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How to Build Rapport in the CRE Workplace

Regardless of what role you have in the CRE field, the ability to build rapport among your colleagues is crucial. Not only does it help propel your career, but it also lubricates and strengthens team connections and interaction.

However, while this is a skill that comes naturally for some, others must learn how to build these strong connections and affinity. Fortunately, with just a few simple tricks up your sleeve, virtually anyone can build rapport with fellow CRE professionals and co-workers.

What Is Rapport?

One of the cornerstone skills needed in commercial real estate is business communication. And workplace rapport is the technique of opening up more effective communication through relationships and understanding.

Sometimes referred to as a connection or spark, rapport is what makes people more likely to listen to you and give your idea a chance. In this reciprocal relationship, your colleagues better understand your point of view, are more inclined to trust and like you, and will generally feel at ease around you.

This matters so much in a workplace environment, because our own success in business is often dependent upon others. And the success of the company or organization as a whole is dependent upon our ability to collaborate and work together.

Rapport in the office makes these collaborations and interactions more effective and productive. This vital interpersonal communication and business asset allows us to more effectively exchange thoughts and ideas in many aspects of our job. Whether it’s selling, negotiating, interviewing, or any other form of interaction, our ability to build rapport and foster eager cooperation is vital in many scenarios.

Secrets to Workplace Rapport

If you want to improve your ability to build rapport, internalize these techniques. Practice them. Develop them. And then begin implementing them across your workplace interactions as you see your success in communication improve.

1. Actively Listen

Active listening is a powerful communication hack that allows you to better understand those around you so you may better relate to them. By being present in the conversation, looking people in the eye, listening to understand rather than respond, and noticing non-verbal cues, you will become a better listener. In turn, you will better understand the intent behind the words as well as the kind of person you are dealing with.

And here’s the secret: when others feel you have truly heard them, they will like you more.

2. Don’t Overlook Casual Conversation

Especially in a workplace environment, it can be tempting to overlook casual chit chat. After all, this is business. And you don’t want to waste time, yours or theirs. But casual conversation is a powerful lubricator and rapport builder.

If you are interviewing for a job and the interviewer starts with some casual small talk, this is your chance to find commonalities and better relate. If your co-worker drops by to check on a project, mention what you did over the weekend or bring up the game their favorite team just played. If not carried to extremes, these little moments of casual banter are the building blocks of strong relationships and rapport.

3. Spend Quality Time

When appropriate, schedule quality time with workplace contacts. Going to lunch or having a genuine talk in the lunch room can take your casual connections to the next level.

4. Ask Good Questions

Especially early in a relationship or at networking events, your ability to ask creative questions will help you shortcut the relationship building process. Here are some helpful questions to bring up:

  • What subject would you most like to be an expert in?
  • If someone were to say you had a superpower, what would it be?
  • What kind of books do you like reading?
  • What are some skills you learned as a child that you continue to use today?
  • What’s your personality type?
  • What’s your proudest accomplishment?

5. Be Genuine

Nothing can put a damper on a relationship like inauthenticity. If there is a hint of being fake or trying to present yourself in the best light, it will hamper your rapport. Above all, be authentic.

If you can’t find common ground that you are truly interested in, then learn more about an interest of theirs to become genuinely interested in it. Don’t pretend to be the expert, but open yourself up to learning about their passion.

This sets you up for some great questions. And you’ll both learn more about each other in the process.

How To Effectively Delegate Tasks

All managers and leaders must master the art to effectively delegate tasks. Understanding how and when to allocate responsibility to others is essential in maintaining a high level of productivity, both on a personal and organizational level. Delegating tasks is also essential for effective leadership.

To learn how to effectively delegate tasks is to build a cohesive and effective team that can meet deadlines. Moreover, knowing when and how to delegate work will reduce your workload, thus improving your well-being at work and boosting your job satisfaction. Unfortunately, many leaders are unsure how to delegate properly or are hesitant to do so.

In this guide, you will discover what delegation really entails, how delegating tasks benefits your team, and how to assign tasks effectively.

The Significance Of Delegating Tasks

A good leader knows how to delegate. When you delegate some of your work, you free up your time and achieve more on a daily basis.

Effective delegation also promotes productivity and good time management within a team by drawing on the existing skill set of its members and allowing them to develop new knowledge and competencies along the way. The result is a more flexible team that can share roles when the need arises.

