PeakMade Real Estate, a prominent property management firm operating across dozens of locations in the United States and Canada, has successfully transformed its hiring ecosystem by implementing Workable, an advanced applicant tracking system (ATS). This strategic overhaul has not only streamlined complex hiring workflows and empowered geographically dispersed hiring managers with superior tools but has also led to a remarkable increase in candidate flow, all while significantly enhancing the overall applicant experience. The move underscores a broader industry trend towards leveraging sophisticated HR technology to manage talent acquisition at scale, particularly for companies with extensive, distributed operational footprints.
PeakMade Real Estate: A North American Property Management Powerhouse
At its core, PeakMade Real Estate is a dynamic property management company specializing in both student housing and multifamily apartment communities. With a substantial portfolio encompassing approximately 100 properties spread across nearly 30 U.S. states and Canada, the organization manages a workforce of around 950 associates. This extensive reach necessitates a continuous and robust hiring pipeline to fill a diverse array of roles, ranging from property operations and facilities management teams crucial for day-to-day site functionality, to vital corporate positions that support the entire enterprise.
The inherent complexity of PeakMade’s operational model presents unique challenges in talent acquisition. Each property often operates under its own distinct ownership group, demanding intricate coordination and alignment among multiple stakeholders throughout the hiring process. This distributed structure, coupled with the sheer volume and variety of roles, made a compelling case for a centralized, modern hiring solution capable of fostering consistency, visibility, and collaboration across the entire organization while upholding a high-quality candidate experience. The company’s growth trajectory further amplified this need, as manual, fragmented processes were becoming increasingly unsustainable in supporting expansion.
The Pre-Workable Landscape: A Labyrinth of Manual Processes
Before integrating Workable, PeakMade’s hiring framework was characterized by labor-intensive manual processes and a notable lack of centralized visibility across its diverse teams. This reliance on outdated methods created a series of bottlenecks and inefficiencies that hampered the company’s ability to attract, evaluate, and secure top talent promptly. The challenges were multifaceted, impacting every stage of the recruitment lifecycle.
One of the most significant pain points was the arduous task of job posting. HR and recruitment teams were compelled to manually disseminate job advertisements across a multitude of individual job boards. This repetitive, time-consuming activity not only consumed valuable human resources but also introduced the potential for errors and inconsistencies in job descriptions or branding. Molly Blazer, Systems Compliance Analyst at PeakMade Real Estate, vividly recalled the contrast: “Before Workable, we had to manually post our roles across multiple job sites instead of doing it all with a click of a button.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the administrative burden that plagued their pre-Workable operations.
Furthermore, coordinating candidates among the numerous stakeholders, including property managers, regional supervisors, and corporate HR, proved to be an intricate and often frustrating endeavor. The absence of a unified platform meant that information about candidate progress, feedback, and communication history was often siloed in individual inboxes, spreadsheets, or even verbal exchanges. This fragmented approach led to limited visibility for all parties involved, making it difficult for hiring managers to track applicants effectively and collaborate seamlessly during critical stages of the hiring process. Decision-making could be delayed, and candidates might experience prolonged waiting periods due to internal communication breakdowns.
Communication with candidates themselves was another area ripe for improvement. In a competitive talent market, a swift and transparent candidate experience is paramount for attracting high-caliber professionals and safeguarding employer brand reputation. PeakMade recognized the need to reduce barriers between hiring managers and applicants, ensuring that candidates received timely responses and updates throughout their application journey. The prior system struggled to provide this level of responsiveness, potentially leading to candidate drop-offs or negative perceptions. The cumulative effect of these challenges was a hiring process that, while functional, lacked the speed, consistency, and collaborative capabilities essential for a growing, geographically dispersed enterprise like PeakMade Real Estate.
Choosing a Future-Focused Platform: Criteria for Digital Transformation
Recognizing the critical need for a modern, scalable solution, PeakMade embarked on a comprehensive evaluation of applicant tracking systems. The company’s decision-making process was guided by several key criteria designed to address their specific challenges and support their long-term growth objectives. Foremost among these was the imperative for a solution that was inherently easy to use. Given PeakMade’s distributed workforce and the diverse technological proficiencies of its hiring managers, an intuitive interface was crucial to ensure rapid adoption without the need for extensive, costly training programs.
Integration capabilities also featured prominently in their evaluation. PeakMade sought a platform that could seamlessly connect with existing internal tools, such as email systems and potentially HR information systems (HRIS), to create a cohesive and efficient operational environment. This would minimize data silos and reduce manual data entry, further enhancing productivity.
