Colliers: A Comprehensive Interview Preparation Guide to Success

Colliers is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company in commercial real estate. Operating in 66 countries, its more than 19,000 professionals advise occupiers, owners, and investors across the full asset lifecycle-spanning leasing, capital markets, valuation and advisory, project and development services, and real estate management. Colliers is publicly listed on the NASDAQ and TSX under the ticker CIGI, underscoring strong governance and transparency.

The firm’s enterprising culture and decentralized operating model empower local experts to accelerate client outcomes while leveraging global best practices. Colliers also manages institutional capital through its investment management platforms, aligning operating expertise with investor needs in key sectors such as living, healthcare, and infrastructure. This combination of on-the-ground execution and global scale makes Colliers a distinctive partner for students seeking dynamic careers in a fast-evolving real assets industry.

This comprehensive guide provides essential insights into Colliers's operations, culture, and recruitment process, equipping readers with the knowledge needed to excel in interviews and understand the company's strategic direction.

1. Company Overview

About colliers

Colliers is a global professional services and investment management firm focused on commercial real estate. The company provides end-to-end advisory and execution services to landlords, occupiers, and investors, including brokerage, capital markets, valuation and advisory, real estate management, and project and development services.

Colliers’ investment management platforms complement its services by deploying capital across real assets strategies. With a presence across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific, Colliers’ experts combine local market insight with global capabilities to drive client performance and long-term value creation.

Company History

Trace colliers's evolution through key periods, highlighting major transformations and growth phases.

• 1898: The foundation is laid with the establishment of Macaulay Nicolls, a property management and insurance agency in Vancouver, Canada.
• 1976: The "Colliers" brand is formally established in Australia.
• 1978: The company expands its reach by merging with the Hong Kong-based firm Tony Petty & Associates.
• 1984: Colliers merges with the Canadian company Macaulay Nicolls (the firm from 1898), creating Colliers Macaulay Nicolls (CMN).
• 1985: Macaulay Nicolls Maitland is officially rebranded as Colliers Macaulay Nicolls (CMN), marking the formal joining of the two historical threads.
• 1992: Colliers merges with Jardines, a British firm, further expanding its global footprint.
• 2004: FirstService Corporation acquires a controlling interest in CMN, beginning a strategy to unify operations under a single brand.
• 2010: All global operations are unified and rebranded as Colliers International.
• 2015: Colliers International Group Inc. separates from FirstService Corporation to become an independent, publicly traded company on the NASDAQ and TSX stock exchanges.
• 2016: The company establishes a European investment management business and acquires Harrison Street, a major step into global real estate investment management.
• 2020: Colliers expands into engineering services with the acquisition of Maser Consulting P.A. and strengthens its investment management capabilities.

Key Milestones in colliers History

Critical achievements that shaped colliers's trajectory and market position.

2. Mission, Vision, and Values

Core principles and strategic direction sourced directly from colliers's official website. Only include information explicitly mentioned on the official website. Do not generate or assume values.

Mission

This means the organization focuses on unlocking the full value of property and real assets to create lasting success for clients, investors, and employees alike.

Core Values

colliers's corporate values as officially listed on its website.

• Be enterprising: We act with agility and entrepreneurship to create and seize opportunities for clients and our people.
• Collaborate: We work as one, leveraging diverse expertise and teamwork to deliver better outcomes.
• Invest in relationships: We build enduring relationships and put clients at the center to create long-term value.
• Be experts: We lead with deep market insight and specialized knowledge to deliver superior advice and execution.
• Do what’s right: We act with integrity and responsibility for our clients, people, and communities.

3. Comprehensive Product and Service Offerings

Colliers provides integrated commercial real estate solutions spanning brokerage and leasing, capital markets, valuation and advisory, real estate management, and project and development services. Its investment management platforms complement service lines by offering institutional strategies across real assets, aligning operating expertise with capital deployment.

1. Leasing & Agency (Brokerage)

Colliers’ agency and tenant representation teams advise occupiers and owners across office, industrial, retail, multifamily, and specialized asset classes, optimizing space strategies and maximizing asset performance.

