Build Equity Into Your Future
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Equity Residential Overview
Chicago, IL
1001 to 5000 employees
1993
Company - Public (EQR)
Real Estate
$2 to $5 billion (USD) per year
A Place People Are Proud to Call Home. That’s what you get when great apartments in great cities are run by people who care about their customers and each other. A place where people want to live, work and invest.
Mission: The pillars of success at Equity are the right apartments in the right markets, operational excellence, building relationships that create loyal residents, and having the best people in place to get it all done.
Glassdoor Awards
Best Places to Work: 2019 (#43)
Company Updates
![Equity Residential Logo]()
We are proud to announce that Equity Residential has won a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, honoring the Best Places to Work in 2019! We are honored by this recognition, as it is entirely based on the feedback our current and former employees have voluntarily and anonymously shared on Glassdoor.
A huge thank you goes out to all of our employees who took the time to share their perspective on what it’s like to work here. We appreciate all of your valuable feedback, as it only helps us improve, and we see this award as a symbol of the belief you have in our culture and our commitment to living and working remarkably.
Check out the list here (http://gldr.co/BPTW) and help us share this great news! #liveremarkably #workremarkably #BPTW5 Likes![Equity Residential Logo]()
Not only do we care about the amazing residents who live with us, but we also care about the extraordinary communities we have the pleasure of being a part of.
Here the Boston market is partnering with Christopher's Haven Meal Service and providing meals to children and families who are in the area undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer.
Thank you for leading the way and showing us what it means to truly immerse yourselves within the community.
http://glassdoor.com/slink.htm?key=vQx341 Likes
Equity Residential – Why Work For Us?
Work With Us
A career path is way too narrow a journey – we want you to move up, over, around and through your potential. Come work with us and take the opportunity to make someone’s day, every day.
Don’t take our word for it...
Listen to our employees tell their own stories about life at Equity Residential.
LIKE WHAT YOU DO | HANDS-ON MAINTENANCE |
CUSTOMERS COME FIRST | What we’re made of...The bricks of our company are the right apartments in the right markets, operational excellence, building relationships that create loyal residents, and having the best people in place to get it all done. |
Build Equity Into Your Future
Who works at Equity Residential? People who are really good at what they do, who work hard and play nice, who appreciate the community at large and who value the contributions of others.That’s our culture.
Our Story
In the early 1960s, two guys at the University of Michigan – Sam Zell and Bob Lurie – started managing student apartment buildings. Over the next five decades, the buildings would change but the basic philosophy would remain the same: invest in properties at the right price and hire the best people to manage them well.
 Founders Bob Lurie and Sam Zell | It’s Been Quite a RideFrom that modest beginning rose an industry leader, one that joined the NYSE in 1993 and was the first apartment company in the S&P 500 in 2001. Today, our portfolio of high-quality properties in growth markets – New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles, to name a few – provides homes where people most want to live. We still buy, build, rehab and manage our apartment communities, but along the way, we didn’t just grow; we transformed how business is done. From our state-of-the-art operating system to the way we develop our people, cultivate our culture and connect with our residents, Equity Residential is leading the way. |
Our People Make the Difference
We've got the best people in the business, and our experience shows in our dedication to residents and in how much we value each other as colleagues. That’s why our employees say they are proud to work at Equity, a company that knows how home should feel.
There's Something About Equity
You matter. What you bring to the table – how you can be yourself, be heard and make a difference – is what makes Equity something special.
PASSIONProviding great lifestyles in places people want to live, work and play. | HOW WE ROLLWe're one team, inspired to serve with |
8W/60M
What happens when wellness, teamwork and a commitment to community service come together? You get a team of eight Equity women, from either side of the country, gathering in San Francisco for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure.
Life at Joint Base Lewis McChord
Marcia McDowell, Outreach Manager at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), gave the rest of Equity a glimpse of the day-to-day lives of our military housing specialists and their community of service members by creating a virtual scrapbook on Snapfish.
