"Walk me through your resume"

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's how you can effectively walk through your resume:

Structure Your Resume Walkthrough

1. Introduction (10-15 seconds)

   • Briefly introduce yourself, your educational background, and your current role.

2. Early Career (30-45 seconds)

   • Summarize your first 3-4 years in the unrelated career.
   • Highlight any transferable skills or experiences that are relevant to CRE (e.g., analytical skills, client interaction, project management).

3. Transition to CRE (45-60 seconds)

   • Explain your motivation for transitioning into CRE.
   • Discuss any steps you took to make this transition (e.g., additional coursework, networking, certifications).

4. Current Role (1-2 minutes)

   • Detail your responsibilities and achievements as an acquisitions/AM analyst.
   • Emphasize skills and experiences that are directly relevant to the investment sales role you are applying for (e.g., underwriting, financial modeling, market analysis).

5. Future Transition (30-45 seconds)

   • Explain why you are interested in moving to an investment sales team.
   • Highlight how your current experience has prepared you for this role and what you hope to achieve.

Key Points to Emphasize

• Motivation and Intent: Clearly articulate why you made each career move and how it aligns with your long-term goals.
• Relevance: Focus on skills and experiences that are most relevant to the investment sales role.
• Achievements: Highlight specific accomplishments and quantify them where possible (e.g., "Increased portfolio value by 15% through strategic acquisitions").

Additional Tips

• Be Deliberate: Every move you made should have a reason that you initiated. Avoid negative reasons like being bored or wanting to try something new.
• Practice: Have a cohesive 90-second resume walkthrough that focuses on positive motivating factors behind every transition.
• Be Concise: Keep your explanations clear and to the point, ensuring you cover all relevant aspects without rambling.

Example Walkthrough

"After graduating with a degree in [Your Major], I spent the first 3-4 years of my career in [Unrelated Field], where I developed strong analytical and project management skills. Realizing my passion for real estate, I transitioned into a role as an acquisitions/AM analyst at [Current Firm], where I have spent the past 2 years. In this role, I have honed my skills in underwriting, financial modeling, and market analysis, successfully increasing our portfolio value by 15%. I am now eager to leverage my experience and skills in a leading investment sales team, where I can contribute to and grow within a market leader."

Good luck with your interview on Monday!

Sources: To Those Who's Had A Successful Career In CRE, What Advice Do You Have For Younger Generations?, What was your path to a Real Estate Private Equity job? Looking for advice, Fit/Behavioral Interviews - A Crash Course, Tell me about yourself vs walk me through you resume, corporate development regrets?