Working in the Villages

[benjohara]

:wave: My wife and I are very interested in moving to the Villages. My parents live there and I have grown to see how unique of a community it is. I am still relatively young so would want to work when first relocating. Does anyone know how difficult it is to find jobs in the villages, especially working for them as a realtor? Any thought are greatly appreciated.

[Rag Bagger]

most jobs within TV are very low pay. $8.50/hr is high. I think if you look outside TV you can probably do better. Too many retirees here that will work to simple have a few bucks of spending money and for something to do. Most jobs are Part time to avoid benefits etc.

[benjohara]

Thanks RB - That is what I figured. I appreciate your time and comments!

[Russ_Boston]

I would think that working as a RE agent for TV would be different though. I would think that they do very well. My agent seems to close 1 per week. That must be decent coin!

[Debfrommaine]

The hospitals have postings so you might want to check there for jobs - they are good employers.

Good luck.

[TednRobin]

The hospitals have postings so you might want to check there for jobs - they are good employers.

Good luck.

I agree w Deb. I work at TVRH in the winter, I found it a good place to work.:)

[benjohara]

Never thought about the hospital! Thanks!

[benjohara]

Realtors seem to do very well in TV's. I am assuming that their are coveted positions to get.

[jannd228]

Just searched online current openings at the TVRH
https://www.leesburgregional.net/employment/emp_openall.php

[benjohara]

Thanks Jann. I will go take a look. I appreciate your help. Going to be 100 in Colorado today. Time to move to TV to cool off!!

[jannd228]

Thanks Jann. I will go take a look. I appreciate your help. Going to be 100 in Colorado today. Time to move to TV to cool off!!
I am a wannabee, trying to talk my sister into coming with me

[Ohiogirl]

Realtors seem to do very well in TV's. I am assuming that their are coveted positions to get.

I gave up selling real estate about 8 years ago because I also wanted to have a life. Most successful realtors love doing their job, but really don't have time to play golf, develop close friendships, try new or old hobbies, etc. Real estate usually IS their life.

I think the original poster is NOT retired, and may want to work this hard, and some who could retire enjoy working, which you had better if you want to sell real estate successfully. I'm pretty sure there are goals to meet as a TV realtor, or you are probably replaced. Most other companies (MLS) usually let you work as little or as much as you want, but your commission split will reflect that, and other fees and continuing educ. requirements add up as well - usually most part-timers give it up because they end up making so little it's not worth it to most.

My realtor in TV worked about 6 days a week (at least) and pretty much had no time for anything else, and no energy either. My friend's realtor likewise. Yes, they can do well, but believe me, they earn it, although maybe it's easier to be a realtor here than most other places in that it almost sells itself. BUT, there are also LOTS of people who look and look and look and look . . . some eventually buy, but many are just not serious buyers.

Notice how many in this forum have been coming down and looking for years. Yes, some buy on the first visit, but many buy on the 10th as well. And they are also asking their realtor for more info all the time during those years of indecision.

[Russ_Boston]

Notice how many in this forum have been coming down and looking for years. Yes, some buy on the first visit, but many buy on the 10th as well. And they are also asking their realtor for more info all the time during those years of indecision.


Guilty:(

[Pturner]

Good points, Ohio Girl. Not only did we look at many, many houses, but we used both a Villages sales agent and an MLS Realtor before we ultimately purchased an MLS-listed home.

[jannd228]

:wave: My wife and I are very interested in moving to the Villages. My parents live there and I have grown to see how unique of a community it is. I am still relatively young so would want to work when first relocating. Does anyone know how difficult it is to find jobs in the villages, especially working for them as a realtor? Any thought are greatly appreciated.

this site has careers in The Villages
http://www.careersinthevillages.com/

[Jeff Bieberfeld]

it is extremely difficult to find a permanent, career-level position in central florida. employers may not consider you if they think that your commute will be too long (over 35minutes) and your 'the villages' address immediately labels us as 'over a certain age'. that said, it is not impossible to find a good job, but it takes much effort......and lots of patience, and be prepared to not find something for 1+ years.

[Russ_Boston]

it is extremely difficult to find a permanent, career-level position in central florida. employers may not consider you if they think that your commute will be too long (over 35minutes) and your 'the villages' address immediately labels us as 'over a certain age'. that said, it is not impossible to find a good job, but it takes much effort......and lots of patience, and be prepared to not find something for 1+ years.

Where did you get the stats on the long commute? I've been part of the hiring process of dozens of people (career-level as you put it). I never cared where they commuted from unless they indicated that they needed to relocate.

You don't need the TV address to determine age (although employers are not supposed to consider that). You can tell from someone's resume and then in person approximately how old they are.

You might be right about it being difficult but I question your reasoning.

[benjohara]

Thanks Ohiogirl - I think I got caught up in the "fun" of looking at houses in TV thinking that selling them might be a possibility. If there is no time to enjoy what TV offers, why live there, right? I'm sure everyone that moves to TV has to figure out the balance of when to move there and can you afford to pull the plug on making money and living on savings/investments, etc! Yes, I am younger than most considering moving here but a low end, part time job may be the way to go. Thanks again for everyone's thoughts. Definitely got me thinking!!

[Vinny]

It seems half the people I meet here are real estate agents. In fact my better half is one do we looked into working for TV. Very hard to get as you can make a good living. Long waiting list we were told. Having said that, there are a lot of realtors in the area so what you make depends on your sales skill and market conditions. My wife decided that she could no longer handle the buyers and sellers anymore without screaming so she retired tom real estate. Plus the market sucks.