When you are willing to delegate, you promote an atmosphere of confidence and trust. Your actions send a clear signal: as a leader, you trust your subordinates to achieve desired outcomes. As a result, they will come to think of you as a likeable and effective leader who respects their skills and needs.

Delegation isn’t about barking orders and hoping that your staff falls in line. A manager’s job is to get the very best from those under their supervision and, in doing so, maximize productivity and profit.

Careful delegation helps to identify and capitalize on the unique strengths and weaknesses of the team members. Delegation also boosts employees’ engagement as it proves that the managers are interested in drawing on their talents.

Why Are People Afraid Of Delegating Tasks?

Delegation boosts productivity, but not all managers are willing or able to delegate.[4] Why? Here’re some common reasons:

  • They resent the idea that someone else may get the credit for a project.
  • They are willing to delegate in principle but are afraid their team won’t be able to handle more responsibility.
  • They suspect that their staff is already overworked and feel reluctant to increase their burden.
  • They suspect that it’s simpler and quicker just to do a task themselves.
  • They dislike the idea of letting go of tasks they enjoy doing.
  • They fear that if they delegate responsibility, their manager will conclude that they can’t handle their workload.

Read More: https://www.lifehack.org/688325/how-to-delegate-work-the-definitive-guide-for-successful-leaders

7 Tips for Career Success in CRE

So, you’ve chosen a career in commercial real estate and want to make the most of it. How do you climb that ladder and become the best in your league? How do you ensure career success in your current CRE field?

Regardless of what specialty or focus your career path is in, commercial real estate is a demanding field that requires dedication, commitment, and growth. It is crucial for CRE professionals to be ever-learning, ever-advancing, and ever-evolving for maximum career success and advancement.

Some of these principles hold true for whatever career path you take. Others are especially important in CRE. If you’ve made a commitment to succeed, here are seven tips to help you get the most out of your career.

1. Come Prepared to Learn

Like most professions, working in CRE means learning a variety of skills, information sets, and best practices. But much of what makes you successful now might change in coming years. Therefore, it is imperative that you are prepared to learn on the job, even after you have become well-established in your field.

Continuous learning has been directly tied to success on the job. It enables you to adapt and become multifunctional, engaged, and prepared for the unexpected. In the long run, it positions you to excel in your career and be promoted in time.

2. Cultivate Better Communication

One of the keys to career success in any field is effective business communication. Proactively and effectively communicating with your direct reports and superiors facilitates a more functional workplace and healthier relationships. These in turn directly contribute to your success. Some keys to improving your communication include:

  • Use clarity
  • Err on the side of over communication
  • Be open and honest
  • Emphasize a communication culture

3. Achieve Specific Goals

Especially in the world of commercial real estate, you are not paid just to clock in and clock out. Your career advancement hinges on your ability to identify and achieve goals central to your company’s mission. Your employer will recognize your profitability if you focus on achieving these goals, both long term and short term. And your career will benefit from it.

4. Demonstrate Initiative

If you want to actually go places in your career, take initiative. Your growth, adaptability, work relationships, and overall success depend on you. It’s up to you then to demonstrate initiative to succeed in your career. Some ways to do this include:

  • Ask for guidance
  • Offer help
  • Volunteer
  • Educate yourself
  • Be a cost saver

5. Manage Up

When you manage your boss instead of waiting to be managed, you will become far more valuable and likely to succeed in your career. Really impress your boss by getting to know him or her, avoiding office politics, and bringing solutions rather than just problems to the table. When you are detailed and proactive in solving problems for your managers, your career success will be inevitable.

6. Evaluate Yourself

Rather than waiting for your annual evaluation, be your own evaluator! Identify objectives and goals, and then create a task list to achieve them. At the end of each week, fill out a form or work diary to rate your progress on each of these tasks and overall goals.

You might even consider showing these work logs to your supervisors to see if they agree with your real-time self-evaluations. And doing so will also impress upon them your dedication to progressing and improving in your career.

7. Act

Talk comes cheap. There’s a saying managers used once upon a time: “Show me the baby, don’t tell me about the labor pains.” While this antiquated quip may sound cold, what’s beneath it is an inherent valuation on putting feet to your plans and ideas. When you do what you say, it goes a long way towards building your credibility and long-term prospects for success. When you put in the effort to make real gains, it translates into respect and meaningful contributions at work.

