How to Apply to MDC Holdings

10 min read Last updated March 7, 2026 66 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Visit RichmondAmerican.com before applying to explore the specific communities and floor plans in your target division — reference this knowledge in your cover letter and interviews to demonstrate genuine engagement with MDC's product
  • Tailor your resume for each MDC Holdings role by incorporating exact keywords and terminology from the job posting, ensuring iCIMS ranks your application favorably in recruiter searches
  • Upload your resume as a .docx file and manually verify every auto-populated field in your iCIMS candidate profile — parsing errors in job titles or dates can cost you visibility
  • Quantify your resume achievements using homebuilder-relevant metrics: closings volume, cycle time, warranty callback rates, absorption pace, conversion percentages, or cost-per-unit figures
  • Prepare for interviews by understanding MDC's build-to-order model and how it differentiates them from spec-heavy competitors — articulate why this approach resonates with your professional philosophy
  • Research MDC Holdings' most recent earnings call or annual report (publicly available as a NYSE-listed company) to discuss the company's strategic priorities, current community count, and market outlook intelligently during interviews

About MDC Holdings

MDC Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Richmond American Homes, one of the nation's largest homebuilders, and has been shaping communities across the United States since its founding in 1972 by Larry Mizel. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, MDC Holdings operates in over a dozen states — from coast to coast — building everything from entry-level homes to luxury residences. Beyond homebuilding, MDC's integrated business model includes subsidiaries HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, and American Home Title and Escrow, creating a vertically integrated operation that handles the full homebuying journey under one roof. MDC Holdings distinguishes itself in the homebuilding industry through its build-to-order model, which allows buyers to personalize their homes rather than purchasing pre-built spec inventory. This philosophy of customization extends into the company culture itself — employees frequently cite the entrepreneurial environment, where teams operate with meaningful autonomy within their divisions and markets. With approximately 2,000 employees, MDC is large enough to offer career stability and comprehensive benefits, yet lean enough that individual contributors can see the direct impact of their work on the company's bottom line. The company consistently ranks among the top homebuilders nationally by closings and revenue, and its publicly traded status (NYSE: MDC) provides transparency and accountability. Employees across divisions — from construction and land acquisition to mortgage lending and marketing — report a culture that values operational discipline, cross-functional collaboration, and genuine investment in professional development. For professionals passionate about real estate, construction, or financial services, MDC Holdings offers a unique opportunity to work across the entire homeownership value chain within a single organization.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Search Open Roles on MDC Holdings' iCIMS Career Portal

    Visit careers-mdch.icims.com to browse MDC Holdings' approximately 66+ open positions spanning construction, land acquisition, sales, mortgage lending, marketing, and corporate functions. Filter by location — this is especially important since MDC operates through regional divisions across states like Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. Pay close attention to whether a role falls under Richmond American Homes, HomeAmerican Mortgage, or the corporate MDC Holdings entity, as the skill sets and interview processes differ.

  2. 2
    Create Your iCIMS Candidate Profile

    You'll be prompted to create an account or sign in through MDC's iCIMS portal. Complete every field in your profile thoroughly — including work history, education, and location preferences — because iCIMS uses this structured data for recruiter searches and candidate matching. Upload your resume as a .docx or .pdf, but don't rely solely on the upload; manually review the parsed information in each field to correct any errors the system may introduce.

  3. 3
    Complete the Full Application and Screening Questions

    MDC Holdings' applications typically include role-specific screening questions that may cover topics like licensure (for mortgage or real estate roles), willingness to relocate within their market footprint, experience with specific construction methods, or familiarity with homebuilder ERP systems. Answer these questions completely and honestly — they frequently serve as automatic knockout criteria. If a question asks about software proficiency (e.g., BuildPro, Hyphen Solutions, or Salesforce), be specific about your experience level.

