NAIOP membership

Currently a sophomore in college at a non target school. Looking to break into IB or RE (mainly commercial) currently focused on networking and landing summer internships. A network recommended that I look into a ULI or NAIOP membership.

Does anyone have any experience with these two organizations and could provide some insight in which would better suit me in terms of entry into the industry.

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For you, these groups are most useful for networking. In LA, the ULI Young Leaders Group sends around monthly newsletters with job openings -- I'm sure other cities do the same. The catch is figuring out which one is more active, and therefore, more useful, for your market. For example, ULI Los Angeles is huge and super active. NAIOP, on the other hand, is really NAIOP SoCal, so the events happen between LA and Orange County, which might make it harder to mingle. In Seattle, it's the opposite. The ULI chapter there covers Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, and each city takes turns hosting events. So some months, there are no ULI events in Seattle. However, there's a NAIOP Washington that has a lot of events in Seattle and Bellevue that are super easy to attend. 

As a student, you should get discounted memberships, and you should definitely go to network. If money is tight, just pick one and stick with it. Oh, ULI also has a member directory, which is helpful for cold emailing, but NAIOP has online classes.

 

I did when I had the time! This was all pre-COVID. Your mileage may vary depending on which market you're in, and I don't know more beyond LA and Seattle. If there's a Partnership Forum Group in your local ULI Chapter, I highly suggest you join. It's a great way to be matched with a group of people and meet them regularly vs meeting one-off people at happy hours. There are definitely people in their 20s going -- the Young Leaders Group are for 35 and under! If you choose to join NAIOP, a good way to meet people seems to be to join committees. 

Events are probably virtual right now, but that might also vary depending on COVID cases and mask regulations in your area.

 

Given how cheap student memberships are.... strongly advise you join both, then can figure how to manage time for both (frankly, worth participating/attending both). Yes, in some markets (like NYC) ULI is the dominant group, others it's NAIOP... some have huge chapters of both! 

If you join them, you get access to the member directories... meaning you have the emails and contact details of tons of people in the industry AND you can contact them as "fellow member" which really ups chance you get response and help. So, personally, I see no reason to debate between the two, not for how cheap student membership is! 

 

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