Requesting help to transition to IB/CRE for full time role.
Hey everyone, first post on here.
I am in a bit of a stand still in my financial career, and am headed down a path I don't think I like. I'll give a little background on myself/my resume, and hopefully you all can give me some advice on how to pivot myself. Excited to see what WSO can do.
Education: Non-Ivy/Non Target
- CUMM GPA: 3.46
- Major GPA: 3.7
- Deans list a couple semesters
- Study-Abroad Program
Internships:
Freshman Year: Small-Cap CRE dev. firm.
Shadowed an MBA student who ran through pro formas, wateralls, etc.
Sophomore Year: Small-Cap CRE Dev Firm
Review blueprints and building plans; coordinate with subcontractors; analyze cap rates and ROI for property acquisitions
Manage subcontractor bids, ensuring documentation is submitted and meets specifications; attend planning board meetings
Current
- FP&A/CF at one of the largest newspapers in the country.
Orgs.:
- Business Honors Frat
- Social Frat (On executive Board)
- Investment Club
- Student Tutor
Skills:
- Intermediate skills in excel/PowerPoint.
- Bloomberg Markets & Finance certifications
- Wharton beginner financial modeling course
- conversational in Spanish
Other:
- Captain of state-championship winning sports team.
Hopefully, that very vague rundown of my resume gives you all a good idea of where I am. I have always loved real estate, but it is unfortunate I could not land an internship at a JLL or CandW esque this summer. My end goal is private equity, and it seems I am starting to stray away from that path, or fall behind the 8-ball a bit. I had MANY interviews at banks and capital markets teams at some of these big named firms, but every time I would get to the 3/4 round, and it would get technical, I would fall behind. My actual resume is very good, but my technical abilities seem to be low. Here are some entry level/early career positions I would love to land:
CRE:
- Acquisitions
- Asset/Portfolio Management
- Development
- Capital Markets
IB:
- CRE IB (Would be the most ideal but any IB entry level role would sit well with me)
What do you think the next step for me is and how quickly do I need to make that adjustment? I want to be on time for applications this year for entry level roles for any of said positions. Would a masters be necessary? Some WSO modeling courses? Is there a path from FP&A/CF to CRE and IB? My network is decent. My issues lies more in the real-world experience/technical practice I am getting.
I appreciate any help.
Thanks.
:)
You're falling short on technicals because you're not drilling them enough.
WSO courses won't cut it. You need live practice - actual modeling tests, mock interviews, drilling valuation questions until you dream about WACC.
Your resume is fine for CRE but weak for traditional IB. Newspaper FP&A doesn't scream "finance."
CRE acquisitions is your best shot given your dev experience. Traditional IB is a reach without better technicals.
Start applying now. Recruit year-round for CRE - it's not as structured as banking.
Masters is your fallback if nothing hits by Christmas. But fix the technicals first - same problem will exist in grad school recruiting.
Appreciate the response alot. Any websites, classes, tests, etc, you recommend?
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