Student Walking into an Office and Handing Off His Resume - Commendable or Stupid?
Just finished freshman year. Working in Big 4 accounting this summer but want to get Real Estate experience under my belt for Summer 2026.
There's a Canada ICI building not far from my home: I know a few people at the firm but they work out of a different location.
I've heard that folks in RE appreciate honesty and "matter-of-factness": so with that in mind, can I head down to this office with a resume and a suit and tie, and say I'm looking for work for next summer?
I'll work in any business line, any asset class, I truly just want to get my hands dirty, and get working.
Not sure if showing up like this is the best way to communicate that drive, though.
Would truly appreciate all and any thoughts?
Walking into an office with your resume can be a bold move, but in the Real Estate industry, where hustle and initiative are often valued, it might just work in your favor—if done correctly. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s how to approach this:
Preparation is Key: Before you walk in, research the company thoroughly. Understand their business lines, recent deals, and the team structure. Tailor your resume to highlight any relevant skills or experiences, even if they’re minimal.
Leverage Your Network: Since you know people at the firm (albeit in a different location), reach out to them first. Ask for advice or an introduction to someone at the local office. A warm introduction can significantly increase your chances of being taken seriously.
Timing and Approach: If you decide to walk in, choose a time when the office is likely to be less busy (e.g., mid-morning or early afternoon). Dress professionally, bring a polished resume, and prepare a concise pitch. For example:
Be Respectful of Their Time: Keep your visit brief and professional. If they seem busy or uninterested, thank them politely and leave your resume behind.
Follow Up: After your visit, send a follow-up email to the office or any contacts you’ve made. Reiterate your interest and gratitude for their time.
While this approach shows initiative, it’s not without risks. Some professionals might view it as intrusive, so it’s crucial to gauge the company culture and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you’re unsure, consider combining this with more traditional methods like networking events, LinkedIn outreach, or informational interviews.
I think you'd get very different reactions depending on i) who you initially speak with - a gate keeper and ii) who they gate keeping - a decision maker.
Personally, I'd view this in a VERY positive light. While I was at an institutional firm I would get cold emails / messages with some frequency. I'm not sure if I ever got a cold call much less a cold walk-in, ever. Feels like a thing of the past in some ways.
A huge factor of success in real estate is relationships. A huge factor in establishing and growing relationships is hustle. It took me almost 5+ years in the industry to appreciate that a cold call to grab a 30 minute coffee may be what sets you apart from others and helps you make a new connection.
So go for it - what do you have to lose at the end of the day?
Thank you very much for the advice - it's surprising to hear that more kids aren't showing up in person - very interesting...
I think I will hold off - stick to messages and networking events for the time being.
Thank you!
I think it's stupid, but it's hard to see how it would hurt you that much. Kind of like chugging a gallon of milk. Of course you'll end up covered in milk and vomit, but as long as you don't post pictures of it, who cares?
Most people in any given profession actually have a job, a set of tasks and responsibilities that they work at each day. Most of us are already swamped with useless meetings, calls, social niceties, etc that get in the way of doing that work in an effective manner - it's hard to find a couple consecutive, uninterrupted hours in the day to really grind away. Which is to say, people think about summer interns and all that when they have to, it's not something that's always lurking in the back of their minds as a priority, so interrupting someone else's day and making the implicit statement that it's more important for them to receive you than whatever they would have otherwise been doing is a little bit presumptuous. Again, will you be blackballed from the industry for life? No. But you'd be far better off just going to a local ULI event, where people expect to be approached and to network, than showing up in someone's office like you own the place.
🤣😂😂
But dang it - some really helpful replies in this thread, but it's like a 50/50 split in regard to what I should do
Your rationale makes a ton of sense though - I don't have a ton of leverage just waltzing in with a resume: like @CRE said, unless I find a boomer who lives for "young people getting after it", this approach is more likely to annoy than impress.
So roger that, I'll hold off and stick to messages and networking events. Thank you
I think this highlights what I thought a la, "I think you'd get very different reactions." I can't disagree with the above enough.
My perspective on life is you never know where people start, where they're going, or where they may end up. I still have a lot of connections with people younger (sometimes much younger) than me who I've given an hour and coffee too. It seems like I reach out to a few of them a year for small favors like...
"What are you starting a Year 1 Analyst at for compensation?"
"I saw you closed on X deal, where did y'all land for property tax and insurance operating expense?"
So on and so forth.
