Once you have landed a job and are beginning the next phase of your career, how can you be successful? See below for some recommendations.
Understand How the Company Makes Money - This seems simple, but sometimes it is more complicated than it sounds. Unless you are working for a REIT, many CRE companies make the money that pays your salary by earning fees. Fees come from managing properties. The owners of the real estate may be different than the owners of the management company that employs you. Look at your paystub to see who is paying you and try to understand how this company/entity fits into the big picture.
Be Curious - Ask lots of questions. You want to understand as much about the business, each department, the properties, and every other aspect of the business. Make sure you read the company's press releases and social media posts regularly. Maintain a student mentality. A student is always learning. Just because you have landed a job, doesn't mean you should stop learning. Always be learning.
Be Driven & Humble - This is the magic combination.
Take Notes - Never show up to a meeting without a notepad and pen(cil). Never. Writing things down shows you are paying attention and can be relied upon to do what you say you are going to do. Laptops are a OK alternative, but they are full of distractions and can give the impression that you are focused on other things.
Volunteer - When there is the opportunity to volunteer to take on a project, do it. This will allow you to learn and grow. It will also show that you are there to work and add value.
Create Relationships - Try to get to know everyone at the company, or at least in your office. Be brave and introduce yourself. Say hello in the kitchen. Get to understand what that person does and how their department fits into the overall company. You never know when you will be working on a project with someone in the future.
Use Your Time Wisely - Unless you are in customer service, sitting at your desk and responding to emails all day is not work. This is the coordination of work. Actual work is doing something that create value or keeps the machine of the company running. Manage your time. Make sure you fit in the projects that move the company forward. Beware of the pseudo productivity of email.
Take Breaks - Huh? Yes, take breaks. Take 5 minutes to walk outside. Try a walking meeting. Give yourself the ability move your body and reinvigorate your mind.
Leverage Technology - Technology is changing fast, yet its adoption in the workplace can be slow. Pay attention to the software that your company already has. Something that is simple for you to understand may be harder for someone else. Use this to your advantage to become a subject matter expert. Some of my favorite Microsoft tools: Teams, PowerBI, Planner, OneNote, Copilot.
Don't Be a Jerk - This should be obvious, but some people still behave poorly. Everyone is dealing with something challenging outside (or sometimes inside) the office. Be kind. Be helpful. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Disclaimer: This information is provided to help you better understand commercial real estate. It is based on my experience over 20+ years. There is no guarantee that this information will allow you to be successful. No guarantee is provided as to the accuracy of the information. It is provided for educational purposes only.