Breaking Into a Big Market
About 12 months ago, I left my role as an Analyst in Acquisitions to enter a larger market. I moved in with a relative of mine while I searched for jobs in CRE (primarily Analyst positions for PERE or Brokerage firms). Over time I interviewed at several places and built a decent network but never landed a job offer and after 2 months I ended up working in operations for a BB Bank in order to pay the bills and get an apartment.
Fast forward 9 months, I'm hating my life and end up quitting the gig in operations with the hopes of sticking to my original plan of landing a job in Commercial Real Estate. I feel like I've wasted so much time but still haven't given up on my original goal. I'm considering brokerage and property management as a potential career although neither seem as sexy as an Analyst position with a PERE group or investment sales team.
I'm about 3 weeks in and have already had 3 interviews and about 6 coffee sit-down meetings with higher ups in companies I am targeting. No offers yet but I can probably hustle for a another 2 months before giving up.
Does anyone have a similar experience or any success breaking into a larger market at an entry-level? If so, what resources did you use to get momentum in your search (cold emails, job boards, professional resume help, RE Seminars...?) How negatively will not having a job or experience in my market impact my chances?
Lastly, what entry jobs do you recommend if your dream job is Managing an Acquisitions Team or Development/Re-Development? I'm looking at Construction, Property Management, and Leasing although neither of these roles were my original choice when I started searching for jobs.
Thanks for reading my post and sharing your insight.
It's too late for the most important piece of advice, so this is for everyone that comes in to read this thread, IT IS EASIER TO GET A JOB WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB.
Short and dirty, is get a job in real estate, anywhere in real estate. If you hustle like you have been doing over a couple of years even at a property management job you can and will get exposure to other areas of CRE. Brokerage is great in a big market unless you are all commission without a base.
You do not want to be unemployed and looking for work. Also, if you're getting interviews than you're doing all the right things.
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