Real estate recruitment agencies California
I am currently looking to move out to California from the UK to work in commercial real estate, more specifically investment sales/capital markets at an analyst level. My plan is to make the move once I have secured a job or at the very least an internship. Hopping off the plane without the prospect of a job seems like a bit of a gamble to me!
Therefore my question to you is, are there any recruitment agencies/companies that you know of in California or elsewhere in the US that could help an overseas applicant like myself?
In my experience it is very difficult to get employers to take you seriously if you are from out of state let alone another continent.
Any help would be very much appreciated!
A new up and coming SoCal recruitment firm is RETS and Assoc. I've talked with them before. They are very conventional in that they look for folks with Finance/Bus/Econ degrees. Ground up modeling capabilities. Experience as an intern or analyst, etc. But they're easy to get on the phone and that's worth a lot.
Thanks a lot, i'll definitely check these guys out. Hopefully they'll be willing to try and place me somewhere even though I'm currently overseas. I'd imagine a lot of recruiters might be put off by this but as they're relatively new they might give me a shot!
Just out of curiosity did they manage to set you up with anything?
We weren't a good fit for each other. Being that they are so new they're not going to take any risks with someone like me. I'm a deal guy. I've been sourcing and closing on deals for years. I'm no analyst. My Argus skills are novice but improving. They may work with you oversees but they're going to want you to fit the conventional mold of graduating college, intern, analyst...and so on.
Just because you get the name of a 'recruitment agency' in California doesn't mean they will look at you any differently than the head of CBRE LA-Orange County will. You think a headhunter/recruiter is just going to smooth everything out and start lining up sweet opportunities for you? The better question is, did you go to a good school, do you have any experience, etc.
The loyalty of the recruiter is to their clients, which is employers. But I have found recruiters to be much easier to get on the phone with.
@prospie Apologies I did not really describe my background at all, so to summarise I majored in Real Estate from a reputable university and have two years post graduation experience as a real estate analyst.
I did actually assume it would be easier to get a foot in the door by using a recruiter instead of going direct, as often recruiters have good relationships with these employers who hold their recommendations in high regard.
Breaking into U.S. commercial real estate from the UK is doable, but you’re right — most firms hesitate when the candidate isn’t already local. The key is getting your résumé in front of teams that regularly hire analysts and making it clear you’re committed to relocating.
Recruiters worth looking into for California CRE roles:
These firms routinely handle roles in investment sales, capital markets, and acquisitions, and are used to working with out-of-state candidates.
A few tips that genuinely help international applicants:
California CRE is competitive, but not impossible — you just need stronger positioning and recruiter support.
If you need additional help navigating U.S. CRE analyst recruitment, firms like Alliance Recruitment Agency also assist international candidates exploring relocation-based opportunities.
Thanks for the slop, Kevin
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