The coop or internship program that started at NWJ almost 15 years ago has been a great success for the organization and for the employees/partners who have come to us through our program. Actually it all starts with my real estate career which came about through a coop position after my freshman year at Drexel University.
After my first year at Drexel I wanted a good paying job badly. With tuition to pay and other expenses I needed the money. So I interviewed at a lot of companies and got some good high paying offers. I also interviewed at a fast growing real estate company over 1 hour away from where I was living at the time. The company was building retail shopping centers all over and growing fast. Ten minutes into the interview I was hooked. I pursued the guy that interviewed me like there was no tomorrow. Hundreds of phone messages later I had the job. One month later when I received my first paycheck I realized I was making $160/week, less than a third what I had been offered by other firms. In the interview I never even asked what I would make. To this day I believe that to be one of my best moves in business. When you see an opportunity make it happen, the details can be worked out later.
Having gone through the coop/intern process I realize what an important role the process plays in our recruiting of new talent. I see the process as really a six month interview. We ask questions and see how people perform under pressure. In turn our commitment to the intern is an open door. You should question everything you are doing and ask your manager: why you're doing it what it means in the big picture and what the end results of your effort will be. Real estate is a business you learn by doing not by reading about. If you have any questions not answered by your managers than feel free to email me. It may not be immediate but you will receive a response.
With that I am pleased to announce that this year three former coops have taken full time positions with NWJ. Christian Van horn will be joining the asset management division, Doug Steiner the finance dept and Eric Wardrop is moving to FL for the retail consulting group. Each of them have been with us for at least one six month period and part time work while in school. They have each shown that they can handle the pressures of what we throw at them plus school work. Not an easy juggling act.
Welcome aboard guys.
Remember its people like Doug, Christian, Eric and all of you that will make our $1 Billion goal happen.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Nickolas W Jekogian
917-763-3500
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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