Written by Ann Yudashkin – Previous Marketing and Administrative Intern – 2018

People tend to remember firsts. A first day at a new school, a first concert, a first date or any first, really. How we react and process such foreign environments for the first time typically has a way of marking its place in our memory, as significant or insignificant as it may seem at the time. My experience at The Behar Group as a marketing intern will definitely be one I’ll remember forever, as it was my first job in the field I am working towards entering. When I will think back to my experience here, I’ll remember that my transition from school into my subsequent future in the workforce was a smooth one, fuelled by people who sincerely made the effort to provide me with the ideal work-place environment. This was even more important to me since I was clearly unfamiliar with this type of setting as an 18 year old straight out of my first year of university. The Behar Group is different from other corporate landscape in that everyone has some form of a personal connection with everyone. Being a part of a corporate culture that’s so defined and special as my first experience made it such a positive one. This is especially noteworthy as the real estate industry has a reputation for being overly competitive rather than united, with people having the “every man / woman for himself/ herself” mentality. Rather than being scared to voice my opinion or speak to the intimidating people in suits who have been working in the industry since before I was in diapers, everyone welcomed me and treated me as just another equal member working alongside them. I never got the feeling that people didn’t take me seriously or didn’t think my work was valid, which many young professionals often feel at first.

Overall, my experience at TBG made me very excited about where my future will take me, and also taught me the importance of a well-defined corporate culture. I cannot stress enough how imperative it is to feel valuable and accepted in a brand new setting for not only myself, but for anyone who is beginning a new chapter in their life. I will definitely miss working at such a welcoming office, and hope that everyone gets to experience what it’s like to feel so comfortable and respected in their workplace.