Building Careers is sitting down with the movers and shakers of the commercial real estate scene here in San Diego to find out how they got to where they are and what they want to see in people on their team.
Kicking off our blog series, I wanted to give you a sneak peak of the Q&A you can expect with some of my own thoughts.
Describe your background and how you got into the industry.
Architecture and home design always interested in me, but learning that I could apply intangible finance underwriting to commercial buildings that everyone could see, touch, and have an opinion on opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. This light bulb went off when I stumbled upon a commercial real estate finance course while I was an undergrad at Penn State. From there, I worked in the industry in a finance consulting capacity, on the private equity side, and in-house for an investor, developer and operator.
I came upon a career crossroads. After conversation after conversation with many of you fantastic mentors and role models in the San Diego commercial real estate world, I realized that I wanted to have those types of conversations on a daily basis. I wanted to be that sounding board and advisor to anyone at any stage in their career to ensure that their role aligned with their life goals and motivations. What better place to do that than in the commercial real estate industry that I know and love? Since founding my executive search and recruiting firm, Building Careers, I am motivated every day by inspiring people to succeed.
What exciting projects are you working on?
My team and I are currently working on finding the right fit for an acquisitions analyst, development director, senior design manager, controller, lease administrator, corporate finance director, project and construction managers, and acquisitions, leasing, and asset management senior associates, among others. We are consistently recruiting for exciting opportunities with growing companies, so if you want to stay up to date on open commercial real estate career opportunities, visit the job page of our website or email me. I look forward to hearing from you!
What are you seeing in terms of hiring?
It is a candidate’s market right now. Quality talent that aligns with each company’s specific culture and way of working is very difficult to find. When companies identify someone that aligns with what they want on their team, I would recommend that they be ready to make a strong offer and on-board that person quickly. Offers that allow candidates to feel valued by the company and communicate to them that the company is invested in their long-term career growth are extremely effective in the current market. Knowing and living your company culture everyday will make an efficient hiring process more seamless.
What can candidates do to stand out?
Candidates who know themselves and what they bring to the table set themselves apart from the rest of the pack. Those who can clearly communicate their value through concise examples put themselves in a position that aligns with their strong suits. Operating this way is paramount in achieving long-term success for not only the employee, but for the employer as well. As a resume is most often a candidate’s first impression, stay tuned next month for additional suggestions on putting your best foot forward through your resume.
What is your one piece of advice for folks trying to make it in the commercial real estate industry?
Make meaningful connections with those that you cross paths with in your professional network. Having advocates and sponsors as resources is essential to career growth and learning, especially in the commercial real estate industry.
Interested in hearing more from some of the industry’s leading faces? Be on the lookout for future interviews!