Its been sometime that we have done an interview here in MiddleMe, so I jumped at the opportunity to have a conversation with a leasing specialist, Anne Beaudry.
In case, you are wondering what does leasing specialist do or you would like to become a leasing specialist, enjoy the below nice little chat I have with Anne.
Thank you, Anne, for accepting this interview. It is my honour to have this opportunity to understand what your job entails and provide others with a peek into your working world so maybe someone can learn something from your experience.
You mentioned that you are a leasing specialist in a lease to own company. So what do your company actually lease?
I work at a lease to own company, based in Canada. Our company primarily leases furniture, appliances, computers, TV’s, etc. We also help people find special items that they would not normally be able to afford to buy outright such as engagement rings, fitness equipment, and winter tires, just to name a few.
What does a leasing specialist’s role entail?
A Leasing Specialist takes information from potential customers to determine if they would be a good credit risk. The information includes two pieces of government identification, proof of income, and proof of residence.
We are generally the first face people see when they come into our store
Since we don’t do a credit check, we need to verify that what they are telling us is true. We also assist customers in picking out the appropriate items that will fit their needs, budget, and home décor.
Other parts of our job include calling our customers to remind them when their accounts are due, and working with them when they are late. We are generally the first face people see when they come into our store and the one who maintains contact with them throughout the lease.
Sounds interesting! How did you come about this job?
Thanks! I saw the position advertised on a local job site and applied for it. It took a while before I was able to be hired on, but I believe it was worth it.
Most leasing consultants are expected to have excellent customer service and communication skills. Besides that, you need any other skills to help you in your job?
A background in sales and business is an asset, but no other special skills were needed as the company provided training once I was hired. I do recommend having a positive mindset though.
What do you love most about you love most about your job?
I love helping people afford the items they want. I enjoy working with my co-worker and meeting new people. I enjoy being able to help a customer when they are having financial difficulties and being able to provide them with financial advice to help them get back on their feet again.
Most of my customers ask for me personally. I love hearing that as I know I am doing my job well.
Any interesting incident you have encountered while in your job?
The town I live in was evacuated last summer due to wildfires. We were gone for almost a month. It was a very stressful and chaotic time, but I saw several of my customers and was able to reassure them that they had nothing to worry about in regards to their furniture or payments.
While some people did lose their homes, most of our customers’ homes were safe. While this may not technically have been on the job, even while evacuated, I was still trying to provide the same level of care and service that my customers have grown to love.
So what are the career prospects for this job? And what do you see yourself doing in five years down the path?
There are several different career paths I could choose from Financial Services to Manager. Personally, my goal is to become a manager of my own store within a few years.
Good for you! What makes your day? What makes you happy at work?
Most of my customers ask for me personally. I love hearing that as I know I am doing my job well.
I believe that you have many customers requesting for your service, but what can your company have done to improve your job better?
While I enjoy my job now, I feel more training and better communication between the management and the staff would help everyone.
What do you think you can do better so that you can serve your customers better?
I am constantly trying to learn and improve myself to help my customers better. I am currently working on learning more about finances and budgeting so that I can better assist my customers and help them avoid a financial crisis.
Passion is what differentiates people who are simply doing their job and those who find pride in doing the best job they can.
With front-line service, you bound to meet customers who are unreasonable. How do you handle nasty customers? How do you keep your cool?
Angry customers are to be expected. I keep reminding myself that they are not angry at me, but rather at the situation they find themselves in. I do my best to maintain a calm and soothing composure, which helps calm them down as we work together to find a solution to their problem.
Please describe what does passion feels to you, mean to you. Do you think having passion in your work is important? Why?
Passion is what differentiates people who are simply doing their job and those who find pride in doing the best job they can. For me, I do the best I can for my customers and the business I work for so that everyone benefits.
I set goals for myself to not only make my customers happy but also to grow our business. I work hard to ensure there is some growth every week.
Why do I do this? Because I take pride in my work. Doing what is expected is common and most people have no desire to do anything more. I want to, not only meet expectations but to exceed them. I want to go home at the end of the day and know I accomplished more than what was asked.
Having over 10 years experience as a Customer Service agent in both retail and in a busy call center, you must be extremely positive. How did you motivate yourself?
I believe happiness is a choice. I make that choice every morning when I get up. I try to avoid negative things in life, and when it is unavoidable, I try to accept them as a learning opportunity and face them head-on.
I prefer my music to be uplifting and I believe that plays a huge part in how I carry myself through the day. This is important because your customers, whether they are standing in front of your or talking to you on the phone, can tell the difference between someone who is just doing their job and someone who is excited about what they are doing.
It helps that I live in a very beautiful part of my province and my view out the showroom window is amazing! I can watch eagles soar out front and deer grazing out the back.
I love your passion and positivity! Any last words for someone who aspires to be a leasing specialist?
Focus on the customers in front of you. Treat them as the most important people in the world. After all, your customers are the ones who pay your wage!
About Anne Beaudry
I have worked in a variety of positions through my life, primarily customer service. I enjoy writing and helping others create their own stories by proofreading and editing for them. I was a small business owner for over 20 years with two separate businesses. One was a pet supply business which helped supply local zoos and aquariums with food and various supplies.
In my personal life, I am proud to have been one of the creators and president of a local non-profit animal society. I helped create and lead educational displays and demonstrations for a variety of different animals, as well as handled the finances, budget, and organized pet shows and displays.
I am currently working full-time, but am also slowly moving back into freelancing so I could be at home more. I have an Upwork profile here, should need my services.
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