Looking to break into CRE but need some advice regarding certificates!

I've been reading about CRE recently which sparked my interest. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I graduated from CCSU, with a B.S. in Management Info. Systems, and virtually have 0 experience in this industry. However, I've recently accepted a role as an IT Associate Business Solutions Analyst at a F500 energy company. I already know that it's not something I would like to do.I stumbled upon these potential certificates and wanted to hear your input:1) eCornell - Commercial Real Estate Cert.2) GetREFM - REFAI Cert.3) UCLA - Using ARGUS Enterprise CourseThanks in advance!

 

Thank you for your input. I was actually interested in the following after doing a bit more research:

1) ACRE - Accelerator (REFM)

2) GetREFM - REFAI Cert.

As you mentioned ARGUS can be learned on the job, but if I have no exp. or a RE degree, wouldn’t it be better to get it somehow?

Also, what type of positions should I be targeting? I’m looking for an Analyst positions, but get rejected lol. Preferably would like to get into Acquisitions/Development/Capital Markets.

 

I highly recommend following Break into CRE on YouTube. Guys name is Justin Kivel he makes videos on all things you need to know for a career in CRE. He taught me just about everything I know about CRE, which granted isn’t much. He also offers super affordable modeling courses. I went from knowing nothing about excel to being pretty proficient and confident using his courses

 

What about real estate makes you interested in it? Need to know the answer to that in order to know what you want to do within the industry. It’s tough to answer, I’m still trying to find it for myself. And why do you feel stuck?

 

Get out to networking events hosted by NAIOP and ULI to start meeting people and become more known in the industry. It's a tight-knit industry and important to get talking to people in it to gain some credibility.

I spent 3 years trying to break into those exact same positions and did those same courses. It never happened, despite having a Finance degree and tangential experience in urban planning. I would cold walk into random developer offices with a suit and resume just to talk with people (people remember that and respect the hustle, FYI). Hell, I refused to take any other salaried job in a non-related field and worked as a delivery driver downtown because I figured I'd at least get to deliver to the CRE firms in the area (kept a resume on hand). It can be a bitch and a half to break into this industry, but once you are in, you are in.

Ultimately, I only broke in because I was willing to accept a brokerage position, on draw, at some tiny (but ambitious and growing) local boutique, to work on a new line of business that they hadn't done before. Risky, but it's turned out incredibly well so far. Hustle and gumption go a long way in this business.

 

I just checked the NAIOP & ULI events and there’s none located nearby. NAIOP is hosting one in Chicago, IL and ULI in Miami, FL lol. I don’t want to sound embarrassed or unenthusiastic, but I never attended events like these before, and wouldn’t know what to expect or who to approach.

I’ll try to keep networking, but would you ever recommend getting LinkedIn premium since it offers the ability to send messages? I cannot connect with certain people due to lack of a solid network.

At one point, I’ll go to NYC and/or Boston and try to do what you did by walking in and leaving my resume.

 
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