Postgraduate career recommendation
Hi everyone,
As I am going through my senior year I am beginning to really think about what my next move should be to have the brightest career outlook. A little background on me first. I am a 21 year old business finance major at a Cal State University. I have been involved in the real estate industry since my freshman year and love the industry. I am currently the president of my schools real estate association, hold a board position in my local CCIM chapter, and am a real estate development intern for Circle K corporate for 7 months now. Before this internship I was a commercial real estate broker at a small boutique firm for 2 years. I am also looking to get my masters in real estate degree from Chapman University. My ultimate goal is to work as a developer at a large PE firm and eventually break off and start my own development company. Now below is my question.
If my goal is to eventually work for a PE development firm, should I try to get a development internship in one of those companies now or continue to work for Circle K. I guess my main question is will working in a real estate development position for a Corporate company such as Circle K pigeon hole me in the corporate real estate world or would I be able to eventually move over to PE development and work on larger projects? Is Circle K a big enough name to eventually work at a firm such as Prologis, Hines, Trammell Crow, Greystar, Brookfield, etc in development? Also would another internship such as project destined or maybe a mid size PE firm help with this?
Hey there,
Based on the most helpful WSO content, it seems like you're on a great path already! Your involvement in the real estate industry, your leadership roles, and your current internship at Circle K are all valuable experiences that can contribute to your future career in PE development.
Now, to your question. Working in a real estate development position for a corporate company like Circle K won't necessarily pigeonhole you in the corporate real estate world. It's all about how you leverage your experiences and skills. Remember, real estate is a broad field and the skills you gain in one area can often be transferred to another.
That said, if your ultimate goal is to work for a PE development firm, getting an internship at one of those companies could be a beneficial move. It would give you direct experience in the field and could potentially open doors for you in the future.
As for whether Circle K is a big enough name to eventually work at a firm such as Prologis, Hines, Trammell Crow, Greystar, Brookfield, etc in development, it's less about the name and more about the skills and experiences you gain. If you can demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge needed for a role at one of those firms, that's what will really matter.
Another internship at a place like Project Destined or a mid-size PE firm could also be beneficial. It could give you a different perspective and more diverse experiences, which is always a good thing in the real estate world.
Remember, there's no one "right" path to your goal. It's all about gaining relevant experiences, building your skills, and making connections in the industry. Keep up the great work and keep chasing your dreams!
Sources: Making The Jump - Construction Manager to Development, Career Advice out of Undergard - Development vs Investment, Career Paths/Exit Opportunities, What was your path to a Real Estate Private Equity job? Looking for advice
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