community representative

service manager

maintenance technician

service technician

assistant manager

The Irvine Company

This is a review for the Irvine Company Apartment Communities. The company is very well-known in Southern California and has a very strong place in the Orange County. The reputation of the company resonates with many positive and negative vibes.

The basic duties of the LC is to set up appointments, take tours and eventually close deals and get leases. The miminum expectation is two a week - which depending on your property can be difficult. The flow of success is dependent on upper managements' ability to price their product well. Leasing is a roller coaster of a ride when prices fluctuate as much as they do.

The culture of the company is very conservative. Black/White suit attire is required at work, with little room to be "unique". You will be working weekends and vacations are tough to take. Holidays are only given if you hit your property quotas. The company values "People Serving People" as a motto that drives the customer service portion of the business.

With the promise of delivering a luxury rental living with an emphasis in customer service in a safe and secure city, the company delivers to the people/residents....if they have the money for it. The company often pushes its luck when it comes to increasing rent. This is a huge turn off for many people as rent is sometimes the same as a mortgage in neighboring cities. Greed is definitely the name of the game.

The pay structure is hourly plus commission. The hourly is essentially for serving your residents and solving their issues (inputting work orders, settling rent, etc.) and the commission is for any/all new leases you bring to the community. The commission structure is constantly changing and the bar seemingly out of reach everytime. Depending on your property, you are going to face competition with other LCs and also other members of the office to get leases...It is difficult to hit your bonus consistently, and with the new bonus structure it looks like LCs will be making less money and less consistently.....

Overall the company is decent for college graduate. The reputation of the company should be able to help jump start someone's career. The training is top-notch and should help groom most people to be prepared in selling oneself in their next interviews.

I spent quite some time on the Irvine Company building security team before I transitioned accounts to an Abbot Vascular team, and I can't say either rewarded me much. Both jobs were inconsistent, with protocols varying widely. This was especially taxing for the people on the maintenance and security teams because we ended up doing so much of the hands-on work for the managers. At Abbot, the job had the added disadvantage of having supervisors and shift leads who dodged accountability like I've never seen before. 

I can't say much about the management at Abbot, but the few times the top boss would address us were never personal, and he came across uncaring and disengaged. Our security managers themselves were openly hostile to me, and to others in front of me several times. At Irvine, the manager at the final site I worked at (I moved around to many different sites for them) was quite unprofessional, nonsensically demanding, and exported every task she could to us. That also meant our team supervisors at Irvine were stressed, but they were, at least, fair. I did make many friends at both accounts, often because it was so bad for us, but nothing came of those relationships that made up for how we were treated.

The compensation and benefits were almost non-existent at both places, made worse when we were told, casually, that the companies at each site paid $25 an hour for us, when we made $11 at Irvine and $12 at Abbot. Both company's facilities were clean and well-appointed, but we were officially not supposed to use them. Our actual break room and all our offices were, literally, converted closets. 

The job culture did not even compensate. The Irvine bosses were committed to selling, but were essentially ruthless in getting there, so we were very often stepped on. Abbot bosses actually told us to keep away from occupied spaces while work was going on. I've never seen morale so low at a workplace like Abbot: people were routinely dumped for minor things because the top boss would decide he didn't like this or that about you. The security bosses never stuck up for anyone. Irvine definitely had better moral and lower-level chiefs, but they would get changed out all the time because of managerial issues with them. I can't say we were the best crew, we definitely weren't, but for those of us that actually wanted to do a good job, both job sites were just frustrating.

If I had no choice, I would go back to either on the sheer reason that I had done it before and would need a job, but I would never choose to go back. I recommend people stay away.

This was once a sought after company.   Someone has  determined what worked so well needed to be shaken up  and cages rattled.  

Extremely good employees have been quickly booted to the curb so they can hire inexperienced  people at lower wages new to the business just because they have a BA degree.  They took away commissions, housing discounts, increased insurance costs and lowered staff requirements. There motto is People serving people  what an oxymoron.

Please note:  There  are 206 job openings.  It's like cattle being led to the slaughter be very aware this is not an employee friendly company they make you work holidays for the almighty dollar.  

My experience with the Irvine company is one of disappointment and total frustration.  This week they made  people choose a lower job title or a huge severance package.  The smart ones gave notice  to the package and said adios.  There are still some nice people left  but they are the people who are afraid to say this is wrong and I'm not taking it anymore.  It's one thing to make money but when your employees can't afford to live at any of the properties which is 97 % of apartments in Irvine. your forced into financial struggles.

When you look in the eyes of your team as they are told yet another benefit is dropped or that we won't lay off anyone and three people are?... You just have to hope the rest of there remaining employees find there next position soon.  There is fear in the hearts of most remaining employees and no one is listening as the leaders should be.

This company has a monopoly in town and are now looking to buy other companies to monopolize more.  At some point it will reach an absorption maximum because its best resources, their employees are leaving as fast as the can.  One last word KARMA ....

Typical Day: Clock in and print out a sheet of paper containing any unoccupied apartments and try to lease them to the student body near UCI. 

What I learned: I learned that placing unrealistic goals for an employee can be hinderign to their success. I also learned that setting an appropritate goal based on foot and general traffic can complement the employee's success. I learned that managers can make a desierable job undesireable. I learned that positive feedback and a "pat on the back" can go a long way with the future of the employee and their perspective of the job. I also learned how to overcome objections and how to not be too pushy when the time came to close. 

