RAM Designation Helps Apartment Managers Advance in Their Career - 2/23/2004 - Real Estate Education Training Schools Conferences

RAM Designation Helps Apartment Managers Advance in Their Career

That’s one reason Robertson is serving this year as the chair of the RAM Board of Governors.

NAHB’s 40-hour RAM program teaches everything from marketing and maintenance systems to legal and regulatory issues. When property management professionals take the RAM course, it tells their employers and co-workers that they have a long-term goal — that they want to become experts in the issues that are vital to their career.

“It gives people a sense of pride and accomplishment, and tells the world that you’re committed to continuing to learn and to advance in your career,” says Robertson.

And it doesn’t hurt when it comes time to apply for a more responsible job. “All employers ask applicants, ‘Have you continued your education? Have you invested time to master the tools of your career?’” Seeing the Certified Leasing Professional (CLP), RAM or Advanced RAM designations on a job application makes a positive impression.

“If someone has worked in a job for more than five years without having made an effort to learn something new,” says Robertson, “it’s clear that they aren’t taking their career seriously.”

As a RAM Dean, Robertson makes arrangements for offering the RAM courses, teaches some of the courses and teaches some of the teachers.

It’s satisfying, she says, to hear back from the people who’ve completed the courses. “I got a call from one student who just received her RAM certificate this week,” she said. “She was so excited. She said, ‘I can’t tell you how proud I feel. I’m at a different level now.’”