How hard is it to work up from the bottom in CRE?

I have a tentative offer to work at a boutique Real Estate Development and Property Management firm (8m sq. ft.) for a summer internship but the title isn't that lucrative and the work would be due diligence and paperwork mostly. I'm more than willing to start at the bottom and grind my way up to the top of the field, but I want to know how possible that is in commercial real estate.

My ambition is to work in asset management or development full time. I graduate from a target school in a year so this is my last chance at a summer internship. I also have no prior RE experience.

7 Comments
 

If you want to work in development, then starting in a development internship sounds quite suitable. Even if they’re not investing in you, you can learn a lot independently through due diligence and seriously examining the paperwork that crosses your desk. You may have reservations since it’s not a big name corporate firm, but the boutique structure means that every employee wears more hats and positions are less compartamentalized. If you embrace the eclecticism and leverage it to gain exposure into the other areas of the company, it’ll be a serious learning advtange. It’s all in your own hands what you make of the experience.

 

This is like asking how hard is being successful. When you really enjoy what you’re doing the hard parts still suck but are at least interesting. Legalized gambling makes for an unbelievable job.

 

Of course it’s possible. It can be hard, confusing, demoralizing, frustrating, and painful but literally everyone’s experience will vary.

My path was more painful than it needed to be. Others luck into a good role right away. Many are simply born into it because their dad did it.

Doesn’t really matter though. If you want it badly enough, and you are capable enough, you can make it happen.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Nihil omnis amet minus est autem rerum nisi. Maiores aperiam reprehenderit deleniti esse velit sint modi.

Fugit officiis consequuntur voluptas quidem excepturi. Ipsam earum ipsam eveniet sint voluptatibus. Aliquid sint magni omnis recusandae aut ex id.

Repellendus recusandae dignissimos dicta odio. Id magni qui omnis reprehenderit. Recusandae impedit numquam voluptate atque numquam alias. Quia corrupti mollitia modi qui quaerat optio ea. Voluptas est nulla consequuntur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”