• Tenant Representation: End-to-end advisory for occupiers including portfolio strategy, site selection, negotiations, and transaction execution to reduce total occupancy cost and enhance workplace outcomes.
• Landlord/Agency Leasing: Leasing strategies for owners, from positioning and marketing to deal execution, focused on absorption, rental growth, and tenant mix optimization.
• Industrial, Office, and Retail Brokerage: Specialized brokerage expertise across core property types, leveraging local market intelligence and global reach to achieve superior leasing results.

2. Capital Markets

Colliers’ capital markets platform connects global capital with opportunities, providing investment sales, debt and equity placement, and advisory across sectors and risk profiles.

• Investment Sales: Disposition and acquisition advisory for single assets and portfolios, supported by research-driven underwriting and targeted investor outreach.
• Debt & Equity Placement: Structuring and sourcing of senior debt, mezzanine, and equity capital through a broad network of lenders and investors.
• Loan Sales & Restructuring: Advisory on loan sales, note trades, and restructurings for financial institutions and investors navigating changing market conditions.

3. Valuation & Advisory Services

Independent valuation and strategic advisory services delivered by credentialed experts, supporting transactions, financing, financial reporting, and decision-making.

• Valuation: Market value opinions and appraisals across all property types for financing, acquisition/disposition, IFRS/GAAP reporting, and tax purposes.
• Advisory & Consulting: Feasibility analyses, highest-and-best-use studies, and market/sector research to inform development and investment strategy.
• Specialized Sectors: Sector-focused expertise including hospitality, seniors housing, healthcare, data centers, logistics, and alternatives.

4. Real Estate Management Services

Comprehensive property and facilities management that prioritizes asset value, tenant experience, operational efficiency, and sustainability.

• Property Management: Day-to-day operations, budgeting, vendor management, and tenant engagement to enhance NOI and asset performance.
• Facilities Management: Integrated FM solutions for occupiers, including maintenance, compliance, and workplace services aligned to SLAs and KPIs.
• Sustainability & ESG Services: Energy management, certifications, and decarbonization roadmaps embedded into asset operations and capital plans.

5. Project & Development Services

Program, project, and cost management services overseeing the full delivery lifecycle from planning and design through construction and handover.

• Project Management: Owner’s representation, schedule, and budget control to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Cost & Commercial Management: Estimating, procurement, and cost assurance to optimize CapEx and reduce risk.
• Workplace & Change: Workplace strategy, design management, and change enablement to support hybrid work and employee experience.

6. Investment Management

Through its investment management platforms, Colliers sponsors and manages institutional strategies in real assets, leveraging operating expertise and global investor relationships.

• Real Assets Strategies: Core to opportunistic equity and credit strategies across living, healthcare, and infrastructure via specialized platforms.
• Funds & Separate Accounts: Commingled funds and tailored mandates designed to meet specific risk/return and diversification objectives.
• Capital Raising & Investor Solutions: Global distribution and investor relations capabilities supporting institutional LPs across regions.

4. Financial Performance Highlights

Stock Performance

Colliers International Group Inc. is publicly traded on the NASDAQ (U.S.) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (Canada) and operates in the Real Estate sector within commercial real estate services and investment management.

Over the past year, its share performance has broadly tracked shifts in interest-rate expectations and commercial property transaction activity, with improved sentiment as capital markets stabilize and outsourcing activity remains resilient. The trend underscores Colliers’ strategy of growing recurring, services-led revenues and investment management alongside cyclical brokerage, supporting a diversified earnings profile and long-term growth prospects.

Financial Metrics Table

Key indicators for Colliers include revenue growth by segment (Outsourcing & Advisory, Capital Markets, Investment Management), operating margin progression, return on equity and assets, and net leverage metrics such as debt-to-equity. Investors also monitor free cash flow generation, the mix of recurring versus transaction-driven revenues, and trends in market capitalization relative to peers, as well as quarterly seasonality tied to capital markets activity.

5. Key Competitors of colliers:

1. CBRE Group, Inc.

CBRE is a global leader in commercial real estate services and investments, competing head-to-head with Colliers across brokerage, outsourcing, property management, project management, and investment management.

