It doesn’t take more than a glance at the classifieds to realize that many aspects of the Sri Lanka real estate market are active and thriving. A recent survey of large commercial spaces showcased Colombo as a “prime hotspot” for investment opportunities, but in order to make sure both commercial and residential sales stay that way—particularly in suburban locations like Welisara, Rajagiriya and Ratmalana-Moratuwa—an energetic property-related support network is necessary to sustain the trend and keep it growing. If your dream is to work in the Colombo real estate field, a surprising number of openings await you via classified resources like www.ikman.lk. Stay alert for jobs in Sri Lanka on that website while you contemplate your future career!
Commercial Real Estate Broker. It will take effort on your part to secure credentials that lead to becoming a commercial real estate broker in a city like Colombo, but your payoff could come as quickly as one major deal that helps you make a name for yourself in commercial real estate. Understand what’s moving and what’s not—for example, medium-sized offices between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet are in high demand and sought by financial businesses because there’s a shortage of “Grade A” buildings throughout the nation. Alternately, you might specialize in small spaces catering to start-up companies requiring anywhere from 100 to 2,000 square feet, some of which may be located in older residential homes. Understand up front that your credentials will take you only so far: Your ability to sell, to keep vacancies filled and your willingness to work tirelessly to cut deals makes this a highly competitive property job, but if you set your sights high, you can do it.
Retail Real Estate Professional. Do you enjoy helping retail shop owners get their little boutiques up and running? Focus your career aspirations on neighborhoods in transition that are morphing from residential into collections and neighborhoods of boutiques or jump on board the emerging trend in Colombo where mixed developments and a few shopping malls are becoming hubs of activity. Start your jobs in Colombo search by consulting ikman.lk frequently, but you can also go directly to the developers associated with Havelock City, Property Alliance Capital, Colombo City Center and Shangri-La as these entities will continue to need creative, energetic sales help to turn these developments into successes over the next five years. Another niche that could help you make your mark is attracting international franchises like McDonald’s and KFC to Colombo, turning you into an invaluable resource while building your career.
Residential Real Estate Professional. Do you like working with people seeking new homes and apartments? While the residential housing supply in Colombo is often tight, new construction will continue to be undertaken by developers, particularly in the luxury and premium categories, but there will always be a need for affordable housing. If you’re invested in this property niche, you can be ready when those opportunities open by keeping an eye on ikman.com’s job classifieds. Become an expert in both urban and suburban pricing, sizing and demographic spreads to take advantage of new developments in Sri Lanka real estate markets the moment they strike and you can unearth jobs in Colombo openings when they post. It’s important to stay in touch with the industry because trends come and go; if you remember the increase in apartment resale values up to 2012, you know things have stabilized, but you’ll be ready for the next spike by staying abreast of the Colombo market.
Property Management. Does your talent reside in your organizational skills? Do you enjoy multi-tasking to make sure that all administrative, maintenance and customer service needs are met so property developers stay happy and tenants can operate without added stress? There’s no job like property management-focused work if you like a fast pace and lots of responsibility. Age doesn’t matter: current property management job openings seek level-headed men between 30 and 60 with strong administrative skills and, preferably, some facility management experience. Does this mean you must have a residential or commercial real estate background? Not necessarily. If you were responsible for property management at a school, factory, warehouse or a large conglomerate and can show you undertook similar responsibilities, your background could prove valuable, especially if you can circumnavigate computer programs like Microsoft Word and Excel to support your experience, as well as being fluent in English.
Property Management Assistants. This type of job is a great way to break into the Colombo real estate scene if you are ambitious but have no property-related experience on your resume. As the assistant of a sales or management professional, your responsibilities could run the gamut from handling correspondence to making sure confidential matters stay under lock and key. Booking calendars, monitoring vacancies and perhaps even meeting with vendors associated with new and old real estate ventures could fall under your purview once you prove yourself. If your ultimate goal is property sales, you couldn’t find a better paid training experience than becoming an assistant sales manager! Learn from the ground up under the tutelage of a successful professional and you might find the mentor willing to help you make your biggest aspirations come true.
Real Estate Marketing Manager. Who doesn’t need a marketing manager on staff in this day and age? Your understanding of how to market real estate, a bachelor’s degree in marketing and your ability to create unique sales and marketing strategies, undertake market research, design development goals and marketing campaigns–and apply your understanding of how Sri Lankan media works–could be your ticket to job success. Even a smattering of real estate work in your past—whether it’s a supporting role to those developing high-end residential property, overseeing hotel or villa construction or working in an aspect of real estate analyses, appraisals or sales can move your name to the top of job candidates list, so work your resume artfully to showcase your background and then sell yourself using excellent communications skills at the job interview.
Entry Level Property Jobs. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? That’s why your decision to take a lower level job or an internship at a real estate office, hotel, resort, conference or banqueting facility could pay off big time if you focus on your long-term goal of working in property management. Aspire to bigger things while learning about the property management industry, and don’t be shy about sharing your future goals with people to whom you report. Volunteer to take on extra responsibility. Ask questions about how property is managed, run and operated. Be prepared to work extra hours to show your potential. Whether your goal is becoming a real estate agent, you want to lease residential properties or you aspire to being part of the planning for the next big Colombo shopping mall, keep your ears and eyes open for property jobs that can launch your career and your dedication will pay off.
ᐧ
