May 7, 2018
In this edition of The Hiring Squad, Kent Elliott, principal at leading national real estate recruiting firm RETS Associates (RETS), connects with Chad Froman, senior vice president of asset management at The Sobrato Organization. The two discuss Froman’s journey from a RETS candidate to a client and share ways to secure top real estate talent in today’s competitive job market.
Q Elliott: From a candidate perspective, how was your experience working with a recruiting partner?
A Froman: When I collaborated with RETS in 2013 to help advance my career in real estate asset management, I was grateful for the honesty, integrity and close lines of communication I received throughout the process. The team was committed to helping me elevate my career and with their support, I accepted a position at DivcoWest Silicon Valley Investments, where I served as director of asset management for four years. From there, I accepted a position with The Sobrato Organization, where I was promoted to senior vice president of asset management last year.
Q Elliott: Congratulations on the promotion! On the hiring front, why did you seek the support of RETS for your candidate searches at The Sobrato Organization?
A Froman: Having worked with the firm as a candidate, I knew I could trust RETS’ caliber of industry relationships and deep talent pool. I wanted an effective partner that would help us find qualified candidates at various career stages, and was confident that the team would make searching and client communication a priority.
With the firm’s support, we have filled two positions in the past 16 months. They include an asset manager for our multifamily team, and an assistant property manager for our commercial real estate team. We’re also working closely with the firm to secure a property manager to join our commercial team.
All in all, RETS has been an exceptional resource for me throughout my career. From a candidate to a client, I am grateful for this valuable and evolving partnership.
Q Elliott: What advice would you give to organizations in the real estate industry seeking to employ top talent?
A Froman: My advice is to move quickly, and figure out what your competitive advantage is. Most importantly, engage with a recruiting partner who understands your expectations, business needs and company culture. This is the key to securing talent whose values and vision align with your business objectives. As an employer, you’re investing resources, such as time and money to hire and train new talent, so it’s important to ensure the engagement will work for both the candidate and employer. In a tight hiring market, it’s tempting to hire out of fear of not filling a position. Don’t let this influence your decision. Instead, seek the support of keen industry experts, who can find the right talent to drive your organization forward.