With that said, I UNDERSTAND the above. This is how A LOT of people think. "I'm busy, why would I use (waste) my limited time on you?" I think it's incredibly short sighted long-term as real estate is not rocket science. Often your network and who you know is as (usually more) important than your work or skillset. It is what it is.
But just my two cents.
I should add: if you're trying to connect with people, do it with a purpose. Even if that is just learning more about them and what their role is within the industry. You will probably only get 30 minutes with them (plus or minus), so make the most of it and be pointed / productive.
Yep, you certainly called it (everyone giving a different response that is.)
I'm going to make a compromise and LinkedIn message some folks at the office, try to set up an in-person meeting. The message will look like:
"I'll be downtown - which is the truth, I actually will be - on x days and y times, would love to buy you a coffee and talk about your career journey and the firm you're at"
Thank you very much for your input and for all the responses - it means and helps a lot
This is fair enough. However, where does that end? Do you give every person who walks into your office an hour of your time? There's also a difference between a polite dismissal and an insulting one.
If someone walked in my office and handed me a resume and gave me the 30 second canned speech about working hard and all that, I'd probably be a little impressed, a little bothered, and ultimately fairly uninterested. Which is why I think it's probably a useless, if harmless, way of getting your resume out there.
I don't think about it as "wasting my time on someone." Half of my job is "wasting time" catching up with brokers and partners and lenders and what have you. As you say, that's basically the job. But I wouldn't hire someone simply because they had the balls to walk into my office in person instead of calling or emailing, and that's essentially what OP's question is. Not "do you make time for younger people looking for guidance or a job" but "are my chances of being hired better because I showed up in person rather than on the phone, or better yet by a mutual acquaintance."
I personally think it’s stupid, but that being said, if you could catch some of the boomers I’ve worked for at their desk they would probably at least talk to you on the spot because that’s how their world worked when they were young.
I don't see any harm in doing this as long as you aren't weird or annoying about it
I agree with @Ozymandia here. I don’t think this necessarily hurts you but there’s probably more effective ways to network. I think people in brokerage or who started off there would be more likely to be impressed with this kind of shameless audacity. I’ve had brokers pull this stunt on me before and was borderline annoyed by it but I’ve never been a broker so maybe they would respect the hustle more.
I did this and got a job. Summer of 2009. I saw a accountant job on Craigslist for a senior housing company (I applied and got no response). I was unemployed, laid off from a well known REPE in Dec 2008 (first of 3 times being unemployed for longer than 6 months). I was always intrigued by senior housing.
I printed my resume and headed down to the assisted living community and handed it to a nurse. I got a call back from the CFO who was quitting and I took over a lot of his responsibilities (company could no longer afford to pay him). I eventually started and sold these types of companies.
Later when I worked in the senior living building, I would see people stopping by to drop off resumes for caregiver, housekeeper, and cook positions.
This type of technique works on Main Street. There is no shame. Only survival, so their kids eat and have a home.
You said you want to get your hands dirty, learn, make some money. Go help Main Street. Look beyond the glass tower, especially if the economy is bad.
I’ll give a pep talk that I gave in the early pandemic. Businesses want solutions finders. They need help. Find the really struggling ones. Chances are they have openings or don’t have the right people for the moment. You want to learn real estate, go help them negotiate a lease (I did that for the senior living owner who also owned a retail building going through bankruptcy - I learned from that). Help manage property. Help with accounting. Show them there’s more to you. That you have executive potential.
Sometimes the macroeconomic environment makes the choice for you what kind of sector or role you have at the moment. Just crush it.
I forgot to mention, include a personalized cover letter why you want to help this specific company, why it’s the right moment. Include with your resume.
Handing it off, very likely will be read by your intended human. Be nice and personable to the person you hand off your resume to.
Roger that Sir. Thank you for sharing this
I'm not familiar with the Canadian market, but Canada ICI doesn't seem like Main Street. If this guy runs into some finance hardo under the age of 50 who went to McGill then they'll almost certainly view the in-person cold resume handoff as a squid move and throw it in the trash.
YOLO!
There's virtually zero downside. Just go for it. Either someone is impressed by your boldness/initiative or they'll decline.
I think you have a good shot at getting a conversation with someone in the office just because it would be such an oddity. Like, someone will take the bait just to talk to the dude who walked through the front door like it was the 1900s. But it is such a scattershot approach and such a big investment of time for you, just for the chance to get a cold face to face with someone who may or may not have anything to do with what you want to do and may not have any bearing on hiring. I'm not sure I would do it, because I have to think there are more efficient, targeted ways to meet the types of people you want to meet. May be worth it for the story though
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