  4. 4
    Recruiter Review and Initial Phone Screen

    MDC Holdings' talent acquisition team reviews applications that pass initial screening filters. Expect a phone screen lasting 20-30 minutes focused on your relevant homebuilding or industry experience, salary expectations, geographic flexibility, and motivation for joining MDC specifically. Recruiters commonly assess whether you understand the build-to-order homebuilding model and can articulate why MDC's approach appeals to you over competitors like Lennar or D.R. Horton.

  5. 5
    Hiring Manager Interview (Division-Level)

    Since MDC operates through regional divisions, your hiring manager interview will likely be with a division-level leader — a Division President, VP of Construction, Sales Manager, or department head depending on the role. These interviews tend to be practical and operations-focused, testing your understanding of local market conditions, construction timelines, sales cycles, or lending processes. Prepare specific examples of how you've solved problems relevant to the homebuilding lifecycle.

  6. 6
    Panel or Cross-Functional Interview

    For mid-level and senior roles, MDC Holdings commonly conducts a second-round interview involving multiple stakeholders. Given the company's integrated model — where construction, sales, mortgage, and title teams must collaborate closely — you may meet people from adjacent departments to assess cross-functional fit. For field roles like Superintendent or Sales Counselor positions, this stage may include a site visit or a ride-along to evaluate your practical knowledge in context.

  7. 7
    Background Check, Offer, and Onboarding

    MDC Holdings conducts background checks and, for certain roles, pre-employment drug screening consistent with construction industry standards. Offers typically come from the recruiter and include details on MDC's benefits package, which commonly features medical/dental/vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, and a home purchase discount for employees. Onboarding often includes orientation to MDC's corporate values, safety protocols (for field roles), and training on proprietary systems used across divisions.

Resume Tips for MDC Holdings

critical

Lead with Homebuilding Industry Metrics and Outcomes

MDC Holdings evaluates candidates through the lens of production efficiency, customer satisfaction, and financial performance. Quantify your accomplishments using industry-relevant metrics: number of home closings per year, average construction cycle time, warranty callback rates, sales conversion percentages, or loan pull-through rates. A line like 'Managed construction of 85 single-family homes annually with 97% on-time delivery' speaks directly to what MDC's hiring managers care about — far more than generic project management language.

critical

Mirror MDC's Specific Terminology and Business Model Language

Use the vocabulary that MDC Holdings uses internally and in its job postings: 'build-to-order,' 'design studio selections,' 'lot acquisition,' 'forward commitments,' 'community count,' 'absorption rate,' and 'backlog.' iCIMS will parse your resume for keyword matches, and recruiters will scan for candidates who clearly speak the language of production homebuilding. If you come from custom homebuilding, commercial construction, or a related field, explicitly bridge the terminology gap by translating your experience into production homebuilding terms.

critical

Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration Experience

MDC's vertically integrated model means construction superintendents work closely with sales counselors, who coordinate with mortgage loan officers, who interface with title and escrow teams. Your resume should demonstrate that you can operate across these functional boundaries. Include specific examples of coordinating with other departments — even if it was at a non-homebuilder employer. Phrases like 'partnered with sales and finance teams to accelerate closing timelines by 12 days' directly align with MDC's operational model.

recommended

Feature Relevant Software and Systems Proficiency

MDC Holdings and its divisions use industry-specific technology platforms. If you have experience with homebuilder ERP and construction management tools like BuildPro, Hyphen Solutions (now SupplyPro), BRIX, Salesforce, Marketo, Encompass (for mortgage roles), or JD Edwards, list them prominently in a dedicated skills section. Even proficiency with Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, or Procore translates well for construction roles. iCIMS allows recruiters to search by specific tool names, so listing them increases your visibility in recruiter searches.

recommended

Specify Geographic Market Knowledge

Homebuilding is intensely local — entitlements, municipal processes, subcontractor markets, and buyer demographics vary by metro area. If you're applying to a role in MDC's Phoenix division, for example, make sure your resume highlights specific experience in the greater Phoenix market: knowledge of Maricopa County permitting, relationships with local trade contractors, or familiarity with desert lot development. MDC's divisional structure means hiring managers weight local market expertise very heavily.