Generating real and tangible career success in CRE has so much more to do with being proactive than being lucky. By following these basic principles and tips, you can climb the ladder and achieve your career goals. It doesn’t matter where you start or what adversity you encounter. You can find fulfillment at work and create the career trajectory you want.

It’s entirely up to you!

Workplace Conflict: How To Deal With It

A recent study of remote workers found that 80% of respondents experienced conflict in a remote environment. If you broaden the focus to all types of workplaces, another study found that 85% of employees at all levels have experienced workplace conflict to some degree.

That means that most of us have dealt with our fair share of workplace drama.

Conflict at work is inevitable, but even though we can’t entirely avoid it, we can become better at resolving our disputes. How well you and your team handle conflict can make a world of difference to your organization, even when there are intimidating situations to address.

Have no fear because we’re diving into workplace conflicts — including what they are, how to spot them, and how to help resolve them.

What Is Workplace Conflict?

Workplace conflict occurs when there’s a disagreement amongst employees due to opposing interests, personalities, beliefs, or ideas. Conflict in the workplace is natural and bound to occur when you have people of different backgrounds and perspectives working side-by-side.

Conflict can be expressed in various ways, including lack of cooperation, verbal insults, bullying, anger, poor quality or delayed work, project failure, and more.

You don’t have to fear workplace conflict in your organization. It’s natural and can even be healthy when dealt with appropriately. Let’s explore the types of conflict in the workplace, signs of conflict, and tips for conflict resolution to help you tackle disputes in your organization.

Types Of Conflict In The Workplace?

Yes, not all conflicts are the same — there are different types of conflict in the workplace. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types to watch out for:

1. Personality Conflicts

Clashes due to different personality types are some of the most common types of workplace conflicts. These conflicts are impossible to avoid because we all have our own personalities and won’t get along with every person we meet. Personality-based conflicts can be challenging and frustrating, but it’s beneficial to learn how to work with individuals whose approaches and perspectives are different from your own.

2. Interdependent Task-Based Conflicts

Think about the processes that help your organization stay afloat. Often, there are a lot of cross-functional processes that take place within interdependent workstreams. For example, your IT department may be responsible for setting up accounts and technology for new hires once HR informs them of the new hire’s start date. But what if HR forgets to tell IT about a new hire and the new employee arrives on their first day and isn’t set up and ready to work? These types of interdependencies can be frustrating and cause conflict, particularly amongst departments.

Read more: https://www.wrike.com/blog/5-ways-tackle-conflict-workplace-infographic/#What-is-conflict-in-the-workplace

Learn To Love Your Job Again

We fall in – and out – of love with our jobs all the time. Though we rarely think of it that way.

Remember the butterflies of excitement you had on your first day? You loved those weekly staff meetings, adored your training, and couldn’t wait to chat with new co-workers on coffee breaks.

It was when the honeymoon period ended that things changed. You started thinking “Really, this all over again?” when you woke up. Small irritations turned into large ones, and you started getting coffee at a different time to avoid Dave in Accounting.

Before you hand in your resignation letter, take a moment to realize that quitting isn’t your only option. It’s not possible to always love your job, but you can love the idea of working at it, and you can love different aspects of it.

How To Love Your Job Again

1. Is It Your Job Or Your Boss?

You might not want to leave your job, you may just want to leave your boss. One study found that 50 percent of employees left their job “to get away from their manager to improve their overall life at some point in their career.”

If you find yourself in this situation, but still really enjoy the company you work for, you may want to entertain the option of switching departments. Give yourself opportunities to work with other teams and see if it’s your manager or it’s the job you don’t like before you hand in your resignation. Small changes can make a significant impact in helping you love your job again.

2. Learn Something Different

If you have been doing the same tasks for the past 5 years, it is very possible you are simply bored and uninspired. Challenge yourself by learning something new and exciting.

Offer to help out a different department. Volunteer to take on new responsibilities. Take a course to advance your skills. Attend professional development seminars. Whatever you do, make sure it is interesting to you. It will help you look at your role in a new light. Boredom will never help you love your job, but being excited about something new will.