Perhaps most critically, PeakMade prioritized a solution that embraced AI-powered efficiency. The leadership understood that artificial intelligence could revolutionize various aspects of recruitment, from candidate screening to data analysis, offering a competitive edge in talent acquisition. They looked for an ATS that was not just current but also forward-thinking, capable of evolving with technological advancements and the company’s expanding needs.
Workable distinguished itself during the evaluation phase primarily due to its innovative approach and the hands-on experience it offered prospective clients. The ability to directly interact with a demo system allowed PeakMade’s team to test the platform’s functionalities in a simulated environment, providing invaluable insight into its real-world usability. "We loved that Workable offered a demo system where we could test what it would actually be like to use the platform," a PeakMade representative noted. This practical exposure was coupled with an appreciation for Workable’s integrated AI assistant, which demonstrated capabilities in screening resumes and providing quick answers to queries – a significant step up from manual review processes.
Equally important was the evident commitment to continuous improvement demonstrated by Workable. During the demo period, PeakMade observed active enhancements and updates being rolled out in real-time, instilling confidence in the platform’s longevity and adaptability. "During the demo process, we could already see that Workable was making improvements in real time. That gave us confidence that the platform is forward-thinking and will grow with us," an internal source confirmed. This assurance of an evolving, robust platform cemented Workable’s position as the preferred choice, signaling a strategic investment in a partner committed to innovation.
Fast Implementation and Immediate, Widespread Adoption
The transition to Workable proved to be remarkably smooth and efficient, a testament to the platform’s design and Workable’s supportive resources. The ease of implementation was a critical factor for PeakMade, given its dispersed organizational structure and the need to minimize disruption across numerous properties. The platform’s built-in resources, including comprehensive articles and instructional videos, coupled with the intelligent Workable Assistant, significantly streamlined the onboarding process. This self-service approach empowered hiring managers to quickly familiarize themselves with the system without the necessity for extensive, centralized training sessions.
"Implementing Workable is easy because of the Workable Assistant. You can find articles and watch videos, so there’s little to no training needed to get started right away," highlighted a PeakMade team member. This intuitive design meant that hiring managers across the U.S. and Canada could almost immediately jump into the system, begin reviewing candidate applications, and engage with the new workflows. For a distributed organization like PeakMade, where traditional, in-person training logistics would be a considerable hurdle, this ease of adoption was not merely a convenience but a strategic imperative. It ensured that the benefits of the new system could be realized rapidly and broadly across all operational sites, fostering consistency and efficiency from the outset.
Empowering Managers: Streamlined Workflows and Enhanced Collaboration
With Workable fully implemented, PeakMade’s hiring managers experienced a profound transformation in their day-to-day recruitment activities. The platform provided a centralized, comprehensive view of candidates and all associated communications, eliminating the previous fragmentation of information. This single source of truth dramatically improved transparency and efficiency across the hiring process.
One feature that garnered particular praise and significantly boosted efficiency was Workable’s seamless integration with Outlook. This functionality simplified interview scheduling, a historically time-consuming and often frustrating task involving multiple email exchanges and calendar cross-referencing. With the integration, managers could directly schedule interviews within Workable, which then synchronized with their Outlook calendars, sending automated invites and updates to candidates. "Hiring managers can engage with candidates easily through the Outlook integrations and schedule interviews quickly without all the back and forth," a PeakMade representative noted, underscoring the tangible time savings and reduction in administrative overhead.
Beyond scheduling, Workable also provided managers with access to the full history of communication with each candidate. This comprehensive audit trail ensured that all team members involved in a hiring decision were fully informed, promoting better collaboration and more consistent candidate interactions. Whether it was reviewing past emails, interview notes, or feedback from other team members, the centralized record facilitated a truly collaborative hiring environment, enabling quicker, more informed decisions and minimizing redundant outreach or information gaps. The combination of centralized data, intuitive integrations, and streamlined communication tools fundamentally changed how PeakMade’s managers approached talent acquisition, making the process more efficient, collaborative, and ultimately, more effective.
Elevating the Candidate Experience: Speed, Transparency, and Engagement
PeakMade Real Estate has always placed a strong emphasis on cultivating a positive and engaging experience for its applicants, recognizing that the recruitment journey is a critical touchpoint for employer branding. Workable’s implementation proved instrumental in achieving this goal, delivering a faster, more modern, and more transparent hiring experience for prospective associates.
