This month, we decided to try something different for a bit of fun. We invite you to tell us what your “Dream Job” is for the chance to win access to one commercial real estate industry event of the winner’s choosing every month in Q2 2017 compliments of the Building Careers Team. This can include any of the impressive local and national events and conferences put on by industry organizations such as NAIOP, CREW, ULI, Bisnow, ICSC, SIOR, BOMA, IREM, RealShare, Connect, etc. Your chosen events are amazing opportunities to network, hear from industry experts/speakers, and invest in your career.
There are two steps to the process.
The first step is to write one or two brief paragraphs about your dream job. It could be the job you dreamed of as a child or the job in the profession or field you studied in college that has been eluding you ever since. It could even be related to the skills you are currently applying to a hobby but you know could also be used to earn a living. How you write your description is entirely up to you. Here are some ideas for what you could include for details: Job responsibilities, title/level of position, area of real estate expertise, salary, skills, location/city, team culture and environment. Please remember to include your contact information!
The second step is to email us your “Dream Job” description by March 31, 2017. Every job description will be entered into the drawing and on March 31, 2017 we will randomly select one entry from the group of submissions. That professional will be contacted and we will arrange for them to attend their chosen events. For everyone else, we will contact you to discuss career opportunities unless you indicated you are not interested in a conversation.
We hope you’ll participate whether you’re actively searching for a new job or not. This exercise gives you the chance to think about and “put in writing” your dream job, which brings you that much closer to achieving it. It also gives us the chance to get to know you and help many of you turn your dream job into reality.
This letter from a 7 year old girl to a Google exec went viral. Allison Hirschlag with The Ladders summed it up perfectly in explaining why any current job seekers should take note of this 7 year old’s tact.
A few of the takeaways from this letter to google include:
1) She stood out as an original applicant
2) She took an out of the box and direct approach to getting her application seen
3) She is specific in what she brings to the table and why she is attracted to that specific company
4) Her personality comes across
5) She appears well-rounded by relaying a few non-career interests
6) She is able to provide examples of how her experience is applicable
7) She clearly articulated her strengths and people who could vouch for her
Hopefully you job seekers can take a few notes from this 7 year old’s book and put yourselves out there for new opportunities!
“If the U.S. economy heats up to the degree our industry-wide survey predicts, real estate’s need for more qualified talent could be a driving force in increasing compensation even higher in 2017.”
The 2017 hiring outlook is very positive for job seekers. Companies are still bullish on the market and growth and are willing to pay for quality talent. More and more companies are seeking external resources, such as recruiters, to identify this quality talent and satisfy the employee motivations. 2017 is already turning out to be an exciting year and we look forward to what is ahead!
This excerpt was Posted On January 20, 2017 By Susan M. Phillips on NAIOP.org. Read the full exerpt with a link to the complete hiring study here:
Routines make successful people. I am not sure if that is a saying, but if not, it should be. Establishing a healthy routine with time for your mental and physical health will set you up for a more productive and satisfying personal and professional life. Positivity and finding a purpose are also essential to succeeding at whatever it is you put your mind to.
Take a look at the full blog post below for a few simple ideas on how to increase success and productivity by getting your week off on the right foot starting on Sunday.
In last month’s blog post, my colleagues Brett Wayne, Managing Director at Cypress HCM, Jeff Prekker, CEO at BioPhase Solutions, Kat Zorko, Director of Business Development at Sayva Solutions and Nicole Sutton, Founder at Nexus Search Group provided Insights and Tips For Job Seekers in 2017.
Here they offer their expertise on what companies can do to remain competitive and attract the best talent in 2017. And, as Brett articulates so perfectly, there’s a “war on talent”.
How does it look for companies wanting to hire in 2017?
Brett: We are in a “war for talent” and companies will face a lot of competition as they try to hire skilled employees. Building out an employer brand and having a great reputation is paramount.
Jeff: Challenging to find the exact ‘fit’ technically and culturally. A good all-round match is what potential co-workers deserve and want more than ever.
Kat: In terms of accounting and finance talent, the outlook is strong. Over the past couple years, job seekers have gained more confidence in the market and are more likely to make a move. San Diego remains a highly desired place to live which also attracts talent from other cities. In certain, more specialized fields, it can be hard to find local talent just given the limited number of large employers and the local industry focus.
Nicole: Competitive! Finding candidates with solid skills and experience will continue to be a challenge, particularly in bio-tech, real estate and the legal field.
What would your advice be to companies looking to build out
teams and fill open positions given the job seeker pool of 2017?
Brett: It starts with creating a culture where people want to work and treating your current employees right. With sites like Glassdoor becoming more prevalent, candidates are doing more research than ever before when applying/interviewing with prospective employers. It is very important to have an efficient hiring process. Candidates are in high demand and the longer, more tedious the hiring process, the less chance you have to land candidates. The longer the process draws out, the higher the chance for competing offers from other companies becomes a possibility. Also, if it takes more than one minute for somebody to apply to a job on your website that is a problem and you will lose prospective applicants.
Jeff: Use a focused contingent-based recruiter. Whether you use that recruiter for all candidates or to work alongside your current/internal searches, you will lessen the chances of missing the perfect match that way.
Kat: Be cognizant of your interview/hiring process. Top talent goes fast so the longer you take to make a decision and the more you put candidates through the ringer, the more likely it is you will lose them. Be engaged with job seekers and sell your brand. Job seekers are interested in not only the specifics of the job, but they are looking at the culture benefits, and overall experience as they evaluate a career move.
Nicole: Don’t hire on skill level alone. Get creative and hire candidates more based upon cultural fit and attitude. Skills can be taught but drive and willingness to learn cannot.
Thank you again to our interview contributors. See below for their contact information should you have additional questions or requirements.
