What Is the Hiring Process Like at Extra Space Storage?

Applying for a job can often feel like sending your resume into a void. You submit an application and wait, with little insight into what happens next. One of the great reasons to work at Extra Space Storage is that our process is clearer and more responsive. Senior Vice President of People Whitney Harper recently explained the hiring process in depth—from your application to your first day. Learn more about how we built an efficient hiring process across three career tracks below!

Three Main Career Tracks at Extra Space Storage

Extra Space Storage's hiring structure is organized around three core pathways. Although each plays a distinct part in day-to-day operations, the candidate journey starts from the same place. For candidates preparing to apply, reviewing interview tips in advance can help set expectations and improve readiness for each stage of the process.

As Whitney says,

"We have three different groups where the process varies a bit. We've got our call center. We have our field—team members who are in the stores. And then our corporate team members. All three, you're going to start by applying online."

Field Careers

Common roles:

• District Manager

• Store Manager

• Assistant Store Manager

Our field staff members are the face of Extra Space Storage, based in store locations and directly supporting customers. These store operations positions are highly dynamic. Store Managers aren't just overseeing a property—they're leasing units, handling customer service, managing operations, supporting marketing efforts, and maintaining the facility.

Candidates apply online, complete screening questions, and may quickly move into an AI or live interview. From there, they typically speak with a hiring manager, complete a background check, and begin a structured onboarding process. Training is extensive, ensuring new hires are ready for the full scope of the role from day one.

On field careers, Whitney notes,

"Every time I visit our stores and talk to our store managers, it is amazing. We expect them to be property managers, handle leasing and legal documents, customer service, marketing, reaching out for Google reviews. There are many, many aspects of the job—and they're fully the representative of our brand."

Call Center Careers

Common roles:

• Team Lead

• Inbound Sales Representative

• Customer Service Representative

The National Solutions Center (NSC) supports customers remotely, helping them find and reserve storage units. Positions in the call center environment, such as our Inbound Sales Representatives, tend to focus on communication, problem-solving, and sales. It's a fast-paced setting where team members answer questions, help customers navigate options, and assist with completing rentals—all without setting foot in a store.

The hiring process for call center careers is one of the most streamlined and tech-enabled at Extra Space. After applying online and completing chatbot-based screening questions, candidates may be invited to participate in an AI-led interview very quickly—sometimes within minutes. This is often followed by a live conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager before moving into final steps, such as background checks and onboarding.

Corporate Careers

Common roles:

• Marketing & digital roles

• Finance & accounting

• Human resources

• Technology & product teams

Corporate roles at Extra Space Storage span a wide range of functions that support how we operate at scale. These positions support the broader strategy and company operations, often involving more specialized expertise.

• In marketing roles, employees focus on driving online customer acquisition, managing campaigns, improving website performance, and analyzing customer behavior to increase conversions.

• Finance, investments, and accountingteams support budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audits, and strategic decisions tied to company performance.

• Human resources professionals manage recruiting, employee relations, benefits, and overall talent strategy.

• On the information technology, data science, and product side, teams build and maintain internal systems and customer-facing tools, working on software development, data infrastructure, and product improvements that streamline the storage rental experience.

While the process still begins with an online application and initial screening, the corporate hiring process tends to follow a more traditional approach. Candidates can expect multiple conversations, sometimes with different team members, allowing both sides to assess fit more thoughtfully. To ensure thoroughness, the process may take a bit longer compared to other Extra Space career paths.

How Extra Space Storage is Using AI on the Front End

Technology helps Extra Space Storage stay responsive—but the goal has always been for our hiring process to be relationship-driven, even at scale. By integrating AI into application review, screening, and initial interviews, we're able to reduce friction and free up hiring managers for the conversations that matter. This gives candidates a more responsive application process and allows Extra Space hiring managers to build relationships with candidates who feel like a good fit.

According to Whitney,

"Within 20 minutes of applying, someone could be having an interview with an AI interviewer—always with the option of a live human interview as well. An AI interviewer is prepared to answer candidate questions to help them determine if the role and company are the best fit."

This approach is most advanced in field and call center hiring, while corporate recruiting continues to evolve, with a mix of AI testing and human touchpoints.

Interested in a career with Extra Space Storage? Explore open roles and start your application to see the process firsthand. To hear more from Whitney and other leaders, check out the Inside Extra Space podcast!