Career Advice

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Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers

August 4, 2010 in ..Career Focus, Real Estate | 1 comment

Significant Points

* Opportunities should be best for those with college degrees in business administration, real estate, or related fields and for those with professional designations.
* Particularly good opportunities are expected for those with experience managing housing for older people or with experience running a healthcare facility.
* About 46 percent of property, real estate, and community association managers are self-employed.

Nature of the Work

To homeowners, a well-managed property looks nice, operates smoothly, and preserves the resale value of the property. To businesses and investors, properly managed real estate may result in greater income and profits. Property, real estate, and community association managers maintain and raise the value of real estate investments by handling the logistics of running a property. Property and real estate managers  oversee the operation of income-producing commercial or residential properties and ensure that real estate investments achieve their expected revenues. Community association managers manage the communal property and services of condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities through their homeowner or community associations.


When owners of residential homes, apartments, office buildings, or retail or industrial properties lack the time or expertise needed for the day-to-day management of their real estate investments or homeowner associations, they often hire a property or real estate manager or a community association manager. Managers are employed either directly by the owner or indirectly through a contract with a property management firm.

Generally, property and real estate managers handle the financial operations of the property, making certain that rent is collected and that mortgages, taxes, insurance premiums, payroll, and maintenance bills are paid on time. Some oversee the preparation of financial statements and periodically report to the owners on the status of the property, occupancy rates, expiration dates of leases, and other matters. When vacancies occur, property managers may advertise the property or hire a leasing agent to find a tenant. They also may suggest to the owners what rent to charge. In community associations, homeowners pay no rent and pay their own real estate taxes and mortgages, but community association managers collect association fees that help pay for a variety of services such as playground, clubhouse, and swimming pool maintenance.


Often, property managers negotiate contracts for janitorial, security, landscaping, trash removal, and other services. They monitor the performance of contractors and investigate and resolve complaints from residents and tenants when services are not properly provided. Managers also purchase supplies and equipment for the property and make arrangements with professionals for repairs that cannot be handled by regular property maintenance staff.


In addition to fulfilling these duties, property managers must understand and comply with pertinent legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Federal Fair Housing Amendment Act, and local fair housing laws. They must make certain that their renting and advertising practices are not discriminatory and that the property itself acts in accordance with all of the local, State, and Federal regulatory and building codes.


Onsite property managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a single property, such as an apartment complex, an office building, a shopping center, or a community association. To ensure that the property is safe and properly maintained, onsite managers routinely inspect the grounds, facilities, and equipment to determine whether repairs or maintenance is needed. In handling requests for repairs or trying to resolve complaints, they meet not only with current residents, but also with prospective residents or tenants to show vacant apartments or office space. Onsite managers also are responsible for enforcing the terms of rental or lease contracts, such as rent collection, parking and pet restrictions, and termination-of-lease procedures. Other important duties of onsite managers include keeping accurate, up-to-date records of income and expenditures from property operations and submitting regular expense reports to the senior-level property manager or the owner(s).


Some property and real estate managers, often called real estate asset managers, plan and direct the purchase, sale, and development of real estate properties on behalf of businesses and investors. These managers focus on long-term strategic financial planning, rather than on day-to-day operations of the property. In deciding to acquire property, real estate asset managers consider several factors, such as property values, taxes, zoning, population growth, transportation, and traffic volume and patterns. Once a site is selected, they negotiate contracts for the purchase or lease of the property, securing the most favorable terms. Real estate asset managers review their company’s real estate holdings periodically and identify properties that are no longer financially profitable. They then negotiate the sale of, or terminate the lease on, such properties.


Community association managers, by contrast, do work that more closely compares to that of onsite property managers. They collect monthly assessments, prepare financial statements and budgets, negotiate with contractors, and help to resolve complaints. Usually hired by a volunteer board of directors of the association, they manage the daily affairs, and supervise the maintenance, of property and facilities that the homeowners own and use jointly through the association. Community association managers also assist the board and owners in complying with association and government rules and regulations.


Some associations cover thousands of homes and employ their own onsite staff and managers. In addition to administering an association’s financial records and budget, managers may be responsible for the operation of community pools, golf courses, and community centers and for the maintenance of landscaping and parking areas. Community association managers regularly meet with the elected boards of directors to discuss and resolve legal issues or disputes that may have an effect on the owners, as well as to review any proposed changes or improvements by homeowners to their properties, to make sure that they comply with community guidelines. They may also meet to address association finances or discuss long-term planning.

