Types of Jobs at Brokerages (CBRE/Cushman etc.)

Excuse my ignorance here, but are there entry level/junior roles at brokerage firms that are closer to deal advisory than straight up brokerage? I don't have interest in being a broker and I am wondering if I should eliminate these types of firms from my job search. Thanks!

4 Comments
 

Generally they fall into one of the below categories:

Junior leasing broker - sales/relationship support for tenant and landlord rep Junior Capital Markets broker - sales/relationship support for investments sales or debt Capital Markets Analyst - financial analysis support for investment sales or debt Research Analyst - random grunt work, gathering comps and making stacking plans and stuff Marketing - random grunt work, making brochures and OMs and sending out email blasts

It's common to see hybrid roles, such as a CM analyst also doing research/marketing, or a junior broker learning both tenant/LL rep as well as investment sales if their broker does both. I think CBRE likes to start a lot of their junior people in research before moving them to junior brokers.

If you're on this forum, then the only role you should target is a CM analyst role.

 
Most Helpful

Here is a list of possible entry level points within brokerages (though not all encompassing):

REIB

True RE IBanking can be found at BB banks (GS, BOA, etc) and in parts of Eastdil Secured and in HFF Securities. You start as an analyst advising on M&A and raising capital for portfolio level deals/ company (REIT/ REPE) buyouts.

Capital Markets/ Debt

Starting title is typically some sort of Analyst. I have seen Debt Analyst, Production Analyst, and Capital Markets Analyst, and Underwriting Analyst titles. You're modeling for debt day in and day out.

Investment Sales

Very similar to the debt side, except modeling from the equity side. Great exposure to meeting lots of great people. Many people make the jump from this to REPE as discussed countless times on this forum.

Research/ Valuations

Research analyst and Valuations analyst are a decent start in most major brokerages. Not as ideal as the ones above but (no matter what anyone else may say) not a bad start either. You can definitely move up.

Junior Broker

What you seem like you are avoiding. This is just starting out as a broker either flying solo trying to cold call or on a team trying to cold call.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

Only thing I'd add to this is that if you are just starting out/getting a feel for the industry, one of the salary/bonus routes is probably the way to go. Only caveat would be if you are from a well-off family/can live at home for a while and/or have really good connections in the biz, starting off as a broker can be much more lucrative up-front. If you don't have these things going for you, though, the burn/wash-out rate is very high.

"Who am I? I'm the guy that does his job. You must be the other guy."
 

Reiciendis non et ab ratione. Rerum expedita necessitatibus commodi quod dolorem illo. Aut quos ipsum repudiandae accusantium. Minima possimus nam recusandae. Est delectus quia debitis porro error suscipit et laboriosam.

Rerum numquam ut libero blanditiis quia sed. Reiciendis est et aut maxime non occaecati. Quis placeat assumenda quos sint autem asperiores eveniet ut.

Fugit molestiae magnam qui voluptatibus autem hic in. Eos incidunt ratione excepturi numquam aut et. Sed cum omnis minus occaecati sed at laboriosam. Expedita nesciunt quibusdam id consequuntur beatae quo rerum. Temporibus quisquam qui delectus commodi voluptatibus. Ullam iste perspiciatis totam commodi.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”