Development or JLL Capital Markets Internship

I am a current junior who interned for a large family CRE dev office last summer. I received a return offer to come back for this upcoming summer. However, I was offered a Capital Markets internship at a corporation as well (think JLL, CBRE, Eastdil). Is it wiser to start my career off in a smaller pond where I will continue learn many different aspects of dev, or should I pursue Capital Markets for the higher deal volume + more structure?

5 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, your decision should align with your long-term career goals. Here's a breakdown:

  1. Development Internship (Smaller Pond):

    • Pros: You'll gain exposure to a variety of aspects in real estate development, which is valuable if you're aiming for a career in development or entrepreneurial ventures. Smaller teams often mean more responsibility and hands-on experience.
    • Cons: Limited deal volume and potentially less structured training compared to larger firms.
  2. Capital Markets Internship (JLL, CBRE, Eastdil):

    • Pros: Higher deal volume, exposure to institutional clients, and a structured environment. This experience is highly transferable and can open doors to REPE, REITs, or other high-profile roles.
    • Cons: You may be more specialized in your role, which could limit exposure to other areas of real estate.

Recommendation:
If your ultimate goal is to work in development or start your own firm, the development internship might be more aligned with your aspirations. However, if you're looking to build a strong foundation in finance, gain exposure to institutional deal-making, or keep options open for REPE or other capital markets roles, the JLL/CBRE/Eastdil internship is the better choice.

Sources: Career Path in Commercial Real Estate, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/real-estate/starting-my-career-in-cre-five-years-out-of-undergrad-brokerage-vs-development?customgpt=1, Making The Jump - Construction Manager to Development, Need direction in life, How the hell are return offer candidates going to be assessed this summer?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

I’d go for the capital markets role. You’ll see a ton in a short period of time and will be able to spin the internship into whatever you recruit for full time.

 
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