top 3 skills employers are looking for in property development right now.

Whether you’re looking for a new role in property development now or considering the profession for the future, it’s important to understand the key skills you will need to succeed.

A good Development Manager requires a range of interpersonal and technical capabilities, and emphasis will shift depending on the employer, the project, and the state of the property market. Because of this, a balanced and well-rounded understanding of the entire project lifecycle will always be the gold-standard in development.

But beyond this fundamental base, how do you set yourself apart? Understanding the specific skills employers are looking for and how you can best display them will enable you to take a proactive approach to your career development and set yourself up for success.

So what skills are property development employers looking for in 2022?

1.     commercial acumen.

In property development, commercial acumen means understanding the financial considerations of your project and the wider business and having awareness of how you can act to minimise risk, increase efficiency, and create opportunity.

How you show it:

• Show insight into the financial considerations of your projects - funding options, acquisition strategies, deal structures.

• Demonstrate strong financial modeling skills in Excel and/or Estate Master.

• Give examples of how you have reduced business risk, improved efficiency, and identified new opportunities.

2. front-end development.

Having exposure across the entire development lifecycle is always appealing to employers, but in the current economic climate, front-end development skills are most in demand, particularly in relation to deal origination.

How you show it:

• Give examples of how your involvement in development site transactions.

• Give examples of your involvement in commercial sales and leasing pre-commitment deals.

• Demonstrate strong skills across market research, business development, and negotiation.

3. stakeholder management.

Stakeholder management is another fundamental development management skill that has been emphasised by the current economic climate. Cultivating your network, developing robust conflict management and negotiation skills, and building strong relationships with all your key stakeholders has never been more important.

How to show it:

• Demonstrate self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and great communication skills.

• Give examples of how you have used conflict resolution and negotiation skills to manage consultants and suppliers.

• Build genuine relationships with the people you work with - it's a small world in property and a good informal reference is worth its weight in gold.

How did you score? If you’re 3/3 here you might be up there with some of the top talent of the moment, so tell people about it and get the recognition you deserve!

 But don’t fret if you can’t demonstrate all or even any of these skills in your work experience so far. Your ability to demonstrate that you have a DESIRE for professional development in these areas and that you are ACTING on this by pursuing formal education or training in the workplace is just as important.

 A final note, one size does not fit all. These are the most common skills our employers are asking us for right now, but it is your unique skill set, values, and career goals that will ultimately drive the best match with your dream job!

Get in touch to find out how you can maximise your strengths, find your perfect role, and take control of your property development career.

And in the meantime, keep in touch to stay in the know.