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In this day and age, the typical starting point to a residential property management career is a Real Estate degree. However, don’t panic if you don’t have a degree. It doesn’t mean you can’t become a property manager. It just means you will have to work your way up.
Key skills for a property manager
Beyond the degree, ask yourself if you are a good fit for the role. Within your day-to-day job, you would be expected to be organised and have a keen eye for detail. You must also have excellent communication skills both verbal and written, as you will frequently be writing formal letters regarding legislation, health and safety and insurance. Having some previous experience in customer service would also help you as you will be dealing with tenants or maintenance professionals regularly.
No experience, no degree?
A lot of assistant property managers start off as administrators who support the property managers. This is a great way to gain useful, relevant experience, which gives you a thorough understanding of the job role and sector. From there you will be able to work your way up the property management ladder.
Another good idea if you want to become a Block Manager is to complete the IRPM foundation exam, which is a multiple choice exam that will give you a good groundwork on property management and would look great on your CV.
The next step
At Cobalt, typically we recruit on behalf of employers who are looking for experienced professionals. So for entry level roles as well as contacting us, we recommend that you make a list of the top 10 real estate companies in your area and send them your cover letter and CV directly. Within your letter, convey how keen you are to work in the property sector and that you’re willing to work your way up. It’s always beneficial for you to find a company that will support your learning and personal development.
In addition, don’t forget the value of your own network. Is there anyone you know in the industry that you can speak to about property managers and what they do? This helps with any interview preparation and would impress a potential employer by showing you had done plenty of research.
Once you have your first property role under your belt, don’t hesitate to talk to Cobalt and we will be able to help you with your next move.
Additional sources that may help with your research into property management roles:
Job hunting can be full of uncertainty. But with us, you can be sure that we’ll do everything we can to get you to your ideal job. Send your CV to us to get started or search for the latest job vacancies and we’ll get the ball rolling.