Take a look around

According to the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Foresight Works research initiative, millennials will join organizations in larger numbers as three trends unfold: their share of the U.S. workforce continues to increase, their financial status improves, and more organizations reshape their offerings around what many millennials value most. So, what does this mean as the next generation of talent considers their career?

Here is a question that readers may be tired of pondering. What are you doing to attract the next generation of talent to your organization? How do we get them in the proverbial door? If you are stressing about this issue; don’t worry, you are not alone.

In 2016, an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) states employers are facing the worst talent shortage since 2007.

According to SHRM’s research, closer to half (46 percent) of U.S. employers reported difficulties filling jobs due to lack of available talent, a significant rise from the 32 percent that reported so in 2015.

Two years removed from this research and amid a roaring economy, real estate industry stakeholders continue to lament the shortages of incoming talent.

Attracting the next generation of talent

For those already in the commercial real estate industry, an age-old icebreaker has always been the question of how one ‘got here?’ Meaning, the story of how someone ends up in a building operations or management role.

Historically, there hasn’t been what one might consider a traditional path into the real estate industry. But, that all could be changing.

Recently a group of real estate industry organizations came together to launch Careers Building Communities. According to the website, the platform was designed for students, educators, and other individuals to explore the industry and learn more about what it takes to obtain education and employment within each sector.

With the support of 25 commercial real estate related organizations, the focus of this web initiative is on attracting high school, technical and college-age youth into the dynamic and rewarding career opportunities found in real estate.

Using the site

More than 20 different career opportunities are listed on the site, including property managers, sales and brokering, architects and construction, just to name a few. Additionally, the site offers links to industry articles and scholarly research to help prospective practitioners learn more about the specific aspects of these careers.

Students can also learn about the organizations that are supporting this initiative with training, education (credentialing) and student memberships.

For seekers that are still uncertain about a career in real estate, the site offers a quiz to help gauge a person’s interests and match their talents to one of the 20 career paths currently identified on the site.

As the economic environment continues to shift and the job market remains competitive for top talent, resources like Careers Building Communities might just help ensure that the next wave of talent considers a fulfilling career in real estate.