Source: bls.gov, cpa-connecticut.com, schainproperties.com, lowesforpros.com,

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How to impress your boss and get promoted

July 20, 2010 in Career Advice | No comments

When a boss has to make a decision to promote or to let someone go, he or she will consider three things.

•    How well does the person being reviewed get along with other co-workers?
•    What kind of image does the person present (appearance, hygiene, and dress)?
•    How well does the person perform their duties?

This combination of criteria will make or break a person’s career. Performance is not always the deciding factor, and usually is the least of the three. Not saying that if you can’t do your job you will be ok. You must perform the minimum requirements, the job requires. That said; let’s go over these review points.

How well do you get along with others?

In most cases, this is a must. If you are one that doesn’t get along with your co-workers, you will disrupt the working atmosphere and cause performance to go down. This will not only affect you, but others as well. You may be the best worker but disrupting the work environment is unacceptable.

The best way to get promoted is to be congenial. Always smile and be friendly to all the co-workers, even if you don’t like them. Positive and happy people make a better work environment and they always get attention in a positive way.

What kind of image do you project?

When you interviewed for the job, you probably put your best foot forward. This image was the starting point for your career. That first impression sold you, now you have to make a lasting impression.

Tattoos and Piercings

For those who have many body piercing and think that are ok, generally, it is not in the working place. You may not hear about what the boss thinks of your personal choices of appearance but believe me, he does have an opinion and it generally isn’t good.

Most bosses like clean cut, well groomed persons in his work force. This is not only his opinion, but also how clients and visitors think of you as part of the work force. Generally, the public doesn’t like public displays of body piercing and tattoos. While there is nothing wrong with them, there is a time and a place for them. Leave your body piercing at home and cover up your tattoos.

Clean clothes and a clean smell

Don’t over perfume. This will help you get along with your co-workers. They most likely won’t say anything to you but comments behind your back will reach your boss.

Job Performance

Lastly, your job performance should be average or slightly above average. Don’t show off if you can clearly out perform all the others. This will make them jealous and you don’t need that.

If you can easily outperform others, help them bring them up to you level. The boss will notice that and the work environment will remain stable. The worse thing you can do is to get your work done too fast and then goof off. The boss will notice the goofing off but not the work.
Keep these tips in mind and work on them daily. Pride is an acronym, (Professional Results in Daily Efforts). Keep pride in your work. You will be the last man standing and move up the ladder of success faster.

Source: Robert Wallace, youthsinaction.org, job-interview-techniques.com, job-a-thon.com

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Jump Start Your Career with Stanley Hutcheson and Associates

June 18, 2010 in .Promotions and Specials, Skills Development | No comments

Dear grade 12 Life orientations adviser/teacher,

As part of the top 100 schools – rated by the University of Johannesburg – you will receive a package containing a letter and flyers with detailed information on the Jump-Start programme shortly.  Your grade 12 learners can only benefit from this programme – learners not enrolling for further studies during 2011 will need extra coaching to enter the world of work successfully, and learners going to Universities will need the same skills set once they have graduated and are ready to find employment!  The job shortage and scarcity situation in South Africa, even for graduates, is still a very alarming dilemma!

All you’ll need is that first step….take it, and Jumpstart your career today!

Back ground:

South Africa is confronted with the twin evils of high unemployment levels and skills shortages. One of the primary reasons for this is the fact that while schools, and Tertiary Education institutions provide learners with technical skills they do not actually prepare learners to enter into and excel in the world of work.

The Thusanani Work Readiness Programme (a FASSET sponsored programme) has proven to be an ideal way for unemployed PDI graduates to get employed.  In June 2010 SHA will hosted the 13th Thusanani intake, since 2005. At the end of this year approximately 1300 unemployed graduates will have benefitted from this training, and close to 90% have already been placed in gainful employment. More details of the Thusanani programme are available on our website.

A new focus for all:

Jump Start is a work readiness programme designed to guide all young new entrants into an appropriate career, give them the skills to succeed in the process of becoming employed and accelerate their entry into the world of work. Jump Start is based on the highly successful Thusanani work readiness programme that has been presented by Stanley Hutcheson & Associates for the past six years.

Stanley Hutcheson & Associates are specialists in the field of work readiness and have used our unique combination of skills to help hundreds of young South Africans enter into the world of work.

Our specialist areas as shown above provide you with a unique service which will guide you into the right career for you, prepare you to stand out in the selection process and put you in contact with hundreds of employers who are seeking new entrants.

