Compensation and Location Remain Top Factors;
Workplace Culture Outpaces Growth Potential
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. and DALLAS – June 4, 2014 – Following last month’s report on top drivers behind women who are actively engaged in job search, RETS Associates, the premier commercial real estate recruiting firm on the West Coast, and Gillham, Golbeck & Associates, a Dallas-based executive search firm focused exclusively on commercial real estate, today announced new findings from their inaugural Women in Commercial Real Estate Recruiting and Retention Study that indicate shifting priorities for women when considering a new job.
While compensation and job location remain the top factors in evaluating a new position, workplace culture now outpaces other leading considerations such as growth potential, commute time, work schedule and job title among the nearly 400 professionals who were polled. Survey participants included entry-level to senior-management commercial real estate professionals from across the nation.
According to Jana Turner, principal of RETS Associates, the gap between workplace culture and location as the second-most-important factor was very narrow. “Women in commercial real estate want a workplace culture that supports greater opportunities to grow their career, and they hold this factor in such high regard that only compensation is truly a more important consideration when weighing a job offer,” said Turner. “Due to this change in priority for women, industry hiring managers need to ensure that their companies offer the type of culture and programs that will attract and retain top talent.”
The study also shed light on which activities women perform to better facilitate their job search. Connecting with prospective employers via social media (primarily LinkedIn, followed by Twitter and Facebook) ranked ahead of all other activities, with 22 percent of survey participants using social media in their search. Networking at industry events and networking through professional organizations were the next most frequently performed activities, with 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Fourteen (14) percent said they engage a recruiting firm.
“Generally, we see women professionals becoming far more proactive in their use of technology and personal networking to accelerate their job search,” said Rick Gillham, president of Gillham, Golbeck & Associates. “In a ‘it’s who you know’ industry, an increasing number of women understand the power of making as many connections as possible to advance their career.”
About Gillham, Golbeck & Associates:
Gillham, Golbeck & Associates, Inc. is an executive search firm focused exclusively on the commercial real estate industry. For more than 30 years, the firm’s expertise and in‑depth knowledge of local, national and international markets have ensured that clients consistently receive the most comprehensive, all-inclusive service in recruiting well‑qualified executives and senior-level professionals. For more information, visit www.ggasearch.com.
About RETS Associates:
Founded in 2002, RETS Associates is the West Coast’s premier firm specializing in the recruitment and staffing and placement of interim, permanent and executive positions in the commercial real estate and financial services industries. RETS Associates’ clients include REITs, developers, investors, pension fund advisors, operating companies and real estate services firms doing business in property management, facilities management, corporate services, and brokerage sales and leasing. For more information on RETS Associates, please visit www.retsusa.com.
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