The platform’s streamlined application flow was a major enhancement. Candidates could now apply quickly and effortlessly, often by simply dropping their resume into the system. This reduction in friction at the initial application stage encourages more candidates to complete the process, ensuring PeakMade captures a broader talent pool. "We wanted the application experience to be quick and easy. Candidates can drop their resume and get connected with the job they’re most interested in," a PeakMade team member explained, highlighting the focus on applicant convenience. This ease of use aligns with modern expectations of job seekers, who increasingly value efficiency and user-friendly interfaces.
Furthermore, Workable’s automated communication capabilities ensured that candidates received timely updates and personalized responses throughout their journey. From application confirmation to interview invitations and status changes, automated notifications kept applicants informed, reducing anxiety and fostering a sense of transparency. This proactive communication strategy not only improves the candidate’s perception of PeakMade as an employer but also helps maintain engagement and interest in the roles.
The feedback from hiring managers regarding these improvements has been overwhelmingly positive. They have observed a significant upgrade from previous processes, particularly appreciating the automation and AI capabilities that assist in quickly identifying fitting candidates. "Our hiring managers say it’s a huge upgrade from what we were doing before. They love the automation and AI capabilities that help them quickly find fitting candidates," PeakMade reported. This positive internal reception underscores the dual benefit of Workable: it not only improves the external candidate experience but also significantly enhances the internal efficiency and satisfaction of the teams responsible for hiring. By making the process quicker, more transparent, and more engaging, PeakMade is better positioned to attract and retain top talent in a competitive real estate market.
Data-Driven Decisions: Empowering Managers with Actionable Insights
Beyond streamlining workflows and enhancing user experience, Workable has fundamentally transformed PeakMade’s approach to hiring by providing unparalleled access to critical recruitment data. This shift from manual, anecdotal assessments to data-driven decision-making has significantly improved internal visibility and strategic planning.
Workable’s intuitive dashboards and comprehensive reporting features now empower hiring managers with direct access to actionable insights. Instead of relying on the HR department to generate periodic reports, managers can independently track various key performance indicators (KPIs) related to their job postings and candidate pipelines. This includes monitoring candidate progress through different stages of the hiring funnel, understanding the performance of specific job advertisements on various platforms, and identifying potential bottlenecks or areas for improvement.
"Managers now have access to the dashboards and reporting so they can dive deeper into how their job posts are performing and see where candidates are in the process," a PeakMade spokesperson stated. This level of transparency is invaluable. It allows teams to proactively identify roles that may be struggling to attract applicants, pinpoint stages where candidates are dropping off, or determine which sourcing channels yield the highest quality candidates. Such insights enable managers to make more informed decisions, adjust their recruitment strategies in real-time, and allocate resources more effectively. For instance, if a particular job posting is underperforming, managers can quickly re-evaluate the job description, adjust their advertising channels, or refine their screening criteria. This self-service data access not only accelerates decision-making but also fosters a culture of accountability and continuous optimization within the hiring teams, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective talent acquisition outcomes.
Quantifiable Impact: Bolstering the Talent Pool with Increased Candidate Flow
One of the most immediate and tangible outcomes of Workable’s implementation has been a dramatic increase in candidate volume, a critical metric for any organization seeking to attract diverse and high-quality talent. Prior to adopting Workable, PeakMade typically averaged around 50 applicants per job posting. Since the transition, this number has surged to approximately 140 applicants per role – a remarkable increase of nearly 180%.
This significant boost in candidate flow holds profound implications for PeakMade Real Estate. Firstly, it provides hiring managers with a much larger and more diverse pool of candidates from which to choose. A wider selection naturally increases the likelihood of finding individuals who possess the precise skills, experience, and cultural fit required for each specific role, ultimately improving the quality of hire. In the competitive real estate and property management sectors, having a robust pipeline of qualified applicants is a distinct competitive advantage.
Secondly, an increased applicant volume allows for greater selectivity. Managers can afford to be more discerning in their evaluation process, focusing on candidates who not only meet the minimum qualifications but also demonstrate exceptional potential and alignment with PeakMade’s values. This elevated level of choice is crucial for maintaining high standards across a growing number of properties and diverse roles.
Moreover, the expanded talent pool inherently fosters greater diversity. With more applicants from varied backgrounds and experiences, PeakMade can actively pursue its commitment to building inclusive teams, which is increasingly recognized as a driver of innovation and organizational success. This surge in applicants directly translates into more robust hiring opportunities, enabling PeakMade to scale its workforce effectively while continually enhancing the caliber and diversity of its talent base, thus solidifying its position as a preferred employer in the North American property management landscape.