3. Ask For What You Want

Instead of waiting for your exit interview to mention all the things you wish you had been offered – ask for them! Your manager is probably not a mind reader, and they cannot provide you with what they didn’t know you were interested in.

Speak out about your goals and make your case for change so you can love your job again. Ask to be put in charge of a project. Talk about your dream role. If you are looking for a flexible schedule or salary increase, ask for that too. Have these conversations first instead of assuming your only option is to quit.

Read More: https://energyresourcing.com/blog/love-your-job/

Top Networking Skills for 2022

You know that networking is in your best interest and that it can open up many doors, be them professional, social, or personal. However, networking is much easier said than done.

Unless you possess the right networking skills, you’ll have difficulty making personal or professional connections, as well as using them to advance your career. Wondering what those top networking skills might be and how you can learn them? That’s just what we’ll cover in this article!

Active Listening

Active listening is more than just hearing. The act involves paying uttermost attention to what the speaker is saying, following up with clarifying questions where relevant and necessary, and making sure you got the essence of the conversation.

Communication Skills

Communication is, if you ask us, the most important networking skill. You can be funny, insightful, skillful, and intelligent, and it would all be in vain if you can’t effectively communicate with people.

For this reason, when you’re networking, be mindful of the ways you convey, interact with others, and even tackle issues and discussions that may come up during the conversation. This includes your tone of voice, the language you use, and even your urgency to speak over others. Those are all elements that can make or break your networking.

Confidence

If you’re going to go to a place full of strangers or acquaintances with the goal of creating professional and social ties, then you definitely need confidence!

As a skill, confidence defines how sure you are about what you say, what you do (or plan on doing), and your decisions. Ways you can practice your confidence are by maintain eye contact with the speaker, speak in a friendly tone, or prepare something to discuss in advance so that you don’t stumble on your words.

Read More: https://novoresume.com/career-blog/networking-skills

How Do Recruiters Work?

ou know that the economy is crazy right now, that the CRE talent war is escalating, and that it can be challenging to find the right hire or open position. You know that recruiters are said to be the best way to cut through the white noise and identify the ideal opportunity. But what you may not know is how recruiters work.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding the art and science of headhunting. But really, the average, effective recruiting firm follows a basic process to match the best talent with the best positions. So, if you’ve ever wondered just how a recruiter goes about making these matches, keep reading. Let’s look at key elements that make up just how recruiters work.

What Do Recruiters Do?

Of course, recruiters match talent with open positions. But just what is the process of effective recruiting?

As a rule, recruiters maintain a database of professionals, whether on the bench or currently employed. They routinely make contact with the people in this network to discuss opportunities, industry needs, compensation norms, and other strategic insights.

In other words, they stay in the know. They are on the front lines of hiring for their industry, and when a position comes open, they can leverage their database to yield a slate of qualified candidates. These databases can be sorted by a myriad of filters and parameters, based on the specifications provided by the clients.

By analyzing resumes and advising both employers and candidates, the recruiter acts as a go-between and matchmaker. They are both a strategic advisor and your inside scoop.

How Recruiters Work for Candidates

If you are a professional interested in working with a recruiter, you need to understand how recruiters work for you and just what it means to work with a recruiter as a candidate.

First off, it’s important to note that recruiters technically work for the company doing the hiring. In other words, they are paid by the employer, not the candidate. This means they are free for you. And though you don’t cut them a check, you can avail yourself of numerous services through the process.

When you submit your resume or CV to a recruiter, be accurate about your skills, compensation expectations, etc. When a recruiter learns of an opening, the first thing they will likely do is search their database. If the position is offering $100,000 annual salary, but you’ve said your minimum is $110,000, your resume likely won’t come up.

When a recruiter surfaces your resume as a potential match, they will reach out to you, typically via phone, but often via email, too. Talk freely with them about your expectations and goals, work/life balance needs and company culture requirements. Recruiters guard the confidentiality of everyone they speak to, and they can be a great sounding board for what you would like from your next career move.

If they choose to present you to the client, they may not reach back out immediately. They are likely discussing your qualifications with the client and waiting for definite feedback. Don’t bug them, but do reach out after a few days to get a status update if you hear nothing back. When you are selected for an interview, a recruiter will likely help you prepare. Listen, ask questions, and take advantage of this free resource.

