Interviewing is a lot like dating.  Today’s tip is about tackling the popular interview question of “Why do you want THIS job?" like how you would when dating someone you really like.  In this video, we discuss why this question can easily be misunderstood for other popular interview questions and how this misinterpretation can get your answer wrong.  In this clip, you’ll also learn: (1) WHY this question is often asked, (2) HOW to find your answer truthfully and authentically; and (3)...

Today's tip is about a question that is often asked in a job interview for a building super that starts with "What if..." This type of question is called a hypothetical and it's a fictitious work situation that candidates are asked to listen to and explain how they would respond to it. Often, these hypotheticals are designed like a puzzle and are difficult to answer on the spot. Indeed, many candidates fail this question. This episode gives you some quick tips on how to tackle these types...

Today's tip is about a question that is normally asked by the interviewer at the close of the job interview, when you THINK that you've finally made it to the finish line and you start to relax and think that this part doesn't actually count towards the interview. It's the deceptively guard-dropping question: "Now, do you have a question for us?" When most candidates hear this, they go into casual mode and ask questions that serve themselves only, not seeing that a great opportunity was...

I hope you had a calm, yet productive week! This episode is the 2nd part to our series about resume-writing for Supers.   The reasons why you MUST listen to this podcast are: ... you should be updating your resume at least once per year! (This podcast is an urgent reminder to do that, especially if you haven't done so in years!) ... your resume only has 6 to 7 seconds to make an impression on the recruiter before it goes in the YES or NO pile! (Listen to this podcast so it ends up in...

I hope you had a fantastic week! As for me, this strange week started with an electrical short that threw both booster pumps to the "off" position and, simultaneously, disengaged the low water alarm. Hours later and without any alarm, 420 apartments had no water and I found my Monday dragging on for several hours past 5pm. During this same week, two elevators were suddenly knocked out of service, stranding 21 floors of residents to the sweltering stairwells.  Can I keep going?...

Happy Saturday!  This week's episode is Part 2 of email etiquette.   Why a podcast on writing emails? From last week, emailing is part of our everyday life as Building Supers. We write, copy and forward emails to residents, building managers and vendors. We send documents, links, etc. through email.  Because emails are central to communication nowadays and they often replace face-to-face, direct verbal communication, we should look at emailing as a way we represent ourselves to...

Happy Wednesday!  In case you don't know it yet, you are going to have a great rest of the week! For all of the things that can happen in a week, like water leaks and mechanicals breaking down, the very last thing that a Building Super probably thinks about is email etiquette. But, emailing is part of our everyday life as Building Supers. We write, copy and forward emails to residents, building managers and vendors. We send documents, links, etc.  Or, we use emails simply to keep a...

Friday is finally here. For those who's had a long and crazy week, I salute you.  This week's podcast is the 2nd PART of the episode on "Trust Me, I'm Your Super." You may be thinking "WHAT? How much can we talk about honesty and trustworthiness? In my opinion, probably not enough. As a basic human need, we want to trust someone and be trusted by others.  But, as a building super, though, there's a whole lot more riding on the trust that others bestow you with. In your role as the...

Happy Wednesday! - Congratulations, you've made it mid-week! This past couple days, I've sat in on several interviews for open RM positions in various buildings. Mainly, I observed the questions and the candidates' responses, and had the chance to learn which qualities Property Managers (PM) or Board members are looking for in their candidates. While there's a large list of qualities, such as technical knowledge and skill, that managers generally value in a Building Super, the one thing...

Happy 4th of July weekend!  🎉 Between the burgers and hot dogs, I take a moment on this holiday every year to remember our country's birth and its history of achievements and struggles.  From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the first gunshots of the Civil War, the moon landing of 1969, to the singing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as many other historical events, this country has come a long, long way from its birth. While some events were marked with...

Finally, the weekend is here! For me, it was a hectic week. Some mistakes were made and valuable lessons were learned. Talking about mistakes, it would be great to get your feedback on this true story:   "A $300 flower bouquet was delivered to a building (there is no doorman). The delivery person buzzed the resident, who was not home, so he stepped into the building when someone was exiting and went upstairs to the apartment floor.  The delivery person left the flowers near the recipient's...

The idea of taking on a Part-Time Super / Porter gig is exciting. This can mean more income, an opportunity to learn more, meet more people and add experiences to your professional resume. But, the hardest part of pricing correctly and making sure the gig is profitable boils down to knowing the job detail (the weekly task list) and accurately predicting how long it will take to get everything done. Once you have this number (whether in total number of weekly or monthly hours), you can...

