What should go on my resume and cover letter in my circumstance for internship applications (RE specific)
I'm a non-finance major (BBA in computer information systems) senior with no RE experience, and only one internship last summer at a non-RE related position (basically doing web site design, some excel work at an online marketing firm).
I have never applied to anything this far ahead in time, so I'm not sure how to go about a few things in my resume and cover letter. If I were to put my current experience on a resume and send it in, I doubt it would go so well. Would it be normal/acceptable to add things on my resume that have not yet happened, but would be completed by the Summer, and clarify this in the cover letter? Such as I was able to get the department head at my school to make an exception and allow me to take the RE Finance course next semester instead of a selection of other courses. I also have BIWS course and plan on completing the certification before the Summer. I have REFM course material as well (but won't be able to get the cert). If I were to put RE Finance coursework and BIWS on my resume, I would just put something like "in progress" next to them, would that be okay? My goal here is to show that I am truly interested and invested in working in CRE.
On my cover letter, as I can't talk about relevant work experience since I don't have any, should I just talk about why I am interested in CRE, and what I am currently doing about it to learn more and break into the industry?
Pretty stuck here and would really appreciate some advice as I am kind of clueless to what is acceptable and what is not.
Not sure if this is helpful, but try getting some RE experience in the meantime.
You'd be surprised if you call up local RE broker and ask if you can shadow them, unpaid, for some experience.
I wish I had the time for that. I'm on campus from pretty much 10AM-6PM at least, M-Th. Weekends are spent mostly studying.
What about fridays?
You're a college kid without a ton of RE experience. It is what it is. However, you will be doing RE Courses, REFM, and BIWS, which is great.
If I recall correctly, you are applying to jobs in the Texas area. Therefore, you're competing against a fewer number of "Type A" kids that have 2 internships, tons of coursework, etc that applicants to shops in New York would have. The experience you mentioned would put you at like the 80th to 90th percentile of applicants that you are competing against.
PS - In the past 3 months, this is like the 4th or 5th time you've posted something like this. Over this time, if you had sent out your resume to 25 shops, instead of continually asking questions about it on WSO, you probably would have 2-3 interviews at this point (if not more).
I may be wrong but I feel like I am at a disadvantage to a lot of applicants for internships at debt/equity and IS shops. I've done a lot of looking around on linkedin at interns at a lot of shops and most of them are on their second/third/fourth internship, and come from a strong finance background.
But yeah, you're probably right about this. I definitely have some "selective OCD" where when I want things done, I want them done at the perfect timing. For example, over the summer I had great results networking. But since I've been at school, I've had very little time to revamp my resume/Cover letter, and reach out to people. I plan on changing that very soon and aggresively get back on track networking and sending out my resume. Do you have any thoughts on myself including the coursework that is in progress on my resume and cover letter to show interest?
I highly value your opinion and your advice, I really appreciate it.
Does your college have a real estate club?
Will echo what DUKE said above, although in a nicer way.
First it seems every one of your post seems to start out the same, "NON-finance at a non target, no relevant internships". Quit saying that. There is no such thing as a target school in real estate (at the bigger private equity funds starwood,blackrock,hines sure but not what you are looking at). There are target families of course but no target schools. When you introduce yourself this way you are discounting yourself before you ever begin. You are giving people a reason to tell you no, or look down on your resume.
Second:
If you would start networking you would have people to ask answer these questions, and it would be more beneficial than posting here. WSO is an invaluable resource and everyone here is honestly eager to help. I have met multiple people on here, and everyone of them have agreed to float my resume/ keep me in mind when the right opportunity opens up. With that being said, it would be way more valuable if you could just drop mike from cushman and wakefield an email and say
"Mike quick question im wondering how to spin my lack of experience on my resume, do you have any advice?"
Not only is this networking, it is relationship building. It shows mike that you are hungry and that you aren't only going to email him about a job. Stay somewhat familiar to him, and he will keep you in mind the next time something opens up.
Last:
I think some of what you may be experiencing is anxiety about graduating and entering in to the work force. That's normal, but don't worry. You are a college graduate and as long as you put yourself out there you will get a job which is what is most important. It might not be the job you want but it will be something. Once you get your first job you can maneuver from there.
Take me as an example:
Graduated last December. Upon graduating I had no internships. I had an unrelated degree. I had zero friends or family in commercial real estate. I honestly wasn't even totally sure that I was going to work in CRE until my last semester. I half assed networking (much like I am sure you are right now) but was lucky enough to get an internship at a big brokerage (think cushman/cbre/jll) and was able to turn that in to a full time role. This role is not as a financial analyst, or working for a debt team like I originally wanted but it got my foot in the door. As long as you get your foot in the door that is all that matters. Since working here I have slowly started to build my network around the firm, and have even been introduced to other professionals, and interviewed with other places. When the right opportunity comes I will be ready, in the meantime I am getting paid to network, and work at a firm that is recognized by everyone in the industry.
What I just wrote was a long way of saying:
Stop discounting yourself. It doesn't matter where you went to school or what you studied.
Start networking and start doing it now. Even if it is only 3 emails a week. That is better than nothing. Seriously just do it. No one is going to do it for you, and the better you become at it the better your career will be.
I realize that (except I don't include target school), but I feel that information is relevant to my questions. I am not trying to devalue myself, but I can see what you mean.
That is very true what you say about networking. I may have begun relying on WSO too much. Relationship building with contacts over time is something I need to work on; I haven't contacted any of the people I talked to over the Summer yet, but plan on changing that.
There definitely is some anxiety with graduating and finding a job. When I compare myself to others on WSO and linkedin, I feel like my chances are slim of doing what I want to do, which is work with debt and equity. It seems like all of these analysts either have robust relevant internship experience or a MBA/masters in finance/RE. It sounds like you came out very well though, and we have similar interests of where we want to end up in this industry.
What is your opinion on my questions pertaining to my resume and cover letter?
Thank you very much for your insights.
It is easy to get caught in the trap of comparing yourself to others, frankly I do the same very often. Lately I have been trying to do it less, as I have to come to realize that there will always be someone more qualified than me. However they may be more qualified, but I have something they don't which is what makes me unique. Just as I have unique qualities so do you. Focus on those.
Now regarding your questions:
In my opinion don't put anything on your resume that you haven't done yet. If you haven't taken any real estate courses don't list them even if you plan to take them. Once something is on your resume it is fair game, and some interviewers will really drill down on things they see on your resume. You want to be able to talk about them intelligently and in full detail. If an interviewer gets the vibe that you lied on your resume that is going to be bad business for you.
Just roll with your resume and cover letter you have currently. Network your ass off. If you were that insecure about your resume you would beef it up by volunteering, shadowing brokers etc. I understand you say you don't have time, but there is always Christmas break, and next semester. Find someone or some company to volunteer for and then by graduation you have two internships.
Maybe think more about why you wanna do real estate, what drives you to learn about it and what you soft skills you have to offer?
I’ve worked on some of the biggest RE fund clients in the world and know the business fairly well as someone my grade. I sure as hell won’t hire someone like me who just happened to be put on those clients and probs wouldn’t care about RE otherwise
Are you suggesting to think more about "why real estate" to add to cover letters? I know exactly the reasons why I want to work and learn more about CRE.
I am unsure what you are suggesting by your second point.
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