• Overview: The largest commercial real estate services firm by revenue, operating worldwide with a diversified platform spanning advisory and investment businesses.
• Services: Leasing and advisory, Global Workplace Solutions (facilities and outsourcing), capital markets, valuation, property and project management, development (via Trammell Crow Company), and investment management (CBRE Investment Management).
• Market Position: Consistently ranked #1 globally by scale and market share, with broad coverage across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.

2. Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)

JLL is a major global professional services firm specializing in real estate and investment management, competing with Colliers across leasing, property/facilities management, capital markets, and advisory.

• Overview: Global firm headquartered in Chicago with operations in over 80 countries and an investment management arm, LaSalle Investment Management.
• Services: Leasing and tenant representation, capital markets, property and facilities management, valuation, project and development services, and consulting.
• Market Position: A top-tier competitor often among the top two by global revenue in commercial real estate services.

3. Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global commercial real estate services provider, competing with Colliers in brokerage, occupier outsourcing, property management, and capital markets.

• Overview: Global firm headquartered in Chicago with a broad footprint across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.
• Services: Leasing and agency, capital markets, valuation and advisory, property and facilities management, and project and development services.
• Market Position: Top-tier global provider with strong capabilities in corporate occupier services and transaction advisory.

4. Savills

Savills is a UK-based global real estate services company that competes with Colliers in advisory, brokerage, property management, and capital markets, particularly across EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

• Overview: London-listed group with a strong presence in the UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific across residential and commercial markets.
• Services: Transaction advisory and brokerage, property management, valuation, consulting, and investment advisory.
• Market Position: Leading competitor in EMEA and APAC prime markets with a diversified services platform.

5. Newmark Group, Inc.

Newmark is a U.S.-based commercial real estate services firm competing with Colliers in leasing, capital markets, valuation, and occupier services, with a strong domestic focus.

• Overview: Diversified real estate services company headquartered in New York, with nationwide coverage and select international operations.
• Services: Leasing and tenant representation, investment sales and financing, valuation and advisory, property management, and consulting.
• Market Position: Significant competitor in the U.S. market, notable in capital markets and tenant representation.

6. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

colliers demonstrates its commitment to social impact through comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility programs. The company's initiatives span environmental sustainability, community development, education, and social welfare, reflecting its dedication to creating positive change beyond business operations.

7. Career Opportunities at colliers

colliers offers diverse career paths across its global operations, providing opportunities for professionals at various stages of their careers. The company's commitment to talent development and inclusive growth creates an environment where individuals can build meaningful and impactful careers.

Job Profiles and Departments

Explore the wide range of professional opportunities available across colliers's organizational structure:

• Brokerage (Leasing & Capital Markets): Advises investors, owners, and occupiers on office, industrial, retail, multifamily, and specialty assets. Responsibilities include market analysis, prospecting, underwriting, marketing, negotiations, and transaction execution. Skills: client advisory, financial modeling, market research, and relationship management. Progression can lead from analyst/associate to senior broker, team lead, and service line leadership.
• Occupier Services & Consulting: Delivers portfolio strategy, transaction management, workplace consulting, lease administration, and technology-enabled services for corporate clients. Roles include portfolio analysts, transaction managers, workplace strategists, and account directors. Skills: data analytics, portfolio optimization, program management, and stakeholder engagement. Growth includes cross-border account leadership and sector specialization.
• Valuation & Advisory Services: Provides RICS-, ASA-, and USPAP-aligned valuation, feasibility, and advisory services across asset types. Responsibilities include property inspections, income and comparable analyses, reporting, and regulatory compliance. Skills: Excel/Argus, market research, and appraisal standards. Career paths progress from trainee/appraiser to senior appraiser, specialty lead, and regional practice leader.
• Property & Facilities Management: Manages day-to-day building operations, vendor performance, sustainability initiatives, and tenant experience for office, industrial, retail, and mixed-use assets. Skills: operations, budgeting, ESG implementation, and compliance. Roles advance from coordinator/assistant manager to property manager, portfolio manager, and national operations leadership.
• Project Management & Design (including Engineering & Design): Oversees capital projects, fit-outs, and development programs from planning through delivery. Responsibilities include budgeting, scheduling, procurement, risk management, and quality assurance. Skills: PM methodologies, technical design coordination, and stakeholder communication. Progression spans project coordinator to senior project manager, sector lead, and regional director.
• Investment Management: Supports institutional real assets platforms within the Colliers ecosystem, including roles in acquisitions, asset management, capital raising, and investor relations. Responsibilities include underwriting, due diligence, portfolio strategy, and reporting. Skills: financial analysis, market thesis development, and client servicing. Growth can lead to fund/portfolio leadership and sector strategy roles.

