Real Estate Acquisitions Offer at a Smaller Fund v. Asset Management at a Larger Fund

Hi @superchimp, happy to help. I went to a target school and wanted to pursue a role in NYC. Throughout my college career I focused on gaining internship experience is every facet of real estate whether it was brokerage, advisory, asset management, development, acquisitions, etc. Interning while going to school helped me taste different areas, hone in on my skills and build relationships in the industry. Given that real estate is a very relationship driven industry, networking is arguably the MOST IMPORTANT part of the recruiting process. Send your emails, meet alumni and reach out to people you are interested in speaking to using LinkedIn - you never know when you are going to need someone to help you in the future. 

For example, a person I networked with last year and had a great conversation with forwarded my resume to the team I wanted to work with full-time. That's how I got a first-round interview and ultimately an offer. Other than networking, I would make sure your resume is on point and does not have careless mistakes - it is the document that you will solely be judged on. Professionals look at a resume for 30 secs-1 min, so make sure you put your best foot forward. 

To summarize, send out emails every single day (I had a hard rule of sending out 10 a day), gain as much work experience as you can before your big junior year internship, and make sure your resume is flawless. Remember networking is not meant to be transactional but rather a means of getting to know someone. I know it can be daunting at first, but trust me, the more reps you get in, the easier coffee chats will become. Try to get to learn about the person's background, why they chose to enter the field, what they enjoy about their work, what they find most challenging, how is the culture of their team, what is their outlook on the market, etc. 

P.S. A question I always liked to end my networking calls was: How can I best position myself to get an interview at your firm? - this usually led them to asking for my resume and hopefully an introduction to the individual/team that leads the recruiting process. In a follow-up email I always like to ask if they recommend I speak to someone else to learn more about the firm - this will help you expand your network at your desired firms. 

Best of luck!