Management: The management team at the office I worked at was terrible and immature. They over emphasized fear based motivation in order to get results at the expense of your quality of life. 

Co-Workers: Very nice people who were soley driven by money which created a shark tank within my office. I cannot speak about other properties within the Irvine Company. 

Hardest part of the job: -Chasing unrealistic goals -Fear of getting fired by immature manager -Walking to an office where everyone is out for themselves -no team like attitude.

Enjoyable part fo the job: -Great Pay -Great benefits

I was hired for clerical support in the Retail Division and assisted the Executive Assistant.  I was thankful for this chance to train with her and learn how to operate the computer software, Wordperfect I think at that time.  I learned how to answer calls and manage a busy phone while still getting my work done.  I soon became Executive Assistant for the President and Vice-President of the Retail Division of The Irvine Company.  I managed their calendars, scheduled meetings, travel and helped in planning retail conferences.  I did a lot of typing of correspondence and presentations.  I communicated with tenants, retail prospects and managers daily.  I contributed to the company newsletter information about what was happening and new in our retail developments in order to create awareness.  I even gave reviews about the new restaurants.  I enjoyed, of course, sampling the food, but I also enjoyed writing the review.  The environment was busy but everyone was pleasant and worked well together.  I believe I could have advanced further if I had stayed.  Management was always encouraging development.  I had to leave because I moved.

My typical day would consist of helping residents when needed including minor maintenance repairs and mediated within neighbors who might have complaints with each other. I made sure the property was aesthetically pleasing and all areas were safe such as the pools and fitness center.
I learned how to deal with difficult people. I learned how to maintain and fix areas of the apartments and surroundings.
My coworkers were great. The management was difficult because it was a sales based environment and there wasn't a lot of integrity with the residents.
The hardest part of the job was when neighbors would have complaints about each other. Trying to find a resolution to make a happier living environment.
The most enjoyable part of the job was knowing that residents loved having me there for them and watching the families grow with their children. I am very good with kids and felt part of the rearing of them.

Responsible for assisting with the fielding & fulfilling of personal & professional requests from residents & guests, including dining, entertainment & travel arrangements. Welcome guests with an emphasis on fulfilling requests, following special handling instructions & adhering to established policies & procedures. Resolve guest complaints, properly handle room keys according to department policies & procedures. Handled multi-line phones, accepts Fed Ex, On Trac & UPS & contacts residents to alert them of incoming mail.Photocopying, faxes & file maintenance. Accepts checks for the rental properties as well as give out leasing information & set up appointments. Check requests & expense report preparation, Word processing, memos, letters, presentations, etc. Acquisition due diligence coordination (meeting scheduling & manage files). Assist with events – planning/execution. Ensure all appropriate departments are informed of guests special needs & requests. Provide a high level of customer service to guests of high social standing with discretion & professionalism

I was mid-level management, working 7AM-7PM + with no lunches and working weekends as well. When I was pregnant and TIRED I trimmed my schedule to include lunch breaks and working 7AM-6PM. They called in HR and wrote me up for "change in my work ethic".  This was just two months after receiving a 5+ job review and pay raise! I took a look around me and realized that any woman at my level of management either had grown kids, or NO kids... Obviously this is not the place for a mother with a young child to work. I had a high-risk pregnancy and my doctor put me on disability (bed rest!) and my boss was still emailing financial reports to me for completion. When my baby came 6 weeks early and only 3 pounds and I called to let my boss know my baby was born, the first thing out of her mouth was "when are you returning to work?".  This was the WORST job experience of my life. This company wants your heart and soul and leaves no room for anything else.  I would NEVER recommend this company to anyone looking for work!

A typical day as receptionist was making sure the floor was ready for our clients arrival. All refreshments made, desks cleaned. files prepared for Leasing Mgr's approval. Clients arrived and were greeted in a 5 star manor. Whatever the Manager, General Mgr and leasing consultants needed, I was there to accommodate.
As Leasing Mgr, I was able to use my gift of orchestrating the Leasing Team. Our Team meetings contained Goal Setting, Action Plans, open forums of what worked and didn't work. My co workers were in one accord. I always created a fun yet hard working atmosphere. The hardest part was, on rare occasion, having to let an employee go.
The best part of that job was letting my staff create their own goals, obtain them, own their mistakes and then celebrate their victories by the Team as a whole.

I am going to be honest, your experience greatly depends on the people you work with. My management and trainers were awesome. There are a few regionals who are phenomenal and will work for you to get a promotion if you try your best and show them you care. Great first job because you get help with housing.  The only thing I would complain about is I don't think they pay us enough nor do they always supply enough budget to make the place a five star apartment community as most of the staff wants their communities to be. This is a high stress job if you are not a customer service oriented person. Residents forget you are a person sometimes and will scream at you, cuss at you but on the flip side, you will get letters thanking you for an amazing job. It is perfect for a college graduate who has worked in service before, not good if you have never worked in the service industry. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Community representative 100 salaries reported	$25.20 per hour
Service manager 50 salaries reported	$35.04 per hour
Maintenance technician 68 salaries reported	$28.84 per hour
Service technician 21 salaries reported	$27.42 per hour
Assistant manager 21 salaries reported	$31.25 per hour

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