Good Clean Fun
On Saturday, September 22nd, seven employees from the Inland Empire portfolio ran the Survivor Mud Run 5K in Lake Elsinore, CA. The group had to survive 100+ degree heat, mud pits, wall climbs, rope obstacles, crawl through pipes, slide down hills, and much more.
Augusta Team Does 5k Run/Walk
Our Augusta Accounting Office team members (along with family and friends) participating in a 5K walk/run along the Augusta Canal benefitting an Atlanta-area resident.
Living Well
A job should be more than just a paycheck. All of us need the right mix of physical, financial, career, social and community elements in order to be at our best. At Equity, we’re committed to providing the tools to help our employees achieve their optimal balance. It’s beyond just doing well – it’s wellbeing.
Here’s how we support the foundation for total wellbeing:
 | CAREER WELLBEINGWe’re proud that 90% of our employees say that they know what’s expected of them on the job and even more feel their skills are a good fit for what they do. FINANCIAL WELLBEINGOur philosophy is to provide highly competitive compensation, to recognize top performers and to help provide for the future.
| PHYSICAL WELLBEINGOur focus on wellness helps keep small problems from turning into life-changing events. COMMUNITY WELLBEINGWe give employees time off to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand in the communities where they live and work. SOCIAL WELLBEINGCreating connections is the key to our culture and our company – 82% of our employees report that they have at least one good friend at work.
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Comprehensive Benefits Package
Equity understands that our people are the real bricks and mortar of the company. We've developed a comprehensive, highly flexible benefits program with a multitude of options to suit your particular needs and interests — today and in the future.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage Comprehensive wellbeing program Life and accident insurance Supplemental life insurance Short- and long-term disability insurance Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts
| ALL IN THE FAMILYEquity offers benefits to same-sex domestic partners (and picks up the difference in taxes) as well as adoption assistance for employees who want to expand their families. NO PLACE LIKE HOMEEmployees are eligible for discounts on Equity apartments of up to 20%. KICK BUTT!The only safer cigarette is your last one, and Equity offers a choice of tobacco-cessation programs for employees ready to kick the habit. A REASON TO SMILEEquity provides enhanced dental coverage to help with certain health conditions at no additional cost to employees. BOW WOWEquity offers pet insurance so that your best friend can live a healthier life, too. | GOOD ADVICEFrom relationship issues to debt management, our 24-7 employee assistance program, LifeWorks, can help free of charge. WHERE THERE’S A WILL…The MetLaw program provides employees with experienced attorneys that can provide help with estate planning, mortgage refinancing and other legal matters at less than $10 per paycheck. MATCH GAMEEquity’s offers a company match of 3% on contributions to the Advantage 401(k) program for employees. GIVING BACKEach year full-time employees get up to 8 hours of paid time off to participate in community service projects.
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We know our people are the best in the business, so we go the extra mile to provide programs we know will help our employees achieve optimal balance.
Diversity
Just like our residents, our employees come from everywhere. A richly diverse work environment captures the top talent, cultivates the best ideas, and creates the widest possible platform for success. By bringing together a deep array of backgrounds, perspectives and cultures, we know when we put our heads together, good things happen.
HOW DO YOU SAY...
That’s Korean for “I lost my key.” In any language, that means trouble. To make sure our residents get the service they need, our maintenance technicians have an array of language cards that help them identify what’s wrong so they can get to work making it right. | WHAT'S COOKING?Nothing brings people together like a barbeque. That’s why one of our Boston properties offers three grills, each dedicated to a different type of food preparation: kosher, halal and anything goes. Just one of many ways we celebrate diverse tastes and taste buds. |
Our Diversity Council
The motto of our Diversity Council, chosen from every rank and region of the company, is “Everyday, Everywhere, Everyone.” One result of this hands-on approach is that our employees embrace our commitment to inclusion and agree that Equity values people from different cultural backgrounds.
