BiggerPockets

Using Networking To Plan Your Property Management Career Part Ii

In part I, we informed you how to evaluate yourself for a career in property management and how to identify property managers in your network. Part II examines what questions to ask your new networking pal.

Once you've identified a professional to speak with, maximize the opportunity. Make sure that you prepare your list of questions ahead of Questionstime-don't just show up for the meeting and wing it. In fact, you're best to start prepping your list a few days in advance to give yourself plenty of time to mull over what you want to find out. Following are some general questions to consider asking, but you should only use these as a basic guide. Be sure that you really take your own personality into account and are drilling down into the questions and topics that most pertain to your personality and qualifications for an enjoyable work environment.

* What is your favorite thing about being a property manager? What is your least favorite part?
* What characteristics or personality traits does it take to be successful in this industry?
* What are your biggest challenges as a property manager?
* Which software, applications, or other tools are used in property management?
* What motivates people in this industry to succeed? Money? Career advancement? Travel? Networking and friends?
* What websites, books, or magazines do you regularly use to learn and stay current with industry news?

Finally, when asking questions and determining what direction you want your own career to take, make sure you think long-term. Again, remember that just as important as asking other people questions is asking (and honestly answering) questions yourself. You may be okay with long hours now, but how will you feel about that in five years? What is the long-term outlook for careers in this field (also be sure to check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual report for more information on the sector's outlook)? And do salaries generally significantly increase over time? If so, what is the average timeframe for promotion and what do you have to do to achieve that? Are you the type of person who will realistically do what it takes to achieve these milestones?

While one interview may provide you with all the answers you need, also bear in mind that there are different career paths even within the property management sector. There's commercial property management and residential property management; short-term and long-term rentals; large property management offices and very small ones. With all this in mind, you may want to speak with a couple different property managers whose jobs and situations are differ from one another. The better you are able to really pinpoint the sort of job and environment you would most enjoy working in, the better the chances are that you will really enjoy your property management experience once you get in the door.

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