Tips for Co-op Board Interview
Hi all, My co-op board interview is coming up soon, and I’m wondering if anyone has general tips on how to prepare? The way to approach these interviews? Thanks!
Hi all,
My co-op board interview is coming up soon, and I’m wondering if anyone has general tips on how to prepare? The way to approach these interviews?
Thanks!
Great advice, Denton. FWIW, my coop board interview consisted of the president smoking and talking for three hours about her medical conditions. We appeared attentive. At the very end she said, “oh, by the way, you’re in.”
“Good thing I didn’t perfume up, or I would have been treasurer. ”
Nah, you would have been Secretary! 🙂
rob, Denton,
When we bought into a brownstone coop many years ago, I most certainly did not wear perfume. We were not only accepted, but I ended up president of the board in short order. Good thing I didn’t perfume up, or I would have been treasurer.
Excellent advice Denton, btw. One thing to add, the smaller the coop, the more eager you should seem to pitch in and take responsibility. A small brownstone co-op, typically self-managed, is getting awfully close to owning a house, in the sense of how much you are on the hook if anything goes wrong. Make clear you understand and are ready. Denton’s answer is best for bigger buildings — you want to walk the line between showing you are responsible and yet not likely to challenge the power structure (if there is one).
Great advice from Denton. I would add that you should have the most boring, quiet hobbies in the world. Like Denton said, there might be someone on the interview committee who will incorrectly extrapolate a “love of music” into a noisy neighbor, etc.
“a little perfume goes a long way too :)”
Unless of course you’re a guy. Altho if it’s PS, ya never know.
a little perfume goes a long way too 🙂
*rob*
Thank you, denton! What great advice.
Generally if the board has agreed to interview it has decided to let you into the building, and the interview is mostly a formality. In other words, it is yours to blow.
If your broker is decent, they should already have some information on what the board in the building is like, because every building is different. Also the seller should have some information. The below is culled from my own experience.
If you have already been asked specific financial questions about your application package, make sure you are ready to address them again. Also make sure you have a copy of your package with you and have re-examined it just before the interview.
Do not come early, but do not be late. Make sure you know in which apt the interview will be held. Dress is not usually an issue, but ‘business casual’ would be best unless you are in an old-money building in BH or on PPW. All residents of the apt are expected to be there.
The first question that might be asked is ‘tell us about yourselves’. Decide in advance who will take the lead in answering this and subsequent questions (if you are a couple).
Play up your local roots and your career and future opportunities. These days you will probably be asked about your prospects for continued employment.
Another question you may be asked is ‘would you consider serving on the board’. The correct answer is that you would, after the appropriate period of time while you learn about the building, and that you look forward to assisting the building in any way as needed.
You might be asked why you chose this building and this apartment. The answer is that you love the neighborhood, the restaurant scene, and the fact that the building seems really beautiful and well maintained and well-managed!
You will be told the house rules, when you can move in, fees, the super, recycling, what you are responsible for living in a coop (the walls in) and so on. Appear attentive.
You will almost certainly be asked what your renovation plans will be. Less is better, so if you are not completely sure that you will be doing renovations, do not bring them up. You can change your mind after you move in.
Sometimes a particular board member will get off on a tangent. There’s not much you can do about it. Remember that board members are serving on a volunteer basis and some or all of them may not have a lot of expertise in this area, and they may be just as uncomfortable as you are.
You will sometimes be asked if you have any questions for the board. Try and have a couple of innocuous ones ready to go. Such as, what are the hours of the laundry room, or do you think X restaurant is as good as it used to be? Do not say you noticed that the rug in the elevator is getting kind of ratty, when will it be replaced? Try and avoid commenting on any decor issue; just because you like the new color in the lobby doesn’t mean all the board members did.
When you leave say goodbye to everyone, and make sure you know the procedure for finding out if you have been accepted.