Would you put real estate experience on a non real estate resume?

[Jeff Arndt]

Hey guys, I'm in the process of sending my resume out to other companies for the sake of seeing what else is out there.  I'm happy with my job but as a wise man once told me, it's a great idea to send your resume out every year to see if anyone bites.  You may not accept the other position but at least you will have made an active decision to stay.  And that piece of mind will hopefully cure the "grass is greener" syndrome.

Anyway, I'm an engineer with a few rehabs under my belt and I manage 4 units myself.  I want to add a blurb in my resume under "other interests and activities" about real estate:

"Part time landlord and limited residential rehabilitation projects completed."

Through this I wish to show potential employers that I am driven, self motivated, able to multitask, undergo complex planning.....the list goes on.  Everyone here knows the benefits....

However, real estate can have negative impacts to the employer.  They may feel that I will be looking at properties all day, on the phone all the time, ignoring my duties of an engineer.

Does anyone have some insight to this? Thanks!

[Lynn Montang]

I would keep all your RE to yourself.  Not only could it cause concern about your priorities, it could potentially cause jealously if you are doing well.  Just flat out say on your resume, "I am driven, self motivated, able to multitask, undergo complex planning."  There's always the interview where you could mention you have experience with RE, but I would downplay how involved you are day to day with your projects.