Essential Interviewing Tips for Self-Storage Owners and Supervisors

When hiring new employees for your self-storage operation, your goal is to build a strong, productive team. The interview process is critical in this regard. As an owner or supervisor, your ability to identify the right candidates can significantly impact the overall success of your department or company. 

To that end, it’s essential to master the art of interviewing, which goes well beyond asking basic questions. Following are tips to help you make the most of these crucial interactions, so you can also make smart, productive decisions. 

Be Prepared and Set the Stage 

Being prepared for the self-storage hiring process allows you to conduct focused and insightful interviews. In advance of meeting your candidate, review their résumé, cover letter and any other relevant documents. Understand their professional background, abilities and experience. Develop a list of questions that addresses both the hard and soft skills required for the role.  

Interviews can be stressful for applicants, which can affect their ability to showcase their true potential. By creating a comfortable and welcoming environment, you can help them feel more at ease. In fact, a relaxed setting can lead to more genuine and insightful responses. This is true for both in-person and video-conference conversations. When on video, focus on the camera to show that you’re looking at and paying attention to the interviewee. 

It's important to implement a structured interview process to ensure consistency and fairness. Develop a set of standardized questions and ask them of everyone, allowing for a more objective evaluation. This approach helps eliminate bias and ensures that each candidate is assessed based on the same criteria. 

Finally, be ready to provide a realistic job preview. The idea is to offer candidates a glimpse into the role and your self-storage work environment. Be transparent about the tasks, challenges and opportunities associated with the position. This helps manage expectations and ensures candidates fully understand what the role entails. 

Ask Astute Questions and Listen Actively 

Start the conversation with your potential self-storage hire with a brief introduction. Explain the format and encourage questions. Practice active listening to fully understand your candidate's responses. Avoid interrupting and give them ample time to express themselves. This not only demonstrates respect, it allows you to gather more information about their experiences and thought processes. 

Behavioral questions provide valuable insight to a candidate's past behavior and may even help you predict future performance. Ask them to share specific examples of how they handled challenges, collaborated with a team or demonstrated leadership. This approach helps you assess their skills, competencies and cultural fit within the organization. I recommend using the STAR method in which you ask: 

By following this path, it’s much easier for candidates to share a focused, real-world example of their work history. In turn, this can help you decide if they’re right for the position. 

Beyond technical skills, assess whether the candidate aligns with your self-storage operation’s mission and values. Consider how well they’d integrate into the existing team and contribute to a positive work environment. Cultural fit is a crucial aspect of long-term employee satisfaction and success within the company. 

Close With Next Steps and Manage Expectations 

Conclude the interview by discussing the next steps in the self-storage hiring process. Provide a timeline for when candidates can expect to hear back from you. Clear communication helps manage their expectations and reinforces a positive experience with your company. 

Interviewing is a skill that can significantly impact your self-storage team's success. By preparing thoroughly and asking insightful questions, you can make informed hiring decisions that contribute to the growth and success of the individual and your organization. The process isn’t only an opportunity for candidates to showcase their abilities but a chance for you to select the right talent that’ll propel your business forward. 

Tyler Jacobsen is senior director of talent acquisition at Extra Space Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust and property-management firm. He joined the company in 2014 with more than 10 years of human-resources and talent-acquisition experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in HR management from Utah State University. For more information, email [email protected].