Maybe a family in your area has a relative that would like to rent nearby but who doesn't think now is a good time to buy in this current housing market.You might even find someone who likes to target practice if that's a safe activity in your area. 

I could lose my entire investment 400 times (and get 400 practice sessions in 400 days) for the price of the education, and if I couldn't learn the ropes well before I completed 400 deals in a single year, I'm not cut out for that business.

Prior to syndicating deals, I worked for a commercial real estate investor in NYC for 14 years and gained a lot of knowledge and practical experience while in that role. 

So out completely. and have to restart everything- Over 100 employees have gone thru this company is less than 2 years - wow- Management Doesn't really want input / just do as I tell you- Very low pay for the crap that you have to put up with- Can't believe that they are allowed to continue there hiring / firing practices - You should hire to maintain for a length of time.

What are the best practices for quickly securing reliable tenants and ensuring positive cash flow, especially for someone new to this?

Networking is always a great practice and you never know who you might meet there and what good information they have to share.

Quote from @Gregory Wilson: This depends on what level of control you can exercise over the W-2 employer.

If you want practical support without being bound to a specific system, an “in-house” advisor could be the ideal fit for you, offering versatility as you build your own approach.

I'm sure there are agents and investors with deeper insights, but for most of us, a consistent, long-term approach—similar to dollar-cost averaging when investing in index funds—seems like the most practical strategy.That being said, I am also interested to hear what others have to say though, so thank you for the post!

I could be totally wrong, but I am just looking at it from a practical standpoint.