Strategic Advice for Young CRE Professionals

MIAMI—Central Florida's office market is recovering by leaps and bounds, which means brokerages are hiring young professionals. JLL's John Gilbert, managing director responsible for overseeing the office leasing for the firm's portfolio in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, offers insights, credentials and advice for young professionals in part two of this exclusive interview.

GlobeSt.com: What is the most exciting aspect of the Central Florida office market now and why?

Gilbert: After seven to eight long years of lower deal volume, we are seeing good activity in both the leasing and sales environment. It was a long difficult period for the our industry and it's a welcome change to once again be part of an exciting and dynamic real estate market in Central Florida.

GlobeSt.com: Describe a highlight of your career?

Gilbert: In 2007 and 2012, I was named the NAIOP office broker of the year. NAIOP represents commercial real estate developers, owners and investors of office, industrial, retail, and mixed-use properties and winning one of their awards is a huge accomplishment in the commercial real estate industry.

GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give to those who are just starting out in commercial real estate?

Gilbert: With the commercial real estate market strengthening, the timing is right for younger professionals interested in growing their careers in the real estate field. Entering the real estate business at a younger age offers a great opportunity to gain experience from more senior professionals and also bring fresh, innovative ideas that can make a significant contribution to an organization. At JLL, we are also seeking talented young professionals to complement our team that includes some of the top producing, most experienced professionals in the region.

You can still read part one of this interview: What Kinds of Companies Are Driving Office Leasing?