CIM Group

PHX? If so, PM me. I’ll give you first hand insight. 

Analyst 2 in RE - Comm

CRE

I interviewed with them a few years ago and was very impressed with some things and thoroughly unimpressed with others. 

On one hand, the projects they build are creative, adventurous, and in no way lack ambition. I love that in a developer. Devon McCorkle seemed like a genuine guy and was terrific to talk to and Ryan Harter came across as brilliant and an absolute stud. 

Unfortunately, two things really made me lose interest. One is how their team structure was presented - the finance side does almost everything involving the actual deal, so their "developers" are less developers and almost more akin to construction managers. Most of the questions I received in the final rounds were highly specific construction related questions that frankly, aren't what I do. Second is that there is definitely something wrong with their culture. While the two guys I mentioned above were fantastic, there are other people in that company who came across as incredibly toxic...in the interview. One guy tried to play hardass with me and opened with "I didn't even want you here, so tell me why you deserve to be sitting across from me?" (Lol ok, douchebag). Another spent 20+ minutes of the interview complaining about Ryan Harter, who I mentioned above. 

If you're being a douchebag in an interview or you're whining about your boss to a potential new hire in an interview, how exactly do you think the actual job is going to be? Add that to the sweatshop reputation mentioned above, and the fact that the interview process was a bit too drawn out and unorganized for my preference, and it never continued. 

Maybe you'd be working in a different office with different people and maybe things have changed since 2018/2019 when I talked to them, but at least go in with your eyes open. 

Your point in your second paragraph about duties is basically most large development shops. When you're doing such large complex projects within a large corporation, there's going to be multiple departments running the show on their skill set. It's the same at Related except the opposite. At the Analyst/Associate level you are basically a modeling junkie and don't get exposed too much to the actual cradle to grave development. (design, entitlements, construction, etc.)

You’re exposed, you just arent the final say in decisions. You’re definitely as involved as you can honestly be, which is a little bit in everything and running meetings with all the different groups, especially if it’s financially related, and you learn a ton. You’re right about the different responsibilities though, exactly my experience

Your point in your second paragraph about duties is basically most large development shops. When you're doing such large complex projects within a large corporation, there's going to be multiple departments running the show on their skill set. It's the same at Related except the opposite. At the Analyst/Associate level you are basically a modeling junkie and don't get exposed too much to the actual cradle to grave development. (design, entitlements, construction, etc.)

I understand, but that's not "development" to me, and I'm also not at the analyst/associate level. 

Your point in your second paragraph about duties is basically most large development shops. When you're doing such large complex projects within a large corporation, there's going to be multiple departments running the show on their skill set. 

I disagree with this take.  Usually "development" means development.  Construction management is an entirely different business.  I don't think its unreasonable to expect the job description for which you apply, and it's a perfectly reasonable criticism of CIM that their "development" role is something else entirely.  Not necessarily a negative if that's how they want to define it, but certainly something of note for those who might consider applying for that job.

Most big development shops hire developers.  CIM is different because they JV a lot and let their partners take lead, so they don't need a developer, they need a CM.  That isn't usual.

It seems that you’re an exception here but look around this forum for one of the compensation threads. Whenever someone mentions they make more than $200k other commenters are always like “wow are y’all hiring???”.
 

And then on a thread about CIM (a firm that pays people with two years of experience $200k+) and everyone turns their nose up like they’d never work there.

Not saying you’re one of these people. But looking at the compensation threads and then looking at this thread makes me lol.

And no need to mention that Blackstone or Ares or whatever pays more - I understand. I’m just saying this thread seems contradictory to do many other threads where people with 5 years of experience make $140k

What was the comp difference between your associate offer at CIM and the offer at the job you’re at? I’m guessing it was at least a $60k difference for associate 1

Anectodal but we just had a Hines exec join our shop and he said it was a disaster over there, which shocked me tbh because it's the one shop I've always had on a pedestal too...