recommended

Include Licensure, Certifications, and Safety Training

For construction roles, list OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certifications, any state-specific contractor licenses, and relevant certifications like LEED, Certified Green Professional (CGP), or Graduate Master Builder (GMB) from the NAHB. For mortgage roles, include your NMLS number and state licensing. For sales roles, note your active real estate license and the states where it's held. These credentials are often hard requirements that iCIMS screens for — missing them could filter you out before a human ever sees your application.

nice_to_have

Use Clean, ATS-Optimized Formatting

iCIMS handles standard formatting well but can struggle with multi-column layouts, text boxes, headers/footers, and embedded images. Use a single-column format with clearly labeled section headers (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications). Stick to standard fonts like Calibri or Arial at 10-12pt. Save as .docx for best parsing accuracy — while PDF is accepted, .docx tends to parse more reliably in iCIMS. Avoid creative resume templates; MDC is an operationally focused company where clarity and substance outweigh visual flair.

ATS System: iCIMS

MDC Holdings uses iCIMS, one of the most widely deployed enterprise applicant tracking systems, to manage its entire recruitment pipeline from job posting through onboarding. iCIMS parses uploaded resumes into structured data fields and enables recruiters to search candidates using Boolean keyword queries, making both your uploaded resume file and the data in your profile fields critically important for visibility.

  • Upload your resume as a .docx file for optimal parsing — iCIMS extracts text more reliably from Word documents than from PDFs or other formats
  • After your resume uploads and auto-populates profile fields, manually review every field (job titles, dates, company names) and correct any parsing errors — recruiters search these structured fields directly
  • Incorporate exact keywords from the MDC Holdings job posting into your resume, including specific job titles, required skills, and software names, since iCIMS ranks candidates partly on keyword match density
  • Avoid tables, columns, graphics, headers/footers, and text boxes — iCIMS may skip content trapped in these formatting elements, causing critical information to disappear from your parsed profile
  • Use standard section headers like 'Work Experience,' 'Education,' 'Skills,' and 'Certifications' — iCIMS maps content to profile sections based on recognizing these conventional labels
  • Apply to each role you're genuinely qualified for through a separate application — iCIMS tracks applications per requisition, and applying broadly without relevance can flag your profile negatively
  • Complete all optional fields in your iCIMS profile, including location preferences, desired salary range, and availability date, as recruiters commonly use these as search filters

Complete iCIMS Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

MDC Holdings' interview culture reflects the company's operational DNA — expect conversations that are direct, practical, and results-oriented rather than abstract or heavily behavioral.

Interviewers at MDC tend to be experienced homebuilding professionals who value candidates who can speak concretely about processes, timelines, costs, and outcomes. While behavioral questions ('Tell me about a time when...') certainly appear, they're typically grounded in real homebuilding scenarios: resolving a schedule delay caused by weather, managing a subcontractor quality issue, handling a buyer's design change mid-construction, or hitting sales targets in a softening market. The typical interview process involves two to three rounds. The initial phone screen with a recruiter establishes baseline qualifications and cultural fit. The second round — usually with the direct hiring manager — is the most substantive and may last 45-60 minutes. For corporate and senior roles, a third round with a VP, Division President, or members of the Denver corporate team is common. Some field positions (Construction Superintendent, Sales Counselor) may include a practical component: walking a jobsite with the hiring manager, visiting a model home, or reviewing a set of plans. Culture fit at MDC Holdings centers on several observable traits. Interviewers look for entrepreneurial self-starters who take ownership of their scope rather than waiting for direction — a reflection of the company's decentralized divisional structure. They value financial acumen at every level, expecting even field roles to understand how their decisions impact margin and cycle time. Demonstrate comfort with cross-functional teamwork since MDC's integrated model demands constant coordination between construction, sales, lending, and design center teams. Finally, come prepared to discuss MDC's specific markets and communities — visiting RichmondAmerican.com to explore current communities in the division where you'd work shows genuine interest that interviewers consistently reward. Dress in business professional attire for corporate interviews and neat business casual for field role site visits unless told otherwise.

