Trending Content - Real Estate Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
June 30, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
The usual suspects. BX, Carlyle, Tishman, Oaktree, etc
How do these firms recruit for new associates- same as in corporate PE where they hire recruiters to find banking analysts? Or can I reach out to the major recruiters, send in my resume, and test my luck?
If the former is true, do these firms only look at analysts from REIB, or do they search across all entry-level real estate jobs (CRE lending, brokerage, investment sales, and other REPE firms)?
Oaktree only banking I've seen. Tishman and Carlyle aren't as selective with bankers. Not sure about BX but I'd assume mostly bankers
It really depends what you're looking for - 'Best' should be best for you there's a lot of factors you should take into consideration.
There's a significant difference in the culture - between say Westbrook and Blackstone
While everyone wants BX - the reality is on the acquisitions side, it's a sweatshop, people are very uptight and there's a lot of layers before moving to upper management- a push to go and get an MBA and you will generally be buying large and very little off market deals.
Westbrook- runs a water tight shop where you won't hear much about them, they don't publish an address, phone number etc and will generally focus on doing off market deals in the middle market. From the people I've met they weren't doing an MBA, the head was a quantity surveyor. Super relaxed culture, and also your roles won't be singularly acquisitions they will be divided between acq, Asset Management and development, working with architects etc.
This is similar to Northwood ect. so figure out which you like.
I'm not too sure about the US but in Europe these guys dip into retail -
Blackstone (Multi Platform), Oaktree, Vardee( They're a US hedge Fund) and Avenue Capital, Mayer Bergemen (Retail specialist), Tristan Capital Partners
Dolorem atque magni voluptates eos. Ducimus hic id est optio sunt assumenda sapiente. Repudiandae qui aliquam reiciendis odio ratione quia. Debitis perferendis quaerat est ex vel.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...