Leveraging personal connections
Obviously this is something that you do when you can and when it benefits you. I've done it, I'm sure most people here have done it and if not, they you've seen someone do it.
I am curious if anyone has seen it done at this level.
I do not have a stellar background, currently working in acquisitions and doing a ton of deals. I work for a small firm that is difficult to gauge where people would leave to since it is a small and young firm. I had some experience under my belt before taking the associate gig so I am 29. I went to a non target and did and RE masters program a few years back.
I have a very close family friend who is working at a top tier firm. As top tier as you can get. We have had a dialogue about me coming on as an associate on their REPE team. I will take this opportunity 10 times out of 10 but my question is has anyone here seen it done? An internship sure, a kid who cant hack it but went to Brown, yes. I just am looking at the firm and its peers on Linkedin and my background sticks out like a sore thumb.
Has anyone ever leveraged a personal connection to land on a REPE team? No this has never been done before. Next question
Oh okay sick.
Use your connections. Who cares what your current background is. Don’t let it define you. Go for gold always.
I would also like to add that as you move up the ladder (promotion wise) in real estate, you will meet more and more people who haven’t recruited for a job since their first or second job. You’ll find they got the job via connections. It doesn’t always work like this, but it is very common in real estate to get a call from your friend from another firm and be brought over. I’ve seen plenty of instances where one person from firm A moved to firm B, he/she brings over another person from firm A to firm B, and than they bring over 1 or 2 more people etc. To the point where it looks like firm B raided firm A for talent, but really, firm A was growing and needed to hire and the current employees brought their friends over. Currently, I’ve gotten half of my jobs via my network instead of outright applying.
This x 100. I didn't even have to update or send my resume for my latest gig.
Of course you can. From what you said you have an ok undergrad degree, a master's, and very tangible/applicable real estate experience. There are people who are working at REPE's out of undergrad with no experience. Don't second guess yourself, you have the "pedigree" what ever that means and you have the experience. You're not someone two years out of school with minimal experience. If your friend is openly discussing you joining them that means you have the skills and he thinks you can do it, go for it. Who cares about an internship or where you went to school, real estate is about who you know and taking the opportunities you're given. Don't waste it by thinking you're inferior to someone who went to an Ivy league or x school. They're people too and you can do just as well if not better in the same position if you work at it.
To give you an idea, I went to a top 60 undergrad ("non target") and am fine reaching out to the Tishman's and Silverstein's of the world. I'm not getting job offers at this point lol, but you can't let pedigree stop you. Maybe someone there appreciates the hustle and after getting a Master's it's something they'd consider or maybe you talk to the CFO because you cold emailed him, stay in touch, and he has a huge say in hiring. There are tons of people from non ivy's that got in through connections, familial relationships, or perseverance.
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