It's great to start seeing things return to some sort of normal. Yesterday, I walked into a neighborhood gym (yes, it's time for me to reverse my pandemic weight gain) and I was given the choice not to wear a mask. It seemed like Twilight Zone. Not so long ago, people were fighting about wearing masks. Tempers were flaring at places like Wal-mart. Remember that? As Building Supers / staff members, we've also had to enforce rules inside the building that stoked anger among shareholders,...

In the second part of this episode with Albert Laracuente, we'll continue on our journey getting to know this Part-time Super in NYC. We'll get his take on pricing and how he sizes a potential building as an opportunity, the hardest part of being an entrepreneur-superintendent. So, sit back and enjoy a discussion on: The life-changing decision why Albert suddenly decided to become a part-time building super How Albert quickly sizes up a building for service Common, hidden mistakes...

This podcast (and Youtube video) covers a topic that comes up time and time again: What are boards and property managers really looking for when we're being interviewed. At these interviews, we're often asked such questions as: "What's your greatest strength?" or "What (value) can you bring to the building?" We try and answer these questions as best we can, hoping to say the right things, keep cool and focused on the question we've just been asked. Then, panic sets in. Sounds familiar? If...

This podcast is about Hank Wisner.You may already know Hank through the building trades if you, or your building, have ordered building supplies through National Maintenance Supply, one of NYC's leading janitorial supplies and services company, which he represents.But, another surprising side to him is that Hank is also a great educator and the co-founder of the immensely popular Residential Manager Emergency Response Team ("RMERT"), a course that prepares an Resident Manager and other...

In this episode, you'll meet Albert Laracuente, who operates a part-time Super company in Brooklyn. We'll get his take on things, such as how he handles sanitation tickets, finds new customers and takes on a new building and its responsibilities. We'll also talk about his past mistakes in this industry and how he's overcome these challenges. The reason for this episode is that talking to other supers helps me to solve the problems that I face everyday in the super industry. The potential to...

One common source of anxiety for a Part-time Super who is just starting off in the industry is Boiler Maintenance. What should you do, as the part-time super, to minimally ensure that the boiler is properly maintained? Knowing what to do and what not to do can be confusing and scary, given the many parts of the boiler and the consequences of when the boiler breaks down. Should a Part-time Super simply leave the boiler care to others, or should you take this responsibility on? The answer...

A job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience for a building Superintendent.  That's because saying the wrong things or wearing the wrong kind of clothes can derail an interview unnecessarily and cause the interviewer to focus on things that may not really be about your experiences, skills or work ethic.  This episode is about preparing for a job interview, whether it's for a part-time super building or any other position. It's about the simple things to watch out for before and...

In this episode, we'll examine the complex relationship between the Building Superintendent and: Property manager Board of Directors (with multiple people to answer to) Shareholder / Unit Owner Subtenant / Renter Being a building superintendent a Co-op or Condo building in NYC requires a savvy understanding of the rules of "who's the boss," or who holds the ultimate authority in the building. Building Supers are often considered the boss because they carry the responsibility to...

In NYC, there are Co-ops, Condos, multi-family rental buildings, single family homes and many other types of residences  (or "dwelling") where superintendents are needed. Do you know which type is better to work in - or, are all of them the same? I'm sure you know, the short answer is no. It actually depends upon where you are in life and what your short and longer-term goals are. Each type of dwelling has its pros and cons when it comes to your: Earning potential Job security Career...

Being a Building Superintendent in NYC often means knowing the laws and regulations of HPD (Housing Preservation & Development), DOB (Department of Buildings), DSNY (Department of Sanitation) and many other city agencies.  Not only are there many laws and regulations from many different agencies to remember, they are often updated annually! It can get confusing and frustrating for the Building Super to keep track of and implement year after year.  The good news is that you can find...

Congratulations! You've made it to your first interview and building walk-through for your part-time building position.  Meeting a potential client face-to-face can be nerve-racking. There are many interview pitfalls to avoid which could give your client the wrong impression of you and your experience, skills or capabilities. Worse, you could be leaving money on the table. There are some mistakes that you can make during the interview process that could leave you with less money in your...

Building Supers have a great opportunity to make additional income at their buildings. Residents may need repairs, cosmetic improvements and other tasks that make you, the Super, the perfect option for them, rather than having them call in an outside handyman or contractor. At the same time, your customers may not only expect your services to be offered at a fair, market price, but at a discount to these outside vendors. This can make great sense to you because happy customers who benefit...