Marie "I think many of us unknowingly judge or close ourselves off to that which is unfamiliar to us. In doing so we miss out on the personal growth and fulfillment that comes with new experiences and meeting new people." |
Martha “I am striving to be more intentional about my part in increasing diversity awareness and becoming a champion for this topic. I am inspired by the many stories I hear of the diverse backgrounds and achievements of some of our teammates.” |
Hana “I hope to achieve an atmosphere where all who work at Equity feel their voice is heard and their insight is valuable. I believe that diversity is a source of creativity and innovation and we can reach an inclusive culture at Equity in all branches of the company.” |
Casimir “The value of diversity lives in me every day and has been instilled in me since childhood as result of growing up in a family of 12 brothers and sisters and 43 nieces and nephews. I pride myself on having such a large family because they taught me so much about the diversity in perspective, communication, and unity. Today, it is with great pride that as a working professional I can continue to explore these ideals of diversity by being part of the Diversity Council!” |
Eldridge “The importance of diversity and inclusion has been the foundation of my core belief system for as long as I can remember. I think it's essential that these core values be a part of our everyday personal and professional lives.” |
Joseph “I believe it’s important to recognize the gifts each individual brings to a group. Having unique experiences and a cultural identity that isn’t homogeneous is a wonderful thing that we should embrace and learn from one another. I look forward to sharing the unique experiences each member brings to the Council and how we can leverage these gifts for a better work environment for all Equity employees.” |
Chris "I truly believe we are very fortunate to live in a time where we can see technology bringing the whole of the human race much closer together. There are challenges for sure, but the positive outcome is companies like Equity and people like our employees, where diversity is embraced and a focus on how we can do better is ingrained in our culture.” |
Jamie “In my role as a Recruiter, I'm inspired every day by the amazing people I meet from all corners of the globe and all walks of life. I feel honored to be in a position that makes a direct impact on our company’s diversity, and I feel the weight of responsibility that accompanies that honor. Diversifying our workforce all the way up to the senior leadership level starts with building bench strength, and identifying our potential future leaders is one of the most rewarding challenges of my job.” |
Rain “Being an African American woman in a male dominated field is not always easy but being in the military, I know how important it is to have every member of your team feel accepted and appreciated for their contribution to the mission. I joined the Diversity Council to help give others the courage to step out of their assigned box and feel good about it.” |
Patrick “I don’t judge people; everyone has their own story. I’m more concerned about what I can do to make a difference and help make someone be successful. The idea is not dwell on the past or some bad decisions, but to keep moving forward.” |
Jessica “Our country is more mixed-race, mixed ethnicity, and “minority-majority” than ever. Our world is more globalized, as interdependent and interconnected as ever thought possible in generations before. Knowing this is not the same as feeling diversity in our lives. I still have to consciously plan and choose diversity in my life; corporations, including Equity, will have to do similar “diversity planning” to continue to be a successful company with a competitive advantage.” | |
Going Green
By partnering with local utilities, more than 30,000 of our apartments have received $5 million worth of energy and water conservation installations, at no cost to the company or our residents.
Here are a few of our sustainable initiatives:
 | APPLIANCES Equity’s Pretty Smart® program saves energy with good-looking Energy Star refrigerators and dishwashers, while donating the used appliances to groups like Habitat for Humanity makes our neighborhoods stronger. | WATER CONSERVATION Our properties have installed dual flush toilets in our bathrooms and smart watering systems on property grounds. This saves plenty of water for our finned friends.
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 | LIGHTING From apartments with CFL bulbs to entire communities retrofitted with thousands of efficient LED lights, we shine bright by keeping lighting use (and costs) at a minimum. | ENERGY Big projects, like energy-generating solar panels, put us at the cutting edge of conservation. And small fixes that save residents money like programmable thermostats.
