20 Colliers Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to a job interview, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions. But if you’re interviewing for a position at Colliers International, you may be wondering what specific questions you can expect.

Colliers International is a global real estate specialist, so the company is looking for candidates who have the skills and experience to match. In your interview, you’ll be asked questions about your experience in the real estate industry, as well as your knowledge of the market. You may also be asked questions about your problem-solving skills and your ability to work in a team.

Preparing for your interview is the best way to make sure you’re ready to answer any question that comes your way. So take some time to review the most common Colliers International interview questions, and think about how you would answer each one.

Colliers Interview Process

The interview process at Colliers is generally pretty lengthy, taking anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. However, it seems that most applicants report positive experiences with the interviews themselves, finding them to be both informative and engaging. Additionally, while some positions may require more rounds of interviews than others, it appears that the company is generally transparent about the process and keeps applicants updated throughout.

1. What are your career goals?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s career goals and how they plan to achieve them. It also gives you an idea of what their expectations are for this position. When answering, it can be helpful to include your short-term and long-term goals.

Example: “My goal is to become a top real estate agent in my city. I know that takes hard work and dedication, but I’m ready to put in the effort. In the next five years, I’d like to have achieved 100% client satisfaction. By 10 years, I hope to have opened my own real estate agency.”

2. Why do you want to work for Colliers International?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. They want to know what you like about working for Colliers International and how it fits into your career goals. To answer this question, think of some specific aspects of the company that appeal to you. Consider things like its culture, values or mission statement.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in real estate, so I started my own blog where I share tips on buying and selling homes. When I saw that Colliers International was hiring, I knew it would be a great opportunity to work with an established organization while still maintaining my independence as a blogger. I’m excited to join such a forward-thinking company.”

3. How would you describe yourself in three words?

This question is a way for the interviewer to get to know you better. They want to see if your personality matches their company culture and values. When answering this question, be honest about yourself and how you would fit into the role.

Example: “I am hardworking, ambitious and creative. I have always been someone who strives to do my best work. I also love being challenged and finding new ways to solve problems. In my previous position, I was tasked with creating an online marketing strategy that increased our website traffic by 30%. My creativity led me to create a social media campaign that boosted our brand awareness.”

4. Tell me about a time you had an unhappy customer, how did you handle it?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. They want to know how you react when a client is upset and whether or not you can resolve the situation. In your answer, try to explain what steps you took to make things right with the client.

Example: “In my previous position as a real estate agent, I had an unhappy client who was looking for a house in their budget but couldn’t find anything that fit their needs. After several weeks of searching, they were starting to get frustrated. I decided to look at houses outside of their budget so we could see if there were any options available. We found one that met all of their criteria and purchased it.”

5. How do you stay organized?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan your time and manage projects. Use examples of organizational tools or apps that you use to stay on top of deadlines, schedules and other important information.

Example: “I have a planner where I write down all my appointments and deadlines for each day. This helps me keep track of what I need to do when and allows me to see any upcoming events or tasks that I may need to prepare for. I also use an app called Todoist to create lists of things I need to get done throughout the week. This is helpful because it syncs with my phone so I can check off items as I complete them.”

6. Are you comfortable working with spreadsheets and databases?

This question is a good way to assess your comfort level with technology and data management. If you have experience using spreadsheets, databases or other software programs that help manage large amounts of information, be sure to mention it in your answer.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different types of database software throughout my career, including Microsoft Access and MySQL. I find these tools helpful for organizing and managing large amounts of information. In my last position, I used the database program MySQL to organize all of our client records. This helped me stay organized and ensure I was always able to access important information when needed.”

7. Describe the last project that was assigned to you. How many people were on your team and what was your role?

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and ability to work in a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the specific goals of the project and how you helped achieve them.

Example: “The last project I worked on was an office building that needed renovations. My team consisted of three other real estate agents who were all experienced with commercial properties. We had weekly meetings where we discussed our progress and any challenges we faced. In the end, we managed to renovate the entire property within budget.”

8. Do you have any experience with creating presentations or reports?

This question can help the interviewer understand your presentation and communication skills. If you have experience creating presentations or reports, share a specific example of when you used this skill to benefit your previous employer.

Example: “In my last position as an account manager for a real estate company, I was responsible for presenting our sales goals to my team every week. I created a PowerPoint presentation that included graphs and charts to show how we were performing against our goals each month. This helped my team stay motivated and inspired to work hard to meet their goals.”

9. Can you tell us more about your qualifications?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and qualifications. It’s important to highlight any relevant experience you have that relates to the job description.

Example: “I graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor of science in real estate development, which led me to my first position as an associate at Colliers International. I’ve been working here for three years now, where I’ve gained valuable experience in commercial real estate. My education has helped me develop skills such as communication, problem-solving and critical thinking.”

10. Give an example of something creative you’ve done at work.

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you’re willing to go above and beyond in your work. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of an example from your previous job or one you’ve done on your own time.

