For that dream position, the one that fulfills you professionally and personally, you may want to explore changing roles within your company, at your current level,or moving up.
That’s how Tasha Fitterer, a lead associate on Fannie Mae’s Multifamily Green Financing and Duty to Serve teams, found opportunities to move, grow, and advance into a position that captivates her interest and allows her to make a real impact.
Find out how changing roles can work for you. Keep reading to check out Tasha’s tips.
Learn where you are. Be curious about where you’d like to go.
Almost nine years ago, Tasha found a company with a mission she wanted to embrace — Fannie Mae works to provide housing opportunities for all — that also prioritized employee career growth. The more she learned, the more she appreciated having the opportunity to move from role to role, evolve her interests, and gain valuable experience.
“I started as an administrative assistant for the head of Multifamily Customer Engagement,” Tasha says. As she grew and added skills, “that turned into a sales and marketing role. Then, I moved to a marketing and communications role. Then, I moved back to Multifamily as part of the Green Financing and Duty To Serve teams. Now, I work in affordable housing preservation, and I incentivize energy and water efficiency at multifamily properties.”
Lean into the support of managers who champion your career progression.
As she advanced, Tasha enjoyed the company’s culture that bolsters employee development with on-the-job training, coaching and feedback, and mentoring. She suggests asking managers for help or advice and working with colleagues to gain knowledge and experience.
“I received a lot of support from my managers as well as coworkers. My coworkers are willing to take time out of their own work to help me learn more. If I’m stuck on a challenge, the team can come together to identify solutions. One of the things that’s great about Fannie Mae and Multifamily is the ability to learn. I’m still learning, and every day there are a lot of different options.”
Find out about your company’s career growth resources.
One way Tasha’s company helps employees explore different roles is through the interplay of teams. “A lot of teams work with other groups within the organization, so you get insight into what those other teams do. You build relationships, develop new skills, and get to see different opportunities within the organization.”
Tasha also recommends taking advantage of company-provided education opportunities. “Multifamily has a great course for entry-level employees that is offered through Fannie Mae University (FMU). They designed it so you’re interacting with people from different parts of the organization while developing a foundational business understanding.” She’s also made use of other self-paced learning via FMU, received funding for professional certificate programs, and more.
Ready to grow?