As part of our team, Industrial Psychologists, who specialize in the field of career psychology and career guidance, will provide you with a comprehensive career assessment, and through this, guide you into a field and career for which you are ideally suited and would find stimulating and fulfilling.

Training:

The training programme will take place over a period of 2 weeks full time / 9 weeks part time and will comprise a combination of self study, classroom based training and practical workshops.

Next courses:

1. Full time June 21st, 2010 or
2. Thursday Evening (part time) June 24th, 2010 or
3. Saturday morning (part time) June 26th, 2010

Thereafter, our placement specialists will accept you onto our database and will facilitate an action oriented approach to your job search process.  Working with you, we will assist you to prepare your application, secure the interview and present yourself in the best possible way during the interview culminating in your employment.

Why Jump Start your career?

In the highly competitive recruitment market, employers, in their selection process, are looking for the best candidate for the job. Jump Start will help you to stand out from the crowd, and because you have the additional skills, you will be accelerated to the front of the employment queue… where you’ll be jumping with joy!

Training is conducted at our training centres in Northcliff (Johannesburg) and Musgrave (Durban).

Our courses are offered on a monthly basis and training is also conducted in the late afternoons to accommodate school, and university calendars. We have various payment options, all course materials and certification is offered at R5500.00 Vat inclusive.  (BOOK EARLY AND BENEFIT FROM OUR EARLY BIRD SPECIAL)

For further enquiries and to set up a meeting regarding your specific need with an in-house training programme within your work place environment please contact us.

Don’t waste time – Jump-Start your career today.


View Company Profile and Courses

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Advertising and Public Relations Services

June 2, 2010 in ..Career Focus, Advertising, Public Relations | No comments

Significant Points

* Competition for jobs will be keen, because the glamour of the industry traditionally attracts more jobseekers than there are job openings.
* California and New York together account for about 19 percent of firms and 28 percent of the workers in the industry.
* Layoffs are common when accounts are lost, major clients cut budgets, or agencies merge.

Nature of the Industry

Goods and services.

Firms in the advertising and public relations services industry prepare advertisements for other companies and organizations and design campaigns to promote the interests and image of their clients. This industry also includes media representatives—firms that sell advertising space for publications, radio, television, and the Internet; display advertisers—businesses engaged in creating and designing public display ads for use in shopping malls, on billboards, or in similar media; and direct mail advertisers. A firm that purchases advertising time (or space) from media outlets, thereafter reselling it to advertising agencies or individual companies directly, is considered a media buying agency. Divisions of companies that produce and place their own advertising are not considered part of this industry.

Industry organization.

In 2008, there were about 50,100 advertising and public relations services establishments in the United States. About 38 percent write copy and prepare artwork, graphics, and other creative work, and then place the resulting ads on television, radio, or the Internet or in periodicals, newspapers, or other advertising media. Within the industry, only these full-service establishments are known as advertising agencies. About 18 percent were public relations firms. Many of the largest agencies are international, with a substantial proportion of their revenue coming from abroad.


Most advertising firms specialize in a specific market niche. Some companies produce and solicit outdoor advertising, such as billboards and electric displays. Others place ads in buses, subways, taxis, airports, and bus terminals. A small number of firms produce aerial advertising, while others distribute circulars, handbills, and free samples.


Many agencies have created units to better serve their clients’ electronic advertising needs on the Internet. Online advertisements link users to a company’s or product’s Website, where information such as new product announcements, contests, and product catalogs appear, and from which purchases may be made.

Some firms are not involved in the creation of ads at all; instead, they sell advertising time or space on radio and television stations or in publications. Because these firms do not produce advertising, their staffs are mostly account executives.


Companies often look to advertising as a way of boosting sales by increasing the public’s exposure to a product or service. Most companies do not have the staff with the necessary skills or experience to create effective advertisements; furthermore, many advertising campaigns are temporary, so employers would have difficulty maintaining their own advertising staff. Instead, companies commonly solicit bids from ad agencies to develop advertising for them. Ad agencies offering their services to the company often make presentations. After winning an account, various departments within an agency—such as creative, production, media, research, and planning—work together to meet the client’s goal of increasing sales.