How Recruiters Work for Employers

If you represent a company in need of rockstar talent, developing a relationship with a recruiter could be your smartest move. But how recruiters work for you may not be clear just yet.

To start with, there are two types of recruiters: contingent and retained. Retained recruiters are typically reserved for high-level, C-suite positions. Retained recruiters are paid up front or on a schedule. For entry-level to middle-senior positions, contingent recruiters are more common. Rather than being paid for their effort, they are only paid for results.

A contingent recruiter in the CRE industry will closely study your candidate requirements and put forward only the best candidates. Because they only get paid if their candidate is hired (typically 30-90 days after to ensure a long-term fit), and because hiring companies sometimes field candidates from multiple recruiters, contingency firms are highly incentivized to surface the best match possible. And they are highly efficient at doing so.

And because they are paid only after their candidate is hired, there is no risk for a company to work with them. It’s exciting to realize that you can maximize your recruitment reach by working with multiple contingency recruiters and source the best match, risk free. While you consider the most qualified candidates, the recruiter will reach out to them on your behalf for clarifying info and to align expectations.

Recruiters are trusted partners in the hiring or job search process. By better understanding how recruiters work and what they can do for you, you’ll be able to get the maximum results and ensure long-term success in your career or company.

Top 10 Career Success Secrets

Interested in learning some of the top career success secrets? Once you graduate from college and land a job, your next immediate concern is how to succeed in your career. Because the world has become so competitive, doing well in your job and moving forward with your career is more important now than ever. Career advancement and recognition are on every professional’s list of goals. But what sets the exceptional professionals apart? The answer is simply willingness and a strong desire to perform well. Once you have the willingness and the right mindset, you can begin climbing the ladder.

Here are the top 10 career success secrets on how to excel at work:

  1. Take charge
  2. Evaluate yourself
  3. Continuously be learning
  4. Anticipate needs
  5. Communicate well
  6. Set goals to achieve
  7. Show, don’t tell
  8. Gain trust
  9. Create solutions
  10. Be compassionate

Take Charge

Today’s career requirements are highly developed and require much more than someone who won’t take risks. In today’s competitive career landscape, employers are looking for individuals who can bring fresh ideas to the table and take initiative, start new projects, pitch new solutions and create new opportunities for the business.

Evaluate Yourself

One of the best ways to achieve career success is to keep assessing your performance. Don’t wait for your annual appraisal – do it yourself. An ideal way to do this would be to identify quantifiable goals and set a timeline for achieving them. Start with setting short-term goals when you’re new to a job. Create a detailed plan to achieve these goals. Break the tasks down into weekly or even daily tasks and fill out a small form at the end of the week to assess where you’re headed and whether you need to change your strategy. You can even show your own performance report to your managers at some point to show how you’ve progressed. This will show that you understand the importance of constant self-evaluation and improvement.

Continuously Be Learning

To excel in your career, you have to be willing to learn to become a leader and accept constructive feedback. No matter what university you graduated from or what grades you had, professional life will be very different from college. Be prepared to have a million questions pop up every day regarding what you’re doing. It might take you days to get a hang of your duties at your new job, so show management that you are coachable, paying attention and always willing to learn new things.

Read More: https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/10-tips-to-excel-in-your-career

Business Etiquette 101

Having a basic understanding of business etiquette rules is crucial. In The Essentials of Business Etiquette, Barbara Pachter writes about the things people need to know in order to conduct and present themselves appropriately in professional social settings. Here are some of her most important business etiquette points:

1. Standing Is Crucial When You’re Being Introduced To Someone

“Standing helps establish your presence. You make it easy for others to ignore you if you don’t stand. If you are caught off guard and cannot rise, you should lean forward to indicate that you would stand, if you could,” Pachter writes.

2. Say Your Full Name…Always!

In a business situation, you should use your full name, but you should also pay attention to how others want to be introduced.

3. The Host Or The Higher-Ranking Person Initiates The Handshake

In today’s workplace, the host or the higher-ranking person, regardless of gender, should extend their hand first, she writes. “If the higher-ranking person fails to do so immediately — often because of gender confusion — the lower-ranking person should extend his or her hand without missing more than a beat.”

Either way, the handshake must happen. “In the United States, the handshake is the business greeting. If you want to be taken seriously, you must shake hands and shake hands correctly.”

