Job opportunities in the real estate industry, especially in the property management (PM) field, have been increasing in recent years. As the demand for PM personnel increases, especially in the Tokyo metropolitan area, it is important for job seekers to understand the latest trends in the market and how their skills will be evaluated. This article explains the latest trends in property management (PM) jobs in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the skill sets required in the hiring market, as well as career paths and future prospects in the property management industry. We will also touch on INA's strengths and points of differentiation among the many companies in the industry, and provide specific information on the appeal of working at INA for job seekers. Based on the current state of the industry and its future prospects, we will explain why INA is a promising place for career advancement.
The Latest Trends in Real Estate PM Jobs in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area
First, let's take a look at the market trends for real estate management (PM) jobs in the Tokyo metropolitan area. There is currently a significant increase in the number of job openings in this field, and companies are very eager to hire. According to one study, the real estate industry as a whole will see a 2.5-fold increase in job openings by 2024 compared to the previous year, indicating a marked increase in demand for property management (PM) personnel. The shortage of experienced PMs is creating a so-called "seller's market," which is an opportunity for those with PM experience.
Behind this growing need for personnel is the industry's chronic shortage of expertise in the PM field, which requires a wide range of work and expertise, but despite this, the industry itself is not well known, making it difficult to secure new personnel. There is a competition for excellent PM personnel, and companies tend to favor those with experience. In addition, in recent years, with the development of real estate tech and growing interest in ESG, there is an increasing need for personnel withstrong digital technology skills andthose who can respond to sustainability issues. After the new Corona, new issues such as remote handling and sanitation management were added, and PMs who can flexibly respond to changes are now in high demand.
The full-scale development of urbanredevelopmentprojects and large-scale facility projects is also creating a tailwind for increased job opportunities. Demand for PM personnel to manage the operation of these redevelopment projects is further increasing. In recent years, foreign-affiliated hotels have also been actively entering the market, increasing the need for PMs to manage hotel operations. The real estate PM job market in the Tokyo metropolitan area is booming and is expected to continue to do so in the future, making it a good environment for those considering a career change to a PM position to expand their options.
Skill Sets Highly Valued in Today's Hiring Market
What skill sets are highly valued by companies in this market? While experience in itself is a great advantage, there are a wide range of specific skills that are required of PMs who are ready to work immediately. The main skills generally listed are as follows
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Communication skills: The ability to interact smoothly with a variety of stakeholders, including owners, tenants, and contractors, and to accurately understand and respond to their needs. It is important to build good interpersonal relationships and to be able to calmly make adjustments when problems arise.
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Management Skills: The ability to oversee the overall operation of managed properties and manage schedules, budgets, and risks. Problem-solving skills are required to prioritize tasks efficiently even when managing multiple properties, and to deal with problems quickly and appropriately.
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Market analysis and strategic planning: The ability to read real estate market trends and develop strategies to maximize property value. The ability to make decisions based on market trends when setting rents and proposing renovations, and to propose revenue-increasing measures to owners is expected.
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IT literacy: Ability to master various IT tools such as property management software and CRM. IT skills, including knowledge of data analysis and digital marketing, are becoming increasingly important in the real estate industry, and are indispensable for PMs, as the use of IT can improve operational efficiency and enable more precise decision making.
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Legal and accounting knowledge: Knowledge of laws and regulations related to lease contracts and building management, as well as accounting knowledge related to income and expenditure calculations and taxation. This knowledge is fundamental to understanding the Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Law and building management laws, and to properly report income and expenditures and manage risks. If you can demonstrate that you have this knowledge by acquiring related qualifications (e.g., certified real estate agent, chief administrator), you will have an advantage in the job market.
As described above, a PM position requires a good balance of advanced communication skills and specialized knowledge. In addition to traditional property management, skills that are relevant to the digital age are becoming more important, especially now that IT and data analysis skills are highly valued. By taking stock of your experience and skill set and understanding what companies are looking for, you will be able to make the most of your job change.
