Commercial real estate vs IB

If you were offered the opportunity to work at a Commercial real estate company like (JLL, CBRE...etc) as a senior analyst with a 50-60% increase on your current salary Vs. getting the opportunity to work at the Investment Banking Team within a major regional bank with no increase in your salary. Which would would you pick and why? What are the exit opportunities? This is in Middle-east.
Thanks guys.

20 Comments
 

What do YOU want to do with your life? These are two completely different paths so what YOU want to do is likely going to answer this question for you.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

I've always wanted to do IB, but the initial salary increase and the fewer working hours in commercial real-estate is making me think twice.

 

If you want to do IB, then do IB. Unless you're on the brink of being homeless, the initial salary increase doesn't really matter.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

No need to keep bumping this because you are the only person that can truthfully answer. If you want a career in commercial real estate then take that gig, if you want a career in IB then take that job. The increase in salary at this stage in your career is almost irrelevant. As much as the industries are similar they are also extremely different. Both are very lucrative down the road assuming you are competent at your job.

giddy up
 

Do you want to be in commercial real estate or investment banking? There's your answer

Also, it usually takes about 2 years at least to make any real money in commercial real estate. Sometimes longer. Taking the "paid" job over the unpaid job might not be as big of a difference as you think it is

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
CREDo you want to be in commercial real estate or investment banking? There's your answer

Also, it usually takes about 2 years at least to make any real money in commercial real estate. Sometimes longer. Taking the "paid" job over the unpaid job might not be as big of a difference as you think it is

My goal is to do neither, but IBD is more related to what i want to do...

My question wasn't about the money but about what hiring managers think...

I don't plan to stay in these jobs for 2 years or something like this... so it doesn't matter how much a real estate agent makes after 2 years.

And, I don't know if taking unpaid is better than doing nothing...

 

My point, I suppose, is that it's hard to answer based on what you've given. If you want to do PE, for instance, then sure - IBD is the better option.

I will repeat too that selling/leasing commercial real estate for 2 years is completely pointless. You literally might make negative money if they give you a draw. The top producer at my current company (top 3 international brokerage) made literally nothing his first 2 years and owed $36,000 after all was said and done. (Granted he made $350,000 year three, in the 90's or whenever, but still - you get my point)

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
CREMy point, I suppose, is that it's hard to answer based on what you've given. If you want to do PE, for instance, then sure - IBD is the better option.

I will repeat too that selling/leasing commercial real estate for 2 years is completely pointless. You literally might make negative money if they give you a draw. The top producer at my current company (top 3 international brokerage) made literally nothing his first 2 years and owed $36,000 after all was said and done. (Granted he made $350,000 year three, in the 90's or whenever, but still - you get my point)

Why they hell would you stay at a job for two years and still owe 36k?

What I want to do is structuring securitized products and work with institutional clients... but I don't know if I'll be able to achieve my goal now or in the next 1-2 years... so I want to find a valuable experience that can help me develop my set of skills...

 
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