Part 1
By Julie Adamen

“You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes,
you can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss [1]

Welcome to the New Year! It’s that time again for all of us to take stock of where we are – and we where we want to go.  Often as not, we ask what will the New Year bring to me?  It may sound funny, but the answer to that question can be found in a children’s book, “Oh! The Places You’ll Go!” By Dr. Seuss. For young people it is meant to be confidence building for there really are places you can go if you put your mind to it. The story line may be simple, yet to the adult ear its words about growing, changing and dealing with life’s hard earned lessons resonate with profound wisdom.  So I guess we need to ask ourselves some questions and then make a plan because you do “…have brains in your head…”

How long will I be in this business? you ask.  On average, you’ll stay in our industry for about four years. If you make it to four years, you are more likely to get to the 7 – 10 year mark. After 10 years you’re more likely to stay 15 years plus.

If you are planning on staying in the business, there is a reality to face (among many) – that there really aren’t that many places to “move up.”  But – for those willing to stick it out and manage their careers, there are some places to go within, or close by, the industry. Here are two of the four main selections for professional growth:

Middle and Upper Management in Management Companies

Desirability Quotient: Mid - High
Salary Range: Finally a decent wage
Hours Worked: Don’t ask
Satisfaction: Depends on when you ask them

If you work for a mid- to large- management firm anywhere, you know that these positions are some of the hardest to come by. Everyone wants them, and the people who hold them generally don’t leave them unless it’s feet first (comatose) because they know they hold one of the better overall positions in the industry.  If they are in continual harmony with the corporate culture, the people who hold these jobs have nearly guaranteed employment right to retirement.

The good thing about middle and upper management is there is a certain amount of satisfaction in helping make the vision of your firm a reality – giving clients good service while helping those under you to achieve their professional goals. Overall, I found this aspect of my management career very satisfying. BUT – and that’s a big BUT – some of the most stressed out managers I talk with are in these coveted positions.  They are stressed because not only are they handling all their additional responsibilities, they usually manage a full portfolio of accounts. In reality, these jobs should be mutually exclusive. You can’t do both jobs effectively and concurrently over a sustained period of time. Unfortunately, in our business, if you aren’t managing accounts, you are considered “overhead.”

If you are working for a management firm with these types of positions available just showing up for work everyday won’t cut the mustard for qualifications when that position becomes vacant. You will have serious competition within the company as well as from competing firms. If you want this position you must: 1. Be prepared by staying current with your education even if YOU have to pay for it. 2 Be aware of (and attend regularly) networking opportunities. 3. Accept additional responsibilities as they come your way. 4. Ask for more responsibilities when you are able to handle it (show your capability and your initiative).  5. Finally, let your company know you are interested in moving up on a regular basis. Ambition is a good thing.

Last but not least, don’t just watch for these positions at your firm – keep an eye out (and an ear to the ground) for similar positions at competing firms. Generally, you can make more money at a new firm than at the same position at your old firm.

On Site Management

Desirability Quotient: High
Salary Range: From ok to great
Hours Worked: 50 - 55
Satisfaction: High on your way in, Low on your way out

On site management: The Holy Grail of the community association industry, and for good reason. Many times the following perks are part and parcel for the on site manager: 1. More prestige. 2. Usually much better pay. 3. The ability to see projects through to completion. 4. The feeling of “captaining your own ship.”  These are the jobs everyone wants, and they want them now. Unfortunatley, there are some realities to qualifying, obtaining and keeping these positions that will make most managers reluctantly cross the “on site position” off their Christmas list.

Some realities about on site management are…

• On average, your life expectancy at any one position is 4-5 years (even if you are with a management company).
• If you want to stay in the game and get the best jobs (the 70k – 110k+ positions), you must be willing to relocate on a regular basis.
• Yes, you have only one set of problems – but they are YOUR problems, and they often sit in your office on a regular basis.
• All your eggs are in one basket.
• If you work “in house” you are on your own with no layer of management company protection.

How do I get in to on site management?

Right place, right time. Often people get in to on site management just by being in the right place at the right time, but some places are better than others while waiting for that “right time.”  Some of the “right” places are: In the employ of a management firm that manages on site accounts, working for a “growth” company that is aggressively looking for accounts  or  working as an assistant manager for a large community association (in house or for a management company).

Develop the right strengths.  On site managers are really politicians, so even though you may be aces at reading financials, that will not matter compared to your people and communication abilities. Strengthen these important skills because if you don’t have them, you may land the job but you won’t last very long.

Education. Get it! Get all the industry education you can, up to and including your PCAM. You are going to need to make time for those classes if you want to get ahead.

Over the past 16 (!!) years in the business I have found that one of the main reasons talented people leave the industry is that they think there is no place for them to move up. Although it is true that our industry supports very little in the way of middle and upper management within the structure of management companies and there is tough competition for on site positions, there are options and doors to be opened if the manager desires to do so. Planning your professional life with your long range goals in mind is a great first step. 

[1] From Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By  Dr. Seuss, Random House, New York 1990 Summary: Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life; weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion; and being in charge of your actions