Career Paths and Prospects in the Property Management Industry
Next, let's look at the career paths and future prospects in the property management (PM) industry. The knowledge and skills required to manage real estate are taken into account, and experience and qualifications are taken into account, making this an industry where relatively high income can be expected. In fact, the annual salary for an on-site person at a mid-level PM company is around 4 to 6 million yen, but even higher levels of compensation can be expected at major companies and foreign-affiliated PM firms. If promoted to a manager or project leader position, the annual salary may reach 6-8 million yen or more. In this way, the more experience you gain and the higher your position, the bigger the step up in income.
In terms of career paths, the general trend is to start out as an on-site manager in charge of tenant relations and rent management, and then move up to a managerial position after accumulating a solid track record. As a manager, you will be in a position to oversee multiple properties and supervise junior staff, and with more experience, you may be able to become the head of the property management department or a member of the company's management team. In fact, it is also possible to become an asset management advisor or a member of management by acquiring qualifications such as a licensed real estate agent or acquiring skills in real estate investment analysis. There have been cases in which people have moved from property management to asset management of real estate funds/REITs based on their professional qualifications, and the knowledge gained in the PM position can be utilized widely within the real estate industry.
In addition, you can expect to increase your income by improving your skills and acquiring qualifications. If you have a firm grasp of the basics of the business and hone your expertise in areas such as market analysis and contracting, you will gain the trust of owners and investors, which may lead to promotions and higher salaries. In particular, national certifications such as those mentioned above (e.g., registered real estate contractor and chief administrator) are often required for PM positions, and in some cases, acquiring these certifications can increase annual income by several hundred thousand yen. Furthermore, in recent years, acquisition of the latest technological skills, such as IoT and AI, is also highly valued, and personnel who can implement efficient data-driven management may be given preferential treatment in terms of compensation. In fact, the industry has been taking steps to improve the value of owners' assets by making full use of technology, such as rent assessment using AI and facilities management using IoT, and personnel who can respond to these trends will be increasingly valued in the future.
In general, the property management industry offers a sense of stability due to its high degree of specialization, and it is a promising field in which you can steadily improve your career and increase your income depending on your efforts. In addition, as mentioned above, market needs themselves are expanding, so there are abundant opportunities for experienced PMs. Although "real estate management" may sound like a modest behind-the-scenes job to some, it is actually a dynamic job that makes full use of digital technology and financial knowledge, and the skills you acquire will become a long-term career asset.
INA's Strengths and Differentiating Points Compared to Other Companies
When considering a career at INA, it is important to understand the company's philosophy, approach to human resources, and working environment. Here are some of the key features of INA
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Clear philosophy and mission: INA's corporate philosophy is "Thinking of People, Creating the Future" and its mission is to realize "a society where all people are valued and rewarded fairly" through "the fusion of human imagination and technology". We are not simply pursuing profit, but are developing our business based on the vision of maximizing the happiness of all people involved, and the clarity of our social mission is the axis of our business, which sets us apart from other companies.
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Emphasis on investment in human capital: INA positions itself as the " World's No. 1 Human Capital Investment Company " and believes that the growth of its people is what creates corporate value. We place more emphasis on the long-term growth of each and every employee than on short-term profits, and we spare no expense in investing in the development of our people by enhancing our training programs and providing opportunities to proactively take on new business challenges. This provides an environment where employees can work hard to improve their skills and grow with the company.
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Strength in Technology and Innovation: INA is also a real estate technology company that provides services mainly in the Kanto and Kinki regions. A key feature of our services is the active use of AI and IT technology in the areas of real estate sales and management to provide more convenient and higher quality services. For example, the company has introduced an AI-based real estate price assessment system and an online viewing system, creating added value that no other company can match by digitizing previously analog operations. This approach to utilizing technology is what differentiates us from traditional property management companies.
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Flexible and open culture: As part of its organizational culture, INA respects the diversity and autonomy of its employees. We emphasize a culture in which people of all nationalities, genders, and ages can come together from diverse backgrounds and work freely and openly. At the same time, we have created an open environment within the company by breaking down barriers between departments and providing opportunities for open communication and exchange of ideas. This culture, which makes it easy to propose new ideas and work together as a team, motivates employees and energizes the organization.