What MDC Holdings Looks For

  • Production homebuilding experience — familiarity with the pace, scale, and processes of building 50-200+ homes per community, not just custom or remodel work
  • Financial and operational acumen — understanding of gross margin, construction cost variance, cycle time optimization, and how individual decisions impact division profitability
  • Local market expertise — deep knowledge of the specific metro area's subcontractor base, municipal entitlement processes, buyer demographics, and competitive landscape
  • Cross-functional collaboration skills — proven ability to partner across sales, construction, mortgage, and design studio teams to deliver a seamless customer experience
  • Self-directed ownership mentality — MDC's divisional structure rewards professionals who take initiative, solve problems independently, and drive results without heavy corporate oversight
  • Customer-centric orientation — commitment to the homebuyer's experience throughout the build-to-order process, from design center selections through closing and warranty
  • Safety consciousness and quality standards — particularly for field roles, a demonstrable track record of maintaining safe jobsites and consistent build quality across all homes
  • Adaptability to market cycles — experience navigating both high-demand and slower market conditions, with strategies for maintaining performance through changing housing cycles

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the MDC Holdings hiring process typically take from application to offer?
Based on common patterns reported by applicants in the homebuilding industry, the MDC Holdings hiring process typically spans 2-4 weeks from initial application to offer for most roles. The timeline tends to be faster for high-demand field positions like Construction Superintendents or Sales Counselors, where divisions may be actively backfilling. Corporate or senior leadership roles at the Denver headquarters may take longer — potentially 4-6 weeks — due to additional interview rounds and stakeholder coordination. Checking your iCIMS candidate portal regularly will show status updates on your application, though reaching out to the recruiter after your phone screen for a timeline estimate is perfectly appropriate.
Should I submit a cover letter when applying to MDC Holdings?
While MDC Holdings' iCIMS portal may not always require a cover letter, submitting one gives you a meaningful competitive advantage — especially for roles outside construction field positions. Use the cover letter to connect your experience directly to MDC's build-to-order model, reference specific Richmond American communities or markets you admire, and explain why you're drawn to MDC's vertically integrated approach over other homebuilders. Keep it to one page and lead with your most relevant homebuilding accomplishment. For field construction roles, the cover letter matters less than your resume's demonstrated production homebuilding metrics, but it never hurts.
What resume format works best with MDC Holdings' iCIMS applicant tracking system?
Use a clean, single-column resume in .docx format with standard section headers (Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications). iCIMS parses .docx files more accurately than PDFs, reducing the chance that your work history or credentials get mangled in the system. Avoid two-column layouts, text boxes, embedded tables, graphics, or fancy templates — these elements frequently cause parsing failures where entire sections of your resume disappear from your candidate profile. Keep formatting simple: standard fonts like Calibri or Arial, clear date ranges for each position, and a dedicated skills section that lists relevant software and certifications as discrete keywords.
Does MDC Holdings offer remote or hybrid work options?
MDC Holdings' work arrangements vary significantly by role type and division. Construction, land development, and sales roles are inherently field-based — you'll be on jobsites, in model homes, or meeting with buyers and trade partners daily. Corporate roles at the Denver headquarters and certain divisional office positions may offer hybrid flexibility, though this varies and should be confirmed during the interview process. The iCIMS job postings typically indicate whether a role is field-based, office-based, or has hybrid potential, so review the location and job details carefully before applying. If flexibility matters to you, ask the recruiter about the specific arrangement during your initial phone screen.
Can I apply to MDC Holdings with no homebuilding industry experience?