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 | RECYCLING Our communities and offices recycle everything from paper to plastic to boxes and bottles – we’ve even got high-rises that mulch! | ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS Our wood floors and carpets combine sit-on-the-floor comfort with 100% recyclability.
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 | TRANSPORTATION Our focus on urban locations means that public transportation is our residents’ first choice, complemented by on-site Zipcars and charging stations for electric vehicles. | AIR QUALITY Our low-emission paint and window glass meet the highest air-quality standards in the country, and Equity’s smoke-free communities make it easy for residents to Just Breathe® in comfort and style.
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| GREENWORKS Our in-house green/sustainability initiative sees the big picture, allowing us to weave sustainable and green practices into our everyday solutions. |  |
Equity Residential Reviews
Equity Residential520Approve of CEO
Mark Parrell
4 Ratings
- Featured Review
Helpful (10)
![Equity Residential Logo]()
"Make the change, it'll be worth it..."
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Equity Residential full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
A friendly professional environment of competitive, determined, hardworking people. Some of the most inspiring senior leadership I've ever had the chance to work for. This team takes care of their own, makes a point to get to know every one on site, and will take the time to teach, develop, and groom their successors.
Most importantly, managers actually get a say in their decision making, and the senior leadership team consistently backs them up and believes in their choices (even if they may not entirely agree). You have freedom to really "think like an owner", but that also comes with the responsibility of acting like one.
The on-boarding process to secure talented candidates has improved greatly over the last few years. Our recruiting team really takes the time to find the perfect people to complete your team, instead of sending you just anyone. Leasing consultant turnover is minimal, and a lot of LCs stay in one place (which is beneficial to a new manager). Most turnover I've seen has been due to promotions.
Which is in part, due to the training and development team. Over the last few years they have developed a program for leasing consultants and service techs to get as much hands on learning with their management training program, accelerate for sales/service. If you're interested in making a career move and join a company that's ready to invest in your future, Equity is the right choice.Cons
With such a widespread area of communities, your personal preferences of geographic location could keep you from great promotion opportunities.
Equity Residential 2018-04-30 17:28 PDT
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Equity Residential Interviews
Experience
Experience
80%
13%
7%
Getting an Interview
Getting an Interview
62%
16%
6%
6
5
5
Difficulty
2.4
AverageInterviewing at Equity Residential
- Featured Interview
Helpful (2)
Accepted OfferPositive ExperienceEasy InterviewEquity Residential 2019-01-19 14:34 PSTApplication
I applied online. The process took 4 days. I interviewed at Equity Residential (New York, NY) in January 2019.
Interview
This was one of the best interview experiences I’ve had hands down. Spoke with a friendly member of the recruiting group in NY over the phone first before being invited in to meet the lead recruiter. The interview was more like a conversation where time was taken to truly get to know me and find out what was important to me regarding my career aspirations. I felt so assured and motivated from this conversation which made me want the job for so many more reasons than I had originally thought. It was very obvious that this company cares about who they hire and more so about making sure that the company is right for them.
Interview Questions
- How would you train someone to do your current job now? How do you stay organized? What do you do for fun? How would you deal with a difficult customer? What causes you stress? What’s your approach to sales? How do you make a customer’s experience remarkable? Answer Question
Equity Residential Awards & Accolades
- Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, Fortune Magazine, 2017
- Employee Voice Award, Quantum Workplace, 2017
- Global Residential Sector Leader in Sustainability, GRESB, 2016
- Global Residential Sector Leader in Sustainability, GRESB, 2015
- Healthiest 100, Healthiest 100, 2015
Pledges & Certifications
Veteran Hiring Commitment
Committed to helping America's military veterans find work
Pay Equality Pledge
Committed to paying equitably for equal work & experience
Career Advancement Program
Helping employees "upskill" into higher-paying positions
Diversity Commitment
Has programs that support a diverse and inclusive workforce
Pledge to Thrive
Taking steps to prioritize employee well-being
Work at Equity Residential? Share Your Experiences
