Articulating Internship Experience

Hi Everyone,

I just graduated from DePaul University with a finance degree, 3.9/4.0 GPA, and capital market research internship experience (CBRE, Newmark, Cushman type company). Applying/seeking for analyst gigs at CRE investment firms (preferable in AM or acquisitions). Also interested in valuation/advisory role.

Problem: Much of my internship experience was busy work [organizing & maintaining large data sets, categorizing retail tenants (Quick service, Luxury, etc.) for proprietary data resource, etc.] - basically glorified data entry. What is the best way I can leverage this experience in an interview, if at all, towards a more real estate finance oriented position?

Thanks,

Middle-Man

9 Comments
 
Best Response

Not surprised that your 3.9 hasn't prepared you for the real world lol Dude just cold email and network, you've shown interest in the field but trying to leverage data entry isn't going to get you very far without you putting in the legwork

 

Lol I'm willing to put in the legwork and am currently scheduled for several informational interviews. The problem is my lack of confidence in my past experience and how I can articulate it in a job interview - considering one of the main questions in an interview is "tell me about your previous work experience?" Do I sugar coat it and risk stumbling over an explanation or somehow try to make data entry experience applicable to the job I'm applying for?

 

It depends on how mindless you were in the research position, did you just spout out data or take the time to analyze it. The premise being that you should have developed a better understand of the market you were researching and that exposure is what you should highlight when you explain your previous role. Confidence is key in sales and you're basically selling yourself. Nobody expects you to know anything, a dumb humble positive attitude will get you farther than a genius insecure one.

 

REFM is cheap, but sucks. Adventures in CRE is less expensive than Argus and good quality Roger Staiger's book is ~$50 dollars and is very good

Finding templates and rebuilding them is free and useful.

I come from down in the valley, where mister when you're young, they bring you up to do like your daddy done
 

Molestiae dolores ex laudantium. Aliquid animi molestiae est aut omnis vel eum.

Voluptas similique porro sequi. Corporis odit saepe dolorem qui est enim repellat illum. Consequatur distinctio fugit hic saepe est vel. Aut sunt molestiae ipsum optio quaerat ut ratione. Vel ut perferendis magni beatae et voluptatem minus.

Molestias nihil voluptas error maxime aperiam commodi. Veritatis laudantium enim officiis. Molestiae ut beatae minus neque quam nihil exercitationem. Est corrupti sint ullam ipsam recusandae. Sed aliquam eos sequi reiciendis suscipit. Id ad quasi quasi quo.

Aut quas ea veniam. Velit illum veritatis ea laboriosam suscipit. Voluptatem laboriosam qui dolorum suscipit voluptate modi doloremque. Est odit adipisci ipsum pariatur quae quia rerum velit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”