17 Community Association Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Community association managers (CAMs) are the unsung heroes of the homeownership world. They keep neighborhoods running smoothly by coordinating the work of property managers, contractors, and homeowners. They also deal with the day-to-day challenges of keeping a community functioning, such as handling resident complaints, overseeing repairs, and setting and enforcing rules.

If you’re looking for a career in property management, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. One way to prepare for this important meeting is to learn how to answer CAM interview questions before talking with an interviewer.

Employers look for CAMs who have strong customer service skills, are well organized, and can handle difficult situations. You’ll also need to be familiar with the laws and regulations that govern community associations. A CAM interview is your chance to show that you’ve polished these skills to a shine. To help you get ready, we’ve listed CAM questions and answers that will help you figure out what you want to say during an interview.

Are you familiar with the Fair Housing Act and other federal laws that protect homeowners from discrimination?

The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that protects homeowners from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability and national origin. The interviewer may ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of these laws and how they apply to community association management. In your answer, explain why it’s important to follow these laws and highlight any experience you have with them.

Example: “I am very familiar with the Fair Housing Act and other federal laws that protect homeowners from discrimination. I’ve worked in community association management for five years now, and I’ve always made it my priority to ensure our communities are welcoming places for everyone. We regularly train new residents about these laws and hold mandatory training sessions for existing homeowners.”

What are some of the most important qualities that a community association manager should have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you possess the skills and abilities necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your own personal qualities that make you an effective community association manager.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities for a community association manager are communication, organization and problem-solving skills. These three qualities allow me to effectively communicate with residents, organize my work and solve any issues or problems that may arise within the community. I also think empathy is an important quality because it allows me to understand the needs of residents and respond accordingly.”

How would you handle a situation where a homeowner was not complying with the community rules?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your conflict resolution skills and how you would apply them in a community association setting. Use examples from past experience where you helped homeowners comply with the rules of their community, or explain what steps you would take to help resolve the situation.

Example: “In my last role as a community association manager, I had a homeowner who was not complying with our pet policy. The homeowner had two dogs that were barking frequently at night, which disturbed other residents. After speaking with the homeowner about the issue, they agreed to keep both dogs inside after 6 p.m., but one of the dogs continued to bark.

I then spoke with the homeowner again, explaining that if they did not comply with the rules, we would have to file an official complaint against them. They finally complied with the rules, and the problem was resolved.”

What is your process for handling complaints from residents?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your conflict resolution skills. Your answer should include a specific example of how you handled a complaint and resolved it successfully.

Example: “When I receive a resident’s complaint, I first listen carefully to understand the issue. Then, I contact the person who is responsible for the problem and discuss the complaint with them. If they are unable to resolve the issue, I work with my team to find a solution that works for everyone involved. In one instance, a resident called me because their neighbor was parking in front of their driveway. I contacted the neighbor and explained the situation. They apologized and moved their car.”

Provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond to help a resident or customer.

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your dedication to helping others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you helped someone solve a problem or find an alternative solution.

Example: “In my previous role as community association manager, I had a resident who was having trouble paying their monthly dues. They were going through some tough times and didn’t know what to do. After talking with them for a while, we determined that they could afford to pay half of their regular dues each month until they got back on their feet. I worked with them to create a payment plan that would work for everyone.”

If you could only choose one, which would you say is more important: compliance or customer service? Please explain your answer.

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your priorities and values. It’s important to show that you value both compliance and customer service, but also understand which one takes precedence in certain situations.

Example: “Compliance is more important because it ensures the safety of residents and their property. However, I believe that providing excellent customer service is an essential part of maintaining compliance. Residents are our customers, so we need to make sure they’re happy with the community association. This means responding quickly to resident concerns and making sure they feel heard.”

What would you say is the most important aspect of managing a community association?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what it takes to be a community association manager. Use this question as an opportunity to highlight your management skills and how they can benefit the community association.

Example: “The most important aspect of managing a community association is communication. It’s essential for me to keep my residents informed about any changes or updates in their community, so I make sure to communicate with them regularly through newsletters, emails and social media. This helps me build trust among my residents and shows them that I’m committed to providing them with excellent service.”

How well do you handle stress?

Community association managers often have to handle a lot of stress. They are responsible for managing the community, which can include resolving conflicts between residents and ensuring that all repairs are completed in a timely manner. When answering this question, it is important to show that you can manage stress well. You should also explain how you reduce your stress levels when they become too high.

Example: “I find that I am able to handle stress quite well. In my previous role as a community association manager, I had to deal with many stressful situations. For example, there was one time where a resident’s dog escaped from their yard and bit another resident. The victim wanted compensation for their medical bills, but the owner of the dog did not want to pay. I managed to resolve the situation by talking to both parties and coming up with an agreement.”

