Well, I knew that day was going to come. I didn't know exactly what it was going to be, but I knew that the grunt work would be there, and I would be expected to do it. That's okay I guess, but there seemed to be an awful lot of it, all at once.
Nothing like being the low man on the totem pole! First it was running errands and getting copies made. At least I got some fresh air. Then I would deliver our clients' reports. After that it was emptying the trash, that wasn't terrible either. Believe it or not, the task that I hate doing the most is having to call people and convince them to give me information that they have no incentive to give me. Many times people are rude (and in some cases, very uneducated.)
If you are looking to get into this field, don't think that it is all going to be a bed of roses. Also, don't think that you are going to make a lot of money (at first.) In most cases, it is actually costing your mentor to keep you around, but I think you'll find that it is worth it. We just have to make a few years worth of sacrifices to make it happen.
I had a really hard time convincing the people closest to me that I would actually have to take a large pay cut to pursue this career. Poeple sometimes have a hard time dealing with the fact that a person with a college degree and 15 years of work experience could actually make $10.00 per hour. I had to convince people to think of it as an internship or an apprenticeship, in the end the cut will be worth it and I will end up making a lot more money and being happier in the long run.
I've had some concerns. I have had to provide my own health insurance and retirement. I'm driving an eight year old car that I haven't made a payment on in years. I'm making very little money and if that car craps out I could be screwed. In the end, I'm just going to try to have faith that things are going to work out.
Next post, On The Road Again
Showing posts with label careers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label careers. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Experience of Travel
The first time I traveled for work it was about 100 miles away. My travel, research and photographing was a full day assigment. I had always had a job with no flexibility, where I was stuck in an office all day long. There was no freedom, no fresh air, a miserable boss, and no flexibility!
Getting out on the road to a city I had never had occasion to go to was very exciting! I made a map of my journey so I knew what order to visit properties in, grabbed my iPod, fired up my GPS and got going. The weather was beautiful, the drive was beautiful and I was so excited to be doing something different. I couldn't believe I was being paid to do this job, but I was!
I had some wonderful experiences that felt very fulfilling. I will admit that on some occasions this is a lonely job. Luckily my employer is okay with a significant other or pet traveling with me although I really don't have much opportunity to do that. I did take my dog one weekend when I went 15 miles from my house to explore a land sale. I was in a position before that was very social. I talked to probably 50 or more people in a day, it was a very difficult adjustment to not be seeing or talking to this many people anymore.
We'll see if I can continue to hack it!
Next up, Sh*t Work!
Getting out on the road to a city I had never had occasion to go to was very exciting! I made a map of my journey so I knew what order to visit properties in, grabbed my iPod, fired up my GPS and got going. The weather was beautiful, the drive was beautiful and I was so excited to be doing something different. I couldn't believe I was being paid to do this job, but I was!
I had some wonderful experiences that felt very fulfilling. I will admit that on some occasions this is a lonely job. Luckily my employer is okay with a significant other or pet traveling with me although I really don't have much opportunity to do that. I did take my dog one weekend when I went 15 miles from my house to explore a land sale. I was in a position before that was very social. I talked to probably 50 or more people in a day, it was a very difficult adjustment to not be seeing or talking to this many people anymore.
We'll see if I can continue to hack it!
Next up, Sh*t Work!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Preparing For Your Interview(s)
One thing I picked up on very quickly is that most appraisers will be just as uncomfortable interviewing you, as you will be uncomfortable being interviewed. These aren't corporate people who do a lot of hiring, firing or catering to personnel issues-- they are businessmen/women; their time is money and they need help.
I guess my advice to you is this, don't spend huge amounts of time figuring out what you are going to say when the interviewer asks "Where do you see yourself in ten years?" I was never asked that question. I'm not saying don't prepare, but don't waste time on it either.
My first piece of advice would be to know your interviewer and their specialties. What kinds of jobs do they take on? Will they take on anything to stay busy? There are some interesting specialties out there, I interviewed with one company that did mostly litigation work; ad valorem tax appraisals and condemnation. Know what they specialize in and acquaint yourself with the issues involved.
Also, learn about any desigations that your interviewer may have. Many appraisers have lot of initials after their name. Look into the work and studies that were involved to earn these designations.
Some questions you may want to ask during your interview:
1. Does your firm do mostly narrative reports or form reports? Most commercial firms do narrative reports. Writing and proofreading skills will be good skills to highlight for this.
