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
bump
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.
You can leverage your past internship to your advantage. Talk about how it was a great learning experience and how you learned a ton - but the internship made you realize that you wanted to be "in" the deal, in the thick of it, instead of a supporting research role.
@Ronclue" This is exactly what I was looking for. I can definitely work with this. Thank you, Ronclue.
@tbateman" Thank for your recommendation. I've looked into Argus training courses but they unfortunately aren't cheap (upwards to $1,000). Do you know of any free, quality courses or at least ones that are reasonably priced?
Thanks
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.
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