Certain roles at MDC Holdings are more accessible to career changers than others. Sales Counselor positions often welcome candidates from retail, hospitality, or general real estate backgrounds who bring strong customer relationship skills. Some entry-level construction roles may consider candidates from commercial construction, facilities management, or skilled trades who demonstrate transferable knowledge. However, for experienced roles like Construction Superintendent, Land Acquisition Manager, or Division Controller, MDC typically seeks candidates with direct production homebuilding experience. If you're transitioning industries, emphasize transferable skills in your resume — project scheduling, budget management, customer-facing communication, regulatory compliance — and explicitly draw parallels to homebuilding processes in your cover letter.
What specific keywords should I include in my resume for MDC Holdings positions?
Pull keywords directly from the job posting you're applying to — this is the single most effective strategy for iCIMS visibility. Beyond that, include homebuilding-industry terms that MDC commonly uses: 'build-to-order,' 'production homebuilding,' 'community count,' 'absorption rate,' 'design studio,' 'lot development,' 'construction scheduling,' 'trade partner management,' 'warranty service,' 'municipal entitlements,' and 'forward commitments.' For mortgage roles, include terms like 'purchase lending,' 'NMLS,' 'Encompass,' 'lock desk,' and 'pull-through rate.' For sales roles, include 'CRM,' 'traffic conversion,' 'buyer consultation,' and 'real estate license.' Match the exact phrasing used in the posting rather than synonyms.
How should I prepare for an interview with MDC Holdings?
Start by visiting RichmondAmerican.com and exploring the communities, floor plans, and design options in the specific division where you'd work — interviewers notice when candidates have done this homework. Review MDC Holdings' most recent 10-K filing or quarterly earnings call transcript (available on the MDC Holdings investor relations page) to understand current strategic priorities, backlog trends, and market focus. Prepare STAR-format answers to behavioral questions, but root them in homebuilding scenarios: schedule recovery after weather delays, managing subcontractor relationships, handling buyer concerns during construction, or driving sales during slow traffic periods. Bring questions that demonstrate strategic thinking about the division's market position, growth plans, or operational challenges.
Is it better to apply to multiple MDC Holdings positions at once or focus on one?
Apply to each role you're genuinely well-qualified for, but be selective and strategic rather than blanket-applying. iCIMS tracks all your applications under a single candidate profile, and recruiters can see your full application history. Applying to 10+ disparate roles — say, a Superintendent position, a Marketing Coordinator role, and a Loan Officer job — signals unfocused interest and may undermine your credibility. However, applying to two or three closely related positions within your functional area (for example, two Superintendent roles in different divisions, or a Sales Counselor role and a Sales Manager role) is perfectly reasonable and shows genuine interest in the company. Tailor your resume slightly for each application to match the specific job posting's requirements.
What benefits and perks does MDC Holdings offer employees?
MDC Holdings offers a comprehensive benefits package that typically includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with company match, paid time off, and life insurance. One distinctive perk frequently highlighted by employees is the home purchase discount available to MDC Holdings team members purchasing a Richmond American home — a meaningful benefit given the company's product. Specific benefit details, eligibility timelines, and additional perks vary by position type and division, so it's appropriate to ask the recruiter for a benefits overview during the later stages of the interview process. MDC's status as a publicly traded company also means employees may have access to an employee stock purchase program, though you should verify current availability during the offer stage.

Open Positions

MDC Holdings currently has 66 open positions.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 66 open positions at MDC Holdings

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Sources

  1. MDC Holdings Careers Portal — MDC Holdings / iCIMS
  2. Richmond American Homes - Communities and Floor Plans — Richmond American Homes (MDC Holdings subsidiary)
  3. MDC Holdings, Inc. Investor Relations and SEC Filings — MDC Holdings, Inc.
  4. MDC Holdings Company Reviews and Interview Insights — Glassdoor
  5. iCIMS Applicant Tracking System — Candidate Experience Resources — iCIMS, Inc.