Getting It Wrong

When companies hire new employees, each has its own methodology for assessing the potential of candidates, both new hires and internal promotions. A recent survey published by the Wall Street Journal, indicate that 40% of internal job moves by people regarded as high-potential end in failure.

According to George Hallenbeck, of the Center for Creative Leadership, “A lot of organizations go astray, in that they lack clarity on exactly what is it we mean when we say potential. Potential for what?” Some companies size-up potential based on a candidates culture fit, but clearly that can backfire in a period of change when business as usual is the wrong answer.

Another yardstick is to look for individuals who are capable of winning two promotions in five years. Hallenbeck said that approach risks gauging competence in only one kind of work. “The best engineer might not be the best CEO.”

Increasingly employers are turning to assessments that analyze their ideal leaders’ behaviors, drivers, attitudes and attributes. The science of these assessments produces a realistic understanding of what makes someone tick, greatly increasing the odds of getting the assessment of potential right.

However the assessment of behavior differs from one company to the next. A hotel operator like Marriott might look for people with a passion for hospitality and helping people, while an investment bank will more often than not, seek out good soldiers who can immerse themselves in the corporate identity and aggressively elbow to rise in the ranks. Hopefully the assessments don’t get mixed-up.

Job Listings

  SPONSORED JOB GEM EQUITY MARKETS LLC VP Transaction Management (BETHESDA, MD) VP will work with senior management to oversee project and pipeline management; oversee weekly resource utilization (both internal employees and outsourced service providers); and manage company data files.

WESTMOUNT REALTY CAPITAL Director – Real Estate Private Capital (DALLAS, TX) Position will be a key member of the private capital team and assist in raising equity capital for projects from RIAs, fee only financial planners and high net worth investors.  

THE DOMAIN COMPANIES Property Accountant (NEW YORK, NY) Duties include, but are not limited to: preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for independent auditors, internal associates and external parties; performing monthly accounting activities, such as bank reconciliations, deposit summaries, and cash position updates; and recording monthly transactions such as payroll, debt service and tenant charges.  

EYA Acquisitions and Development Associate (BETHESDA, MD) Associate will be an integral member of land acquisition and development team, working side-by-side with executive development team and corporate leadership to source, analyze, acquire, and manage urban infill development projects.  

ROSS STORES Real Estate Director, Corporate Properties (DUBLIN, CA) Duties include: establishing and managing a third party network of contractors and vendors to support negotiations and thorough due diligence/market intelligence; performing detailed site diligence activities for relative comparisons of viable options and recommendations; and negotiating contracts and other agreements to ensure market or better deal terms.  

COMPSTAK Associate Director of Market Development (NEW YORK, NY) Position will take ownership of key functions within designated territory to drive data and number growth; map players in the CRE community and develop a playbook for highly customized and strategic outreach; and create and maintain relationships with new and existing CompStak users.  

M3 CAPITAL PARTNERS Operations Manager (SAO PAULO, BRAZIL) M3 Capital Partners formed and capitalized MTC Realty, a multifamily business based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. MTC Realty is looking to hire an Operations Manager to be responsible for the operational excellence of the company’s rapidly growing multifamily property portfolio, which is targeted to deliver over 10 projects and 1,500 multifamily units within São Paulo in the next +/- 5 years.  

SAVILLS STUDLEY, INC. Financial Analyst (LOS ANGELES, CA) Analyst will perform in-depth financial analysis for complex real estate transactions, create financial models to aid brokers and clients in determining financial considerations. Position will have direct involvement in the creation and presentation of financial modeling.  

MADISON MARQUETTE Director of Experiential Marketing (HALLANDALE BEACH, FL) Director will have responsibility for planning and implementing the Village at Gulfstream’s event activation and marketing programs, including specialty events, experiential marketing, consumer outreach, public relations and digital and social media initiatives. Objective will be to develop strategies and programs to build and maintain customer traffic throughout the Village’s renovation and remerchandising project.  

VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY Manager, Real Estate (VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA) Reporting to the Director of Real Estate and working with two other managers and a team of real estate professionals, Manager will be responsible for a variety of real estate activities to ensure efficient administration, effective utilization and optimization of the port authority’s real estate assets.