Our Hiring Hero Series showcases talent acquisition pros across the globe who are dedicated to connecting people with their next great opportunity.
Tyler Jacobsen leads the talent acquisition team at Extra Space Storage, a company that maintains over 1,900 personal and commercial storage properties across the nation. To keep up with high industry turnover rates, he and his team must recruit over a thousand assistant manager positions every year.
So how does he do it? We recently sat down with him to uncover his strategies for success.
“Extra Space has grown quickly and that’s largely because they promote a culture of innovation. We’re always encouraged to explore new tools and evolve.”
What does it mean to you to be a Hiring Hero?
“At Extra Space Storage, our needs are constantly shifting. So, to me, a hiring hero is someone who’s always willing to adapt and find new ways to serve the business.”
What excited you most about working at Extra Space Storage?
“Extra Space has grown quickly and that’s largely because they promote a culture of innovation. We’re always encouraged to explore new tools and evolve. I’m drawn toward that type of forward-thinking because, without it, the business will inevitably fall behind.”
COVID has certainly has caused a lot of change. How has that impacted Extra Space Storage?
“At the onset of COVID, there wasn’t any significant change, but after a few months, we saw an influx of people moving into storage units—and a lot fewer moving out. And as people across the country continue to leave major cities and relocate temporarily, the need for short-term storage is only increasing. So, we’ve been busier than ever.”
To keep up with growing business demands, have you had to increase your recruiting efforts?
“Yes, but we’ve always had to meet demanding recruiting goals so we’re prepared. Typically, for example, we hire thousands of assistant manager roles a year. And because the retail industry is known to have high turnover rates, we need a constant flow of candidates.”
“Turnover comes with the territory in retail. One thing we do to combat that is to promote from within…We don’t just want people to get a job at Extra Space, we want them to have a career here.”
How have you been able to overcome high industry turnover?
“Turnover comes with the territory in retail. One thing we do to combat that is to promote from within. When new opportunities arise, we generally post them internally first and that’s because we want to invest in our employees and encourage them to grow with us. We don’t just want people to get a job at Extra Space, we want them to have a career here.”
Do you have any advice for other retail businesses competing to land talent right now?
“Sell the business to prospective candidates! Whether it’s offering better pay, a collaborative work environment, or talking about the stability of the business, there are lots of ways to entice candidates. And make sure you are differentiating your brand from the competition.”
Great! What do you do at Extra Space Storage to beat out the competition?
“We understand that a secure, clean property and simple, helpful service is what our customers expect from us. So we focus on exceeding that expectation every day. Our team is the key to maintaining quality at every stage of our customers’ experience.”
Tyler’s Tips for the Future of Recruiting
“I am excited about the future. I think one thing the pandemic taught us is that the way we recruit is changing: more virtual interviews, more automated processes, and ultimately taking full advantage of technology. The best thing recruiters can do is to be willing to try new tools and adapt. It’s the only way to stay ahead!”
Join the Extra Space Storage team! Committed to innovation and promoting from within, Extra Space Storage is always on the lookout for individuals with great customer service skills to bring on board. Check out some of the roles Tyler and his team are hiring for right now!
