Is it wrong to hop around in your early first few years to try different verticals and figure out what you enjoy?

First year analyst in multifamily acquisitions. Now that I’m in the industry, I’ve come to recognize there’s so many other interesting verticals of real estate. For example, I always wrote off going to the debt side when I was in college just because I thought debt would be boring. I further was falsely under the impression people in debt don’t make money. I guess I’ll check that up to being a college student. Mezz / bridge lending seems like it would be interesting to work in. Development Id also like to get a taste of. Point is to say that I’m kinda interested in it all. I like RE that much and just want to get to really explore the industry before choosing what I want to do long term. Interning, 1-3 times throughout college, although helpful, I realized just doesn’t give you enough knowledge / exposure to really figure out what you want to do. Would like to spend next 2-4 years trying out as many different verticals and niches of real estate on the buyside as possible. Any suggestions on how to achieve this / how to do this without looking like a job hopper / etc. also under the influence when writing this so for I give bad grammar, sentence structure, wold selection, etc.

5 Comments
 

Can you move internally at your company? That could help. Or you could go to a small company where you do a bit of everything. That’ll give you a taste of it. It’s going to be hard to do everything - but it’s possible. For instance - I’ve done asset management, acquisitions, capital raising (debt and equity), lending, development. But it was more luck as it happened at two separate companies.

 

Yes. You learn a bit about everything which is nice. You know enough to problem solve and ask the right questions.
I’m less of an expert than I would be otherwise and people who have done only one thing may know more about that one thing than I do, but I know more in general. Also,  I am confident I can sell myself to do anything if I ever find myself out of a job. AKA more security. 

 
Most Helpful

Quasi totam velit neque error eligendi ut culpa. Vero in dolorum qui et ut autem iure voluptatem. Est officia omnis sint et natus rerum modi. Quidem ex eos blanditiis natus sit et architecto. At quis similique et nulla architecto et quas. Quia modi nihil qui quas.

Explicabo fugit rerum reiciendis eos dolores aut. Natus ut facilis quam quo ab. Eveniet maiores nostrum laborum aspernatur necessitatibus at minima.

Officiis in quo ducimus maxime quia tenetur. Nemo molestias similique harum qui voluptatem dolores maiores. Assumenda quibusdam quo voluptas occaecati pariatur fuga ea. Nihil id tenetur est optio fuga. Nihil tempore corporis sint id et suscipit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”