Untraditional CRE Paths

Inspired by the brokerage exit thread, I want to hear about the guys who have not had the most traditional path (even for RE), where they are now, and where they want to go.

I'll start - graduated from a non-target with only one CRE internship on my resume. Joined a boutique appraisal firm for extraordinarily low pay, even for where I was living at the time. That experience lasted about 7 months. I found WSO through countless "jobs after appraisal" google searches and knew it was game over (tbh didn't even know what exit opps were until WSO, so thanks guys).

Left the appraisal firm for one of the big three brokerages and worked in loan asset management. Learned a lot more there and made a lot of connections due to company size. Stayed for nearly two years and was offered an analyst position at an investment firm in NYC. Accepted the position and moved to NYC. That position/firm/experience was kind of "eh" and COVID exasperated those feelings. Towards the end of last year, got offered a new role at a brokerage again as a senior analyst and that's where I'm at now.

Long term goal like a lot of people is some sort of investment related position from the ownership side. Acquisitions or asset management, doesn't matter. But I also see how much you can make in brokerage and that is enticing. I'm not 100% sure on what I really want to do in the future so we'll see.

Really interested to see if anyone else has had a similar experience or has a non-linear path and ended up where they want to be or is surely on their way there.