Development career path? (x-post: /r/realestate)
Does anyone have insight on the general career path for a developer (or a member of a development team)? I understand that many developers entered the real estate industry after obtaining their wealth in different/unrelated fields, but is there a more "corporate" or linear path? Can anyone describe the hierarchy/general positions in development firms (both large and small). 

I'm trying to gauge whether a career in development is feasible for myself. I have municipal experience with community development departments and an education in urban planning. I also have some GIS skills. 

It seems difficult to break into the industry without a financial background (most entry level positions seems to be analyst jobs). Permit expediter/coordinator/technician roles seem to be the most applicable to my current skill set. Is it possible to work my way up from this angle? Thanks all.

(x-posted from /r/RealEstate, but my original post may have been filtered) 
[{"id": "d63rymn", "text": "You won't find the job on careerbuilder.  Do a lot of research on who the players are in your area.  Cold call (ehh.. warm call) them with a good and brief pitch and try to get a meeting.  Have something to say.  Network.  It helps to have a lot of money or know people with a lot of money.  Property management is the bigger side of the team generally and would have more entry level opportunities.  Get in where you fit in.", "replies": [{"id": "d6brnkg", "text": "This first part is 100% true. I came from the brokerage world and emailed a ton of developers in a different market I was targeting. One of them asked to meet for coffee, and months later they were offering me a job. Sometimes they do not see the value of hiring someone to their team until you bring up the idea.\n", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "d66sycj", "text": "Of all the developers that I have met, the majority fall into these groups:\n* 60+ years old and started when property was much cheaper and proportionally more attainable to one person's income\n* Followed in through the family business\n* Transitioned from a RE related career. Majority of these being brokerage\n* Transitioned from the property management and/ or construction side\n\nOf these groups, former brokers I feel made up the largest group. It's a national tradition. Brokers know the biz side of RE, meet an exceptionally large amount of people, especially lenders. \n\nIt's definitely something to consider ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "d69kg4c", "text": "Pick up some solid valuation skills, show you're a go-getter, and network like crazy at the chamber of commerce. Get a solid portfolio of commercial deals and show you're interested in the area. Somebody will take notice eventually.\n\n", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]