29 Comments
 

If you want to get into brokerage you need to network. Applications probably do work, but the brokers will usually take someone that networked with them. Analyst role or not, they want the person who is hungry. Instead of submitted apps, I would focus on networking. Email a broker, if they don't answer the first time, email them again. Rinse and repeat because they will answer you if you email them 5 times.

In regards to acquisitions roles, select leaders is great. Networking is a good bet too. With banking experience, someone will put up your resume.

 

Honestly real estate is becoming more and more attractive to people carreer wise every day and analyst postitons are pretty dang competitive. People preach the networking thing in RE all time for jobs. My experience is that networking (job wise) really only works if you have some experience and something to add (IS to acquisitions...leasing to AM) in other words logical jumps. Breaking in with no experience is tough, I've seen many guys I know try and fail and give up.

I don't want to discourage you but in reality you might have to do something like leasing or go back to school in order to get acquisitions type of jobs. It's just too competitve now. 10-15 years ago would have a been a different story.

 

I want to qualify my post by saying that I am taking about instituonal stuff. For non-institutional stuff maybe the barrier to entry is lower.

 
Best Response

What do you consider institutional? When I started in RE I had three offers from two different public cos entirely through networking. All were for Associate/Senior Associate positions on the top brokerage teams in the market. I had zero connections and only internship level experience at the time. I landed my current job at one of the top developers in the county the same way so I know it's not just exclusive to brokerage.

Fact is, most jobs are filled internally or through family and friends. The only way you can even remotely compete is by networking. When you apply the standard way you are 1 of 100s (1000s?) of people that look identical on paper. When you network you are 1 of 10 who made the effort to connect and establish a memorable relationship.

Finding a new job in any business takes time and effort. Above all else you need to play the odds. You increase your odds buy building relationships with people and getting them to trust you.

 

My experiences so far with trying to get into the industry and with networking is..

To land a job with said persons firm they need to have a job opening and if they did they would have likely posted it either or their site or through Select Leaders. Most of my calls I'm having people are telling me to keep tabs on postings and apply then reach out.

 

I agree with Count_Chocula that Select Leaders or ULI's Select Leaders is the best "job board" for real estate. Indeed.com usually has some postings too.

The best way to find something though, hands down, is to network with people in the industry. Jobs that are posted get 1000's of responses. Jobs that are filled without postings have like...3 candidates. You, the boss's friend's unqualified son, and someone else who networked in.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Not to hijack but didn't want to start a new thread..

Applied to a big firm and I reached out to an MD through email basically just expressing my interest and letting him know i applied. He emailed back nicely and CCed the head of group of job contact and said he'd be right contact. Do I send him a separate email even though he was CCed on reply from MD?

 

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