From concierge to junior property manager: Mariana Costa's career journey at Principle

What does a property management career path look like at Principle?  

Mariana Costa, based in our London office, is a great example of how training, mentorship and hard work can help you to thrive in our sector.  

Since Mariana joined us as a property assistant two years ago, she's started managing her own portfolio, gaining qualifications through the TPI and has been promoted to junior property manager.  

Here’s a quick Q&A about how she got here and where she’s headed: 

What were you doing before you joined Principle? 

After I graduated, I was trying to work out what would suit me. I applied for a property assistant role within my company at the time, but it didn't go anywhere. I was a residential concierge and I wanted to take a step up in my career. I came across One Property recruitment, and they put me forward for a role at Principle almost straight away. 

What was your role like when you joined the London office? 

I thought I knew property until I joined Principle. I've learned so much over the past two years - it's incredible! When I joined, the office had been open for about a year, and the team was in the middle of migrating everything over from the Myhill Newman acquisition to Principle's systems. That was the priority at the time, and we were all involved in getting things to where they are today. 

I started as a property assistant working with Tanya Malik, a property manager, and after about a year I was given a few small buildings to manage. Shortly after that I was promoted to junior property manager, and here I am now. 

What helped you progress so quickly? 

I learned a lot from Tanya and I don't think I'd have learned so much, or be as good as I am, without her – she's great! It was a case of figuring things out and repetition, repetition, repetition. She would give me challenging situations to solve, which was a bit nerve-wracking at the time, but it really helped me learn to handle difficult situations by myself. That's what prepared me to become a junior PM; she always showed me how to deal with the unusual stuff, not just the normal day-to-day of the property assistant role. 

Which qualifications have you achieved during your time at Principle? 

I did the Level 2 Foundation in Leasehold Management when I first joined, and I've just recently passed the Level 3 in Leasehold Management. 

What's next for you at Principle? 

The next step is the Level 4 qualification - the MTPI. I'm excited for it, but I want to make sure I've learned enough on the ground beforehand. I'm excited to be promoted to a full property manager and have a more demanding portfolio. I learn best from a challenge, so I'm looking forward to that! And one day, I’d love to build my own team.  

Principle's property teams are always growing. If you're interested in a career in property management, get in touch to find out more about opportunities at Principle.