2. How much guidance would I have initially. Be leary of someone who will throw you to the wolves right away.
3. What tools do I need to have? Some firms, like mine, have anything you could possibly need. I don't even need my own camera or GPS, it just so happens that I do have those items.
4. Do I need to bring my own business?
5. Do I need to bring my own Errors and Omissions Insurance (otherwise known as E & O)
6. Does your firm pay or reimburse for education?
You can think of other questions too, just try to keep the dialogue going, you'll do great. It's mostly a personality issue. Most appraisers love to talk about real estate and appraisal business, if you can keep conversation going it will show them that you are knowledgable, well spoken and have a good personality.
Either before your interview or before contacting a firm check with your state licensing board to make sure there aren't disciplinary actions on your interviewer's record, avoid this at all cost. Another helpful tip would be to e-mail a few trusted friends from the appraisers forum or from your local AI chapter to get opinions on your interviewer. It is an unfortunate truth that some people don't play by the rules.
A very wise teacher gave me some advice that I followed through the entire process. . .
"Who you do your trainee hours with will stick with you for your entire career. Their career and their practices are your career and practices. Choose very wisely."
Coming up next, The Very Beginning
I guess my advice to you is this, don't spend huge amounts of time figuring out what you are going to say when the interviewer asks "Where do you see yourself in ten years?" I was never asked that question. I'm not saying don't prepare, but don't waste time on it either.
My first piece of advice would be to know your interviewer and their specialties. What kinds of jobs do they take on? Will they take on anything to stay busy? There are some interesting specialties out there, I interviewed with one company that did mostly litigation work; ad valorem tax appraisals and condemnation. Know what they specialize in and acquaint yourself with the issues involved.
Also, learn about any desigations that your interviewer may have. Many appraisers have lot of initials after their name. Look into the work and studies that were involved to earn these designations.
Some questions you may want to ask during your interview:
1. Does your firm do mostly narrative reports or form reports? Most commercial firms do narrative reports. Writing and proofreading skills will be good skills to highlight for this.
2. How much guidance would I have initially. Be leary of someone who will throw you to the wolves right away.
3. What tools do I need to have? Some firms, like mine, have anything you could possibly need. I don't even need my own camera or GPS, it just so happens that I do have those items.
4. Do I need to bring my own business?
5. Do I need to bring my own Errors and Omissions Insurance (otherwise known as E & O)
6. Does your firm pay or reimburse for education?
You can think of other questions too, just try to keep the dialogue going, you'll do great. It's mostly a personality issue. Most appraisers love to talk about real estate and appraisal business, if you can keep conversation going it will show them that you are knowledgable, well spoken and have a good personality.
Either before your interview or before contacting a firm check with your state licensing board to make sure there aren't disciplinary actions on your interviewer's record, avoid this at all cost. Another helpful tip would be to e-mail a few trusted friends from the appraisers forum or from your local AI chapter to get opinions on your interviewer. It is an unfortunate truth that some people don't play by the rules.
A very wise teacher gave me some advice that I followed through the entire process. . .
"Who you do your trainee hours with will stick with you for your entire career. Their career and their practices are your career and practices. Choose very wisely."
Coming up next, The Very Beginning
Friday, March 21, 2008
Tips For Finding A Mentor
If you are getting into this business one of the most frustrating issues is finding a mentor. Then, if you are lucky enough to find a mentor, you have to find one who is trustworthy.
I finished my classes in June of 2007. I didn't actively start looking for a mentor until I finished my classes. USPAP was my last course and I wanted to be able to say that I had completed it. Over the summer of 2007, I had three full-time job offers in commercial appraisal firms. I chose one, and began my journey in October.
Here are some tips that I can pass on to you from my search:
1. If you take Appraisal Institute courses, make sure that the coordinator for your chapter has your resume.
I had five interviews and two offers from the chapter coordinator forwarding my resume to people who were actively looking for trainees. PS: I wasn't a member of AI at the time, I would say that most will gladly accept your resume whether you are a member or not.
2. Make sure your resume is spotless.
I don't want to offend anyone by saying this, check to make sure names are correct, check for typos and mis-spellings. I reviewed resumes for years, you would be surprised at how many well educated people never proofread their resumes. If I found typos or mis-spellings, it was thrown in the trash immediately. My current employer also followed this criteria.
You must be detail oriented in this business, prove it with your resume.
3. Emphasize your pertinent skills.
Any real estate experience, research experience, writing experience etc. Do yourself a favor and visit your local courthouse (or check for court records online.) Get acquainted with the process involved in searching for deeds, mortgages, tax maps, etc. You will be surprised how much of this can be done online, and you can emphasize these skills on your resume.