Example: “At my last job, I noticed that our company’s website wasn’t ranking as high as we wanted it to for certain keywords. So, I created a new page with the content we needed to rank higher. After implementing these changes, our site started ranking higher than competitors within two weeks.”

11. Have you ever started a new job and felt like you didn’t know anyone? How did you go about making connections?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of how you interact with others and your ability to make new connections. Use examples from previous jobs or school to show that you’re comfortable in unfamiliar situations and have experience making friends quickly.

Example: “When I started my first job out of college, I was nervous about meeting everyone at work. So, I made sure to introduce myself to every person I saw on my way into the office. It only took me a few days to meet most people in the office, and by the end of the week, I had met almost all of them.”

12. Would you say that you are detail oriented?

This question is a great way to determine how well you can follow instructions and complete tasks. Detail orientation is an important skill for real estate agents because they often have many details to keep track of, such as client information, property listings and more. Your answer should show the interviewer that you are organized and able to manage your time effectively.

Example: “Yes, I would say that I am detail oriented. In my previous role, I was responsible for managing all of our company’s social media accounts. This required me to be very attentive to small details like spelling errors and formatting issues. I also had to make sure that each post we made on each platform was unique so that it could reach the right audience.”

13. Provide an example of when you worked well under pressure.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you were able to complete a task or project despite the pressure. This can show employers that you are capable of handling challenging situations and working well under pressure.

Example: “In my previous position as a real estate agent, I was tasked with selling a property in just one week. The client had already been looking for a home for several months, so there was some pressure to sell quickly. However, I knew that if I worked hard and followed all of the steps outlined by my company, I could successfully sell the house within the week. I spent extra hours each day marketing the home and showing it to prospective buyers. In the end, I sold the home in five days.”

14. We value teamwork here at Colliers International. Describe a time where you faced conflict within a group, how did you resolve it?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you were able to resolve conflict in a positive way.

Example: “In my previous position as a leasing agent, I worked with a team of other leasing agents who all had different styles of working. One day, we received a client that was looking for a space that met their needs. The client wanted the best possible price, but also wanted a high level of customer service.

I knew that if we could find them a space that fit their needs, they would likely rent from us. However, some of my colleagues were focused on finding spaces that matched our clients’ budget rather than focusing on what would benefit them most. I spoke with my manager about the issue and she helped me come up with a solution. We decided to split up into two teams so that each group could focus on one aspect of the search.”

15. Do you have any experience managing a team of people?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience managing a team of people and how well you did. If you do not have any experience, you can talk about your ability to work with others and collaborate on projects.

Example: “I’ve worked in real estate for five years now, and I’ve always had a great relationship with my coworkers. In fact, we often work together to solve problems and complete tasks. I think that working as a team is one of the most important aspects of being successful in this industry.”

16. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?

This question is a great way to learn about an applicant’s career goals. It also helps employers understand how long they might be able to count on the candidate for employment. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you want your career path to look like in the future.

Example: “In five years, I would love to have advanced my position within Colliers International and become a senior real estate agent. In ten years, I hope to have achieved my CDP designation and opened my own real estate agency. In twenty years, I see myself as a successful entrepreneur with multiple businesses under my belt.”

17. At Colliers we value innovation. What is one way you have been innovative at work?

This question is an opportunity to show your potential employer that you are a forward-thinker and willing to try new things. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you tried something new at work or in your personal life and the positive results that came from it.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that we were missing out on some leads because our website wasn’t optimized for search engines. So, I worked with our IT department to create a digital marketing plan that included SEO. After implementing these changes, we saw a 20% increase in traffic to our website.”

18. How do you think technology will impact our industry in the next few years?

Technology is changing the real estate industry, and employers want to know how you will adapt. Use your answer to show that you are excited about technology and its potential in this field. Explain what you think the biggest changes will be and how you would use them to benefit your work.

Example: “I believe technology will change our industry more than ever before. I am excited to see how it can help us find new clients and streamline our processes. For example, I think virtual reality tours could become a common way for people to view properties. This would allow sellers to showcase their property without having to pay for travel costs.”

19. If you could hire anyone from this company who would it be and why?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and its employees. It also shows that you have done research on the company, which can be helpful for an interviewer who may not know much about you or your background.

Example: “I would hire John Smith because he has been in real estate for over 20 years and I think his experience could help me learn more about the industry. He’s also very active online, so I’d love to see what tips and tricks he uses to market himself and his properties.”

20. What types of skills do you have that can help us grow as a company?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you’re interested in the company’s success. It also gives them an idea of what skills you have that can help their business grow and succeed. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any specific skills or experience you have that would benefit Colliers International.

Example: “I believe my communication skills are one of my greatest strengths. I’m always able to clearly explain complex ideas to clients and coworkers alike. This skill has helped me work with many different types of people throughout my career, which I think will be beneficial for working at Colliers International.”