The graduating class of 2020 is doing what all graduating classes do at this time of the year: listening to commencement speakers, polishing their resumes, and preparing themselves to enter the workforce. Admittedly, things look a bit different than in years past, with commencement addresses being delivered virtually and job interviews taking place online. Still, as students search for entry level property management jobs the fundamentals persist: Networking. Preparing a resume. 聽Getting ready for a job interview. 聽These topics and more were tackled during an 乐竞体育赛事直播 webinar on “.”
Building your network
Building relationships is more important than ever, and while the coronavirus may have brought an end to hand-shaking and traditional face-to-face networking, other channels for making meaningful connections are available. One of the webinar panelists, Debbie Phillips, CPM庐, of The Quadrillion in Jonesboro, GA, advises starting the process with who you already know 鈥� professors, mentors, industry professionals met at school events, the parents of friends. Also worthwhile is following leaders on LinkedIn and other social media platforms, especially if you engage in what they鈥檙e saying.
Phillips urges going beyond just reading posts of leaders you want to connect with.聽 Send them an email and say 鈥淚 saw your post and here鈥檚 my perspective.鈥� This tactic was reinforced in a that said you can 鈥渟tand out if you鈥檙e amplifying other people鈥檚 voices instead of just competing to be heard. Share what other people have said by adding a comment of your own. Try re-sharing an article by a business leader you admire, with some reflections on what their work has meant to you, and why you admire them.鈥�
Once the connection has been made, nurture it and take maximum advantage of the opportunity. 鈥淏ecome a sponge,鈥� advises Jasmyn Sylvester, CPM庐, ACoM, of Jacksonville, FL, another webinar panelist and chair of 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 Diversity Advisory Board. 鈥淲hen you see someone who is in a position you want to be in, attach yourself to them.鈥� This can be done over a 15-minute phone call or during a virtual coffee chat. Don鈥檛 ask for a job; ask for advice and information.聽 鈥淎sk a million questions, and soak in everything you can.鈥� This way, says Jasmyn, 鈥淭hey will know who you are when opportunity arises.鈥�
Creating a resume
In addition to networking and building relationships, create a strong resume that has life and captures attention. 鈥淪trive for five,鈥� says Phillips, who believes that an attention-grabbing resume will contain five essential components:
- Academics:聽 What鈥檚 your core? What鈥檚 your foundation? Go beyond saying what you majored in. Highlight some of the most meaningful classes, what you learned from them, and how they鈥檝e shaped you and your interest in real estate.
- Extracurriculars. What have you done outside of the classroom? Provide information about organizations you belonged to, especially real estate organizations, plus any other activities that show your range of interests and serve as tangible proof of your desire to be actively engaged and go beyond what鈥檚 required.
- Community service. How have you served the community at large? Corporate social responsibility is important at many companies, and your commitment to causes and socially responsible programs will deliver this message.
- Skills. What has been your experience? What are your transferable skills? Even if you don鈥檛 have any direct property management experience, discuss the skills you鈥檝e gained from other experiences. If you played sports, you鈥檙e a competitor. If you worked in food service, you鈥檝e learned about customer experience. If you were president of a school organization, you gained leadership skills. Describe your skills by telling stories from these experiences to demonstrate what you can do.
- References. Who can speak to your character? Who knows you best and can speak to the essence of who you are? When people hire you, they鈥檙e hiring for a set of behaviors that will be a good fit for the organization. Think carefully about who you ask to serve as references. Your list might include a coach, a professor, a mentor.
Getting ready for the interview
When your eye-catching resume does its job and turns into an interview for a property management job, jump into preparation mode. It鈥檚 very possible the interview will take place remotely over Skype or Zoom. Even so, dress for the occasion 鈥� from head to toe. Be sure your audio and video equipment is working properly. Think about your Zoom background and the message it will send about you and who you are. 聽
Above all, thoroughly research the company you鈥檙e interviewing with and the people you鈥檒l be meeting. Make a list of your strengths and accomplishments as they relate to the specific job, and be ready to show you鈥檙e a good fit. Be prepared to answer questions, and also be prepared with questions of your own. Use them as a way to demonstrate both your interest and your alignment with the position and the company. A few examples of questions you might ask: What is it going to be like to work here? Tell me about your organization? Why is this position available? Is it a new position? Why was it created? Based upon my background and skills, how can I best help you succeed?
One trait that鈥檚 important to success in any property management position 鈥� and which recruiters will be seeking evidence of throughout the hiring process 鈥� is empathy. Given the ongoing personal interactions managers have with clients and vendors and tenants, and noting that no two days in property management are ever the same, panelist Sidney Ingelson, CPM庐, of The Northern Trust Company in Pasadena, CA, said during the webinar that she has 鈥渓earned to go into work every day with my empathy fully loaded. Empathy promotes growth for your career and your relationships for the long haul,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ring your empathy to the table always.鈥�
For Phillips, who has guided both graduating students and older career changers in her role as a mentor, an 乐竞体育赛事直播 instructor, and a professor at the University of Georgia鈥檚 property management program, one thing is for sure: You need to find a way to stand out from the crowd rather than standing in line. 鈥淒o what you can to put yourself at the front of the line,鈥� she said. Stay curious. Stay humble. Discover your strengths talents, and gifts 鈥� what Phillips calls 鈥測our genius zone鈥� 鈥� and work to build your personal brand every single day.