I've been interviewing for 4 months and I still have yet to secure a job with a developer or repe firm. This is getting very discouraging. I've gotten to only 2 final round interviews only to be told that they are going with a different candidate. I don't know where I'm going wrong...I have a masters from an Ivy, undergrad degree from a top 20, worked for one of the leading developers in the nation. It seems as though most of the opportunities coming up are too low level or too high level. Nothing for someone with 3 years of experience. I was laid off a month ago because our company was going through a rough patch. Any advice? I feel as though i've exhausted most of my contacts. I've been geographically agnostic, open to really move any where just to find a good job. I've gotten a few first round interviews, then most of the time its radio silence. Most won't even provide feedback.
Thanks for the help.
You can do it, I've been interviewing for 6 months for junior spots on an institutional level brokerage team with no offers. It sucks but you've got to stay positive. If you want it bad enough you will find it. Have you joined like NAIOP/ULI?
It's funny how things fall into your lap when you're not even looking for it. In 2010 I was just some random loan portfolio manager at Wells Fargo. I put in an application for what seemed like to me some random analyst gig, and a week later I'm being offered to join the top multifamily brokerage team on the east coast working out of C&W at the time, to be their personal analyst (I ultimately declined after being in a horrific accident a few days later that required extensive rehab).
But had I actually been TRYING to get that job I guarantee I wouldn't have even gotten a call back.
Stay positive man.
I just wrapped up basically the exact same search. Got laid off, 3 years exp, pretty much willing to move anywhere, almost exactly 4 months in I got an offer, and was starting to feel super discouraged. You have a much better educational background then I do.
No matter how down you get, just maintain the mindset that you can always be doing more on the networking side, and that new leads are going to pop up every day from a job listing perspective. I had job blasts from 5 target markets I was reviewing every single day from SelectLeaders, Indeed, LinkedIn, and literally bookmarked the career pages for like 25 RE firms that I know are active and manually checked those for new postings every day. Just seeing a new lead, and having the chance to put in another app kept me going. You may already have a similar process but I tried to basically treat the search like a full time job. Every time they select another candidate, try to channel that into motivation to refine your interview responses, body language, every little detail.
I'm also not sure what positions you are targeting but I was completely willing to take a step back to a more junior role, to work in AM with the hope of switching back to transactions, I looked at brokerage, etc. Maybe it is necessary to look at some positions that aren't really what you want but keep you moving forward in terms of experience/skill set.
Most importantly keep your head up bro. You have rock solid stats, you got this.
why the fuck are multiple smart people in this thread being laid off? is this a harbinger of bad times in real estate?
OP: don't give up, unless you really need the cash. i gave up during the downturn years ago and spent a couple years fucking around before getting back into real estate. that was a definite mistake. the work experience that i obtained during that time as an alternative to real estate was garbage. things are good for me now but i should've stayed in the industry during that rough patch instead of giving up.
a friend of mine recently got an mba from a TOP program and had a sexy development job in a good market. but shortly thereafter .... his story to me was his mom got sick and he quit and moved back home last year. i remember that he had the same trouble running into jobs that were too entry-level for him. what did he end up doing? he got a job that is not the worst ever but, well, it does involve residential real estate. his current job is probably an insult to his current pedigree, but i know the guy well enough to say that he is going to somehow come out on top in the end. he is an awesome guy and this industry is dynamic and entrepreneurial.
Turn around three times and spit. You don't bring that bad juju here.
we've all been there, stay focused, don't get discouraged. My advice would be to follow up with leads you were in contact with 3 months ago. It's all about cycles. Time is a circle. Keep cycling around and you are sure to hit someone up at the right time. It's about putting yourself in the right place, at the right time.
Thank you all! this is all very helpful advice and very motivating. I do think some segments within the market are facing challenges and particularly on the development side there has been a contraction. My old job focused on one product type so it was pretty high risk.
In re: to my search... I am more than willing to take a more junior role. I have interviewed for them in the past, but recruiters/hiring managers continue to say that I will get bored and they would like to focus on more junior-level candidates. I emphasize that I am looking for a career opportunity and I don't mind the junior role given longer-term growth opportunities....still to no avail. I wonder whether the timing of this has made things difficult given its mid-summer.
Just goes to show how education isn't everything and just a small piece in this industry. A brand name school will get you in the door for that interview but at the end of the day, who you know and experience trumps everything. Keep pushing man you'll get there. This is in my opinion, one of the toughest industries to make it in, especially in big markets.
Curious what asset type you are in as I could potentially introduce you to a few potential companies that are hiring
Thanks for reaching out! I've focused primarily on resi. but have been involved in one way or another on all different property types with the exception of industrial.
Thanks for reaching out! I've focused primarily on resi. but have been involved in one way or another on all different property types with the exception of industrial.
PM your resume. There are a few REPE / MF developer jobs that you could be interested. One of them at my current company.
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