Doing More with a Small Team: Amplifying People Operations’ Impact
For PeakMade’s People Operations team, the strategic integration of Workable has been a game-changer, enabling them to significantly amplify their impact without the need for a corresponding increase in staffing. In a rapidly growing company with dozens of properties spread across a vast geographical area, the ability to scale support for hiring managers is paramount. Workable’s automation and AI tools have been instrumental in achieving this efficiency.
By automating repetitive administrative tasks, such as job posting, initial candidate screening, and routine communications, Workable has liberated the People Operations team from much of the manual workload that previously consumed their time. This frees them to concentrate on more strategic, high-value initiatives that directly contribute to employee engagement, development, and overall organizational well-being. The AI capabilities, in particular, assist hiring managers in handling higher candidate volumes more effectively, from intelligent resume parsing to candidate matching, thereby reducing the burden on the central HR function.
"As a people operations team, we want to make sure we’re supporting our hiring managers. With Workable’s AI capabilities, they can handle higher candidate volume, and it frees up our time to focus on what matters most for our people," a PeakMade representative articulated. This shift allows the People Operations team to transition from being primarily reactive administrators to proactive strategic partners. They can now dedicate more resources to initiatives like talent development programs, employee relations, culture building, and succession planning, which are crucial for retaining talent and fostering a positive work environment across PeakMade’s extensive portfolio. Essentially, Workable empowers a lean People Operations team to deliver expansive support, driving both efficiency in hiring and broader strategic HR excellence.
A Supportive Partnership: Beyond Product Features
Beyond the tangible functionalities and quantifiable results, PeakMade Real Estate placed immense value on the collaborative experience of partnering with the Workable team throughout the entire lifecycle, from initial evaluation to ongoing support. This human element of the partnership played a crucial role in PeakMade’s confidence in their chosen solution.
From the very first demo, through the intricate stages of implementation, and continuing into post-implementation support, the PeakMade team consistently felt they were engaging with a partner genuinely invested in their success. This level of dedication extended beyond mere product explanations; it encompassed responsive support, proactive problem-solving, and a shared commitment to addressing PeakMade’s unique hiring challenges.
"We had a lot of faith in the product because of the experience with Workable’s team from demo to implementation and even after implementation," a PeakMade representative affirmed. This statement underscores the importance of consistent, high-quality customer service in technology adoption. It wasn’t just about the features Workable offered, but the assurance that a dedicated team was there to guide them, troubleshoot issues, and ensure the platform seamlessly integrated into their operations. The sentiment was further elaborated: "It really makes a difference when you feel like people care about what you care about and want to solve the problem together." This collaborative ethos fostered a sense of trust and partnership, reinforcing PeakMade’s conviction that they had chosen not just a superior platform, but also a reliable and responsive ally in their ongoing journey of talent acquisition and organizational growth. This commitment to partnership is a cornerstone of successful long-term technology adoptions, especially for complex, distributed enterprises.
Looking Ahead: Sustained Growth and a Future-Proof Hiring Strategy
As PeakMade Real Estate continues its ambitious trajectory of expanding its property portfolio across North America, the implementation of Workable stands as a foundational element of its future growth strategy. The team is confident that they have invested in a platform that is not only robust for current needs but also inherently designed to evolve alongside their expanding operational demands and emerging talent acquisition trends.
The core problem that Workable successfully addressed – ease of use – remains paramount for PeakMade. In a dynamic and diverse organization, the ability for new and existing hiring managers to quickly navigate the system and efficiently find the candidates they need is critical for maintaining momentum and preventing bottlenecks. "Workable solved our biggest problem: ease of use. People can jump right into the system and find the candidates they need much faster," a PeakMade representative concluded, encapsulating the primary benefit.
With hiring processes now centralized, significantly automated, and powerfully augmented by artificial intelligence, PeakMade is exceptionally well-positioned to continue scaling its workforce with unprecedented efficiency and effectiveness. This modernized approach ensures that the company can attract, engage, and secure top talent for its growing number of student housing and multifamily properties across North America. The strategic partnership with Workable not only optimizes the talent acquisition function but also reinforces PeakMade’s reputation as a forward-thinking employer committed to delivering a superior experience for both its candidates and its dedicated hiring teams, thereby supporting sustainable growth and operational excellence for years to come.