Employers take note! Poise, professionalism, and confidence go a long way in an interview. This blog, however, points out that the way candidates use pronouns, tense, and voice in an interview can reveal additional insight about a potential hire’s future performance.
It looks good for job seekers exploring employment opportunities in San Diego this year and the news comes from some of the best recruiters in town – Brett Wayne, Managing Director at Cypress HCM, Jeff Prekker, CEO at BioPhase Solutions, Kat Zorko, Director of Business Development at Sayva Solutions, and Nicole Sutton, Founder at Nexus Search Group, LLC. A big thanks to these impactful recruiters for taking the time to share your expert insights and advice…
How does it look for job seekers in 2017?
Brett: It should be a great year to search for a new position. The demand for top talent far outweighs the supply, which makes for a good situation for job seekers. This is especially true in the technology sector where companies are putting a premium on identifying talent to build out their teams.
Jeff: Definitely a candidate-driven market out there currently.
Kat: In regards to accounting and finance, employment outlook is positive for 2017. Unemployment remained low at the end of 2016 in San Diego, and skilled professionals remain in demand. San Diego’s larger employers continue to hire at a steady rate through growth, special projects, and movement while small to mid-size companies continue to provide opportunities. Potential challenges this year include shakeout from the election and how that impacts funding and IPO potential for employers as well as the continued effect of employers moving headquarters out of San Diego.
Nicole: Continue to be a demand for those with experience in bio-tech, health care and real estate. More opportunities for advancement as baby boomers continue to retire. More opportunities in San Diego’s strong and thriving start-up community.
What would your #1 piece of advice be for someone looking to change jobs in 2017?
Brett: Although it is a great time to be a job seeker, simply applying to online posts is not the best approach and should be a last resort. A better option is to network and utilize former colleagues or connections to introduce you to hiring managers and/or internal recruiters at the companies you would like to work. Another good option is to go through recruiting firms because they will be able to get your resume to the top of the pile and ensure the right set of eyes are reviewing the resume. If discretion is important and you don’t want to post your resume on Dice, Monster or Indeed, you can build out your LinkedIn profile and savvy recruiters will take that as a sign that you might be interested in hearing about new opportunities.
Jeff: Put a lot of thought into what your ideal position is and try to find something as close to that as possible. Put a good amount of thought into how you articulate why that particular position and organization are a great match for both the employer and for you.
Kat: Network! Do not rely on online applications to be the source of your next job. Build relationships and find ways to partner with people that will be mutually beneficial. Do not wait until you need a job to initiate this as well. Networking requires an investment of time and energy that can yield long-term results. I also recommend finding ways to differentiate yourself on your resume, your LinkedIn profile, your interview style, etc. San Diego in general is a competitive, saturated market given that it is an ideal place to live, so it requires a constant effort to stand out to be considered amongst your peers.
Nicole: Find a mentor in your particular field. Spruce up your social media presence – make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated and professional. Get out there and meet people! Networking is still the key to finding your next position. Work with a recruiter who not only knows your industry but your town too!
Any tips on how a job seeker can make himself/herself stand out
amongst the hundreds of 2017 resumes?
Brett: Building out a clean resume that is easy to read and highlights your most relevant skills is a great place to start. Recruiters and hiring managers spend about 15-30 seconds scanning resumes before moving on to the next one so it needs to be clear and concise. Once getting to the interview stage, it is important that you are prepared and do a lot of research on the company, position and interviewer.
Jeff: Find an internal employee that you know and have him/her talk to management and/or HR about you. Ideally mention that connection when applying.
Kat: Customize your resume to whatever job you are pursuing. Draw attention to related skills, experiences and accomplishments. Use powerful, strong wording and make your resume show what value YOU bring to an organization. Complement the resume with a strong LinkedIn profile and of course make sure there are no errors on either.
Nicole: Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. Get as many buzz words in your resume as possible.
Meet the Experts – Some of the best recruiters in San Diego:
Check back next month for additional insight from our experts in our February Blog:
Tips for companies looking to hire quality employees in 2017
Most of us crave security and can rationalize it in a job. The best way to improve your skills and to challenge yourself is to explore opportunities that fill all of your motivations. Here are 10 good reasons to explore more relatively frequent job changes.
1. Learning a new work environment and dynamics exponentially strengthens your internal consulting skills.
2. Changing roles allows you to be more adept at recognizing rewarding vs. toxic workplaces and how to identify the healthier structures.
3. More frequent job changes provides you with more real-life success examples for other potential interviews down the line.
4. Exposure to a new company maintains and grows your professional network.
5. Job hunting allows you to practice and refine your professional brand.
6. When you focus all your professional energy on doing a good job for one employer, your focus turns to internal politics. Entertaining other opportunities every few years keeps you attuned to the world outside your cubicle walls.
7. When you job-hunt every three to five years, you know your market value.
8. When you experience new companies every few years, you get used to picking up new protocols, procedures, strategies and practices quickly.
9. When you get stuck in place at one job, you fall out of practice interviewing.
10. When you change jobs more often, you realize that there are a lot of people in the world and not all of them need to approve of you. That’s okay. You don’t need the whole world to love you. You only need to find the people who get you — and thus deserve your talents!
“All of my mentors to this point have played an essential role in creating and growing my business. Through these relationships I have gained introductions to their companies’ hiring processes, which has generated business for me. This was never the result of a direct ask but rather from the relationship that was established between us. I have also become more skilled at high-level networking through these relationships.”
-Carly Glova
Proud to be a member of CREW San Diego, whose members who were essential in creating this year’s Crew Network Industry Research Committee white paper. This year’s white paper even includes an interview and quote from our own Carly Glova. Read more here about CREW’s research into Closing the Gap.
