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.
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!
Hiring activity in 2015 and 2016 is approaching the record levels of spring 2007.
Here is what companies are looking for and where the most jobs and best odds are:
California continues as the state with the most commercial real estate job opportunities
There is a surge in companies seeking technology and software skillsets across all job functions
In 2016, acquisitions emerged as the most competitive job field, attracting an average of 188 applications for each position, while accounting and controller with 37 applications provided the best odds
Acquisitions constitutes five percent of all job postings yet receives over 10 percent of all applications
Property management is the inverse of acquisitions in that 12 percent of all jobs are in property management but that job field only receives seven percent of all applications
Read the full NAIOP blog post here: Where are the Real Estate Jobs?
Originally posted on NAIOP.org on November 21, 2016 by Susan M. Phillips
When you contact an executive recruiter, you are personally investing in the advancement of your career. It’s an important step. Congratulations!
For some job seekers, introducing yourself to a recruiter can be the most intimidating part of the job search process, but it doesn’t have to be. The fact is we want to hear from you no matter where you are in your career journey.
At Building Careers for example, we work with a range of clients in commercial real estate who have engaged us to help them find top tier talent for open positions in their companies. And, you just might be an ideal candidate, but we won’t know that until we know you!
The good news is once we connect, while you still have work to do, you’re no longer alone in your job search.
The best thing you can do for this first stage of the process – reaching out to a recruiter for the first time – is to be prepared. We expect you to have a complete resume and up-to-date LinkedIn profile. What I mean by “be prepared” is be ready to clearly tell us what your career motivations are, the type of employment opportunity you are looking for and what qualifications you possess that make you right for the job.
For example, we recently had the pleasure of working with a candidate, Justin, who we were able to swiftly place as a result of his intuitive and organized approach. He knew that his analytical skill set was a compliment to his outgoing, friendly personality and that he would fit best in an acquisitions analysis role with room to move more to the sourcing side.
Justin reached out to us nearly nine months before he was to graduate with his MBA and was able to accurately describe what part of the industry he was passionate about and why and how his experience and skill set lent itself well to that path. He was also very forthcoming about other opportunities he was interested in, which allowed us to narrow our search based on the types of roles and companies that motivated him.
As he explains: “When preparing to talk to Carly about what I was looking for in my next career move, I needed to first get clear on what I was bringing to the table for prospective employers and then get clear on what I wanted in my next role. I made sure I was able to (concisely) articulate my past experience, technical skills and education and also made sure to list the things I was specifically looking for in my next job regarding the size of the organization, roles and responsibilities and geographic location.”
Justin accepted a full time role as a senior associate on an acquisitions team upon his graduation in June, nine months after our first introduction, and he couldn’t be happier… And we couldn’t be happier for him!
It takes a certain amount of self-awareness but the more relevant and succinct you can be in describing you and your professional experience to us upfront the better. Something to also keep in mind: Sometimes knowing what you don’t want is just as important and helpful as knowing what it is you do want. And don’t hesitate to show us roles that you have found that interest you. By doing so, you are giving us more insight into what your dream career looks like. (And, we can get you in front of the decision makers to give you a leg up for that role as an added bonus!)
We want to know what would make you jump out of bed everyday excited to go to work.
Here are some things to think about (and we will most probably ask you) as you prep for that first introduction with your recruiter. From there, it’s our job (and goal) to match your best interests with the needs and expectations of a client’s to create an inspiring and successful partnership between you.
Opportunity you are looking for
Ideal role / Dream job
Interests / Aspirations / Motivations
Career history / Background experience
Your current situation and responsibilities
Level of job management / Specific title
Skills / Gaps in skills / Desired new skills
Work process and style
Work environment (in which you work best)
Compensation requirements
Other must haves / Deal breakers
Carly Glova is the founder of Building Careers, LLC a San Diego-based, commercial real estate focused recruiting solution. Her team offers free career consultation.
Why you shouldn’t accept a counter offer and the reasons why you may have received it in the first place:
1. Impulse reaction by your supervisor and not based on merit
2. Supervisor is buying time to find a replacement and will ultimately let you go anyway
3. Your issues with and motivations for wanting to leave your current role will still be there
4. The raise was provided because the company felt threatened, which will make continued raises more difficult to earn
5. You may be told to take the new offer even if you didn’t want it and were using it as leverage at your current company
6. If you end up taking the counteroffer, you will close the door on any future opportunities with the new company and anyone in that company’s network
Long story short, taking a counter puts you in a vulnerable, punitive position that your current company will hold over your head in a multitude of ways during your tenure with that firm. I always recommend that my candidates consider the consequences before accepting a counteroffer.
Originally Published by Jamie Davidson on LinkedIn on April 12, 2016.
With all of the new and exciting job opportunities out there, keep these 3 things in mind when embarking on the next step in your career.:
1. Skipping Lunch
2. Working Late
3. Checking Email Late at Night
The way you operate in the first few months in a new role sets expectations of your work ethic going forward. You obviously want to make a good first impression, but I would recommend ensuring that work style is sustainable and jives with the way you are naturally most productive. While you may be tempted to turn on the jets and run yourself ragged the first few months in a new position to prove yourself, tread lightly because the last thing you want to do is burn yourself out early on (or ever!)
For the first time since before the recession, 42% of employees said that they believe now is a good time to find a quality job. More people are searching for careers that they enjoy, and many are motivated more by social causes and work-life balance than money. Employers are shifting their models to accomodate the motivtions of employees and now is a great time to see what other opportunities are out there.
Join the search to find your dream job! Check out the “For Candidates” tab on our website Building Careers Open Positions to explore high quality careers.
Read the full Gallup poll here: U.S. Quality Job Outlook in 2015 Best Since 2007
Gallup Poll originally published on Gallup.com on December 17, 2015.
These lists always fascinate me because they are determined by people who have voluntarily taken time out of their day to give a positive review.
So many of the reviews I see are negative rants about a rude customer service rep. Rarely do you see a sparkling review about a friendly, stellar customer service experience. Why when we have a negative experience do we want to get the word out there? Is it to look for consolation and commiseration with others in the same boat? Maybe when we have good experiences, instead of shouting that from the roof tops, we’d prefer to keep that gem to ourselves. Heck, the more people that get this great experience, the harder that person/company will have to work to keep it up.
Either way, the companies on this list are doing something right. They know how to treat their employees, who are the engine behind most of these successful machines. In creating this list, Glassdoor asked employees to rank their companies in categories including culture and values, compensation and benefits, career opportunities, and work-life balance. See who made it to the top! Is your dream employer on this list?
Want to give back while earning a couple of extra bucks this season? Have a look at these 6 “do-gooder” jobs.
“This season, retailers will hire about 755,000 people from October through December — roughly equal to hiring last year, according to an analysis by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Many of the holiday jobs will be with big-box retailers: For example, Wal-Mart is hiring 60,000 people, Macy’s 85,000 (for Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores), Target 70,000, Kohl’s 69,000 and Toys “R” Us 40,000.
But for many of Americans, working at a giant retailer stocking shelves or manning a register has about the same appeal as doing the dishes. For those who just need to pocket a few extra bucks, that may be fine. But some people wish to give back while earning that holiday-season cash.”
These
Volunteer coordinator
Graphic Designer
Fundraiser
Clerical Associate
Holiday Personal Assistant
Delivery Driver
Doesn’t a “Holiday Personal Assistant” sound like a lot of fun? Look for me in a Santa hat carrying Christmas gifts this season ;-)!