Widespread public relations services firms can influence how businesses, governments, and institutions make decisions. Often working behind the scenes, these firms have a variety of functions. In general, firms in public relations services advise and implement public exposure strategies. For example, a public relations firm might issue a press release that is printed in newspapers across the country. Firms in public relations services offer one or more resources that clients cannot provide themselves. Usually this resource is expertise in the form of knowledge, experience, special skills, or creativity; but sometimes the resource is time or personnel that the client cannot spare. Clients of public relations firms include all types of businesses, institutions, trades, and public interest groups, and even high-profile individuals. Clients are large and small for-profit firms in the private sector; State, local, or Federal Governments; hospitals, universities, unions, and trade groups; and foreign governments or businesses.


Public relations firms help secure favorable public exposure for their clients, advise them in the case of a sudden public crisis, and design strategies to help them attain a certain public image. Toward these ends, public relations firms analyze public or internal sentiment about clients; establish relationships with the media; write speeches and coach clients for interviews; issue press releases; and organize client-sponsored publicity events, such as contests, concerts, exhibits, symposia, and sporting and charity events.


Lobbying firms, a special type of public relations firm, differ somewhat. Instead of attempting to secure favorable public opinion about their clients, they attempt to influence legislators in favor of their clients’ special interests. Lobbyists often work for large businesses, industry trade organizations, unions, or public interest groups.

Recent developments.

In an effort to attract and maintain clients, advertising and public relations services agencies are diversifying their services, offering advertising as well as public relations, sales, marketing, and interactive media services. Additionally, many agencies are increasingly focusing their effort and financial resources to Internet advertising, reflecting, in large part, the growing number of Internet users. Advertising and public relations services firms have found that highly creative work is particularly suitable for their services, resulting in a better product and increasing their clients’ profitability.

Source: bls.gov, vipyard.net, mindhacks.com, blogmarks.net,

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Employment Services

May 25, 2010 in ..Career Focus, Human Resources | No comments

Significant Points

* Most jobs in this industry are temporary jobs that typically require only graduation from high school; some permanent jobs may require a bachelor’s or higher degree.
* Temporary jobs provide an entry into the workforce, supplemental income, and a bridge to full-time employment for many workers.
* Job opportunities should be plentiful because of significant turnover in this industry.

Nature of the Industry

Goods and services.

The employment services industry provides a variety of human resources services to businesses. These services include providing temporary workers to other businesses, helping employers locate suitable employees, and providing human resources services to clients.

Industry organization.

The employment services industry has four distinct segments. Employment placement agencies list employment vacancies and place permanent employees. Temporary help services, also referred to as temporary staffing agencies, provide employees, on a contract basis and for a limited time, to clients in need of workers to supplement their labor force. Executive search services, often referred to as headhunters, provide search, recruitment, and placement services for clients with specific executive and senior management needs. Professional employer organizations are engaged in providing human resources and human resources management services to staff client businesses. They also may share responsibility as a co-employer of workers to provide a cost-effective approach to the management and administration of the human resources functions of their clients.


The typical employment placement agency has a relatively small permanent staff, usually fewer than 10 workers, who interview jobseekers and try to match their qualifications and skills to those being sought by employers for specific job openings.

In contrast to the smaller employment placement agencies, temporary help agencies typically employ many more workers. Temporary help services firms provide temporary employees to other businesses to support or supplement their workforce in special situations, such as employee absences, temporary skill shortages, and varying seasonal workloads. Temporary workers are employed and paid by the temporary help services firm but are contracted out to a client for either a prearranged fee or an agreed hourly wage. Some companies choose to use temporary workers full time on an ongoing basis, rather than employ permanent staff, who typically would receive greater salaries and benefits. As a result, the overwhelming majority of workers in the temporary help services segment of the employment services industry are temporary workers; relatively few are permanent staff.


Executive search consulting firms work to locate the best candidates for top-level management and executive positions. Clients hire executive recruiters to save time and preserve confidentiality. Executive search firms keep a large database of executives’ resumes and search this database to identify and assess candidates who are likely to complement a client’s corporate culture and strategic plan. Information on these candidates is then submitted to the client for their selection. Executive search consulting firms conduct prescreening interviews as well as reference and background checks. Some executive search consulting firms specialize in recruiting for a particular industry or geographic area; other firms conduct general searches.


Professional employer organizations specialize in performing a wide range of human resource and personnel management duties for their clients, including payroll processing, accounting, benefits administration, recruiting, and labor relations. Employee leasing establishments are a type of professional employer organization that typically specialize in acquiring and leasing back some or all of the employees of their clients; they serve as the employer of the leased employees for the purpose of administrating payroll, benefits, and related functions.

Source: bls.gov, algiz.eu, hrbible.com

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