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Respect for discretion and initiative: We are committed to creating an environment in which each employee has a sense of ownership and can act on his or her own initiative. Rather than simply following instructions given from above, employees are given a great deal of discretion in the way they work and how they work so that they can think independently and act on their own initiative. We have a culture in which even young employees are entrusted with important projects, and those who have a spirit of challenge are provided with a field in which they can grow significantly.
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Clear and fair evaluation system: We have an evaluation system that fairly evaluates employees who act in accordance with the company's values and reflects this in promotions and rewards. In addition to performance, we also evaluate employees based on whether they embody INA's core values on a daily basis, and conduct fair and transparent personnel evaluations. This ensures a consistent policy throughout the company and allows employees to develop their own careers with a sense of satisfaction. A culture that rewards hard work is a driving force for employee engagement.
These are the main strengths of INA, which differentiates itself from its competitors by focusing on both "people" and "technology," management based on principles, and advanced initiatives. This, in turn, directly leads to the creation of a rewarding work environment for our employees and, as we will see in the next section, many attractive features for job seekers.
The Attractiveness of INA to Job Seekers
Finally, we will summarize what makes working at INA attractive from a job seeker's point of view: in light of INA's strengths, what makes working here a good experience for you.
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A work environment that encourages growth: As mentioned above, our organizational culture is open and flat, and employees' opinions and ideas are respected. There are low barriers between supervisors and other departments, and the environment is open and supportive when there are problems. It is easy to raise your hand if you want to take on a challenge, and depending on your motivation, you can take on a variety of tasks, expanding your own potential. The diversity of our workforce provides a lot of stimulation, and you will be able to grow while engaging in friendly competition with each other.
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Excellent training and qualification support: INA provides learning opportunities from new employee training to regular training to ensure that employees steadily acquire the company's vision and expertise. For example, INA provides systematic human resource development by instilling our mission and values in new employees during their induction training, and by providing regular opportunities to learn about the latest industry trends and skills. This system enables employees to continuously improve their skills even after joining the company, which is a major attraction of our company.
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Socially meaningful and rewarding: Working at INA is more than just pursuing profits; you can feel that your work contributes to society by helping to realize INA's mission of "creating a society in which all people are valued and rewarded fairly. For example, you will be involved in projects that will revolutionize the industry for the better, such as providing an AI-based rent assessment service to realize fair and highly satisfactory transactions for both owners and tenants. There are many occasions when you will receive words of gratitude when your work contributes to clients and society, and you will be able to engage in your daily work with meaning and pride. The company is also enthusiastic about contributing to the SDGs and local communities, and employees have opportunities to participate in such activities. The fact that you can feel a sense of fulfillment in solving global issues, rather than simply completing the tasks assigned to you, is a great source of motivation for working at INA.
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Fair evaluation and clear career paths: INA values its people above all else and has an established culture that fairly evaluates and rewards employees for their efforts and achievements. Positive challenges and actions in line with the company's values are reflected in evaluations, so you can rest assured that your efforts will not be in vain. Depending on your performance, even young employees can be selected for important positions, and the company has a strong meritocracy and performance-based culture, which allows you to progress in your career as you see fit. The evaluation criteria are clear and feedback is carefully provided, so it is easy to grasp your growth issues and you can continue working with a sense of satisfaction. There are a variety of career paths available to you in the future. In addition to becoming a specialist in property management, you will have opportunities to challenge yourself in other businesses within the group (real estate distribution, technology, consulting, etc.). The fact that this is a workplace where it is easy to develop a long-term career vision is also an attractive point for job seekers.
Conclusion
The job market for property management positions (PM positions) in the Tokyo metropolitan area is becoming more active, and the skills required are becoming more sophisticated, creating opportunities for job seekers to grow and expand their activities. In this environment, INA is a company with avision to pioneer the future of the industry based on both "people" and "technology" and is focused on creating a rewarding work environment for its employees. When considering where to change jobs based on the latest trends, we encourage you to look at companies like INA that have a clear philosophy and are proactive about human resource development. INA is a company that is aiming for further growth in the industry, and you will be able to make full use of your property management experience while making significant progress in your own career. If you are interested, please check out INA's recruitment information. Take the first step in your new career in a future-oriented environment.