4. Know if you would like to specialize.
This may come later in your career, but if you know that you want to specialize in residential appraising, multi-family housing, health care facilities, hospitality establishments, etc. reasearch companies that specialize in these types of appraisals. There are some interesting niches out there. Think outside the box!
5. Join AppraisersForum.com.
There is a lot of experience on that forum. People who have been working in this field for years. Everyone is kind and respectful and they want to be helpful to you. Not only is it a great way to meet people it is a terrific opportunity to get questions answered. They have a newbe/appraiser wannabe forum and also a jobs forum.
6. Appraisal Institute Chapter/Dinner Meetings.
Personally, I never did this, but everyone in the field recommends that if you are interested in joining the Appraisal Institute that you visit your local chapter and attend dinner meetings. It is a good way to meet many appraisers under one roof. It could be that they are not looking for a trainee, but they may know someone who is, since they are able to talk to you and see you, you have a better chance of getting your resume forwarded.
7. Find Names of Appraisers In Your Area.
This is pretty easy. You can look in the yellow pages and on the internet. I wanted to find someone with an MAI designation, so if you click on the link and go to the Appraisal Institute's website you can search for appraisers by area. Print the list and start sending out resumes or making phone calls.
8. Keep A Paper Trail.
I kept track of every company I sent resumes and cover letters to. I would suggest making a subfolder for each or naming each specifically so you know who got which letter and resume. For some firms I tailored my resume to them and wanted to know exactly what the resume looked like. Make a simple spreadsheet of who you sent resumes to and what day you mailed them.
9. Read, Read, Read.
Read your text books, read everything and anything you can get your hands on, you'll learn some valuable information and when you do get that interview you'll be able to have conversations about issues in the field.
Good luck!
Next, Preparing For Your Interview(s)
I finished my classes in June of 2007. I didn't actively start looking for a mentor until I finished my classes. USPAP was my last course and I wanted to be able to say that I had completed it. Over the summer of 2007, I had three full-time job offers in commercial appraisal firms. I chose one, and began my journey in October.
Here are some tips that I can pass on to you from my search:
1. If you take Appraisal Institute courses, make sure that the coordinator for your chapter has your resume.
I had five interviews and two offers from the chapter coordinator forwarding my resume to people who were actively looking for trainees. PS: I wasn't a member of AI at the time, I would say that most will gladly accept your resume whether you are a member or not.
2. Make sure your resume is spotless.
I don't want to offend anyone by saying this, check to make sure names are correct, check for typos and mis-spellings. I reviewed resumes for years, you would be surprised at how many well educated people never proofread their resumes. If I found typos or mis-spellings, it was thrown in the trash immediately. My current employer also followed this criteria.
You must be detail oriented in this business, prove it with your resume.
3. Emphasize your pertinent skills.
Any real estate experience, research experience, writing experience etc. Do yourself a favor and visit your local courthouse (or check for court records online.) Get acquainted with the process involved in searching for deeds, mortgages, tax maps, etc. You will be surprised how much of this can be done online, and you can emphasize these skills on your resume.
4. Know if you would like to specialize.
This may come later in your career, but if you know that you want to specialize in residential appraising, multi-family housing, health care facilities, hospitality establishments, etc. reasearch companies that specialize in these types of appraisals. There are some interesting niches out there. Think outside the box!
5. Join AppraisersForum.com.
There is a lot of experience on that forum. People who have been working in this field for years. Everyone is kind and respectful and they want to be helpful to you. Not only is it a great way to meet people it is a terrific opportunity to get questions answered. They have a newbe/appraiser wannabe forum and also a jobs forum.
6. Appraisal Institute Chapter/Dinner Meetings.
Personally, I never did this, but everyone in the field recommends that if you are interested in joining the Appraisal Institute that you visit your local chapter and attend dinner meetings. It is a good way to meet many appraisers under one roof. It could be that they are not looking for a trainee, but they may know someone who is, since they are able to talk to you and see you, you have a better chance of getting your resume forwarded.
7. Find Names of Appraisers In Your Area.
This is pretty easy. You can look in the yellow pages and on the internet. I wanted to find someone with an MAI designation, so if you click on the link and go to the Appraisal Institute's website you can search for appraisers by area. Print the list and start sending out resumes or making phone calls.
8. Keep A Paper Trail.
I kept track of every company I sent resumes and cover letters to. I would suggest making a subfolder for each or naming each specifically so you know who got which letter and resume. For some firms I tailored my resume to them and wanted to know exactly what the resume looked like. Make a simple spreadsheet of who you sent resumes to and what day you mailed them.
