Most can relate to him and he can hold conversations that interest them. He's only been with us a few months, but it proves to be a good fit so far. Computers, organization, maintenance - all this can all be taught - personality cannot, you either have it or you don't.

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Buzz and Jen

Southside Storage
Leesburg, Florida
info@southsidestoragemall.com

I have hired many staff over the years, and the single most important quality I look for is the "owner's perspective".

I tell all my staff that they need to work and care as if they actually owned it. In an age of automation, amalgamation, and downsizing, finding people who actually care about the place they work for is getting increasingly difficult.

finding someone who has the "old style" work ethic -- show up on time, follow the rules, care about the job, etc...

Too many places are just looking for bodies to fill the space and young people these days know it. They were never taught to care about their work or to take pride in a job well done.

I am from the old school - I not only take pride in what I do - I treat it as if it is my life! I push myself to do better -- "good enough" is not enough for me! I am loyal to a fault and will defend the owners to my last breath!

I am looking for someone like me!

I hear you wayne. My new person is working out really well from old school work ethics. Very nice. Catching on well. Great background so I am hoping she takes some
tasks off my hands so I can hound our bad debts.
We are really buzy right now almost full. I am getting a little punchy. Never been this full before its crazy. )

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Mason Mini Storage
Mason Michigan

I hope you are not complaining about being busy...


We are at our normal pace, but we are almost out of outside (drive up) units -- now if I could just get rid of these damn inside 5x5 and 5x10 units all would be good!!!

Unfortunately they are not in a location where I can combine them to make a larger unit.