When Should I Start Cold Emailing/Networking In General?

I'm an incoming senior graduating with a degree in Computer Information Systems. I have no relevant RE internships, will graduate with only a non relevant internship that is mostly marketing and web design. I just recently enrolled in the BIWS RE/REIT course, and plan on picking up a certification with ARGUS and maybe another modeling certification as well before I graduate. Not only am I learning how to model basically from scratch, but I'm hoping those bullet points will help show my interest and dedication to CRE on my resume.

Anyway, I am basically starting fresh with learning the ins and outs of CRE, but I am highly determined to do so. Is it too early to start cold emailing/networking even with my very little knowledge of the business? Thanks in advance.

15 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Stole my thunder. 100% yesterday, and if you haven't started yet, don't wait until tomorrow. Research the areas you are interested in, read up on real estate to have some beneficial conversations, and reach out by any means necessary without being a pest. Ask questions about how they started. People LOVE talking about themselves and the work they do (if they truly enjoy it). Meet people for coffee, talk to them for 15 minutes on the phone, "bump into them" at a networking event, and make yourself memorable. Also, follow up. Depending on the area you're in, real estate can be small. Make a good impression and continue to reconnect every so often to keep yourself fresh in their minds.

 
"babybaboon" Stole my thunder. 100% yesterday, and if you haven't started yet, don't wait until tomorrow. Research the areas you are interested in, read up on real estate to have some beneficial conversations, and reach out by any means necessary without being a pest. Ask questions about how they started. People LOVE talking about themselves and the work they do (if they truly enjoy it). Meet people for coffee, talk to them for 15 minutes on the phone, "bump into them" at a networking event, and make yourself memorable. Also, follow up. Depending on the area you're in, real estate can be small. Make a good impression and continue to reconnect every so often to keep yourself fresh in their minds.

Coffee is going to be hard. Unless it's on weekends. Interning full-time (non relevant to CRE) this summer, then I go back to school which is 3 hours away from my target market. I'll do my best though.

 
"prospie" as young as possible.

ideally your relationships go back to before you were even born

How would you suggest going about building a network as someone very new to the industry and will not be looking for a job for about a year?

 

Great content here, I'm in the same boat as OP, but a Finance major (non-target). Have experience with two internships, multiple on-campus trading groups (real money), and near perfect GPA. Along with networking like a mad man, should I be applying for FT positions following Spring 2019 graduation?

 
"vegatrader1841" Great content here, I'm in the same boat as OP, but a Finance major (non-target). Have experience with two internships, multiple on-campus trading groups (real money), and near perfect GPA. Along with networking like a mad man, should I be applying for FT positions following Spring 2019 graduation?

I'm also graduating Spring 2019. I believe we should start applying before we graduate. I was planning on starting my job search after the Fall semester.

But if anyone has any input on the timing of that I'm open to hearing it.

 

Now. No one is going to think negatively of you for starting to network early, as long as you aren't extremely pushy you should get great reception. Just reach out to alumni and try to strike up a conversation, you would be ahead of most other people trying to network and it's always best to start early.

 

Eos et aut dolorem debitis voluptatem. Asperiores temporibus natus fugit est aut. Est voluptatem vel qui doloribus animi. Similique vel minus facilis eos est dicta.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”