While working to finish their degrees at Kennesaw State, junior business management major Noah Nance and senior integrative studies major Robert Nelson have joined the Tim Hardeman Real Estate sales team.
Within two years of working at the firm, Nance worked his way from an intern to leading the company’s internship program. In order to reach this point, he had to maintain a high standard of discipline.
“Initially, I think one of the biggest hurdles of this job was managing school, actually doing well and giving all I had to the job,” Nance said.
After some time, Nance found a stable weekly routine. He stated that amid his demanding schedule, he learned to focus on one task at a time.
“With this job or any other job [while] being a student, you have to be attentive,” Nance said. “If you can, you won’t be scatterbrained and all over the place.”
Nance expressed his plans to pursue a career in real estate after graduation, but it is clear that his resume is already strong. In addition to his responsibilities for the firm’s internship program, Nance helps manage Hardeman’s 20-home investment portfolio.
Nelson transferred to KSU after three years at Augusta University, where he originally planned to enter the field of nursing. Nelson has been with Hardeman Real Estate for two months. Before reaching this point, he worked several part-time jobs and considered many different majors.
“This is my first legitimate job, and before, I never really thought about real estate,” Nelson said. “I did business, I did finance [and] finally settled on integrative studies and figured real estate was a good fit.”
As one of the team’s newer members, Nelson is adjusting to his newly rigorous schedule. A typical week for him includes going to work, attending classes and taking courses toward earning his real estate license. Through this process, Nelson has found encouragement from his coworkers.
“It is definitely difficult,” Nelson said. I have got a lot on my plate … in trying to balance things, I think the biggest part is just having that team around me — a group of guys that is a support system.”
Alongside Nelson and Nance, the Hardeman real estate team is mostly comprised of college students and recent graduates. The job is structured to equally develop employees’ skills of business and personal values such as work ethic and self-assurance.
The job provides far more than investment or sales experience for the students — through the company’s unique educational process, confidence and self-discipline are instilled within employees.
“It’s sharpened my communication skills,” Nance said. “I’ve learned how to interact professionally with not only people my age, but also adults.”
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the job is its high-energy workplace environment. Between daily tasks, the sales team stays active by tossing frisbees or playing their favorite office game called “ball-bat.” The games may sound like distractions, but real estate agent Tim Hardeman uses them to reduce work-related stress.
“One of our core values is to make things fun,” Hardeman said. “We learn to love the journey and enjoy the ride.”
Nance and Nelson both plan to remain with the company for the near future as they complete their respective degrees. Even though they sacrifice more free time than a typical college student, they manage to not complain.
“I look forward to coming in — it’s not a chore, not like work,” Nelson said. There’s a lot of personal development going on around here.”