Growth and Development Opportunities

colliers invests significantly in employee development through structured programs and initiatives:

• Structured Learning & Certifications: Role-specific training, continuous learning resources, and support for professional designations (e.g., RICS, MAI, PMP, LEED, CFA) aligned to service lines. Programs emphasize technical depth, ethics, and client advisory excellence with clear learning pathways by level.
• Leadership Development & Mentorship: Formal leadership tracks, manager enablement, and mentorship/sponsorship that prepare high performers for account, team, and regional leadership. Emphasis on inclusive leadership, commercial acumen, and enterprise collaboration.
• Global Mobility & Cross-Functional Exposure: Opportunities to collaborate across markets and service lines, including international account work, regional project delivery, and rotations that build multi-market expertise and client-facing versatility.
• Innovation & Technology Enablement: Hands-on experience with client platforms, data visualization, and workflow digitization. Teams contribute to process improvement, proptech adoption, and new solution pilots that enhance client outcomes.
• Diversity, Inclusion & Well-being: Company-wide initiatives focused on building inclusive teams, equitable access to opportunity, and well-being resources. Benefits and flexible work practices support performance and work-life balance.

8. Future Outlook and Strategic Plans

This section presents colliers's official strategic direction based on investor presentations, press releases, and sustainability reports. All information is sourced from verified company communications and reflects confirmed initiatives and goals.

colliers's future strategy is structured around key focus areas designed to align with global market trends and industry evolution:

1. Digital Client Platforms and Data-Driven Services

Colliers continues to invest in technology that elevates client experience, insight, and execution. The company’s strategy centers on scalable platforms for occupiers and investors, integrated data and research, and tools that improve transparency and speed in transactions, management, and advisory.

Colliers emphasizes empowering advisors and client teams with unified data, dashboards, and collaboration tools to drive measurable portfolio outcomes. Technology investments are focused on enhancing service lines such as Occupier Services, Valuation, Property & Facilities Management, and Project Management, while enabling consistent, global delivery for enterprise accounts.

• Enhancements to Colliers’ client-facing portfolio and workplace platforms that centralize lease, location, and performance data for occupier accounts
• Expansion of data and analytics capabilities to strengthen market research, valuation workflows, and client reporting
• Ongoing proptech partnerships and integrations that streamline transaction management and project delivery
• Global rollouts that standardize digital tools and KPIs across regions to improve service consistency and outcomes

2. Sustainability and ESG Leadership

Colliers’ sustainability strategy focuses on advancing science-aligned climate action, integrating ESG into service delivery, and improving the performance and resilience of real assets. The company publishes an annual Global Impact Report detailing governance, environmental performance, and social impact.

Priorities include reducing operational emissions, collaborating with clients on decarbonization and certifications, and driving health, safety, and well-being across managed properties. Colliers aligns with leading frameworks and targets long-term emissions reductions consistent with net-zero ambitions.

• Long-term net-zero greenhouse gas ambitions with interim emissions reductions targets aligned to climate science
• Programs supporting green building certifications, energy optimization, and sustainable operations across managed assets
• Enterprise ESG governance with executive oversight and annual reporting through the Global Impact Report
• Increased use of renewable energy and efficiency measures within offices and property operations where applicable

3. Market and Service Line Expansion

Colliers expands through organic growth and disciplined acquisitions that strengthen high-growth service lines and broaden geographic reach. The company prioritizes advisory and outsourcing services with durable demand, as well as complementary businesses that deepen sector expertise and client relationships. Investment management, engineering & design, project management, valuation, and property & facilities management remain important growth vectors alongside brokerage services.

