When Is It Safe To Jump Ship???

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12 years 6 months ago #9057 by Danielle
I have been a leasing consultant for 4 months now. After one month I felt like this wasn't the place for me. My assistant manager and property manager are both very fond of me but I have to consider my future. Is it too early to start looking else where?
12 years 6 months ago #9057 by Danielle
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12 years 6 months ago #9061 by Nate Thomas
I am sure you will get varying opinions to this question. All I can give is my personal opinion and that is to be up front and candid with your supervisors and let them know that after trying out the position you see it is not for you and give the reasons why. Now there will be those that say do not say anything until you have locked something else in. To this; I guess I would say how much do you trust the people that like you? If you trust them; better to be up front, than to leave them with a bitter taste in their mouth. The result could be you run into them again whether in the same firm or another and that memory will be there of their saying you are not trustworthy and will leave when needed the most.

The other thing is if you are not into the job, then maybe the customers are not receiving the best you have to offer either. Then you will be maybe if you stay in the position get more and more unhappy and this can flood over into other areas, even your personal relationship(s).

The bottom-line is I give you a look from both sides of possible scenarios and the call ultimately has to be yours as the course of action. You know who you are dealing with and your situation and it will be your burden to bear whichever way you choose to go.

My personal philosophy is to always be up front and honest as I have to look in the mirror and those eyes looking back at me need to feel good about being straight no matter what others think as I have to live with myself!
12 years 6 months ago #9061 by Nate Thomas
Danielle
12 years 6 months ago #9062 by Danielle
Replied by Danielle on topic Re:When Is It Safe To Jump Ship???
Thank you! I agree being up front is best however trust is a fickle creature and again I've only been here 4 months. My property manager has some of the same frustrations I have but she's stayed here for two years in spite of the issues. And they are actually accustomed to people leaving. I think for about two weeks straight everyone I encountered asked me if I like the job and if I was going to stay! And I do like the position itself but to put it lightly; the structure around here could use a make-over.
12 years 6 months ago #9062 by Danielle
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12 years 6 months ago #9063 by Mindy Sharp
The first thing any person should ask herself is what her aspirations are and what her passion is. Answer that and look for a career path that helps you fulfill both. Nate is right, I feel, in that anyone who comes to work with a clouded attitude will not make the best employee. It sounds like, from your second post, that you see an actual problem with the management structure, so is the corporate environment creating obstacles to your overall success? If so, you have three options: stay put and do nothing about it; two, stay but try to work with your team to make a change within your Office that MAY lead to a change within the company and help you feel more satisfied, or three, leave. There are other leasing opportunities, I'm sure, in your area. However, you need to understand yourself, what motivates you and you also need an honest assessment of your skills. Is leasing what you want to do, or is being the manager what you want? Please don't feel locked into a position that makes you unhappy, even in this economy. Remember, too, we create our own happiness. You cannot depend on a work place to do that for you, so if you are unhappy it is up to you to decide for yourself what you can do to change that.
12 years 6 months ago #9063 by Mindy Sharp
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12 years 6 months ago #9068 by Stephani Fowler
In the beginning I did a lot of hopping around the PM world. Eighteen months to a year was about how long I would stay. Finally having found a great company to work for I've put down roots. Are their other companies I could move to and make more money or take a higher position? Yes. Will I be happy with them, maybe? What I've learned is that to a certain degree most companies are pretty much the same. What sets one apart from the other is their level of Integrity. Integrity is defined as- adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. If you don't feel that from the company you work for then you probably should leave. You aren't helping them any nor are you helping yourself. Ultimately as Nate stated the resident or prospective residents will be the once who suffer.

If this is indeed the career path you have chosen, move on, but be open and honest with your current employers. You've heard don't burn your bridges before I'm sure. Well if you plan to remain in PM you had better live by that rule. Recently a resume was sent to me and several other sites for position we are all hiring for. Well this just so happened to be someone that worked for me and quit with no notice. Guess who won’t be hired to work for this company...Another time I was helping with a new acquisition and was asked to assess the current staff at this one community to see if we would be keeping them. The assistant manager was someone I fired for reversing the rent on her boyfriend’s resident ledger.

As Mindy said, think long and hard about what path you want to follow. This industry isn’t for everyone, heck or even for most people. It takes a certain kind of person to handle the stress of Corp, residents, prospects, and even government entities all expecting you to give them each your very best. Good Luck!
12 years 6 months ago #9068 by Stephani Fowler
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12 years 6 months ago #9076 by Talisa Lavarry
My first ride with Multi-family was with a company that had little to no integrity. They were literally sharks that cared nothing about the residents or the staff. I left within 9 months and recently re-entered the industry as a consultant/contractor. I'd just say definitely be true to yourself and honesty and transparency is always best. Good luck!
12 years 6 months ago #9076 by Talisa Lavarry
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12 years 6 months ago #9077 by Rose M
I agree with Talisa, honesty and transparency is best. It is possible to leave on good terms, especially if you are only looking to move up. I would talk to your boss first to see if a solution can be created.

I worked for many years for a Japanese company, and their employee/employer relationship is very different than is typical in the U.S. The relationship is more like a marriage than a job. And the relationship is usually life-long. If there is a problem, they fix it instead of discarding the relationship. Because of this, I remain completely dedicated to my employer and it would take action from them to end our relationship. Fortunately, I've been promoted several times and have grown with them and still love my job. :)
12 years 6 months ago #9077 by Rose M
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12 years 6 months ago #9078 by Nathan Borne, CPM®, MBA
Hi Danielle,

It depends on if you see a future in this industry. When I was a leasing agent, I was overqualified (in my opinion) and felt that I could be the property manager because at the time, I already had a college degree and a real estate license--both of which my property manager didn't have. I felt the work was redundant, and would've much rather been managing and doing more administrative stuff than leasing people apartments. Although I was good at what I did, I knew that if I stuck it out there was a potential to grow to more managerial roles and make more money and do more of the tasks that I wanted to do. Luckily for you, you have the support of both the property manager and assistant manager. When I was a leasing agent, I was the youngest person in the office and also the only male. At times, I felt picked on. Fortunately for you, you have the support of both of your superiors.

After a year and a half as a leasing agent, I changed companies and became the assistant manager at another property. One year after that, I was promoted to property manager. Three months later, I was moved to the largest property in the company's portfolio of 312 units. The unique thing about this business is that you can't just be hired on for whatever role--you have to work your way up. Put your time in, earn your NALP and similar designations to give yourself credibility, and you will move up very quickly.
12 years 6 months ago #9078 by Nathan Borne, CPM®, MBA
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12 years 6 months ago #9087 by Danielle
Thank you Nathan!! I feel so much better after reading your response; mostly because I can relate. I felt the same way when I got hired. I felt overqualified and the pay is too low. I have a 4 year degree and my manager does not. The only thing they have over me is the experience in this field. But I have very many transferable skills from working in the education, staffing, and non profit markets. Not to mention I was a Resident Assistant in college for two years! I like what I do but I'm on the fence about if I have a future in this industry. I don't know how to chose. Right now I'm studying to take a test to become a certified teacher in my state. I've already passed part of it. And yes I have told my manager I am studying for it. I think my priorities are 1. BENEFITS 2. PAY 3. LIKABILITY

Should I pass the teaching certification exam it doesn't automatically mean I'm going to quit my job. I would just like to have a back up plan in case this doesn't work out.
12 years 6 months ago #9087 by Danielle