Do I have a shot at scoring an interview with a top CRE firm?
- I'm a 28yo UG senior @ UC Berkeley
- Expected graduation date: May, 2019
- Major: Urban Studies (City Planning)
- Silently emphasizing in Econ (Int. Micro/Macro, Urban, and a Graduate course: Land Use Controls)
- Relevant work experience before transferring to Cal: Three years as a residential MLO at two different firms
- Internship position interested in: Financial Analyst
I'm worried that my resume won't even make it through initial screening processes. Also, even if it did, I'm doubtful I will remain competitive with younger, more desirable, Econ and Business grads. If my initial question is indeed a lost cause, is there anything else that I can do besides getting an MBA that would help make myself more competitive with top-tier firms (i.e., CBRE)? I am really itching to get back into the job market (I loved my job as a MLO and was successful at it) and don't want to spend any more time in school – at least, for now. Planning to join RE Clubs this semester, so maybe that will open a door? Should I audit some Finance/RE Finance courses @ HAAS?
Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
You can definitely get a job in real estate. It just may not be at a top firm right away, which is fine. Don’t get an MBA right after you graduate just so you can get a job at a marginally better place.
If you land a job at lesser known place and get some experience, CBRE may give you a look in the future.
I know that sounds pretty straightforward, but many soon to be graduates forget that you’re not married to that first job and it doesn’t define you. You may only work there for a year before doing something better. So don’t kill yourself over landing at JLL.
Although you should definitely take some real estate courses (online or through your university), learn to model, call some alumni in the field and try to land at JLL (plenty of threads on here on how to do that).
You can definitely land a job at a CBRE type form right away. I’m assuming here you want to be a broker. But for this, school and grades don’t matter, networking does. Start reaching out to brokers at all the top firms in the market you want to work in and network with them. Brokers eat what they kill and so they want to see someone who will be a go getter to get a job. It’ll come down to finding a broker who needs a junior and you putting in the leg work to network. Aim for all the top firms in the market and try to network with people at all of them.
UC Berkeley is an amazing school and Urban Planning seems incredibly useful to learn. Jorge Perez (co-founder of Related) started out in Urban Planning. I would suggest cold emailing and cold calling alumni who work at the places you want to work (like CBRE). I’ve done that (and I go to a no name state school and have two years experience as a Residential Broker) and have had much success with it. It sounds like you will be fine.
Numquam laboriosam et natus ducimus id. Qui est pariatur illo reiciendis voluptatem sunt. Consequuntur saepe temporibus ut aut voluptas officia. Molestiae mollitia ut eos neque. Molestiae repellat dicta pariatur voluptatem ratione ducimus. Dolore eveniet laborum laudantium sapiente cum. Mollitia cupiditate aut optio est qui quis exercitationem.
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...