[Bogie Shooter]

It seems half the people I meet here are real estate agents. In fact my better half is one do we looked into working for TV. Very hard to get as you can make a good living. Long waiting list we were told. Having said that, there are a lot of realtors in the area so what you make depends on your sales skill and market conditions. My wife decided that she could no longer handle the buyers and sellers anymore without screaming so she retired tom real estate. Plus the market sucks.
What do you mean when you say "Plus the market sucks"?

[Pturner]

Where did you get the stats on the long commute? I've been part of the hiring process of dozens of people (career-level as you put it). I never cared where they commuted from unless they indicated that they needed to relocate.

You don't need the TV address to determine age (although employers are not supposed to consider that). You can tell from someone's resume and then in person approximately how old they are.

You might be right about it being difficult but I question your reasoning.

I agree, Russ. I never considered a candidate's commute or age and don't know why anyone would. Great employees are hard to find without weeding out well-qualified candidates for irrelevent issues. And, of course, age discrimination is illegal, in addition to being unwise.

[Pats2010]

I agree, Russ. I never considered a candidate's commute or age and don't know why anyone would. Great employees are hard to find without weeding out well-qualified candidates for irrelevent issues. And, of course, age discrimination is illegal, in addition to being unwise.

Age discrimination is alive and well. It may be illegal, but it is practiced every day at almost every company.
If one job comes down to two candidates who are ages 40 and 60 respectively, who do you think will get that job?

[Russ_Boston]

Age discrimination is alive and well. It may be illegal, but it is practiced every day at almost every company.
If one job comes down to two candidates who are ages 40 and 60 respectively, who do you think will get that job?


I don't know. Which one is more qualified? All things being equal I agree with you - it happens.

I do know that the Central Florida Health Alliance (TV Regional Hospital) was given an award for being in the top 10 of all employers for 'Best places to work over 50'.

Age = Not always as much of a factor as you might imagine on the surface.

[Hawkwind]

Age discrimination is alive and well. It may be illegal, but it is practiced every day at almost every company.
If one job comes down to two candidates who are ages 40 and 60 respectively, who do you think will get that job?

You better believe it is practiced every day. I have experienced this with the company that I worked for and was one of the casualties and there is nothing that can be done about it.

Here are some of the tactics that are used.
1. They decrease the number of job classifications and job descriptions to increase the labor pool to pick from. You may have the top rating at one time but in the new pool you are close to the bottom. This really works well if you are the only person in that job classification.
2. They change the job rating system on a regular basis and place emphasis on other areas and not just performance.
3. Declare problems with the pension fund and give you 3 or 4 days to make up your retirement decisions if you are eligible. In this companies case the amount of lump sum pension would be cut to 80%. You had to meet the requirements to retire and many did as not to take such a hit on their pension. The same thing happened a year later and this time the lump sum payout was 50% and if you did not take then you were required to take an annuity at a rate to be determined at a date when you chose retirement. This pension fund is now so under funded if you wait you will only get pennies on the dollar.
4. Totally do away with your job classification but the work gets assigned to someone else.

I can go on and on but that is life. One other thing that when you are let go you have to sign a legal document that you will not work for the company for at least one year. Also you have to sign or you will not get any severance that you have coming to you. Severance was at one time one weeks pay for every years service and that has been cut to a max of 12 weeks regardless of the years of service.

And today just happens to be the one year anniversary of this happening to me and it happened to a lot more at that company over the last year.

[jannd228]

You better believe it is practiced every day. I have experienced this with the company that I worked for and was one of the casualties and there is nothing that can be done about it.

Here are some of the tactics that are used.
1. They decrease the number of job classifications and job descriptions to increase the labor pool to pick from. You may have the top rating at one time but in the new pool you are close to the bottom. This really works well if you are the only person in that job classification.
2. They change the job rating system on a regular basis and place emphasis on other areas and not just performance.
3. Declare problems with the pension fund and give you 3 or 4 days to make up your retirement decisions if you are eligible. In this companies case the amount of lump sum pension would be cut to 80%. You had to meet the requirements to retire and many did as not to take such a hit on their pension. The same thing happened a year later and this time the lump sum payout was 50% and if you did not take then you were required to take an annuity at a rate to be determined at a date when you chose retirement. This pension fund is now so under funded if you wait you will only get pennies on the dollar.
4. Totally do away with your job classification but the work gets assigned to someone else.

I can go on and on but that is life. One other thing that when you are let go you have to sign a legal document that you will not work for the company for at least one year. Also you have to sign or you will not get any severance that you have coming to you. Severance was at one time one weeks pay for every years service and that has been cut to a max of 12 weeks regardless of the years of service.

And today just happens to be the one year anniversary of this happening to me and it happened to a lot more at that company over the last year.

I was a career transitioner into public education. What you described happened to me, including paying for a small pension into the retirement system for long term sub work I completed. Paid in, it was returned to me, almost everything you describe here happens in public education every day. It is the way our country now works I guess. :(

[Russ_Boston]

Many of these have happened to me as well. That's why I read the writing on the wall and switched my career to nursing. Went back to school at age 50 and I'm now working as an RN part-time. My current medical center employer wants me to transition to them full time so I guess it all depends on what field your in.