Do you have any experience working with software or tools designed for community association managers?

This question can help an interviewer determine your comfort level with the software and tools they use in their own community association management business. If you have experience using similar software or tools, share what you liked about it and how it helped you perform your job more efficiently.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of software for my community association management jobs over the years. I find that some are better than others at helping me manage a community association’s finances, track resident complaints and communicate effectively with residents. The software I currently use is one of the best I’ve ever worked with because it allows me to do all three of these things very well.”

When is it appropriate to involve the board of directors in a situation?

The board of directors is the governing body for a community association. They are responsible for making important decisions about the community, such as approving budgets and hiring managers. An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your relationship with the board and how you would approach situations that require their involvement. In your answer, try to explain what steps you would take to ensure the board understands all relevant information before they make a decision.

Example: “I believe it’s important to involve the board in any situation where I need their approval or input. For example, if I needed to approve an expense over a certain amount, I would present my case to the board at our next meeting. This ensures that they have all the information they need to make an informed decision.”

We want to improve our customer service. Give me an example of a strategy you would use to do this.

Customer service is an important aspect of community association management. The hiring manager may ask this question to see if you have any strategies for improving customer service in their community association. In your answer, explain how you would implement a strategy that improves the quality of customer service and helps residents feel more satisfied with their community association.

Example: “I believe one way we can improve our customer service is by making sure all staff members are aware of what they should be doing when responding to resident questions or concerns. I would create a training program where all employees learn about the best ways to respond to different situations. This will help ensure that all residents receive the same level of care from our team.”

Describe your experience working with vendors.

Community association managers often work with vendors to complete projects for their communities. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with vendors and can manage vendor relationships effectively. In your answer, share a specific example of how you worked with a vendor in the past. Explain what steps you took to ensure that you had a positive relationship with the vendor.

Example: “I’ve worked with many different types of vendors throughout my career as a community association manager. I find it’s important to establish good relationships with all of our vendors because they are an essential part of maintaining our communities. When I first started managing communities, I was working on a project where we needed new landscaping installed. I met with several landscapers to discuss their services and pricing. After reviewing each company’s portfolio, I decided to hire one landscaper to do the job.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and why you are the best person for the job. Before your interview, make a list of all your skills and experiences that relate to the position. Think about what makes you unique compared to other candidates.

Example: “I am passionate about working with communities because I believe it’s important to create safe spaces where people can live their lives without fear. In my previous role as community association manager, I increased safety by implementing new security measures like lighting and cameras. I also helped residents feel safer by creating an emergency preparedness plan. These efforts led to a decrease in crime rates within the neighborhood.”

Which industries have you worked in previously?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your background and experience. They want to know if you have any relevant experience in the community association management industry. When answering this question, list all of the industries you’ve worked in before. Explain what skills these industries taught you that are applicable to community association management.

Example: “I’ve worked in both residential and commercial construction for over 10 years now. I learned a lot about how to manage projects and teams as well as how to work with clients. These skills are very useful when working with homeowners and other residents who need help managing their community associations.”

What do you think is the most important thing a community association manager can do to maintain a positive relationship with the board of directors?

The board of directors is the governing body for a community association. They are responsible for making decisions that affect the entire community, so it’s important to maintain a positive relationship with them. A good answer shows you understand how important this relationship is and what steps you take to ensure it remains strong.

Example: “I think maintaining open communication is the most important thing I can do to maintain a positive relationship with the board of directors. When they know I’m available to answer questions or address concerns, they feel more comfortable reaching out when needed. I also make sure to keep them informed about all major changes in the community, such as new policies or procedures.”

How often should community rules be updated?

Community association managers are responsible for ensuring that community rules and regulations stay up to date. This question helps employers determine how you approach this responsibility. In your answer, explain the process you use to ensure all community rules are current. Consider mentioning any specific tools or resources you use to help with this task.

Example: “I believe it’s important to update community rules at least once a year. I typically start by surveying residents about their opinions on existing rules. If there are many complaints about a particular rule, I’ll work with my board of directors to create a new one. For example, in my last position, we had a lot of complaints about parking spaces being taken up by cars that were too large. We decided to change our policy so that vehicles could only take up two spaces instead of three.”

There is a problem with a piece of equipment that is essential to the day-to-day operations of the community. What is your process for handling this?

This question is an opportunity for the interviewer to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to prioritize tasks. Your answer should include a step-by-step process of how you would handle this situation, including what steps you would take to ensure that residents were not inconvenienced by the issue.

Example: “If there was a piece of equipment that was essential to the day-to-day operations of the community, I would first make sure that all other aspects of the community are operating normally. Then, I would call in a technician to diagnose the issue and repair it as soon as possible. In the meantime, I would work with my team to develop a plan to minimize any inconvenience to residents.”