How to say I have connections?
Hi,
So basically I'm an undergrad now set to graduate next semester and trying to get a job at a brokerage firm in the area. My Dad is a developer and owns A LOT of land, however is making me figure out things on my own before he will help me out in this industry. He said he would let me be the broker for some of his properties in the next couple years if I got a job, and had a general idea of what I was doing. I have emailed so many firms my resume and cover letter and receive no response and beginning to get very frustrated. I feel like I am being perceived as this silly naive girl who wants to be in CRE. I have never mentioned my connection because I thought it'd make me sound douchey, however I'm getting to the point where I feel like I am getting overlooked when in reality I'd be a very valuable asset to a firm.... if they'd just hire me.
Anyone have any advice on how I should go about my situation?
I think there is a bit of a misconception with the statement "How to say I have connections".
As of now, you have no connections because you haven't been able to get in the door. Just dig up some of your dad's contacts and start reaching out to them stating who you are and why you want to get into real estate...
Be overzealous in your cover letter stating you grew up in a real estate family who owns XX SF or real estate or XXX Land square feet of property.
This will at least catch the interest of someone and want you to come in for an interview to learn more about you and possibly make some money off of you.
FYI--I just hired my client's kid.
For the love of all things holy, do not throw out the "my daddy has land and if you hire me, my daddy will let you sell his land through me one day".
You want to be a broker, so learn the first step. Step 1: Get the meeting.
If you can't figure that out, you are likely not fit for a brokerage job.
Edit: Seeing World-Domination's comment above. You can state in your cover letter that your family has been in real estate and you were around it growing up and that is why you are interested in going into the industry, but I would NOT take his advice on being overzealous and throwing out that XX SF or Land, etc. I guarantee you that you will turn off a lot of people. You do not get your foot in the door by being a passive bystander. Go network. Go to events. Send personal messages to people on linkedin. Dont just send in a resume and CL to every job posting. Real brokers that you want to work for are not going to waste their time dealing with someone for the 'opportunity to maybe one day sell something of your dads in the future'
Saying that you grew up around your father doing real estate in the CV is exactly the way I would go.
Like it or not, someone with connections is worth more than someone without connections, especially in brokerage. I mean, look at all the summer analysts in brokerages who get hired because their father was a client for that investment sales team.
like I said in my post, it is fine to say you have been around real estate growing up and that is why you are wanting to get into the industry. I really recommend not stating in your CL that your dad is a large land owner and will allow you to sell his property in the future. If she cant figure out how to network into the business without throwing out that her dad owns a bunch of real estate and will let them sell it for a job, then she honestly wont make it regardless. Just my 2 cents though.
It really makes me smile when a rich heir gets to experience what the world is like for everyone else. This thread just made my day. Maybe my week.
birch514 - you need to worry less about how to bring up your daddy and what your daddy can provide for some future employer and worry more about your own strengths and what value you can provide. How are you going about this job hunt? What's your cover letter look like? What's your resume look like? If you can't even get a response, let's start there.
What's your major? How are you grades and your resume?
If your qualifications are not the right fit for real estate, you have to make up for it with legwork. You don't have much time left, and I think it will do you a lot of good to take a more active role in your job search by reaching out directly to hiring managers and attending local events. Simply dropping in your resume is a crap-shoot even with relevant experience.
Yes, your connection with your father can bring business to the firm you go to. However, that shouldn't be the main reason why a firm would hire you.
Nobody wants to hire an insufferable douchebag that talks about how their dad will make the firm money. If you want to get hired then show that you have value, not your parents -- and then as an added bonus (when you're already hired) you can bring your family's business to the table. Nobody cares if your dad owns some land -- a lot of people own land.
Bottom line is that they're hiring you, not your dad. So why don't you make something of yourself and present yourself as someone worth hiring with or without the help of your parents. As it stands -- you're making it sound like the only value you add is what your parents bring to the table and that -- frankly -- sucks.
The fact that you feel like you can't get your foot in the door without bringing this up already shows that you're probably doing something wrong. Taking the lazy route of shoving your dad's land in everyone's face won't help the situation.
Download a networking guide and get your ducks in a row.
p
Somebody is throwing a bunch of MS in here and I bet it is birch throwing it on every post that has "daddy".
You leverage what you've got, don't let those without it bring you down. Your dad probably has some great advice, even if he won't call clients he is by far and large going to be a great mentor. Has he read your CV?
Where did you intern/how did you spend your time in UG? What can you leverage to find the job?
Pretty sure more than half my office have dads that work in real estate and own properties, it's not really impressive to tell you the truth.
My dad does, and come to think of it, I regularly work with like 3 of my friends dad's. It's easily the most nepotistic industry. Having a parent or family member in the industry that owns properties is almost the rule, not the exception.
I work at one of the big three brokerages (CBRE, CW, JLL) and most of the brokers have the exact same resume. Everyone played sports at the same couple high schools, studied business/ real estate and were in a fraternity at a select number of large state schools and interned for their dad one semester or played minor league baseball.
Focus on what makes you different, not the same.
First of all, I do not think I am entitled to anything. I gave a very brief snapshot of my situation so please don't assume the only things I have done to set myself up to get hired was throw my "Daddy" out there.
Everything I have read and learned about this industry is connections, connections, connections, so, I was curious if it was doing more harm than help for myself by not mentioning my situation.
I am just starting out and aware that there is so much I need to learn. I know there is a lot of hustle and hard work that is required to make it in this industry, and I by no means think I am above any of it. That being said, I can tell any hiring manager how hard working I am, why I have interest in the industry, my prior experience blah blah blah etc. However, none of that is any concrete evidence that I can produce and make money for a company.
I could very well be the best broker the world has ever seen, or maybe even the worst. However, as a hiring manager, if you have a candidate that, if worst comes to worse, can guarantee they can list X amount of property, that seems like something that would be of consideration, in my opinion.
I welcome feedback, especially of those with more industry experience, but using the genuine question of someone wanting to learn more as an opportunity to lash out isn't helpful or insightful.
And for everyone else who wants to throw in their two cents- please quit referring to my Dad as "Daddy", it's gross.
What most are saying or even asking is "What is your GPA, work experience, extra curriculars, and achievements". Listing your responsibilities in these roles that have relevance will help you get that look from hiring managers. Afterward, you can talk about trends and show your interpersonal skills, but for now you need that look and listing these merits will get you that.
No company is going to take that "guarantee" from you, though. They would be an idiot to hire you with that promise, only to have your Daddy tell them no since you don't speak for him or his company in any authority. If you really want to use nepotism to get a job, your Daddy needs to call the broker and get you one, perhaps with that "guarantee." Since he seems unwilling to do that (and good for him), you need to drop being Daddy's offspring from your list of "accomplishments."
Every young job-hunter right out of school has to tell hiring managers how hard working they are, why they have interest in the industry, their prior experience, etc. without concrete evidence that they can produce money for the company. What you described is literally what millions of people do every year. You're trying to take a short cut, which is annoying, but more damaging is that you don't seem to understand the impression you're making on other people by doing so.
This is real estate. 50%
My advice would be to mention you grew up in a family where your dad was in real estate but I wouldn't extend past that unless an employer inquires. You should sell yourself, connections/relationships will come in time.
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