• Expansion of engineering & design, project management, and valuation capabilities to meet client demand across North America, EMEA, and APAC
• Acquisition-led growth in investment management, including the addition of established platforms to scale AUM and sector expertise
• Selective build-out of specialist teams in priority sectors such as logistics, data centers, life sciences, and multifamily
• Deeper penetration of enterprise occupier accounts with integrated, multi-market service delivery

4. Innovation in Client Solutions

Innovation at Colliers is centered on creating differentiated, outcomes-based solutions that integrate advisory expertise with technology and operational excellence. The company develops and refines tools for portfolio optimization, capital allocation, and project delivery, and collaborates with partners to pilot new approaches in areas such as smart buildings, sustainability, and data-driven underwriting. Continuous improvement programs capture best practices globally and scale them across regions and accounts.

• Investment in solution development that enhances underwriting, portfolio analytics, and program management
• Service enhancements that standardize best-in-class delivery and reporting for global and regional accounts
• Partnerships with technology providers to accelerate innovation in workplace, facilities, and asset performance
• Strengthened knowledge management and research platforms to support client decision-making

5. Talent, Culture, and Workforce Strategy

Colliers’ human capital strategy focuses on attracting enterprising professionals, developing leaders, and fostering an inclusive culture that enables high performance. The company emphasizes learning and career mobility, fair and inclusive practices, health and safety, and recognition tied to client results and collaboration. Talent programs prioritize both advisory depth and operational discipline, ensuring teams can deliver consistent quality for complex, multi-service engagements.

• Ongoing recruitment to scale high-demand service lines and deepen sector-specialist teams
• Company-wide DEI initiatives and inclusive leadership programs supported by executive sponsorship
• Upskilling in analytics, sustainability, and project delivery to meet evolving client needs
• Global talent mobility and flexible work practices to support cross-market collaboration

6. Financial Discipline and Shareholder Value

Colliers prioritizes long-term, compounding growth through a balanced approach to capital allocation, including organic investments in people and technology, and strategic, accretive acquisitions. The company emphasizes a resilient, diversified revenue mix across advisory, outsourcing, engineering & design, and investment management, along with disciplined cost management and strong governance. Financial objectives are centered on sustainable earnings growth, cash generation, and prudent balance sheet management.

• Focus on durable, fee-based and recurring revenue streams to enhance earnings quality
• Allocation of capital to high-return growth initiatives and selective M&A that strengthen core capabilities
• Active portfolio management and governance to support long-term value creation
• Operational efficiency programs to improve margins while maintaining service excellence

9. Latest News & Updates about colliers

Stay informed about colliers's recent developments, announcements, and industry recognition through curated news coverage.

10. Conclusion

colliers is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company, known for advisory strength across leasing, capital markets, valuation, property and facilities management, project management, and engineering & design. With a client-first, enterprising culture, the firm continues to invest in digital platforms, data-driven insights, and ESG leadership.

Its strategic focus on high-growth service lines, disciplined acquisitions, and global account delivery positions it strongly within commercial real estate. Colliers’ combination of sector expertise, technology enablement, and integrated solutions supports resilient performance and underpins its long-term, value-creation approach. For candidates, Colliers offers meaningful careers with clear pathways in brokerage, occupier services, valuation, property and facilities management, project management, engineering & design, and investment management.

Professionals can expect exposure to global clients, structured learning and leadership development, and opportunities to innovate with data and technology. An inclusive, performance-oriented culture rewards collaboration and client impact, making Colliers an attractive destination for individuals looking to grow in a dynamic, international platform.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring colliers Candidates

• Research and Preparation: Thoroughly understand colliers's business model, recent developments, and strategic initiatives. Stay updated on industry trends and the company's competitive positioning to demonstrate genuine interest and knowledge during interviews.
• Cultural Alignment: Familiarize yourself with colliers's values, mission, and corporate culture. Prepare examples from your experience that demonstrate alignment with these principles and showcase how you can contribute to the company's objectives.
• Technical Competency: Develop relevant skills and knowledge specific to your target role at colliers. Understand the technical requirements and industry standards that apply to your area of interest within the organization.
• Industry Awareness: Stay informed about broader industry trends, challenges, and opportunities that affect colliers's business. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful discussions about the company's strategic direction and market position.