9. Read, Read, Read.
Read your text books, read everything and anything you can get your hands on, you'll learn some valuable information and when you do get that interview you'll be able to have conversations about issues in the field.
Good luck!
Next, Preparing For Your Interview(s)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
We'll begin at the beginning. . .
I am a real estate appraiser trainee. I hope to use this blog to chonicle my trainee period for those who are interested in the field. Check back often, I hope to post at least several times per week.
It is well known that the "barriers to entry" in this field are huge. Anyone who is looking for a mentor can substantiate that now. Especially now that the market is going south. In most cases, mentors have nothing to gain by taking you on, this is why lots of mentors require trainees to bring their own business. I was very fortunate that my mentors didn't make me do this. I think some mentors have a hard time finding good quality trainees too. Let's be honest, some people get into this line of work because they think it is quick money for very little effort.
Not true. If you have this attitude, throw it away now.
I had decided early on that I wanted to pursue a Certified General License. This allows you to appraise just about any piece of real estate that you are competent to appraise. I'm the type of person that I like to have options. I don't want to work this hard and get stuck only being able to appraise houses, or only being able to appraise restaurants, etc. I want to be marketable, and I want to be able to pull income from as many job sources as I can.
I was experiencing job frustrations when I decided it was time for a new career. I was working in the field of eduation, and had worked in that field for many years, when I decided to make the switch. Like a lot of people, in my former job I was experiencing way too much frustration for way too little money. I always loved real estate, but didn't feel like I would make a very good salesperson. I love finance and math and I'm a good analytical thinker, this is what pointed me in the direction of appraisal.
I signed up for a series of Appraisal Institute courses. For anyone considering this line of work I would wholeheartedly recommend their classes. For the money I spent I got a really good education. In four courses I accumulated 90 hours of classroom time. (I will need 300 hours to get my license) and there are plenty of mentors out there who will not consider someone without Appraisal Institute education. For those of you who are considering the online route I would advise you not to, especially for your preliminary coursework. The instructors work in the field and have years of experience, I was able to benefit from the work/business experiences of every instructor. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
The courses that I have taken are:
Basic Appraisal Principles (30 Hours)
Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 Hours)
Residential Market Analysis & Highest and Best Use (15 Hours)
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (15 Hours)
This is a good start for anyone, keep in mind though that most states will not let you count hours that you have acquired before taking your USPAP course.
Coming up next, essential skills for an appraiser.
It is well known that the "barriers to entry" in this field are huge. Anyone who is looking for a mentor can substantiate that now. Especially now that the market is going south. In most cases, mentors have nothing to gain by taking you on, this is why lots of mentors require trainees to bring their own business. I was very fortunate that my mentors didn't make me do this. I think some mentors have a hard time finding good quality trainees too. Let's be honest, some people get into this line of work because they think it is quick money for very little effort.
Not true. If you have this attitude, throw it away now.
I had decided early on that I wanted to pursue a Certified General License. This allows you to appraise just about any piece of real estate that you are competent to appraise. I'm the type of person that I like to have options. I don't want to work this hard and get stuck only being able to appraise houses, or only being able to appraise restaurants, etc. I want to be marketable, and I want to be able to pull income from as many job sources as I can.
I was experiencing job frustrations when I decided it was time for a new career. I was working in the field of eduation, and had worked in that field for many years, when I decided to make the switch. Like a lot of people, in my former job I was experiencing way too much frustration for way too little money. I always loved real estate, but didn't feel like I would make a very good salesperson. I love finance and math and I'm a good analytical thinker, this is what pointed me in the direction of appraisal.
I signed up for a series of Appraisal Institute courses. For anyone considering this line of work I would wholeheartedly recommend their classes. For the money I spent I got a really good education. In four courses I accumulated 90 hours of classroom time. (I will need 300 hours to get my license) and there are plenty of mentors out there who will not consider someone without Appraisal Institute education. For those of you who are considering the online route I would advise you not to, especially for your preliminary coursework. The instructors work in the field and have years of experience, I was able to benefit from the work/business experiences of every instructor. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
The courses that I have taken are:
Basic Appraisal Principles (30 Hours)
Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 Hours)
Residential Market Analysis & Highest and Best Use (15 Hours)
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (15 Hours)
This is a good start for anyone, keep in mind though that most states will not let you count hours that you have acquired before taking your USPAP course.
Coming up next, essential skills for an appraiser.
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