4. Wear Proper Attire

“Clothing, an important form of nonverbal communication, can enhance a person’s professional reputation or detract from his or her credibility. You want to send a professional message through your clothing choices,” Pachter writes.

Always find out what the dress code is at an event, meeting, or restaurant and make sure your attire falls within the guidelines.

5. When To Say “Thank You”

“You need to say it only once or twice within a conversation,” Pachter writes. “Otherwise, you may dilute its impact and possibly make yourself seem somewhat helpless and needy.”

Read More: https://www.businessinsider.com/business-rules-everyone-should-know-2016-12

The Pros and Cons of a Commercial Real Estate Career

When it comes to happiness and job fulfillment, a commercial real estate career can be quite rewarding. But it’s not for everyone. If you’re considering a switch to find your dream job in CRE, you’ll want to know everything you can to ensure you’re making the right move.

Let’s explore some of the many reasons people fail or succeed in a commercial real estate career, and whether or not this is the right job for you.

Finding Your Fulfillment

Fulfillment in your career is the prize to win. And the recent slowdowns and shakeup of our world as we know it have offered us a chance to step back and evaluate what we want out of our lives and work. It’s a perfect time to reflect on your ideal career path.

But maybe you’ve already identified commercial real estate as the field you want more than anything to dive deep into. You’ve analyzed your key skills, experience, passions, and values. But do you know what you’re getting yourself into?

While many find CRE a highly stimulating and fulfilling career path – whether in the investor or brokerage side – some prefer a more traditional and predictable career path. CRE isn’t for everyone.

But for those who crave more control over their time and finances as well as the potential for a healthier work-life balance, a commercial real estate career may be just right.

Why People Choose a Commercial Real Estate Career

Yes, CRE can be a challenge. And we’ll get into the cons of this career path. But when you interview people on this road and ask them what drives them, you’ll find some common denominators. Among the most common motivations are:

  • Money: Always high up on the list for any career path, the potential for a lucrative future is high for focused and driven professionals in CRE. From being a property manager to a role on the investor side, there are several paths to making a better paycheck in CRE.
  • Time: While there may be occasional 10- or 12-hour days, the flexibility in how you spend your time is greater in CRE than in many other occupations. You’re generally not chained to your desk, and you will have more availability for the things that matter most in your life.
  • Freedom: You truly are your own boss in many CRE roles. A commercial real estate career can be substantially liberating – particularly for brokers, those focused on leasing, and those who work their way into upper management positions.

Pros and Cons

CRE is a double-edged sword. There are pros and cons. While you may make more money and have greater control over your time and decisions, you’ll also be called on to problem solve and be at the mercy of investor or tenant schedules more often than in other careers. Some find they just can’t handle the ups and downs of this high-energy field.

Teamwork and relationships management is highly valuable in commercial real estate. Not good working with others? You probably won’t do well in CRE. There is a high level of reliance and interconnectivity in this space that enables good networkers and collaborators to thrive, while lone rangers tend to fail.

When considering if a commercial real estate career is right for you, it’s helpful to know there is high potential for specialization. The diversity of roles is one of CRE’s greatest advantages.

  • You can utilize your analytical side to work in a financial capacity through support acquisitions, asset management, development, etc.
  • You can feed your inner social butterfly in working more on the person-to-person side, building relationships, managing properties and closing deals.
  • Or you can unleash your creativity to scale operations to new markets an employ cutting edge strategies and technologies.

One thing is sure. If you don’t have patience, drive, and a high tolerance for change, don’t consider this field. But if you thrive on long-term investments and excitement from the ups and downs, you’ll love a commercial real estate career.

And if you’re wondering where to start, here’s a quick guide to beginning your job search in these changing times.

Sources:

· Now’s the Time to Reflect on Your Ideal Career Path | Building Careers (buildingrecareers.com)

· 7 Practical Tips for a Healthier Work-Life Balance | Building Careers (buildingrecareers.com)

· 3 Biggest Reasons People Pursue Commercial Real Estate Careers | Massimo Group (massimo-group.com)

· Building Career | How to Choose the Best CRE Investing Career Path (buildingrecareers.com)

· How to Begin Your CRE Job Search in this New Environment | Building Careers (buildingrecareers.com)

· Is a Career in Commercial Real Estate Right for You? – Verity Commercial